Shoppers enjoy last minute Puja shopping in Gariahat, New Market and Hatibagan

With a few days left for the Durga Puja, the markets and malls across the city of Kolkata wore a festive look. There were crowds of enthusiastic puja shoppers, many of them without masks. The focal points were in Gariahat, New Market and Hatibagan. People arrived early in the day and kept increasing as time passed. Many of the shopkeepers at these markets kept their shops open for a longer time to take advantage of the rush. Shops that sold clothes, jewelry, bags and crockery were a huge hit amongst the shoppers. Even the food stalls were kept busy making rolls and spiced cold drinks. The customers included both shoppers and passersby. Similar scenes were witnessed outside the Esplanade metro station with people making a beeline for New Market. As evening descended, the crowd grew in size. A senior official of South City Group said - “The Saturday footfall was around 1.2 lakh. Going by the trend till evening, today’s count should be more.” another official of Acropolis Mall, said the entire weekend saw an impressive turnout. “This week we have seen 3 per cent more footfall and sales than 2019.” Kolkata sees rush on last Sunday before Puja, malls crowded, restaurants chock-a-block.

There was heavy police bandobast to ensure that the traffic was on the move, especially at the Gariahat intersection. The civic volunteers lifted the nylon ropes to allow people to cross the roads. Once in a while, an officer would reprimand a jaywalking pedestrian. In places like Gariahat and New Market, the pavements were jam packed with not an inch of space on the pavements. Restaurants near the shopping hubs did roaring business and witnessed a never-ending queue of people. Similar was the experience on Park Street. Obviously, there was happiness all around. A restaurant in Deshapriya Park had several people waiting outside, in queue. As the director of a restaurant admitted - “Our outlets in New Market and Hatibagan have been witnessing a rush even during the lean hours. Basically, there is no lean hour.”

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The Durga Puja at Maddox Square in Ballygunge has always been a big draw for Kolkata. This year it will return after two years of Covid-19 curbs that discouraged gatherings. Threats of pandemic are gradually receding and the organizers are preparing to welcome back the pandal-hoppers. The area covered by the pandal would be large enough to accommodate the guests. Big time sponsors are also back to ensure that the festive mood remains. Construction work on the pandal has started. As one of the organizers said - “We are delighted that night-long adda sessions will be back this year.” Incidentally, the police authorities at Lalbazar informed that the state government had not yet issued any specific directives about curbs during the Puja this year. Therefore, they have granted provisional clearance for adda at the venue. In case the government issues specific directions on gatherings in public places, the organisers have to abide by those guidelines. Maddox Square adda set to bring buzz back to south Kolkata’s favourite Durga Puja. This puja in south Kolkata began in 1935 and remained a favorite get-together zone for Puja revelers. In fact, some of them would arrive from the suburbs just to be part of the lounging sessions beginning Sashthi.

In the past, Maddox Square used to be famous for its nightlong cultural programs where hundreds of thousands of visitors would continuously pour in and out of the park. This year, there are plans for a cultural program on Mahalaya. On this day, the idol would be brought to the pandal. That is what a member of the organizing committee revealed. He adds - “We don’t believe in theme-based puja celebrations. Just that this time the pandal will be done up with patachitras.” The major sponsors are also showing interest. The enquiries for stalls and banners are encouraging and the organizers expect to revive the charm. Obviously, the food stalls would be a main attraction. Those who have gone out of Kolkata and settled in other cities like Chennai, Bengalore etcetera could return to enjoy the Durga puja in Kolkata.

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