Panjim/Canacona: After two years of slack in business due to pandemic-related restrictions, the Panaji market saw a massive rush of devotees thronging grocery shops, and vegetable, flower and fruit vendors this year. The long-awaited scenes of families buying clothes from market shops and malls brought joy to big and small businessmen. Even on Saturday, people were seen milling around the Panaji market, buying specific items for Chaturthi.
Though online purchases were preferred due to discounts and safety during the pandemic period, shopping visits to brick-and-mortar shops seem to have returned this year. Malls and superstores were packed with customers, for the ease of purchasing various items under the same roof. The trend of buying new clothes and accessories for the whole family continued this year, said, traders.
In Goa’s southernmost taluka, the end of August saw a sudden rise in spending, with people thronging the market and jewellery shops, and vendors reporting better-than-expected sales. “The sale of gold has illuminated our hopes over the past five days,” said a jeweller. The roads in Canacona roads also witnessed the addition of quite a few brand new cars and bikes, as people consider buying vehicles during Chaturthi auspicious.
Darshan Prabhugaonkar, a businessman from Chaudi told Herald, “People have spent a lot on buying fancy lights and other decorative items.” “Though inflation is now through the roof, business was good this year. However, the customers had to bear the brunt of high prices,” said trader Datta Prabhu.
