After Diwali, it’s R-Day discount

Thousands of families living near Bandra’s Mount Mary church are awaiting the Republic Day with great eagerness. For, the 40 vendors of their vegetable market have offered them bhajis on a no-profit-no loss basis today. In fact, a day earlier the vendors could be seen busily preparing bags of eight vegetables, including one kg of six vegetables along with half kg of cauliflower and carrot in each of them, all for Rs100.

With vegetables prices shoting through the roof, residents like Rahul Kolte are looking forward to the vendors’ R-day offer that began last year. “This way we salute our nation,” head of this vegetable-market association Mahesh Pawar told DNA proudly.

Not just vegetable vendors, but over a dozen retail brands have announced special discounts for next five days. While a jewellery brand has named its theme as ‘month of love’, of course with an eye on Valentine Day, the otherwise exorbitant gyms, spas and beauty-parlours across the city have mellowed down to charging just a half membership fee to make you slimmer and ‘prettier’. Even builders have jumped the on the bandwagon with ‘sasta homes’.

What’s surprising is that the goodies on offer are aimed at the day which till recently was observed as a ‘national dry day’. However, no more; for it’s fast transforming into any other festival, celebrated across with common sentiments, tradition, rituals, fun and shopping.

While marketing gimmicks may have changed many things, this new style of celebrating R-Day has enhanced our emotions for these otherwise national holidays. “These days, we get beautifully crafted messages, with the younger generation hooked to this style of celebration,” said Kamla Badoni, a mediaperson.

While housing societies organise grand programmes on the R-Day, few attend their flag-hoisting ceremonies. Instead the attendance for sports meet, common lunch or dinner thereafter has increased. “People want to enjoy the feeling of being Indian.

Emotions of patriotism go high celebrating and eating together,” confessed Prof Kanak Sharma.

An IITian S Manoj (42), said, “We grew up watching the R-day parade on television live from Red Fort, Delhi. Now, people have their own concept to celebrate the day, which is more flexible and adds fun.”

“Unlike Diwali, when they are busy renovating homes, or Ganeshotsav when they bring Ganpati home, R-Day is a perfect holiday for some shopping,” confessed a mall manager at Thane.