By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Oct 11: Durga Puja beckons the state with just 10 days in hand for people to prepare for the festivity. Nonetheless, Shillong’s puja shopping frenzy seems underwhelming, which has local retailers nervous and dissatisfied.
Residents usually go on a shopping binge right from the start of the Durga Puja month, but this year, the roads and shops in Khyndai Lad have a widowed and muted appearance in sharp contrast to the hustle and bustle seen in previous years.
A shopkeeper from Police Bazaar, when asked about the onset of the Durga Puja fever, responded with a smile and gestured towards his shop, brimming with Khasi customers. With a hint of irony, he remarked, “What Durga Puja? There’s Christmas coming up in October.”
When asked why the Puja purchasing frenzy had abated, he cited the declining number of non-tribal people in Shillong. “Where are the non-tribals? All of them are gradually departing Shillong.”
Owner of Motirams on the GS Road, Ishwar Kiani, said that this year’s Puja season feels different and does not have the typical celebratory vibe.
Kiani rejected the idea that internet shopping could represent a danger to neighbourhood shops, pointing out that there is no substitute for the in-person experience of handling, seeing, and purchasing goods.
He made it clear that his clientele is different from that of ordinary internet buyers.
While acknowledging the growing popularity of online buying among young people, the owner of Saree Palace on GS Road in Shillong stated that clients who prefer in-store shopping tend to visit on weekends and holidays.
For this reason, store owners are expecting a spike in sales during the next few weekends.
