Kolkata: Shopping reaches frenzied level on eve of Mahalaya

Tomorrow marks the start of Devi Paksha. Bengal’s biggest festival is here. But buying and purchasing continues and though Puja shopping is largely over for most, last minute buys remain for a few for those missed persons, relatives, friends and all.

Although rain has dampened the rush, people continue to love and indulge in shopping experience till their pockets get empty.

Like every year this year too 'Kamala', the retail outlet of the Crafts Council of India, has brought in stunning weaves and handlooms of award winning national awardees, Shilp gurus and Padma shrees.

In South Kolkata, the puja crowds and buyers too have set a wave. Buying is not merely for the Pujas but right up to Diwali and Bhai phonta (bhayia dooj) which follows shortly. Many are picking sarees for their family wedding trousseau from 'Sundari' in Gariahat which is next to Pantaloons.

Gaurav Agarwal, Director, 'Sundari', states, 'Like most years this year too we have been hugely successful in keeping the demands and satisfaction of our customers. From simple cotton weaves, Tussore silks , Kora sarees to salwar suit pieces and Benarsi dupattas have been the special attractions for the shoppers. This time a lot of people have picked our sarees as corporate gifts, as Puja is implicitly linked to the beauty and celebration of sarees. We are delighted to have sold a very good number of sarees from our store.'

Major markets in the North like Hatibagan, College Street and Ultadanga witnessed frenzied buying. Both in the south and north shop keepers had taken over parts of the pavements displaying their wares.

New Market and Lindsay Street in central Kolkata were choc-a-bloc with shoppers, with the crowd spilling over to the arterial JN Road.

Brisk buying was witnessed in the high end malls as well.