Each September, a familiar ritual unfolds across India's cities — long before sunrise, devoted consumers gather outside Apple stores, not merely to purchase a device, but to participate in something that feels, to them, like a cultural ceremony. The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max arrived on September 18, 2026, drawing pilgrims from Punjab to Maharashtra who had reserved their place in line hours before dawn, affirming that for a certain kind of loyal consumer, the annual Apple launch has become less a transaction than a tradition. In a country of vast distances and diverse loyalties, the willingnes