Kolkata witnessed a strong surge in chocolate purchases this Mother’s Day, with the city emerging as one of India’s biggest markets for thoughtful and home-focused gifting trends, according to Instamart’s Mother’s Day Gifting Trends 2026 report released on May 13.
The report showed that chocolates remained the most preferred gifting option in Kolkata, while products such as candles, diffusers and home décor items also recorded strong growth as consumers shifted towards warm at-home celebrations. Across India, gifting patterns reflected a move from simple presents to more thoughtful and care-first choices.
Flowers continued to dominate early morning purchases, while cakes peaked during evening hours. The 8 PM to 9 PM slot emerged as the busiest gifting window nationwide. The report noted that most high-value gifting carts clustered around the ₹5,500 range.
Nationally, beauty gift packs rose by 77 per cent, premium perfumes by 134 per cent, and massagers by 136 per cent, indicating growing interest in wellness and self-care gifting. Bouquets also nearly doubled, recording a 97 per cent rise.
Chocolates featured in 15 of the top 20 most-ordered gifting products, making them the preferred last-minute purchase. Ice cream cakes also saw a 69 per cent jump, with demand peaking around 7 PM.
In Kolkata, the city emerged as a key growth centre for home-ambience gifting, alongside Jaipur. Industry observers say Kolkata consumers are increasingly opting for personalised and premium gifting experiences, especially through quick-commerce platforms, reflecting changing urban shopping behaviour and rising demand for convenience-driven celebrations.
