Santa suits, stars and trees fly off shelves in Patna

Patna: The magic of Christmas is in the air in Patna. Twinkling lights, jingling bells and the scent of freshly baked cakes have taken over Patna, as the city gears up to celebrate Christmas with gusto. Markets from Boring Road to Kadamkuan are buzzing with shoppers hunting for everything from sparkling stars to Santa suits.Churches, schools, and various institutions and buildings have been beautifully illuminated ahead of Christmas. The markets across the city remain packed as people are buying decorative items, gifts, cards, and cakes for the celebration.From Boring Road to Kadamkuan, vendors are riding high on the festive wave, with decorative items—fancy X-mas trees, Santa Claus dresses, facemasks, bands, wreaths, bells, stars, toys, glasses, statues of nativity scenes, and other decorations of all shapes, sizes, and hues vanishing from shelves. Confectionery shops have hired extra hands to prepare cakes, baked cookies, and chocolates for the Yuletide.A local trader, Avinash Kumar at Boring Road crossing, beamed about the chaos: “The little ones are buzzing with anticipation, practically hauling their folks in to snag those eye-catching trees, fun accessories, and battery-operated Santa Claus toys. The toy price is Rs1,100, and within a week, I sold more than 100 pieces. It is something new this season and is selling like hot cakes.”Prices are as varied as the options—compact Christmas trees start at just Rs60 and climb to a whopping Rs10,000 for the grand, fully decked versions. Bells ring in at Rs50 to Rs250, stars shine from Rs50 to Rs450, and Santa outfits range from Rs100 for pocket friendly picks to Rs4,000 for premium ensembles.“Models of nativity scenes and festive hats and glasses are absolute hits—we have already moved goodies worth over Rs50,000,” said Sonu Kumar, a vendor at Kadamkuan. He further said Christmas trees are evergreen among the buyers and a must for the celebration. “Apart from bells and stars, snowflakes, gift boxes, and fruit-adorned wreaths are disappearing in a flash,” he said.This year, LED stars, delicate glass baubles, scented candles, and string lights are the stars of the show. Many opt for plain trees for the decor, while others love the convenience of ready-made deliveries. Even the real pine trees are in demand this year.Shannu Kumar, a shopkeeper at a nursery near Gandhi Maidan, said he sold up to 30 pine trees recently, mainly for Christmas. “It ranges from Rs400 to Rs900, depending on the size,” he said.