Sales of decorative lights go up as Tihar nears

With Tihar, also known as Deepawali - the festival of lights, around the corner, sales of decorative lights is increasing in the market. Traders in Mahabouddha - a famous market for Chinese products - and New Road said sales of decorative lights are up by around 40 percent this year. “Last year, my daily sales hovered around Rs 15,000. This year sales are up to around Rs 25,000 per day,” Bikash Gautam, a wholesaler of electric items at New Road, told Republica. Gautam sells lighting system ranging from Rs 100 to Rs 35,000 per piece. “Almost all the people light up their homes and hearths during Deepawali. Not only during Deepawali, have people light up their homes during weddings and other social occasions,” he added. Pravin Agrawal, a wholesaler based in Mahabouddha said, echoed Gautam and said his daily sales have topped Rs 30,000 this year. “Last year my daily sales averaged Rs 20,000. This year sale is growing at an impressive rate,” Agrawal added. He attributed construction of more buildings and the influence of India where lighting is the key aspect of celebration to rising sales of decorative lights. Agrawal sells decorative lights priced between Rs 50 to Rs 3,000 per piece. Another trader at Mahabouddha, Vicky Agrawal, also said sales of decorative lights are up this Tihar. “Earlier I used to record average daily sales of Rs 10,000. This year I have been selling products worth around Rs 17,000 a day,” Vicky said. Products at Vicky´s shop are available in the price range of Rs 50 to Rs 1,500. Lights available in attractive designs like flowers, photo frames, fruits, animals and religious symbols like Om and Swastik and others are high in demand this year. Most of these products come from China.