Market abuzz with festive spirit as women line up for bangles, henna

The city's markets remained abuzz on Thursday with women venturing out in the markets to buy stylish, designer bangles for Karwachauth falling tomorrow.

From traditional, simple, red-glass bangles to lack or silk-threaded bangles with hangings, shopkeepers put up stalls of the best available collection with them to attract customers. Stone or zircon-studded, colourful, metal-textured bangles remained a favourite among the young women.

Bangles bought, the next in agenda was to get henna applied. In Model Town, there were 20 stalls of mehndi walas, all having a long waiting of up to an hour. Charges for simple mehndi designs touched Rs 500 for a single hand and went up to Rs 1,500 for more exquisite patterns.

"Every woman getting mehndi applied from us is getting her husband's name written on her hand. It takes me 10-15 minutes to do a hand. While some go in for mehndi on just one hand, there are others who ask for elbow length designs. Newly weds are also getting mehndi applied on feet and legs", said Suresh Kumar, a UP-based mehndi artist.

Many college-going girls too made a quick buck on the occasion. "I had a tie-up with a parlour for two days. She paid me Rs 400 for every hand and kept Rs 100 herself. But it was still a good deal for me as she provided me with 30 customers in two days. I did not even have time to sit up, take a break or have my meals", said Mehnaaz, a young henna expert.

Sweet shops in the city also remained bedecked with customers queuing up to buy sweet mathis and phenian included in sargi, a pre-dawn meal. Various hotels in the city have been booked for Karwachauth parties, where the participants shall be engaged in an array of activities, including ramp walk, tambola, games and prizes.