An illuminated Buddha Smriti Park in Patna for Bihar Divas. Picture by Jai Prakash

This blue is spreading cheer among the residents of Patna.

The entire city is bathed in blue lights for the three-day-long centenary celebrations and making the most of this revelry are shop owners selling decorative lights.

The sale of blue decorative lights has gone up by almost 70 per cent in the past 15 days. From government buildings to educational institutions, from hotels and restaurants to residential premises — all are decked with blue lights.

Rohit Kumar, owner of Gopal Electric Store at Chandni Market, said: People are demanding only blue decorative lights. Sale of other coloured bulbs has dropped but no one is complaining. Bihar centenary celebrations are spelling boom for our business.”

The state government, too, has given a message to people to decorate their residential premises and business establishments with blue lights.

Santosh Kumar Sinha, owner of Tulsi hotel in Sabjibagh, went to Chandni Market to purchase blue lights. “As part of the Bihar centenary celebrations, the entire city is decked up with blue lights. How can businessmen like us be behind? I have decided to decorate my hotel with only blue lights.” he said.

Sinha purchased 50 packets of decorative lights. A single packet costs Rs 40 and contains 100 bulbs on a 10-metre string.

Brajesh Kumar, an employee of MM College at Vikram, said: “I have come all the way from Vikram (30km from Patna) to purchase the blue decorative bulbs. A lot of people from my college want lights to decorate their houses and the college.”