On Sunday, the City seemed to be in a festive mood. The youngsters at MG Road looked happier than on usual weekends because it was Friendship Day. 

“It’s the most awaited day of the year for me; even more than the Valentine’s Day,” said Vineet Mann, a student of II Year, BA at Al-Ameen College. Valentine’s is special only for a couple but Friendship Day is a day to celebrate with everyone, whom you share a bond with, he added.

A software engineer at Spam Systems, Arjun said, ‘The best part of this day is it falls on a Sunday.’ Akshatha, 12 years, was happy as her mother wouldn’t scold her for going home late this Sunday. She realised how many friends she had, when she finished all the 20 friendship bands that she had bought by 1:30 pm and still needed more.

She was wearing 11 friendship bands on both her wrists. While Archana, a student of III year BSc at The National College, is inspired by an old saying and counts her age with friends but not with years; Sonal, a call centre employee, thinks: “One needs a celebration of friendship only, when friendship is not part of one’s being.”

She celebrates friendship everyday, she said. Badrish Prakash, Principal Consultant at a KPO, said: “The celebration of Friendship Day is a marketing gimmick. The companies in the field of greeting cards, gifts and mobile services make a fortune on such a day.” But, at the same time, Badrish likes the idea of a get-together with friends.

 The mobile companies have been sending friendship messages to their customers for the last four to five days. “Friends Forever” and “Friendship Day on August 5th” were written on the steps of Archies Gallery, Brigade Road.

GIFTS

* Roses: Rs 10

* Friendship bands: Rs 10 to Rs 45

* Friendship cards: Rs 15 to Rs 125

* Sale of Friendship bands at Archies Gallery, Brigade Road: 2,500

* Sale of Friendship Cards at Archies Gallery, Brigade Road: 2,000

* High sale gift items: crystal items, jewellery, soft toys, star sign key chains (Rs 200 to Rs 500)