This year, it is good-bye to jazzy chaniya-cholis. What's in, is simple chaniyas teemed with bright dupattas and attractive jewellery. To make chaniya-cholis more trendy, the movers and shakers are mixing and matching various colours. While many still prefer the traditional bandhini, there are some are going in for fluorescent coloured chaniya-cholis.

``This year there has been a great demand for backless cholis, trendy chaniyas and even designed shirts,'' said Hemali of Hemali's Designer Wear at Race Course Circle. ``Most people don't seem to mind spending a packet on an outfit if it can be worn even after Navratri.''

An employee of Rangvesh, a boutique in Alkapuri, said that this year quite a few women had come in to get their dupattas sequinned or embroidered with mirrors. As for men, there had been a lot of demand for the heavily worked kotis.

Then there are others at Navabazar who maintained that dressing up was no longer the sole preserve of women. ``There were many boys who came with their kurtas to look for either a matching dupatta or for one that would look attractive when tied around'', said a shop-keeper.

Such has been the rush that Navabazar shop-keepers are shooing away people looking for anything other than Navratri-wear.

Apart from clothes, jewellery shops are marking up good sales. The trend this year is for long necklaces, rather than chokers. Oxidised jewellery, as much in demand this year as in any other, costs anything ranging from Rs 300 to Rs 400 for a set.

Dressing up can never be complete without bangles. This year the trend is for wearing glass bangles interspersed with oxidised ones. Many girls are also going in for the white plastic Rajasthani bangles.

So far as hairstyles are concerned, it's a blunt if it's short and any number of elaborate styles if it isn't. Girls are experimenting with tying a scarf on the jooda or decorating it with flowers to match the outfit.

There are a lot of people who do not dance but love to dress up either for the love of it or to get noticed. Thus, the action is restricted not just to the dance circle; there is a lot happening outside too.