Kolkata’s Puja shopping season intensified on Sunday as crowds filled New Market, Gariahat, Hatibagan and Shyambazar, while shopping malls and eateries reported a steady flow of visitors ahead of Sashthi, which is 12 days away. The rush also slowed traffic and made pedestrian movement difficult in some of the city’s busiest commercial areas.
At New Market, there was hardly any space to stand by around 4pm as shoppers moved through crowded passages and stores. Shopkeepers said the rush had begun in the morning. Sunil Dutta, an employee at a women’s wear store selling saris and kurtis, said more than 50 saris and 30 kurtis had been sold at his store since 11am.
The timing of the weekend rush was linked partly to salaries being credited into bank accounts and shoppers trying to complete purchases before the festive crowd becomes heavier. Jhumjhum Dutta, a private-school teacher from Andul in Howrah, said she had brought her family to New Market after being unable to take time off earlier because of work and her children’s examinations.
She said the family had been at the market since noon but found it difficult to move between stores because of the crowd. Getting away from New Market was also a challenge. Around 4pm, traffic moved slowly and commuters waited for cabs to arrive. Gourab Mitra, who had come from Behala with his family, said he had been waiting for more than 20 minutes for a cab.
At Gariahat, the crowd had thickened by 5.30pm, with shoppers looking for accessories and festive clothing. Anuradha, a children’s wear store, was packed, and an employee said the shop had received a steady stream of customers since morning, leaving staff with little time for lunch.
The concentration of shoppers also placed pressure on the road and footpath network. A police officer posted at the Gariahat crossing said crowd management became increasingly difficult after 5pm, when some people began walking on the main road. Police personnel had to ask pedestrians to remain on the footpaths and allow vehicles to pass, but the officer said it became difficult to keep both pedestrian and vehicular movement flowing as the crowd increased.
For many visitors, however, the congestion was part of the city’s Puja experience. Bithika Bera, a resident of Alipore, said the crowds, lights and sound of dhaks made Gariahat feel festive even before Puja began.
Shopping malls also benefited from the seasonal footfall. At Acropolis Mall, the food court and escalators remained crowded through the evening, while stores saw a steady stream of shoppers. A Durga idol installed at the centre of the mall drew visitors who stopped to take photographs. Visitors Sneha Bhattacharya and Tina Sen Sharma said the decorations, idol and crowd had created a Puja atmosphere, with the family planning to have dinner at a mall restaurant after shopping.
Eateries in Gariahat and New Market remained occupied as families and groups of friends combined shopping trips with food stops. With the festive period still ahead, markets, malls, traffic police and commuters are expected to manage further increases in footfall as shoppers continue to complete their Puja purchases.