Kolkata, Oct. 1 -- It is 5 pm on a Wednesday and Gariahat is unusually quiet for a market just weeks ahead of Durga Puja. Amit Bhattacharya, who runs three garment shops selling mostly women's wear on the Gariahat pavement, has earned only Rs 2,000 so far that day. With just two weeks left for Puja, markets and malls across Kolkata are witnessing a sharp weekend rush. However, unlike previous years, weekday footfall appears to be relatively low this time, according to shoppers and shopkeepers in Esplanade, Gariahat and at city malls.
For many Kolkatans, the footpath stalls of Esplanade and Gariahat remain a shopping wonderland, particularly before Puja. The Metro Railway is also gearing up for the festive rush, with additional services planned on October 3, 4, 10 and 11 to manage the expected crowds around key shopping hubs such as Hatibagan, Shyambazar, Gariahat and Esplanade. Yet, visit these markets on a weekday and the picture is markedly different.
When Millennium Post visited SS Hogg Market, popularly known as New Market, on Tuesday afternoon, several popular garment shops had only a handful of customers. "Sales are 50 per cent lower," said a shopkeeper at a salwar-kameez store. Some shopkeepers also pointed to less sales after the decline in customers from Bangladesh, who traditionally frequented the century-and-a-half-old market. Weather, too, has been cited as another factor affecting shopping. Shopkeepers said the surplus rainfall this year has also had an impact on Puja shopping. A similar picture emerged in Gariahat. Several shopkeepers blamed rising household expenses for the subdued shopping. "With the prices of sugar, edible oil, pulses and rice going up, the common man's kitchen budget has been disrupted. Will the common man save the kitchen and household or spend on fashion?" asked a Gariahat shopkeeper.
For shoppers, too, the quieter markets have been a surprise. The subdued weekday footfall was also visible at South City Mall. When Millennium Post visited the mall around 5 pm on Monday, it did not appear particularly crowded for a weekday in the run-up to Puja.
"Footfall has risen by around 20 per cent over the past two weekends, and more families are arriving in the early afternoon instead of leaving the trip until evening. That gives them time to shop, eat and make an outing of it. Pleasant weather and new brand launches have helped bring people in, and the longer visit is showing up in strong business," a South City Mall spokesperson said.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.