JOIN USThe festive season is around the corner and Bangaloreans are getting ready to celebrate Pongal and Sankranthi. Sprucing up their houses, preparing the yellu-bella, buying saris and investing in jewellery, folks in the City are a busy lot.
And since it’s a long weekend, many can’t wait to enjoy the celebrations.
Keerthi, a young professional, has spent the last two weeks shopping for the festival. “It’s that time of the year when we dole out gifts to other ladies in family. This time, we have chosen to give handbags. Although the gift may be small, it’s the thought that counts,” she says, adding, “I have bought myself a ghagra and I will also be investing in some gold jewellery this time.”
To ensure that she doesn’t overshoot her budget, Keerthi has been shopping at wholesale markets.
“I’ve picked up many of the items at Nagarathpet. For items like yellu bella and sugar cubes, we will be heading to Malleswaram and Avenue Road,” points out Keerthi.
For Geeta Subramanian, a teacher, Pongal means family get-togethers and shopping. “We wake up early to cook delicacies, which we distribute among family and friends.
After this, we have a small puja at home. It’s also that time when we shop to our heart’s content. Thankfully, most malls have sales going on right now,” she says.
Being practical is Harini Sundar, a professional, who has decided to buy office-wear for herself. “Although our celebrations aren’t very grand, we usually purchase new clothes and make sweet pongal. I’m going to buy clothes which I can wear on a daily basis,” says Harini.
Prithveesh MK, a young advocate, says that this Sankranthi, he is looking forward to buying his mother platinum jewellery. “Sankranthi is the time of the year when the entire family gets together. Every year, we buy something for the festival. This year, it might be jewellery for my family,” he says.
Pointing out that business is brisk, Santosh Raju, who runs Kantilal Raju Jewellers on Avenue Road, says, “The shopping for jewellery began at the beginning of the week. A lot of people are picking up silver items as gifts. What is moving fast are bowls in which yellu is distributed. Some are even buying silver idols.”
But apparel stores feel that the shopping is yet to pick up. “We’re hoping that there is a rise in the sales during the weekend. So far, those who have come for festival shopping are typically going in for Kanjeevaram silks and anarkali style suits,” says Praveen Kumar, manager of Navrathan Silks on MG Road.
He adds, “But we still feel that the demand is not as much as it should be.”
According to Sajjan, manager of Soch, MG Road, what’s in this season is the ‘half-and-half sari’.
“The contrast colour saris are popular in silk and other materials. Even the ghagra sari is something that people are picking up,” he says.