INDIRA CHETRY

Guwahati: Despite the Covid19 restrictions were lifted and everyone believed that this time Durga Puja celebration would bring business back to track, the high inflation rate in addition to online sales continued to impact the business community here.

Shopping malls, shops though have been opting for regular sales and offers to attract buyers, not many have felt in the trap. However, the hustle and bustle has gone up owing to the festivities and puja pandals coming up in multiple locations here.

“This time, there are remarkably few buyers at the markets. We have reduced the cost of our items, yet there are still not enough buyers. The majority of consumers preferred online purchasing, thus we have very few buyers as a result”, a street shop owner told to TIME8.

“After two years of Covid19 restrictions, we had expected that business would be booming this year. Unfortunately, the timing of the celebration and price rise of essential commodities have been directly affecting the market in a negative way,” the shopkeeper added.

Shopkeepers believed that as the Durga puja celebration starts from October 1, buyers who were mostly working in private sectors might be having difficulty to expense as their salaries might not have been credited yet.

City’s Fancy Bazar area, one of the most favourite locations for shoppers here, also seemed to be struggling with buyers.

A shop owner in Fancy Bazar said, “There is festive sales going on online and people prefer to get good deals there. Though we have reduced rates of the products keeping the online sales in mind, the market is yet to get momentum. With one week left, we are still hopeful for a revival in the scenario.”

Covid-19 impact could be seen in several popular shopping points as well as city shopping malls even got shut down during the last couple of months too.

After Bihu, Durga Puja has been celebrated in full fervor in the state every year. However, due to Covid-19 related restrictions during the last two years, Durga puja festivities witnessed limited crowd participation.

Though there was no restriction this year like the previous years, the Kamrup (metro) administration has still chosen to put a few of the restrictions. While hygiene and the proper entry-exit facility was mandatory in every puja pandals, cultural programmes were asked to finish by 9 PM.

Nearly 400, Durga puja pandals try various attractions to pull crowds every year in the city. Durga puja festivities will end on October 5, 2022.