HYDERABAD, INDIA August 3, 2012 (Times of India): It was festival time in the city on Thursday as families celebrated Raksha Bandhan with great fervor. Most schools and colleges remained closed on the occasion while sweet shops and gift stores cashed in on the festive boom to report 25%-40% increase in sales. Gift boxes of assorted chocolates sold like hotcakes this year according to some store managers.
While some celebrated at home in the traditional way with the sister observing a fast until she tied the rakhi on her brother’s wrist after taking elders’ blessings, others celebrated at their workplaces with their co-workers. City roads were not as clogged as is usual and many restaurants organized rakhi-themed lunches and dinners with special and traditional items on their menu.
Rajesh Dadu, proprietor of Dadu’s Mithai Vatika, said, “Sales today are three times more than on a regular day and 25% better than last year. We were not expecting such a good response from the public but customers started pouring in from yesterday itself. We made the most of the rush by making special festive sweets like sitaphal rasmalai, pineapple mazab, badam and kaju sweets shaped like rakhis and other snacks like mini pizzas.
Meanwhile, gift stores in the city were crowded with customers looking for the perfect gift for their family members. “We have never recorded such high sales of chocolate during raksha bandhan. Our profits this year are at least 50% greater than previous year’s figures,” said Sayeed Abid, supervisor at Himalaya Book World.