MARGAO: With the State all set to celebrate the festival of lights on Monday, Goans have begun enjoying the festive cheer this year, especially after the subdued celebrations of the past two years, owing to Covid-19 restrictions. Several shopkeepers have extended their shops or set up stalls in Margao, to sell festive food items like sweets, farsan and dry fruits, besides clothes, diyas, decorative akash kindals, firecrackers and gift items, that are witnessing crowds of shoppers in the evenings, despite the sporadic showers.

The festive cheer is however dampened by the rising prices of essential commodities and food items.

Housewife Manda Torasker pointed out that over the last few months, the prices of almost all the essential commodities, including oil, have increased at an alarming rate.

“These soaring prices are frustrating for the common man, and middle class and salaried people have been hit hard, and our monthly budgets have gone for a toss,” she said. Torasker also sought to know why the prices of products available online are much lower than the prices of the same products sold in brick-and-mortar stores.

However, in an attempt to lure customers, shopkeepers in Margao and Aquem have announced big discount sales, and the town is dotted with boards advertising discounts on everything from electronics to utensils.