(From top) Christmas stars and other decorative items for sale, people at a last-minute shopping spree and the decked-up church at Don Bosco School. Pictures by Manas Paran, SH Patgiri and UB Photos

With the Yuletide spirit in the air, Guwahatians can be seen shopping for that perfect gift for their near and dear ones.

Joshmaya Momim, a teacher, looks for the hottest selling item: candles ? in every hue of the rainbow, scented, gel, heart-shaped ? that come at prices ranging between Rs 175 and Rs 225. ?Candles have a special significance. They drive away the darkness and brighten even the darkest corner. Christ also represents the light of life,? she explains as she shops around for her radiance.

Other items selling like hot cakes are the special mementoes for Christmas. Excellency has stocked up on silver images of Mother Mary and Jesus along with nativity scenes on wooden bases. Archie?s Gallery, Silpukhuri, has a new and very beautiful collection of angels and pixie showpieces.

If you, however, want to be a bit exclusive with your gifts then the right place to visit would be Sohum Shoppe. M.L. Jalan, managing director of Sohum Shoppe, Northeast?s first mega-departmental store, proudly displays ?walking and talking? Santa Clauses, almost four feet in height. ?We also have a nice stock of wreaths and Father Christmas caps and attires.?

Jalan added, ?You can also try out our unique collection of Divinity pendants in Swiss gold of the Virgin Mary and the Christ. The pendants are priced between Rs 295 and Rs 700.?

The western outfits available here range from skirts, tops, partywears, shiny stoles and scarves. The favourite shades in the kurtis and salwars are sober pastel shades. Kids, too, have a whole range of partywear, formal and ethnic wear to choose from.

Sohum Shoppe spares a thought to the discerning consumers who give equal importance to their shoes and related accessories. The store offers a line of contrasting shoes and bags with individual choice in conformity with the festive season. Extremely embellished or ornately decorated shoes in myriad heel shapes are flooding the racks of the store. Bags on display are either ethnic chic or retro western.

Hub, the city?s latest shopping mall at GS Road, is offering a lot of freebies to the Christmas shoppers. Kids can pick a Barbie doll or a Master of Universe toy and get another free. One gets a L?Oreal hair gel worth Rs 400 free for a total purchase of Rs 900 and Revlon free aroma therapy fruit candles on a purchase of Rs 750.

The other freebies include a Casio digital diary at purchases worth Rs 1,500, a Pepe bag free on purchase of a Pepe jeans, a Philips touch-screen camera phone worth Rs 10,000 will get you a headphone free, a Lee T-shirt free on purchase of Lee trousers and a T-shirt worth Rs 200 free with garments worth Rs 4,000. There is also a 15 per cent discount on Vrinda ethnic wear. On purchase of jewellery worth Rs 1,000, an Estelle earring worth Rs 180 will be given free.

?As watches are regarded by men as a bold fashion statement, so most of them prefer to change it with occasions. The popular style are slim square cuts to sporty shapes from Rado, Esprit, Pierre Cardin, Mexx, Carrera and Swatch,? said an employee of a wrist watch shop.

Perfumes have also become more of a necessity this season. Depending on the type of body odour, skin type, moods and emotions, the choice changes from person to person. Almost all the popular brands like Paris and Nina Ricci are disappearing fast from the racks.

With eclectic being the current style statement, the city Christmas shoppers are inclined to more conventional and traditional fashion. Mekhela-chadors and saris are making inroads as fashion statements as well. Shoppers can try out the handmade designer attires by upcoming fashion and textile designers at the NEDFi Haat.

Organised by Aakar, an NGO formed by a few creative women, the exposition has everything from hand-woven dress materials, including kurtas and mekhala chadars, beads, Assamese jewellery, decorative handmade items and trinkets. One might also like to check out the traditional Assamese jewellery collection.