Finally, celebration time is here

Avneet Kaur

Jalandhar, October 18

After days of shopping before the festival of lights, it’s finally the time to sit together with family, have fun and celebrate Diwali.

Bazaars have remained choc-o-block in the entire week with people buying new clothes for themselves and gifts for their near and dear ones.

Items such as sweets, cakes, gadgets, home décor items and fashion accessories have been picked up by residents for themselves and gifting.

Sehaj, a youth, said he had bought pens which he gifted to his colleagues in the office.

“I have delivered all gifts to my friends and relatives. It was such a lovely week having met some of my friends after a long time,” says Loveleen Kaur, a resident of Mota Singh Nagar.

“It is quite normal for us to spend Rs 15,000 only on buying gifts for our kith and kin on Diwali. I had shopped for my own family too, so the overall expenditure had gone between Rs 15,000 and Rs 18,000. But I enjoyed it,” she said.

“This time, I had bought a few gold coins and blankets as gifts for our closed ones and relatives. For my family, I will buy some new bedsheets, cushion covers, paintings and artefacts. I also purchased a few designer candles as the best of the candles are available only during this time of the year,” as per Harpreet, another resident.

Rohit, who has got a new home just ahead of Diwali, said: “We have bought flowers and new carpets for our home, whereas my wife has changed the kitchenware and bought a few new utensils on Dhanteras as she considers it an auspicious time for the same.”

Sonia Sharma, a teacher in a government school here, said: “After distributing some gifts among our circle, tomorrow, I plan to donate some new clothes, blankets, sweets and candles to children, men and women living in ashrams.”

Markets abuzz with activities

Even a day ahead of Diwali, several markets in the city were full of hustle and bustle. Residents could be seen making last-minute purchases and gearing up for Diwali. Lights and sparkling decorative items decked up the city as residents flocked markets for purchases. Shops selling new furniture, rugs, cushions, draperies, decoration pieces, crockery items and electronic gadgets also witnessed had a lot of rush.

Heavy footfall continued at electronics stores, fashion outlets, sweets outlets, home decor and gadgets shops. Fashion accessories stores also saw a huge rush of shoppers.

Owner of one of the multi-brand showroom for electronic gadgets in the city, said sales of various appliances, including LEDs, LCD TVs, microwave ovens, kitchen chimneys and burner and double-door refrigerators, were at an all-time high these days. Besides, the festive discounts being offered by companies were also luring shoppers to buy new products.

Jewellers too have been making a brisk business.

“Most customers are opting for diamond jewellery. We have a new range of 9 karat pendants for Rs 12,000 to Rs 15,000 each, which is in the affordable range as most customers want to give gold items as gifts on Diwali,” said one of the jewellersin the city.

Owner of Archies Gallery said idols of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakkshmi in polyresin material are in much demand.

“A designer wooden Om hanging, gel candles and designer earthen diyas also remained the biggest hit among customers,” he said.

Meanwhile, sweets shop owners also witnessed crowds.

“There have been orders for mathis, ladoos and khoya sweets. We have come up with a new range of sugar and oil-free sweets which are baked. Instead, we are using honey, glucose and dry fruits for the preparations,” said a staff at a local shop.