Chennai’s Koyambedu Wholesale Market Complex will open a special market on Wednesday for Ayudha Pooja shopping, giving residents and establishments a 10-day window to buy traditional festive items before the festival on October 19.
The temporary market, organised by the Koyambedu Market Management Committee, will occupy 15 acres of parking space at the foodgrains market. It will remain operational until October 23 and cater to households, shops, offices, factories and other establishments.
Ayudha Pooja is traditionally observed by cleaning and worshipping tools, machinery, vehicles and work equipment. The special market will sell items including aval, or flattened rice, pori, or puffed rice, banana saplings, festoons, pumpkins and other pooja essentials.
The extended shopping period is intended to allow consumers to make their purchases before the festival instead of having to visit the market on the eve of Ayudha Pooja. It also gives seasonal traders designated space within the wholesale market complex.
Ahead of the opening, Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority Chief Executive Officer S P Karthikaa chaired a coordination meeting with officials from the market management committee, police, fire and rescue services, the Greater Chennai Corporation and Chennai Metro Rail Ltd. Trader representatives also attended the meeting.
Signboards will be installed at prominent locations to guide visitors to the special market, while loudspeaker announcements will provide information inside the complex. The committee will arrange drinking water and toilet facilities for shoppers and traders.
Officials will be deployed in shifts to monitor the premises and regulate vehicle movement in and around the complex. The traffic arrangements are intended to prevent congestion during the festive shopping period, when visitor and vehicle numbers are expected to rise at Koyambedu.
The market management committee will oversee the designated trading area and associated visitor facilities until the temporary market closes on October 23.
