Kolkata: After two hours of shopping at Pasar Baru, MD Imran and Ayesha Khatoon returned home with their purchases: he was with two dresses; He is with several tees and shirts.
Zaid Alam, from Park Circus, also shop for clothes in the new market with his mother.
They have visited several malls but have not found a good skirt for a two-year-old child in the family.
At the Covid Times, about half the sale of the new market festival season originated from a community that did not celebrate Durga Puja as a religious festival.
Muslim family score from the surrounding area – free school road, Royd Street, Elliot Road, Taltala, Mehdi Bagan, Bowbazar, Colootola Street Park Circus and even Kidderpore, shopping at the Heritage Market to enjoy the festival on the corner: Durga Puja.
“Durga Puja is a religious festival.
But it is also the biggest social event here.
We also enjoy stepping out in new clothes, meeting friends and eating outside,” Imran said, highlighting the spirit of Puja, which surpassed religion to embrace all communities.
For many families, shopping clothing and footwear are quite low in the priority list since March 2020, because of a pandemic.
But things change now, with a reduction in the case.
“Many my business partners have Durga Puja at home, and they invite me and my family every year.
This year too, many invite me after a one-year gap.
So we go shopping for my wife, son, and myself.
I like visiting Wearing traditional clothes, “said Irfan Ahmed, a businessman and resident of Mahatma Gandhi Road.
Stocks are replenished and traders in the new market offer good discounts during festivals such as Eid al-Fitr, Durga Puja and Christmas.
“Unfortunately, two Covid-19 waves coincide with Eid al-Fitr and even Eid-Uz-Zoha.
But now, shops and malls are open and offer a good offer for new shares.
It is the right time to buy some clothes and footwear for Family members, “said Farhana Apostle, a resident of Jalan Cit Baru.
“There are several puja durga meetings from college friends we attended, so filling up the wardrobe becomes important.” Ashok Gupta, President of the SS Hogg Market Traders Association, said the secular nature of the festival and enthusiasm which with all the communities embraced the event had saved the market from the catastrophe.
“Usually, around this year, less than a month before Durga Puja, 75% of customers are Bengali Hindu shopping for Puja.
Even though the footsteps are currently around 45% of what it is in September 2019, almost half of customers in the new market are Muslims who live in A radius of 5 km.
If not because of them, many stores that are currently operating because they are only about rest will even be closed to reduce losses, “said Gupta Toi.
Amit Saha, who has salwar suite boutique on the market, said that almost two-thirds of their customers are Muslim women.
“Durga Puja is a festival that everyone enjoyed, regardless of religious beliefs,” he said.
“This is a great socio-cultural opportunity.
Apart from clothing, shoes, and jewelry flying from the shelf.” Muslim customers also said that Eid al-Fitr in May and Eid-Uz-Zoha in July was removed by covid restrictions and hence, They have not been able to buy new clothes and step out.
“Everyone, especially children and children, look forward to the celebration season,” said nature.
The Association of Secretary General Uday Kumar Shaoo said the local Muslim always patronized the market but their presence now became much more real for three reasons: the absence of Bangladesh customers due to travel restrictions between the two countries; Decreased local Bengali customers when they moved; And the lack of customers from the suburbs, because local trains have not started to function.
“Lots of Bengalal has moved from Central Kolkata to the suburbs and now shopping at the market closer to Behala, Jadavpur and Garawan.
Thus, the PAI Purchases Muslim customers have risen,” Shaoo argues, as adding that local Muslims have supported the market even during the day -Hari who challenged after the reopening market.
“At that time, 95% of customers were local Muslims,” ​​he said.