A woman gets mehendi applied on her hands on the eve of Teej at Mauryalok in Patna on Saturday. Picture by Ranjeet Kumar Dey

Patna, Sept. 7: Women made a beeline for the markets today to complete their preparations for Teej.

Shiv and Parvati, the epitome of conjugal love, are worshipped on Teej and the women observe a fast for the long life and prosperity of their husbands. Teej is tomorrow. Bhawna, a resident of Kankerbagh, said: “This festival is celebrated in the month of Bhadon and is generally called haritalika vrat.”

The market places — Mauryalok, Boring Road, Hathwa Market, Khetan market and Patna Market — were crowded with women busy shopping for saris, chunris and jewellery. Shivangi Raj, a resident of Ambedkar Path, said: “I observe fast on Teej and wear traditional clothes, colour my feet with aalta and get my palms designed with mehendi.”

The shopkeepers, too, offered special discounts on items to attract customers. Silver ornaments like anklets and bicchiya (rings for toe fingers) were the favourites among the customers.

Narendra Kumar of Roy Jewellers at Hariniwas Complex said: “We have brought a new collection of lockets and anklets. We have also offered 50 per cent discount on the making charges of gold and silver ornaments and 70 per cent of diamond jewellery.”

There has been a spurt in the sale of saris. Pappu Sharma of Sagar Sarees at Mauryalok said: “Over the past couple of days, the footfall of customers has increased and we have been selling 40-50 saris every day. We have also been offering 20 per cent discount on some of the saris. There has been a huge demand for chiffon and half net saris in red, green and dark pink.”

The demand at boutiques has also gone up. Meera of Fashion Boutique, Keshav Palace, said designer quarter-sleeved blouses are much in demand.

Women don’t mind spending bucks on cosmetics and accessories. Customers queue up at beauty parlours to get gold facials. Mehendi designers are also raking in the moolah. Sumit, a mehendi designer at Mauryalok, said: “We get customers till midnight and charge them Rs 150 for a hand.”

Mamta Raj, a member of Lions Club, said: “I got a beautiful mehendi done. I also bought a sari from Delhi, a bangle-set and a pair of anklets. ”

Teej is incomplete without sweets like gujhiyas, pedakiyas and ghewars. Several makeshift stalls are selling pedakiyas, khajurs and anarasa. Shailendra Kumar of Maner Sweets said khoya pedakiyas are selling like hot cakes at Rs 320 per kg.

Gift shops are also doing brisk business, as men are busy buying gifts for their wives. Rajesh Sinha, a resident of Khajepura, said: “This is my wife’s first Teej after our marriage and I have planned to observe a fast with her.”

On the occasion, elders give away gifts of sari, vermilion and cosmetics, to their daughters and daughters-in-law. Vandana Sinha, a resident of Kadamkuan, said she is excited because her husband will come from Bangalore.