Ranchi’s Dhanteras market has expanded well beyond gold and silver, with cars, electronics and residential flats emerging as major purchases and businesses across Jharkhand preparing for a strong festive season. Automobile dealers have reported 1,100 vehicle sales in the past month and another 1,500 bookings ahead of Dhanteras, while the electronics sector expects turnover of about Rs 200 crore across the state.
Rajkumar, head of sales at an automobile outlet, said vehicles priced between Rs 11 lakh and Rs 17 lakh were among the most sought-after models, although buyers faced waiting periods of around three months. He said customer enquiries continued until midnight, keeping the outlet’s sales team occupied.
Vehicles offering multiple fuel options, including petrol, CNG, hybrid and electric models, are seeing particularly strong demand, according to Rajkumar. CNG models, he said, were frequently out of stock, indicating pressure on supplies during the festive buying period.
The increase in vehicle purchases is part of a wider shift in Dhanteras consumption patterns in Ranchi. Electronics retailers are seeing demand for mobile phones, televisions, refrigerators, washing machines, air fryers and induction cooktops. Sri Krishna Agarwal, head of the electronics sub-committee of the Federation of Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce and Industries, said the sector could generate around Rs 200 crore in turnover across Jharkhand.
Agarwal said e-commerce platforms continued to attract price-sensitive customers through the year, but Dhanteras was bringing many buyers back to physical stores. Consumer offers and bonus schemes were also encouraging purchases, he said.
The festive demand is also extending to residential property. Alok Sarawagi, head of FJCCI’s real estate sub-committee, said buyers were increasingly preferring flats over independent houses. Security, organised neighbourhoods and maintenance facilities were among the factors shaping that preference.
For households, the festival is also becoming a planned purchasing window rather than only an occasion for buying precious metals. Chandani Kumari, a homemaker from Bariatu, said her family had scheduled an upgrade of household appliances around Dhanteras because festive offers made the purchases more affordable.
The reported buying pattern links festive retail activity with broader urban consumption choices: mobility purchases, household equipment and apartment living are all forming part of the same seasonal market. Automobile dealers, electronics retailers and real estate representatives are now looking to the remaining festive period to convert current enquiries and bookings into completed sales.
