DESPITE fear of rains prevailing, the high spirited mood of festive revellers touched the peak with capital Raipur on Saturday recording a blanket spike in footfall and sales in all sectors after two-years of COVID period. Right from exquisite and palatial showrooms and even to the roadside petty vendors did brisk business on festive occasion of Dhanteras.

As per the business and trading community the sales shot up many manifolds even as there was an expectation of weather playing spoil sports on this festival of lights. But to the delight and upbeat surprise, there was a mad rush of festive buyers everywhere, a trend indicating that this festival light will bloom and push the market altogether to a vibrant scenario for rest of the year to follow.

Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel also brought delight on the face of the rural populace with the online payments of crores of rupees under different government schemes. Bonus and increment also added to the purchasing power of the people and all sector recorded bumper sales across State.

Market sales recorded transactions to the tune of several crores, with Raipur as usual leading the tally in every sector including automobiles, jewellery, garment, fastmoving consumer durables, electronics etc. The Dhanteras market in State Capital was booming on Saturday. A sea of festive-enthusiast thronged the market places causing ‘chock-o-block’ scenario all the ways in and out of the city. The markets and shops in Sadar Bazaar, Malviya Road, MG Road, Pandri and Mahalaxmi Cloth Market, Katora Talab, Bhanpuri, Sundar Nagar, Lakhenagar, Mahadev Ghat, Gudhiyari had good customer footfall. Special offers, attractive discounts, scratch cards and surprise gifts mainly attracted customers on the auspicious day. Apart from showrooms selling gold and silver jewelleries, coins, utensils and gift items, good rush and sales were also recorded at two, three and four wheeler dealerships, showrooms selling garments, utensils, electronic items like refrigerator, kitchen chimney, burners, TVs, air conditioners and home décor items. According to rough estimates of market analysts, Dhanteras celebration in Raipur witnessed business transaction worth over Rs 600 crore and it would see manifold increase on the occasion of Laxmi Puja (Diwali) on October 24. “This business trend in tune with the festivities was expected to surge and multiply till Chhath festival which begins from October 30,” they added.