Walk into any mall in Delhi, Mumbai, or Bangalore today, and you might think you’ve teleported to New York. Banners screaming "Black Friday Sale" are everywhere. Open your phone, and notifications from Nykaa, Myntra, and Amazon are pinging you with "Pink Friday" or "Super Saver" alerts.

It begs the question, since when did India start celebrating an American Thanksgiving tradition?

The "November Slump" Fix Historically, November has been a "dead month" for Indian retail. The Diwali spending spree is over, and the Christmas/New Year rush hasn't started. Retailers faced a 45-day dry spell.

The Strategy: By importing Black Friday (the last Friday of November), brands have successfully created a bridge between Diwali and Christmas. It triggers the "Fear Of Missing Out" (FOMO) just when consumers had put their wallets away.

Who Has the Best Deals Today (Nov 26)?

Beauty: Nykaa’s Pink Friday is the undisputed king here. They are offering up to 50% off on luxury brands like Huda Beauty and Estée Lauder discounts that are rarely seen during Diwali.

Tech: Croma and Reliance Digital are matching global trends, offering heavy cuts on laptops and Apple accessories to clear inventory before the 2026 models arrive.

Fashion: Zara and H&M (online and offline) are running their classic "flat 40% off" sales. Pro tip: The Zara app usually crashes around 9 PM tonight, so fill your carts now.

Is It Real or Just Hype? Unlike the "inflated MRP" scams often seen during minor sales, Black Friday in India is surprisingly legit, especially for international brands. Since these brands follow a global markdown calendar, the discounts you see on H&M or Mac Cosmetics in Mumbai are likely the same as in London or New York today.

If you need winter wear or premium makeup, today is actually cheaper than the upcoming Christmas sale.