Rainfall fails to mar spirit of shoppers

Kolkata: Rainfall couldn't dampen the Puja shopping spirit as people continue to buy new clothes from Gariahat, New Market, Hatibagan and the shopping malls across the city braving heavy showers.

All marketplaces in the city witnessed huge crowd of shoppers.

The sellers who were skeptical about shoppers' turnout after heavy rainfall that lashed the city in the morning had reasons to smile with people thronging in large numbers to the markets with Sunday being the last holiday for shopping before the Durga Puja.

Apprehending rainfall during Durga Puja people bought umbrellas at Rs 200 per piece at the New Market.

All the markets witnessed an unprecedented surge in footfall and enthusiasm among the people.

People started thronging various shops from the morning while many other shoppers preferred going to shopping malls during the evening to avoid the sun.

All the Esplanade-bound Metros were more crowded than on normal days.

Most of the shoppers were seen getting down at Esplanade Metro station, which is one of the favourite destinations for the city dwellers.

Like every year, this year too Kamala, the retail outlet of the Crafts Council of India, has brought stunning weaves and handlooms.

"Like almost every year, this year too, we have been hugely successful in keeping up with demands and taste of our customers. Simple cotton weaves, tussar silks, kota sarees to salwar suit pieces and Benarasi dupattas have been special attractions for the shoppers this time. A lot of people have picked our sarees as corporate gifts, as Puja is implicitly linked to the beauty and celebration of sarees. We are delighted that we could sell a good number of sarees from our store," said Gaurav Agarwal of Sundari in Gariahat.

Apart from the various branded shops, the roadside stalls were found selling various items in New Market, Gariahat and Lindsay Street. Many road-side eateries and restaurants in Dharmatala area, Shyambazar and Gariahat had brisk business as people took stepped into such stalls to have some food after shopping.

The city police have come with additional arrangements. Extra police forces were deployed at all the important places to check any untoward incidents. People are flocking to their favourite shopping destinations in the city as Durga Puja is set start from the next week.