MillenniumPost
Bengal

Shoppers turn up with umbrellas at Bazi Bazar

Kolkata: Rainfall did not dampen the Diwali shopping spirit as scores of people turned up at the Bazi Bazar Shahid Minar Maidan that kicked off from Wednesday.

"I bought charka, tubris and phuljaris from Bazi Bazar Shahid Minar Maidan today. The crackers were worth Rs 900," said Debasish Mitra, a student of CA, who bought crackers from Bazi Bazar Shahid Minar Maidan.

The fair, exhibiting an array of firecrackers, is usually held prior to Kali Puja and Diwali. A large number of people come to the fair and buy crackers. "I came to the market at 4.45 pm today. I will buy a variety of crackers for children," Amit Kar, a resident of Golf Green.

The Bazi Bazar at Shahid Minar Maidan that kicked off from Wednesday late afternoon is gradually picking up sales amidst apprehension from the traders that bad weather predicted by the Met department in the next two days would deter people from buying crackers from the market.

"There is a new type of cracker called Whatsapp in the fair. I will not say anything about it. I want people to buy it find out themselves," said Babla Ray, chairman of Sara Bangla Atasbazi Unnayan Samity.

"In comparison to last year's price, the cost of crackers has been hiked by at least by 15 percent due to GST and the stall rent has also witness an increase. Last year, the stall rent was Rs 80,000. Now it has shot up to Rs 87, 000," said Omar Mukhtar, owner of Babu Bhai stall.

It was learnt that in the traders had to face a loss after the venue was shifted from Maidan last year.

The fair was held at Vivekananda Park in Southern Avenue.

"We incurred 40 percent loss last year due to shift of cracker fair venue. We hope all the stalls will make a good business this year. Apart from Shahid Minar Maidan, the cracker fair is also held at Behala, Jadavpur, Talla, Tollygunge, Howrah and Habra," said Ray.

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