Jewellery shops here have decked up in anticipation of brisk business during Dhanteras, and so have showrooms selling vehicles and electronic goods.
Although the price of the yellow metal is still quite high (over Rs 52,000 for 10g of 24 carat gold), shopkeepers are optimistic that Steel City residents would purchase gold and silver jewellery during Dhanteras, which is considered auspicious on the occasion.
The owner of a jewellery shop in Sonari market area, Rajiv Agarwal, said: “I am confident that whatever losses we have incurred during the lockdown period, we would be able to compensate that during the Dhanteras.” He said the annual bonus given by the Tata group has given a lot of people extra money and the latter are likely to invest it in buying gold.
Another jeweller in Sakchi market said he has ordered new designs in view of the expected spike in demand during Dhanteras. He added that his shop would give customers the option to buy jewellery by paying in instalments.
The two-wheeler showrooms here are also witnessing a large number of footfalls as many people are preferring to have their own vehicles owing to fears of contracting Covid.
Keeping this new trend in mind, showroom owners expressed confidence that more people would buy or book vehicles on Dhanteras.
Rohit Tudu, an employee at a car showroom in Bistupur, said they are expecting many people to book cars on Dhanteras as well.
Similarly, owners of shops selling electronic goods also said that they expect the demand for laptops and smartphones to go up around Dhanteras.
Vicky, the owner of a computer shop in Yashkamal Complex in Bistupur, said: “The demand for desktops and laptops has shot up since the imposition of lockdown. We expect many to buy new laptops or exchange old ones on Dhanteras.”
Sakchi resident Sanchita said she was planning to buy a laptop for her elder son Riju on Dhanteras, as it would help him prepare better for his board exams next year.
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