Susmita Rakshit Sep 14, 2011, 11.06pm IST
GUWAHATI: September's here and the monsoons are almost over. The crisp morning air is just beginning to get perceptibly cooler and the bamboo skeletons of Durga Puja pandals can be seen coming up in nooks and corners of the city, indicative of the upcoming festive season, beginning with the Pujas and ending with Diwali.
People of the city are slowly getting into a festive mood. While the ones who plan to stay back here and enjoy the festivities have already begun their Puja shopping, others who prefer to be far from the madding crowd are planning short and long getaways.
Apart from the usual getaways in eastern India - Puri, Digha, Darjeeling and Sikkim - people are opting for far-off destinations like Kerala, Himachal Pradesh and Kashmir. Those who have the moolah to go on holidays abroad are opting for Southeast Asian destinations like Bangkok and Singapore.
Meanwhile, those who love the Puja buzz, the crazy crowds, the multicoloured lights, new clothes, lipsmacking food and carnival-like atmosphere, are staying back in the city and have already started making plans with friends and family so they can maximize the four days of Durga Puja.
These people have also started their favourite festive activity - shopping. Out to woo them with sales and new, trendy designs are malls and standalone stores that have already started stocking up on 'special' and 'festive' collections.
Most shop-owners are hopeful that this time, business would be much better than last year. Rudra Parashar, who owns a store in the shopping hub of the city, Fancy Bazar, said, "The festive season has already kick-started with Eid-ul-Fitr. There's Durga Puja in October beginning and Diwali is falling towards the end of the same month. This is peak sales time for us because the Pujas are less than a month away and people have already started their shopping to avoid last-minute rush."
Binapani Das, a housewife who was checking out saris at a shop in Fancy Bazar, said, "This is the perfect time to shop as the bulk of the Puja shoppers have still not hit the markets. There was a rush last week because of Eid, but now the market is not that crowded. Smart shoppers prefer to shop a bit ahead in time so they can avoid the Puja rush."
While some prefer to shop early to avoid the last-minute crowd and hassles, some have the notion that just after Vishwakarma Puja, which falls on September 17, the prices of things may shoot up.
Source: http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=5477258596992155177
GUWAHATI: September's here and the monsoons are almost over. The crisp morning air is just beginning to get perceptibly cooler and the bamboo skeletons of Durga Puja pandals can be seen coming up in nooks and corners of the city, indicative of the upcoming festive season, beginning with the Pujas and ending with Diwali.
People of the city are slowly getting into a festive mood. While the ones who plan to stay back here and enjoy the festivities have already begun their Puja shopping, others who prefer to be far from the madding crowd are planning short and long getaways.
Apart from the usual getaways in eastern India - Puri, Digha, Darjeeling and Sikkim - people are opting for far-off destinations like Kerala, Himachal Pradesh and Kashmir. Those who have the moolah to go on holidays abroad are opting for Southeast Asian destinations like Bangkok and Singapore.
Meanwhile, those who love the Puja buzz, the crazy crowds, the multicoloured lights, new clothes, lipsmacking food and carnival-like atmosphere, are staying back in the city and have already started making plans with friends and family so they can maximize the four days of Durga Puja.
These people have also started their favourite festive activity - shopping. Out to woo them with sales and new, trendy designs are malls and standalone stores that have already started stocking up on 'special' and 'festive' collections.
Most shop-owners are hopeful that this time, business would be much better than last year. Rudra Parashar, who owns a store in the shopping hub of the city, Fancy Bazar, said, "The festive season has already kick-started with Eid-ul-Fitr. There's Durga Puja in October beginning and Diwali is falling towards the end of the same month. This is peak sales time for us because the Pujas are less than a month away and people have already started their shopping to avoid last-minute rush."
Binapani Das, a housewife who was checking out saris at a shop in Fancy Bazar, said, "This is the perfect time to shop as the bulk of the Puja shoppers have still not hit the markets. There was a rush last week because of Eid, but now the market is not that crowded. Smart shoppers prefer to shop a bit ahead in time so they can avoid the Puja rush."
While some prefer to shop early to avoid the last-minute crowd and hassles, some have the notion that just after Vishwakarma Puja, which falls on September 17, the prices of things may shoot up.
Source: http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=5477258596992155177