By Neeraj Kumar
Patna: Dhanteras, the first day of the Diwali festival, saw bustling shopping activity throughout Patna, with packed markets and a variety of items flying off the shelves. The decorated city was alive with commerce as people thronged shops for everything from utensils and electronics to jewellery and automobiles, boosting local businesses with substantial sales figures.
The shopping rush began around noon and continued late into the evening, as families visited markets to purchase auspicious items like new utensils, vehicles, and clothing. According to tradition, buying metal objects on Dhanteras brings good fortune, so the utensils market saw brisk sales. Households bought everything from dinner sets and utensil bundles to large pots for puja (prayer) ceremonies, generating an estimated business of Rs 220 crore.
The jewellery sector, a Dhanteras staple, experienced notable sales. Women visited showrooms in large numbers, selecting from an array of gold and silver jewellery, along with trending branded pieces and diamond-studded designs. Sales also included gold and silver coins, which are thought to bring prosperity if purchased during Dhanteras. In various showrooms, nearly 60 high-end necklace sets, valued between Rs 20 to 35 lakh, were pre-booked and collected by customers. Patliputra Sarafa Sangh President Vinod Kumar noted that the jewellery market saw a 15-20% increase from last year, with consumers also seeing returns of 28% and 40% on gold and silver, respectively.
In the electronics sector, shoppers eagerly purchased high-end items such as LED TVs, washing machines, and fridges, reflecting an increasing preference for premium products. Aditya Vision (Taramandal) General Manager Anuj Kumar Singh highlighted the sale of four 98-inch Sony TVs, each priced at Rs 20 lakh. The newest LG “Mood Up” fridges, costing Rs 4.5 lakh, were also popular, contributing to an overall business boom in the electronics market.
The automotive sector also saw impressive growth, with customers favouring luxury models. According to Nitin Kumar, director of Mahindra’s authorised dealership, Kiran Automobile, there was a 20-25% growth in vehicle sales this year, with 250 vehicles sold on Dhanteras alone. Buddha Toyota’s MD, Paresh Kumar, mentioned that 10 Toyota Fortuners, each priced above Rs 50 lakh, were delivered in Patna, with an estimated total of 2,500 vehicles sold across the city.
Two-wheeler showrooms were equally busy, with Hero, Bajaj, and TVS showrooms witnessing thousands of bike sales. Deni TVS reported 8,000 bikes sold, with some models booked in advance. Chandan Hero’s director, Pushpesh Saras, stated that more than 1,500 bikes were delivered on Dhanteras, reflecting a 25% increase in the two-wheeler sector.
The textile and furniture markets were no less active, with demand for readymade clothes, sarees, bedsheets, and sofa covers. Patna’s textile sector reported sales worth over Rs 200 crore. Meanwhile, luxury furniture saw high demand, with brands reporting a 30% growth in sales across showrooms in Nala Road, Kadamkuan, and Kankarbagh.
Mobile phones, especially high-end models, also saw record sales, with a 20% rise from the previous year. Expensive Apple models were among the most sought-after, pushing total mobile phone sales over Rs 20 crore.
Following tradition, shoppers didn’t miss purchasing brooms on Dhanteras, a symbolic item for Diwali. Flower brooms were particularly popular, with prices ranging from Rs 40 to Rs 150.
The festive fervour on Dhanteras not only honoured tradition but provided a substantial boost to Patna’s economy, indicating a prosperous Diwali season ahead.
