NONGSTOIN, Dec 11: As dreaded, Christmas shopping in Nongstoin did not seem to be the same like yesteryears. The COVID-19 pandemic, as envisioned, was the one to play the spoilsport.
In Nongstoin, winter is regarded as the shopping season during which, people throng shops as soon as the month of December kicks in. However, owing to the COVID-19 apprehensions and economic uncertainty, people here have decided to not cough up money with the usual zeal for Christmas shopping unlike yesteryears.
It is due to this, the local businesses, which are engaged in selling shoes, clothes and Christmas decorations, have been hit hard.
More often than not, Christmas celebrations in Nongstoin have been different compared to other places in the state, where services in churches are held on December 25 while main celebrations and colourful events are organised mostly on December 26 or 27. However, due to the COVID-19 scenario, there will be no Christmas celebrations this year.
Speaking with The Shillong Times, Eva Marwein, who is a shoe seller, said that 2020 is the worst year ever for her business.
Marwein said that during Christmas, she would usually earn Rs 20,000 to 30,000 per day, which has gone down to Rs 3,000 to 4,000 per day this year. Making the matters worse, due to the odd-even mechanism for opening of shops, she would earn only three days a week. B Dkhar, who owns a shop in Nongstoin market, told The Shillong Times that 3-4 shops engaged in selling clothes have relocated somewhere else due to the meagre footfall. Despite the relocation, the situation for them continues to remain the same, she lamented.
However, internet has turned out to be a boon for select people this year with many transitioning to online shopping due to the prevailing scenario.
People say they would look at a product featured on Facebook, buy them, and receive the products within 6-7 days, saving themselves from the hassle of shopping offline.
