Nagpur markets see brisk shopping on eve of Ganeshotsav

With the start of Ganeshotsav in Nagpur, the city has begun to take on a festive mood. As preparations got underway for Ganeshotsav, which begins on Monday, markets across the city saw heavy shopping on Sunday. Crowds thronged major markets, shops and showrooms from morning till late evening.

Everything from idols of Ganpati Bappa to puja items, decoration material, sweets and household goods sold briskly. It is estimated that business worth crores of rupees was done in the city on Sunday alone. People gathered all the necessary items on Sunday itself in preparation for the first day of Ganeshotsav.

Along with beautiful idols for the installation of Ganpati, puja items such as flowers, garlands, durva grass, coconuts and modaks sold in large numbers. Customers kept visiting idol stalls and puja item shops until late at night.

The effect of the festive season is also clearly visible on the jewellery market. Jewellery showrooms and the automobile and real estate sectors are offering special schemes and offers to attract customers. On the auspicious occasion, some are buying a new house while others are showing interest in vehicles or jewellery. Crowds have also increased at shops selling electronics, clothes, mobile phones and household goods. Traders say they expect shopping to keep rising because of Ganeshotsav, Mahalakshmi and the festivals that follow.

The sweets market is also expected to see brisk business on the occasion of Ganeshotsav. Different varieties of modak, a favourite of Ganpati Bappa, are ready in the market. Along with the traditional ukadiche modak, demand has also risen for peda, laddoo, besan and boondi sweets and others. A rise in milk prices has made sweets more expensive as well.

Considering Ganeshotsav and the upcoming Mahalakshmi festival auspicious, a large number of people in Nagpur are preparing to buy new vehicles. Vehicle showrooms in the city are seeing steady enquiries and bookings from customers. Demand has risen for all types of vehicles, from two-wheelers to four-wheelers. Companies and dealers are also offering attractive deals, exchange schemes and other facilities to customers. Traders expect vehicle sales to see a good rise from Ganeshotsav through the Mahalakshmi festival, with several families preparing to bring a new vehicle home at an auspicious time.