Poila Baisakh: Heat fails to deter the shoppers as crowds swell at markets

Kolkata: Five days ahead of Bengali New Year, markets in the city are bustling with crowds looking for shops offering the latest fashion at reasonable prices and eateries offering a variety of Bengali dishes.

According to a shopper at Hatibagan, people buy new clothes ahead of the Poila Baisakh and buying gold jewellery is also a practice amongst people. Business owners buy new ledgers to open on the day of the Bengali New Year.

Every year, except for the two years of the pandemic 2020-22, markets are usually crowded at this time of the year. This year the hawkers are hopeful of doing brisk business.

However, for many shopkeepers, the competition with online shopping has affected their sales.

“The sales this year have dropped by 40 per cent,” a shopkeeper at Gariahat said.

A 40-year-old shopper who had come to Hatibagan with his wife said that they prefer to come to the market and buy the product but their children who are currently studying prefer to buy “stylish” clothes at better prices online. Apart from online shopping, heat has also factored the number of people visiting markets.

The city on Monday recorded a maximum temperature of 37 degree Celsius and a minimum of 27 degree Celsius. According to the regional meteorological centre in Alipore, the temperature is likely to rise by 2-3 degree Celsius between April 10 to April 15.

Even in this heat, people have been stepping out to markets in Hatibagan, Sealdah, Nagerbazar, Gariahat, Behala and Esplanade to shop for new clothes for Poila Baisakh, to be observed on April 15.

Many are choosing to step out during evening hours when the temperature drops slightly. “Stepping out in the afternoon is becoming impossible due to the heat. We are stepping out mostly during evening hours and carrying liquid to avoid dehydration,” a shopper at New Market said. Even the regional meteorological centre on Monday issued a special bulletin stating that hot and uncomfortable weather is likely to prevail over the districts. According to their forecast, the temperature is likely to rise and dry weather is likely to prevail.

Health experts have suggested that people avoid prolonged heat exposure and wear lightweight, light-coloured, loose, cotton clothes. They have also advised people to remain hydrated.