Navratri, one of the most popular festivals for the Hindus in the city, virtually turns into a nine-night dance festival with revellers getting decked up for the celebrations.
Navratri, one of the most popular festivals for the Hindus in the city, virtually turns into a nine-night dance festival with revellers getting decked up for the celebrations. On the street leading to Rani no Hajiro is a colourful market festooned with beautiful jewellery, mostly artificial, and women’s and men’s clothing and accessories.
The place has Amdavadis flocking to throughout the year, but the market comes alive only when Navratri is around the corner. It is the time when the shops here do most of their business.
The fact that the prices were marginally on the higher side this year seems to have made no difference to the buyers even as the roars of recession are still loud. Manoj Rathod, a shop owner, said his business had more than doubled as garba revellers continued to throng his shop till even midnight to shop for their accessories. Though competitors are far too many, Navratri has business for all. “Festivals like Navratri allow us to make up for the dull sales the rest of the year,” says Sagar Ranchod, a shop owner.
Colourful oxidised jewellery is the rage of this season. While beads and silver look great with chania cholis, the oxidised kinds are by far the most popular ones, because of their looks and economy.
“Beaded neckpieces, stitched ghunghroo tassels, anklets with Meenakari work - are all a hit with the female folks this garba season,” says Anari, a stall owner at Rani no Hajiro for whom the earnings from Navratri is something that carries him through the rest of the year. “Garba has certainly enabled us, the vendors, to make quick money, as our daily earning rises by two to six times during this period,” says Jigar Vakadia, shop owner.
One of the major reasons behind the booming business in this period is the belief among Hindus that this is the best time to start new ventures or buy something new. This belief leads to a sudden surge in the sales. “My mother does extensive shopping during Navratri every year as she believes this is the right time to buy new things,” says Minal Trivedi, a student.
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