Celebrating Friendship Day

Lucknow: Five years ago, it used to be a clandestine Friendship Day. Schoolchildren tied friendship bands to each other away from the teachers’ glare while parents got miffed if children pestered them for buying gifts for Friendship Day. But things are different today.
Parents now accompany their wards to gift shops to help them make the best bargain.Friendship Day falls on the first Sunday of August.
On the eve of it, TOI explored the markets to get a feel of the buzz. Shopkeepers expressed happiness over the participation of parents. “Mothers are no more narrow-minded.
They help their kids in choosing the best gift. That’s where the trend has changed and for the good,’’ Vaibhav Arora, owner of a prominent gift store in Janpath, said. Though friendship bands still remain the most popular gift, special friendship rings are also getting buyers this year. The variety of bands rang from Rs 5 to Rs 70. Other popular gift items include soft toys and bracelets which are easy on pocket for college goers.
“School kids generally look for low range friendship bands as they have to gift them to a number of friends. Some youngsters demand bangles, hand bags, wallets, perfumes and others,’’ Lakhan Keswani, owner of another gift store in Hazratganj, said.
Specials: Friendship Day