Patna buyers flock to jewellery stores

PATNA: With Dhanteras and Diwali around the corner, Patnaites are queuing up outside shops to buy electronic appliances, vehicles, jewellery as well as clothes. Archi Rani visited some popular markets in the city to gauge the mood:


Automobiles: Automobile showrooms are offering several discounts to woo customers.

“Altogether 400 bookings have been made at all three branches of our showroom. Around 150 mini SUVs, which were launched recently and are priced at Rs 5 lakh each, have to be delivered on Dhanteras,” Arvind Shrivastava, sales manager of an automobile showroom on Boring Canal Road, told this newspaper.

Sources claimed that there was a 30% surge in demand for automobiles this year. Earlier this month, waterlogging in several parts of the city had damaged many vehicles.

Jewellery: As per Hindu mythology, buying gold or silver on Dhanteras is considered auspicious.

The manager of a jewellery store at Rajapur Pul, Avinash Singh, said, “We are giving discounts on the making charges of gold (50%), diamond (25%) and platinum (20%) ornaments.”

Some jewellers claimed that the sharp rise in gold prices had led to a fall in its sales. “I buy a gold item every year on Dhanteras. However, I am planning to buy silver idols of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi this time,” said Boring Road resident Meenu Agarwal.

Home décor: Home décor and furniture shops will also give discounts to buyers this Dhanteras.

“The demand for curtains, bedsheets and sofa covers has gone up. We hope the sales will improve further,” said the manager of a furniture shop on Exhibition Road.

Electronic appliances: People have started choosing and booking electronic appliances with heavy discounts.

“The response has been great so far. A lot of customers have booked their favourite TV sets, which they will take away on Dhanteras,” said Ajay Kumar Singh, general manager of a showroom near Income Tax roundabout.

Retailers claimed that the demand for TVs, refrigerators and washing machines was comparatively higher this year.