PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Nainital
Nainital’s markets came alive with festive fervour on Friday as crowds thronged the streets for Dhanteras. Ablaze with colorful lights and decorations, the city’s main commercial hubs drew eager shoppers from the early hours of the morning. While many focused on buying auspicious gold and silver coins, others flocked to stalls for traditional toys and household essentials, sending retail activity into overdrive.
A gold and silver merchant Sudhir Verma said that in Dhanteras, along with silver coins, there is a demand for keys, fish, turtles and a variety of small silver items. “These are available in weights ranging from five grams to 50 grammes, often referred to as toys. Although crowds are a bit smaller than in previous years, business is going well. Gold purchases are down slightly, while silver is doing fine,” he added.
A local Rita Devi said that she had completed her Dhanteras shopping of gold and silver coins and traditional toys. “We are impatiently looking forward to Diwali festivities. Dhanteras marks the beginning,” she added. Another local woman Ridhi said that earlier, there was a trend of buying steel glasses, bowls and plates on Dhanteras. “But around this time, people’s preferences have changed. They are opting for gold and silver coins according to their financial capacity. Apart from this, the tradition of buying brooms is also continuing. Despite the changing contour of the festival, the traditional culture of the hills still thrives,” she noted.
Sunita Verma, a homemaker, said: “Lakshmi idols in the mountains are made from sugarcane and lemon, symbolising prosperity. This also helps us connect with nature.”
