Children purchase gifts on the occasion of Friendship Day at a gift shop in Patna and >(right) young men celebrate the day. Pictures by Ashok Sinha

Patna, Aug. 1: It was a day of friends, a day of joy and celebrations, a day to tell your friend that you really care. And Patna celebrated it in the same fervour and style.

Though for a majority it was a second Valentine's Day.

Abhishek Jain, a student, said since Saturday midnight till 10 this morning he has already sent text messages to 100 people.

The capital today was in a jolly mood with many, mostly youngsters, celebrating the Friendship Day with great enthusiasm. A day before they were busy buying the friendship bands from gift shops and ordering flowers for their friends.

Dhiraj, a city-based flower seller, said he had already sold around 400 flowers on Saturday itself. What was however surprising that more people were interested in the red rose and not the customary yellow, which signifies friendship.

“I have sold a lot of flowers and the sale is still on. Of 400 flowers, 120 flowers were yellow but the rest were red the symbol of love which delineates the fact that the youngsters have taken this day as the second Valentine.

In the guise of friendship day, they are stepping forward towards their love life,” Dhiraj, city flower seller said.

Ranjana, who is just 12 years old said that the excitement of the Friendship Day did not allow her to sleep welllast night.

“I am so very excited. It is like a whirlpool of joy, all my friends are together and now it’s party time. All my friends living in different localities of the city have joined in and we are going to celebrate the day to the fullest. It is going to be so much fun,” she said.

Anamika, a friend of Ranjana, had her own ideas about celebrating the day.

“I have not sent any messages to any of my friends due to the high text messages charges today. But I will sent the messages definately tomorrow,” she said.

Himanshu Shekhar Prasad, the owner of Archie's Gallery at Boring Canal Road, said there were varied options of gifts for this day.

“Chocolates are in heavy demand and in the last two days we have sold chocolates worth Rs 1,700. The gifts liked by teenagers include coffee mugs of bone china, wind chimes among other things. In addition, couple statues and couple rings are being sold like hot cakes. Our whole stock was sold out in just an hour,” he added.

“Archie’s has launched some special gifts for this occasion like Archie’s friend letter, friend quotes and the most special letter rings, rings in which letters are being rapped. Bamboo trees also being gifted as good luck charm to the friends,” Prasad, added. Urvarshi Modi, a student of St Joseph Convent, said she has planned something unusual and special for her beloved friend.

“I have bought an exclusive diary in which I have written all the memories made with my friend and have made a collage of many pictures of her,” she said.

Dr Abhijeet, a dentist said though he lead a busy life, this was one day when he can enjoy a get-together with his loved ones.