Tricolour sales surge in Patna

PATNA: Vendors selling tricolours in the city are doing brisk business with the increasing demand of national flags made of cotton, silk and 'khadi', following the announcement of 'Har Ghar Tiranga' by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Independence Day celebration - 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav'.

Markets in the city are not only flooded with the tricolours of various sizes but also with other decorative items like badges, caps, balloons, streamers, wreaths, brooches, ribbons and wrist bands. Apart from 'khadi bhandars' and shops, several makeshift stalls selling tricolours and wide range of items for the I-Day celebration have come up in different areas.

According to a vendor at Kadamkuan Suresh Singh, all private and government institutions, business enterprises and commercial entities are buying flags and other items in bulk after the upliftment of Covid-19 restrictions. "The tricolour is selling like hot cakes and we have already sold two-third of our stock. We are stocking up some more flags as the demand will be more on the last day," he said.

Mohd Sakib, a makeshift vendor at Bailey Road, said almost 20% sale has increased as compared to the pre-pandemic time. "The tricolour is available in the range of Rs 5 to Rs 800 depending on the size and fabric. Mostly people buying the average size and bigger one is generally picked for flag hoisting ceremony," Shakib said.

Patna Khadi Mall manager Ramesh Choudhary said after the announcement of 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign, the sale has picked up to 30%. "We are selling more than 500 flags everyday," he said, adding that more than 10 lakh tricolours have been sold by the Bihar Rajya Khadi Gram Udyog Board so far.