Kolkata, Oct. 11 -- The city's major shopping hubs witnessed a massive footfall over the weekend, with crowds thronging Hatibagan, Gariahat and New Market on Saturday, which coincided with Mahalaya, and Sunday, as shoppers made last-minute purchases ahead of Durga Puja.
From clothing stores and jewellery stalls to roadside shoe vendors, markets across the city remained busy as people browsed, bargained and picked up festive essentials. While the crowds brought cheer to traders, some sellers said shoppers were spending less than before.
A New Market seller said Saturday and Sunday witnessed a huge rush, but the buying capacity of customers had declined. "There has been a huge rush over these two days, but people are buying fewer items. Their purchasing capacity has reduced," the seller said. In Hatibagan, jewellery seller Chottu Shaw said the festive rush began later than usual this year, but business picked up over the weekend.
"The rush started late compared to previous years, but sales over the last two days have been good," Shaw said, expressing hope that the momentum would continue in the run-up to Puja.
Meanwhile, shoppers continued to make last-minute purchases across the city. Kriti Biswas, a university student, was buying shoes from a roadside vendor in Gariahat on Sunday. "I am doing my Puja shopping at the last minute," she said.
The weekend rush was visible across the city's shopping districts, with shoppers filling market lanes and storefronts as Kolkata stepped up preparations for the festive season. For many, the two days around Mahalaya offered a final opportunity to complete their Puja shopping before the celebrations begin.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.