kolhapur city markets were abuzz with customers on gudi padwa with sales of sarafa or gold bullions electronic appliances automobiles and real estate skyrocketing on saturday the day was marked with the raising of the traditional gudi at households across the city hundreds of worshipers gathered at the mahalaxmi temple early in the morning to raise the gudi in the temple where it is called the brahmadhwaj is a symbol of victory at bhavani mandap gudi padwa signals the beginning of the chaitra month as per the hindu calendar the day also marks ramas return to ayodhya after killing ravana and is the start of the new harvest festival as well a member of the kolhapur sarafa vyapari sangh said that the response of customers on the occasion of gudi padwa rose considerably after gold rates lowered to rs 26500 last year the rates stood at rs 29000 the gold rates are low compared to last year and this was a catalyst for the response the lower rates boosted sales on saturday kedar kulkarni assistant manager at a citybased jewellery store said according to the kolhapur sarafa vyapari sangh member gold sales touch rs 10 crore in the city alone on the occasion of the gudi padwa girish raibage president of the kolhapur chapter of confederation of real estate developers association of india credai said the real estate market gained momentum on saturday and gave a positive boost to builders they had organized sales and marketing initiatives such as property exhibitions a month before and played a crucial role in gaining muchneeded customer response on the occasion of gudi padwa the regional transport office rto has initiated a special registration drive for vehicles on sunday as well as monday on saturday as many as 38 two wheelers and 94 four wheelers were registered at the special drive at the rto office an rto official said he added that the response is motivating considering that for last two years it was very low the official added that the registration number for fourwheelers surpassed two wheelers on saturday the registration was going on till evening and fetched a tremendous response the official said the electronics market also benefitted immensely laxman patil a sales manager at a citybased appliances store said that the day fetched over 200 deliveries of electronic appliances with a high demand for televisions refrigerators air conditioners and music systems buying new things on such an occasion is more of a ritual it increases the festive spirit and the cheerful atmosphere at the home a customer said kirtikumar patil a citybased utensils store owner said his store witnessed more than 100 customers buying utensils on saturday