Jharkhand: Dhanteras pushes sales graph north

Marketplaces in the state’s capital city were teeming with customers on Dhanteras, leading to a rise in the sale of several products ranging from automobiles to jewellery and from utensils to electrical appliances.
Many traders reported higher sales than their expectations given the prevailing Covid-19 situation. The marriage season, which will follow Dhanteras and Diwali, is also likely to boost their business. The shopkeepers have now stocked up a wide range of products ranging from electronic devices to household items in anticipation of high demand.
Sumit Jain, who is in the automobile sector, said the sales were good ever since the unlock process began and people opted for own vehicles to ensure the social distancing norms.
He added, “Dhanteras has enhanced the market by 30% compared to the previous month, but sales are less than last year. Customers are generally opting for pre-booking to avoid last-moment hiccups.”
Arya Mayank, a jeweller, said, “We have products to suit the budget of every section of society. Initially, there was a slight confusion among people regarding the timing and date of Dhanteras. But the auspicious occasion has started from 5 pm on Thursday and we are expecting a large turnout of people till Friday.”
Similarly, sale of decorative lights head of Diwali has increased even though many people are also opting for diyas.
Jharkhand Chambers of Commerce and Industries president Kunal Ajmani said the market needed to revive during the festive season. “There are several sectors which would have suffered big setbacks if they had a bad business during this season,” he added.
Many traders also said with weddings postponed from the last summer because of Covid-19, the marriage season during November and December is going to witness a significant increase of brides and grooms tying the knot, which in turn will lead to increased sales across all sectors.