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Traders doing brisk business in run-up to Puja

By Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Oct 4 � The crowd that keeps swelling with each passing hour at the commercial hub, that is Fancy Bazaar, belies the very hardships faced by the citizens in this period of inflation. With Durga Puja just round the corner, people of all age groups and from different social backgrounds are turning up at this market and indulging in a pre-puja shopping spree.

Unlike in the previous years when the small traders kept complaining that the sleek shopping malls have put their business at loss, this year everyone seems happy. If well- dressed men and women are crowding the malls, those from a less advantaged economic background are making their purchase from the street hawkers and the small traders.

The festive spirit is catching up in the capital city � the river front, the night flowering jasmines, the stuffed markets, the neighbourhood pandals � every picture is announcing the festive occasion.

On Monday, Ramesh Pathak from Mirza who said that the soaring prices of all essential commodities have hit citizens like him hard, purchased two pair of jeans at Rs 300 from a street hawker in Fancy Bazaar.

�I want to see my sons happy and enjoying themselves during this festive season,� he said adding that the street hawkers provide immense relief to people in his position during all festive seasons. Pathak is a farmer whose income is dependant on the benign mood of nature as his plot of arable land is rain fed.

On the other hand, the shopping malls are catering to the taste of the sophisticated section and the new generation that is too conscious of fashion. These malls are displaying a wide range of clothing from the traditional Indian dresses like sarees and salwars to the latest western wear inclusive of the casual and formal. Minimum prices in these malls starts from Rs 500 and Rs 1000 and keeps going up.

People of all section, it seemed, did not mind shelling out cash to celebrate the festive occasion. Right now, the markets donot in the least hint the hardships that this same population faced and kept complaining a few days back. �All is well� is the mantra with the citizens which has proved profitable to the traders as they are all smiles and doing brisk business. On the other hand, the students from across the State who are pursuing their studies in the capital city and those who are doing job here, are already packing their bags to travel home.

�I have taken leave from my office so that I can spend more days with my parents,� said Pallabi Barthakur who hails from Sivasagar and doing a job in a private concern in Guwahati. She has already booked her ticket to Sivasagar as previous experience has taught her to book in advance.

The festive season is business time and all the tailors in the city have their hands full and many are turning down offers. One such tailoring centre to politely turn down customers is Reema Tailors located in Wireless. �I am not taking any more orders now. Compared to last year, business is very good this year,� said the tailor.

A few sweetmeat shops have already finished making arrangements for catering to the jalebi lovers. Makeshift kiosks have been put up to fry the jalebis that is hugely in demand during this season.

The city in one word is ready to welcome the Goddess.

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