Stores selling hand bags, readymade garment, gold and silver jewellery, utensils, electronic gadgets, wrist watches and confectioneries have reported brisk business this Tihar festival, which began on Friday.

Bullion traders in the Capital sold around 30kg of gold jewellery and 1,700kg of silver jewellery and utensils on Dhanteras on Friday. People consider it auspicious to invest in gold and silver on Dhanteras.

“Demand for gold and silver jewellery and utensils generally jumps in Tihar, especially on Dhanteras,” Mani Ratna Shakya, president of the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, said.

The practice of offering gifts on Bhaitika, the fifth and last day of Tihar, is also becoming common. Bhai Tika is observed by sisters applying tika to the foreheads of their brothers to ensure long life and thank them for the protection they provide. Brothers and sisters exchange gifts like hand bags, apparels, jewellery, electronic gadgets, wrist watches, confectioneries and personal grooming products.

Jitendra Man Singh, proprietor of Dulahi Saree, a retail store in Makhan, said sales of saris, a garment worn by females, have also gone up. He said men prefer to gift saris made up of silk and siphons to their sisters. The demand for kurta salwar is up, Singh added.

Pashmina shawls are other most-sought-after gift items. Parbati Shrestha, owner of Palanchok Bhagawati Pashmina Industry, said red pashmina shawls are fast selling. She said the products made of up of 70 percent pashmina and 30 percent silk are high in demand. They cost from Rs800 to Rs2,500 per unit.

Lately, the trend of gifting electronic gadgets like smartphones is on the rise. 

“Sales of mobile phones have surged due to the reason,” said Pawan Kumar Bhimsaria, managing director of Bhimsaria Group. He said the company is offering a silver coin for free on purchase of a mobile phone.

People also gift household utensils, considering their utility value. Ishwor Dangol, owner of Ishwor Store at Ason, said sales of rice cookers, vacuum cleaners, mixer-grinders, and gas stoves have surged.