For gig workers, festive days mean more work, less pay

As Bengaluru celebrated Ganesh Chaturthi recently, delivery platforms saw a sharp spike in orders for sweets, flowers and last-minute puja essentials. For delivery workers, it meant long hours, congested streets and constant order notifications across multiple apps.

Festival days, once a chance for shorter shifts and steady earnings, have now become the busiest and most demanding periods. Three years ago, delivery workers could make Rs 600-800 with around 20 orders in a day. This year, many are working 14-15 hours and completing nearly double the number of deliveries, only to earn roughly the same amount.