Prayagraj: No to Chinese, only indigenous decor this Diwali; may set new record in small towns

PRAYAGRAJ: Like the past two years, this Diwali too, city-based traders have decided to shun Chinese items, and booked orders for unique indigenous articles for home decor.
From designer and colourful diyas, waterproof piped jhalars, southern state-made entrance arches to cloth lamps and indigenous decorative items like designer rangolis, chandeliers, bamboo flower pots and desi fairy lights are set to hit the markets this year.
Traders have placed orders for around 10 lakh earthen diyas for Diwali.
President of Prayag Vyapaar Mandal Vijay Arora told TOI: “ Indian consumers are avoiding Chinese lights and decoratives for the past two consecutive years and after noticing the change in trend this Janmashtami, traders have placed orders of indigenous articles from different states a month prior to Diwali.”
He added: “This year, the sale of decorative fairy lights from Delhi will increase manifold at the famous Shahganj electronic market.”
Arora claimed that there had been a significant decline in the sale of Chinese products in past two years and traders had too suffered losses.
A trader at Mutthiganj Ravi Kumar said: “The sale of indigenous decorative products has picked up for the past two years and after witnessing the change, we have booked indigenous products only.”
Arora claimed that women associated with different vyapaar mandals are too promoting the sale of indigenous designer and colourful diays.
This year, women office bearers of different vyapaar mandals would be organising special fair to promote designer and colourful diyas. Moreover, bookings have also been made for decorative pieces made of bamboo and cane, he added.
Traders at Chowk, Ghantaghar and Shaganj markets admitted that “Majority of both urban and rural traders in Prayagraj region have started stocking indigenous items for sale. This Diwali, sale of traditional diyas is likely to see 30-40% increase from the last year.”
President of Mundera Vyapaar Mandal Dhananjay Singh said: “Prayagraj is a big market in the region comprising Kaushambi, Pratapgarh, Jaunpur and adjoining areas wherein traders from small towns and villages arrive to purchase a variety of goods in wholesale. This year, the sale of indigenous decorative is likely to set a new record in small towns too during the festive season” he added.