The festive spirit reached a fever pitch on Dhanteras as enthusiasm was not just confined to the shining counters of bullion markets but other commercial hubs across the city also witnessed an overwhelming surge in shoppers. From early morning until late into the night, bustling commercial zones including Itwari, Sitabuldi, Gandhi Bagh, Kamal Chowk, Gokulpeth, Jaripatka and other areas saw heavy footfalls. Shoppers packed traditional markets and retail centers alike, purchasing utensils, home electronics, home decor, and garments. The auto sector emerged as one of the biggest highlights of the day’s festive buying. Undeterred by price hikes, buyers turned out in large numbers across city showrooms to take delivery of new vehicles, creating a flurry of activity for local dealerships. According to Achal Gandhi, Vice-President of the Vidarbha Automobile Dealers Association (VADA), over 4,000 two-wheelers were handed over to customers on Dhanteras Friday alone. Expressing confidence in the overall buyer sentiment, Gandhi said that demand spanned across both conventional petrol models and electric two-wheelers. He added that while overall interest remained exceptionally high, stock constraints prevented the numbers from touching the 4,500-unit mark. Analyzing geographic trends across the region, Gandhi pointed out that urban pockets within the district drove the bulk of the demand. Conversely, buying sentiment in rural areas remained comparatively muted, primarily due to the impact of recent deficit rainfall on farm incomes. Notably, the district had previously recorded over 4,500 two-wheeler sales during the Dussehra festival earlier in the season. The passenger vehicle segment matched this momentum with equal vigour. VADA President Anuj Pande confirmed that car sales comfortably crossed 1,200 units on Dhanteras Day. He expressed deep satisfaction with the overall seasonal performance, highlighting that demand remained consistent across the spectrum - ranging from budget entry-level models to premium, high-end cars. Pande further highlighted the growing adoption of green mobility in the district, noting that electric vehicles accounted for a solid 10 to 12 per cent of total car deliveries during the single-day sales surge. With packed traditional retail markets, soaring footfalls in apparel stores, and booming automotive sales, traders and industry representatives across Nagpur view the strong Dhanteras turnout as a clear indicator of sustained economic momentum heading into the peak Diwali festivities.