It is without a doubt one of the biggest festivals in the calendar. Diwali is being celebrated
today all over the country and in Goa too. It is also a time when people loosen
their purses and spend. For the past two years however business has slumped.
This year too business was depressed and till a few days earlier, businessmen
were wondering when business would pick up. However this year the situation has
improved with regards to the virus, there was a possibility that last minute
shopping would take place and bring a smile to everyone. What would they be
buying? Would it be sweets, clothes, jewelry, white goods, new bikes and cars
or nothing at all?
For Amita Satanry Diwali meant celebrating
with friends and relatives. She said “This is the time when Goddess Lakshmi
comes home and we have to show her we have money. Yes, we have spent money this
year too but within our means. Clothes and decorations have been purchased. We
have been very careful this year, no doubt.” For the younger generation
shopping online was an option that was looked at seriously. Kajal Chodankar
said she had shopped because Diwali was an auspicious occasion for all Goans in
a real sense. She said “Due to the ongoing pandemic for almost 1n half to two
years, people have restricted themselves from shopping of all kinds. I also
preferred online shopping for Diwali and to buy gifts for my cousins on Bhaubij
occasion. But this year it’s full of shopping for a full family. Even
performing all 5 days of the rituals of Diwali will be as usual”. Oh well. For
other young Goan lass Mayanka Halarnkar the route she took was environmentally
friendly. She said “ Diwali is an auspicious festival of lights, sweets,
happiness ,getting together with family and friends and most importantly
bringing positivity in your life. Like every year I will celebrate a
“green Diwali”. I prefer to spend money on buying indoor plants,
diyas, rangoli and decorate the house my way. I also like the idea of making
Diwali sweets at home rather than buying it from shops. I think everyone should
create an ambience in their house by cleaning, organising and decorating.
Decorate your house to bring in positivity and happiness, make it lively and
colourful. Surround it with lights, lanterns and diyas. Do not forget to draw a
rangoli. Also donate sweets to the needy and invite your loved ones at home for
a feast. Create an ambience and let positivity and prosperity step in”.
Couldn’t agree more with her.
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Ameya Nayak however preferred going down the traditional route.
She said “Well Diwali is the brightest festival of them all hence my
expenditure is majorly on treats and eats this year! Hampers or chocolates,
soaps for the kids around and festive consumables for families is what the
festival is all about for me!”
Akshata Dessai however preferred to look into the future. She
said “For me it’s about investing in the stock market this year. As we move
ahead in life it’s important we have multiple incomes and let our money grow.
Investing early and regularly at an early age can serve as an amazing way to
multiply our income.”
Chetan Naik, a salaried man said some last minute shopping had
taken place and he purchased new clothes for everyone along with sweets. He
said “I have had to watch the budget closely and spend. It has been a bad year
and as a member of the salaried class, I prefer to be prudent in my spending.”
For Mrunalini Pai there was a set routine followed. She said
“Like every year, Diwali preparation includes buying new stuff. In my family’s
case, we spend mostly on new clothes and ingredients for making sweets. My
mother makes the ‘Faral’ at home hence, comparatively more ingredients are
bought. And we spend on clothes for all family members since the festival marks
a new beginning for us”.
Raju Kundaikar, another man who earns a monthly salary said he
was buying clothes and a few sweets. He said “I have had to reduce my
expenditure this year compared to a few years before. Prices have gone up and
salaries have been reduced. These are tough times and it is better to be
prudent.” That word again. Sindhiya Gawade who has a small business said she
was not buying any new clothes but would spend some money buying sweets. She
said “We will shop only when we have money.” Shruti Chaturvedi who runs a
business in Goa said she would be spending on her parents by taking them to
travel across Tamil Nadu. She said they had taken her around earlier and now it
was her turn.
However for Bharat Kamat who has seen several suns rise and set
it was a more nuanced approach. He said “Post pandemic has been a topsy turvy
time for all of us. This is the new era of care. Care for the environment, care
of self is the only way we can save our future. Consumerism has to take the
back seat as we learn to relive our lives. So this year and in the years to
come, I will focus on necessities and not consumerism. So no frivolous spending
from now on”.
It
is obvious there was a push at the last minute by shoppers but it was not like
it was a couple of years earlier. But yes , it was better than last year when
it was terrible. It certainly means confidence is slowly returning and that
could bode well for the economy next year.
