Navratri Shopping Guide: Fashion, Jewellery & More with Credit Card Discounts

Introduction

Navratri 2025 brings nine nights of divine celebration and countless opportunities to make your festive shopping both meaningful and financially rewarding.

From shopping for yourself to thoughtful gifts for family and friends, the festive season is a time when hearts are full, and shopping lists are long. This tradition of dressing up for Garba nights and exchanging gifts is both culturally enriching and financially manageable with smart planning.

Many Indian families typically allocate ₹15,000–₹25,000 for Navratri shopping, dining, and celebrations. Strategic credit card usage during this period can help you earn valuable cashback, reward points, and exclusive discounts that make your festive celebrations more affordable.

With digital payments now seamlessly integrated through UPI and banks offering special festive promotions, your approach to festive spending can maximise value while you celebrate with joy and devotion.

What Makes Credit Card Usage Special During Navratri?

Credit card spending during festive seasons has grown exponentially, with transactions increasing by 35-50% compared to regular months.

 This surge reflects how strategic credit card use can make festive celebrations more affordable.

This trend reflects growing awareness about maximising value from every rupee spent during high-expense periods.

Peak spending categories during Navratri:

• Clothing and accessories
• Dining and entertainment
• Gifts and home décor
• Beauty and grooming
• Travel and accommodation

Which Credit Cards Offer the Best Navratri Benefits?

The right credit card choice can save you hundreds or even thousands during Navratri. Here's how Kotak's credit card portfolio delivers maximum value for festive spenders.

Kotak Cashback Plus Credit Card: The Festive Maximiser

For heavy festive spenders, the Kotak Cashback+ Credit Card transforms every purchase into immediate savings:

Cashback Structure for Festive Shopping:

• Up to 5% cashback on multiple brands.
• 2% cashback on all online purchases.
• 1% cashback on offline transactions.

Kotak UPI RuPay Credit Card: The Digital Advantage

Perfect for modern festive spenders who prefer digital payments across all merchant types:

UPI Integration Benefits:

• Up to 5% cashback on UPI transactions via selected apps
• Universal acceptance at small vendors and large retailers alike.
• Instant payment processing without cash handling delays.
• Enhanced security through tokenised transactions.

Additional Festive Perks:

• 3 reward points per ₹100 on partner fashion brands.
• 1% fuel surcharge waiver for travel to celebrations.
• Additional 1% cashback after ₹30,000 monthly milestone.

How Can Contactless Payments Transform Your Festive Experience?

Contactless payments have significantly transformed festive shopping in India, with with rapid growth in the last three years. Understanding these payment methods can significantly improve your Navratri experience beyond just earning rewards.

The Advantage of Speed During Peak Shopping Hours

Transaction Time Comparison:

During Navratri's peak shopping days, the time savings translate to shorter queues, reduced waiting, and more time for celebrations.

Kotak Credit Cards Enable Faster Festive Payments

Multiple Contactless Options Available:

• Tap-to-Pay Cards: Quick physical card taps for transactions under ₹5,000 without PIN entry – perfect for most festive purchases like accessories, gifts, and dining.
• UPI Integration: Link your Kotak RuPay credit card to any UPI app for instant QR code payments while earning full rewards on every transaction.
• Mobile Wallet Integration: Add cards to digital wallets for one-tap payments during online festive sales and flash offers.

When Should Credit Card EMIs Make Sense for Navratri?

EMI options can make Navratri celebrations more affordable, but strategic usage is crucial. A common recommendation is to keep total EMIs under 30% of post-tax income for healthy financial management.

Smart EMI Strategy for Festive Purchases

Festive Season EMI Benefits:

• No processing fees on conversions above ₹10,000.
• Pre-approved EMI limits for faster approvals.
• Fixed monthly payments help budget other festival expenses.

EMI vs Rewards: Finding the Balance

When EMI Makes Financial Sense:

• Large purchases that earn substantial rewards (5% on ₹20,000 = ₹1,000 earned).
• Items you'd buy regardless, spread across comfortable payments.
• Taking advantage of limited-time festive discounts.
• Managing cash flow during bonus delays.

When to Pay in Full:

• Small purchases where interest exceeds earned rewards.
• Impulse buys exceeding planned festival budgets.
• When you can comfortably make full payment within interest-free period.

Maximising EMI Value

Optimal EMI Approach:

• Choose reward-earning categories for EMI purchases.
• Time conversions after earning maximum monthly cashback.
• Select the shortest comfortable tenure to minimise interest.
• Plan EMI schedules around next year's festival season.

Conclusion

Smart credit card usage during Navratri 2025 transforms necessary festival expenses into meaningful financial benefits. The combination of cashback rewards, contactless convenience, and flexible EMI options means your celebration spending can work harder for your financial future.

Kotak's credit card portfolio offers opportunities to maximise every festive purchase — from earning 5% cashback on partner brands to converting large purchases into manageable monthly payments.

Whether you're buying new clothes, booking travel for family visits, ordering sweets online, or purchasing gifts, the right card can offer cashback, reward points, or special discounts on exactly what you need.

Converting bigger expenses to EMIs means you can enjoy your purchases now while spreading the cost over comfortable monthly payments. Smart planning ensures you get the most from your festive spending while keeping your budget on track.