Monday, Nov 12, 2012
Dubai: Sales of gold, confectionary and traditional clothing have doubled in the days leading up to Diwali as residents and Indian tourists prepare for the festive occasion.
Gold retailers sold up to seven kilogrammes of gold per day during the five-day celebration especially on Dhanteras, a day believed to be auspicious for buying gold that fell on Sunday.
Meena Bazaar and the old gold souq in Dubai thronged with crowds and traffic as people went shopping for gold, Indian sweets, saris, earthenware candles (dias) and decorations for Diwali which means “row of lamps” in Sanskrit and marks the triumph of light over darkness.
“Sales are good, more than 150 people came in last night [on Sunday] to buy gold. We sold 6.5kg of gold and our target is more than 3kg a day,” said Bashir Ahmad, senior sales staff at Pure Gold. “It’s too much busy. In Diwali, our gold jewellery sales almost doubled compared to normal days.”
At Joyalukkas, gold jewellery items on promotion were sold out on Sunday across their stores while sales shot up 30 percent during Diwali compared to the month before, according to one manager.
“There was a lot of rush, especially Indians from here and tourists from India. People buy from Dubai because of the quality and design,” said Stalin Thomas, a showroom manager with Joyalukkas. “The Bur Dubai gold market depends on such occasions. It will always be alive.”
Indian confectionary shops also got a slice of the good fortune.
Puranmal, which has 11 stores in Dubai and two in Sharjah, saw business jump by more than 50 per cent during Diwali compared to the last month, the store owner said.
Tangled rows of customers push up against the glass counters loaded with traditional sweets, calling out their orders or eyeing the choices.
“It’s been very busy from the last four or five days. It will continue for the next two days. Our fast-sellers are kaju katli, anjeer barfi, boondi ladoo and pista barfi,” said store owner Abhay Agarwal. “The sweets are also used in temple and home rituals.”
Non-Indian clients and tourists also buy the sweets for their Indian friends celebrating Diwali, he said.
Supermarket chains have also stocked Diwali-related items such as lights, earthenware candle-holders, sweets and decorations.
Al Maya supermarket in Bur Dubai sold out its Diwali decoration items and saw business increase by 60 percent compared to last month for Diwali items such as lights, pots, and sweets, said store manager Mahesh Kumar.
Clothing and textile shops also got a cut of the action. Lucky Kids, a budget clothing store in Bur Dubai had a 25 percent increase in sales of traditional Indian clothes, said store manager Shakeel Khan.
By Deena Kamel YousefStaff Reporter
Gulf News 2012. All rights reserved.
