Christmas: Decorative items flood Patna markets

PATNA: With Christmas round the corner, shopping complexes and markets in the city are flooded with sweet treats, fairy lights and decorative items. Makeshift stalls have also come up on Boring Road, Station Road, Nala Road, Exhibition Road and other marketplaces in the city.
Traders said after a dull week amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the sales have picked up in the last couple of days.Christmas trees are in demand and so are the decorative items like bells, gift boxes, candy canes, wreaths, hanging icicles, garlands and candles. Nativity cribs, Santa with reindeer, snowman and miniature biblical statues made of ceramic are also finding many takers.
Christmas-themed sunglasses and hairbands with oversized motifs of reindeer and Santa Claus masks are a hit among children.
Niraj Kumar, a vendor on East Boring Canal Road, said snow theme decors with New Year greetings are in huge demand. “Kids like the musical toys of Christmas and sweet-tooth delights like chocolate cream candies and gummy bears. Santa clothes are not much in demand, may be because of closure of schools and colleges. Kids generally buy Santa clothes for Christmas celebrations at educational institutes,” he said.
Another vendor, Lalit Agarwal, said people are buying decorated Christmas trees with fairy lights. “The prices of such trees range from Rs 200 to Rs 15,000, depending on the size. I am hopeful that the footfall of customers may increase by this week,” he said.
Even the city malls are gearing up to usher in the Yuletide spirit with decorative items like Christmas tree, twinkling baubles, stars, snowflakes of varied sizes and Santa caps. They have also come up with exclusive offers and discounts on dresses.
The roadside nurseries are flooded with evergreen plants, mostly pine trees. Ranjit Singh, who sells plants near Golghar, said people like real Christmas trees as it gives the true festive spirit. “One has to shell out Rs 150 for the pine trees, which is almost 10 to 12-foot-high. People can decorate it with baubles and hand-crafted decorative items,” he said.