(From left) A customer looks at Chinese lights that flocked the markets in the pre-Diwali shopping season. A shopkeeper holds up the latest I-pod model to hit the market. Antique jewellery on display at a showroom in Jamshedpur. Pictures by Srinivas

Jamshedpur, Oct. 26: It?s that time of the year once again, when Diwali fever hits the city. Business booms and shopaholics indulge in their favourite past time ? retail therapy.

Diwali is synonymous with the exchange of gifts and it is now that the shops are at their decorative best, with shelves full of clothes and jewellery. Also high in demand are automobiles, high-tech gadgets and dazzling lights.

With shops going an extra mile to give people more options, the festival of lights indeed becomes the best time to shop for the people of the steel city. And this Diwali, there is something exclusive for everybody, whether it is chocolates, clothes, cars or crackers.

Clothes

The garment industry has not had it so good for a while. With the wedding season and Id falling almost at the same time as Diwali, the city?s garment market is doing good business. ?The boom begins, with the pujas, but this year business has been really good as the wedding season and Id, too, have fallen at the same time,? said Rajesh Nagelia, owner Ashok Vatika a leading garment shop in the steel city.

Power engines

Narbheram Motors, a city motor dealer has already received an order of about 200 motorbikes for this season. ?High demand also means keeping a good stock, so the company has already stocked about 400 to 450 vehicles to meet the increasing demand on the main days,? informed Abhijit Basu, sales manager Narbheram Motors.

If the two-wheeler sector is gearing up for Diwali, the scene is no different in the four-wheeler sector as well. ASL Motors dealing in Tata Motors vehicles, has already registered an order for 40 to 45 cars and SUV?s for the coming days. This year the dealers of various automobile companies have decided to keep a stock of about 150 power engines once the festive season starts.

Gizmos and gadgets

Hi-tech gadgets are popular purchases among customers during the festive season because of a number of offers and discounts in the markets. With PCs and laptops gradually becoming a necessity, techno-freaks in the city are making the best of these deals and offers. Sparx Technologies, a Jamshedpur-based dealer of desktops and other electronic goods, has already sold about 30 laptops and computers over the past 20 days. Also doing brisk business are the chic and trendy iPods, which have recently become a rage among the youngesters especially.

All that glitters

With festivals comes in traditions, and what better to wear during an Indian festival other than gold? The gold and jewellery sector traditionally witnesses a boom at this time, and this year?s scenario is no different.

?The trend this season is purely for antique jewellery, with designer collections making their presence felt,? said Chandrani Ghosh of Tanishq, Bistupur. Not only are the designs antique but the fashion has gone back to philligary and kundan works once again ruling the markets.

Dazzling delights

Diwali means lights and no shopping is complete without buying those dazzling creations. But its good bye desi, hello Middle Kingdom when it comes to the Diwali lighting this year. The imported Chinese lights have almost completely replaced the Indian style lighting in the city market. ?Not only are these more decorative, but at the same time it is available at almost half the price of Indian-made goods,? said Vivek Dubey, a businessman in Sakchi.

Chocolates & candy

Chocolates are a good gift for everyone, and city shops have brought in products from all over the country. Archies showroom offers a wide range of candies and biscuits from Danish cookies to foreign chocolates. Hallmark, has come up with the idea of putting chocolate in a bunch of flowers and selling it.

Gifts

There is a touch of tradition as far as the gifts are concerned. Decorative items with miniature Lakshmi and Ganesha on top are doing the rounds in the market and there is also a huge demand for the stone-studded deities. ?What makes them really special is that they can double up as precious gifts or as idols, which can be used for worship in homes,? stated Rajesh Vasan, owner of Archies.

Crackers

Diwali is incomplete without crackers and its very mention brings to the mind all those bright ones that add to the illumination. Though the shops are yet to begin Diwali sales, the trend remains the same. The preference remains for the ones ending with a starry note rather than plain noises.