Rs 6 lakh gold coins, ritual grapes and 108 packs of Kurkure: Swiggy Instamart reveals India’s last-minute New Year shopping

Swiggy Instamart New Year Data: As India welcomed 2026, Instamart experienced a surge in last-minute shopping, with shoppers scrambling for everything from grapes to gold. Tradition, celebration, and the classic New Year’s Eve forgetfulness combined to create a whirlwind of orders across the country.

Grapes Lead the Charge

Earlier in the week, Instamart’s grape-themed reminder nudged users about the “12 grapes at midnight” ritual. Whether coincidence or clever timing, it clearly hit the mark. By New Year’s Eve, Instamart recorded 235,000 grape searches in the first half of the day, beginning as early as 5 AM. By evening, searches had surged 78 times, proving that even the most familiar traditions need a timely push when party mode kicks in.

Ice, Snacks and Mixers: The Essentials Never Enough

Instamart’s real-time data showed a classic last-minute shopping frenzy. Orders for ice, snacks, mixers, beverages, and party essentials spiked dramatically, a reminder that no matter how well-stocked you think you are, there’s always room for panic buying.

Beyond the Metros: Surprising Hotspots

While India’s metro cities dominated, smaller towns also jumped on the New Year’s Eve shopping wave. Cities such as Lonavla, Karimnagar, Saharanpur, Davanagere, Patiala, and Meerut recorded notable growth in orders.

Patiala stood out, with one customer placing over 200 items in a single order, including 108 packs of Kurkure, and another buying gold coins worth Rs 6 lakh.

High-Value Orders Steal the Spotlight

Luxury and big-ticket items also featured in the frenzy. Bengaluru saw an order worth Rs 1.8 lakh, including two iPhones, while another customer bought protein supplements worth Rs 41,000. In Mumbai, a user received gold worth Rs 1.45 lakh via Instamart, reflecting a rising trend of gifting through quick commerce.

Interestingly, nearly one in nine New Year’s Eve orders were for friends and family, highlighting the platform’s role in last-minute celebrations and thoughtful surprises.

What India Stocked Up On

Phani Kishan Addepalli, Co-founder at Swiggy, shared the final-hour category spikes on Instamart:

• Grapes: 15x
• Cakes: 7x
• BBQ items: 6x
• Beverages: 3.5x
• Party glasses: 2.5x
• Pizza bases: 1.8x
• Calendars & planners: 1.5x

Regional quirks also emerged: skewers and coal were trending in Pune and Kolkata, tonic water was the nation’s most sought-after beverage, and card games saw a 3x spike as parties stretched late into the night.

Last-Minute Mayhem, But the Fun Continues

From grapes to gold, cakes to calendars, India’s 2026 New Year shopping reflected a mix of tradition, indulgence, and sheer last-minute panic. With Instamart at the heart of the rush, it seems that when it comes to celebrations, no order is too big, or too small, for the party spirit.