A woman sells orchids in Jorhat on Wednesday. Picture by UB Photos

Jorhat, April 11: Designer clothes, discounts, exhibition-cum-sales and other offers are luring Bihu shoppers, despite the weather playing spoilsport in Upper Assam.

In Sivasagar, all roads are leading to the Boarding Field where NGO Utxa has organised an exhibition-cum-sale of Bihu items.

Ladies and self-help groups are competing with each other to come out with the tastiest of Bihu pithas and other delicacies even as stalls beckon with mekhela sadors in varied hues and motifs.

In another part where the semi-constructed district library stands at Hospital Road near Dolmukh Chariali, a gamosa mela is under way.

The array of gamosas on offer is mind boggling.

And the rain god has failed to prove a deterrent to the determined shoppers who are out and about with their umbrellas open as soon as it starts pelting.

The Sualkuchi mekhela sador shops are doing brisk business as are the apparel stores stocked with trendy wear in Sivasagar.

A similar scene can be witnessed in the AT Road and Garali in Jorhat where shoppers are choking roads and traffic is moving at a snail’s pace. Shops here are trying to outsmart each other with attractive offers and discounts and luring customers by doling out toffees and sherbet-filled glasses.

A mall here has put up an elaborately designed archway decorated with gamosa, japi and xorai at the entrance and is attracting customers with free vouchers and gift coupons.

Another garment shop has brought in designer Nandini Baruah with her array of designer mekhela sadors, sarees and kurtis.

Nandini Baruah, former Gladrags Mrs India second runners-up in 2007, is organising a trunk show-cum-sale which has wended its way from Duliajan, Digboi and Dibrugarh, with Jorhat being the last stop for the season.

Another shop has given discounts on every saree for sale, the price ranging from Rs 90 to Rs 350-400.

Alpana Saikia, however, was a bit disappointed by the stock, especially tops.

“Just about a week ago when the season had started and shopping was at its peak, the shops were selling old stock and I was told that new things would be put in much later,” she said.

Moyuri Dutta, however, was happy with the bargains she had picked up for herself and other members of the family. “I live in an extended family and I think this was the best time to pick up things with shops offering heavy discounts,” she said.