Durga Puja, the largest annual festival of the Hindu community, has kicked off in Dhaka with shopping malls, fashion houses and retail outlets witnessing a surge in their sales.
The celebration has taken on a special significance this year as shoppers prefer not to go abroad ahead of Durga Puja.
Fashion brands and apparel retailers typically introduce new collections and offer discounts on their products during the festive season. Residents of Dhaka are indulging in the joy of gifting and shopping for their family members.
The lead-up to Durga Puja sees sales surge around ten days before the festival begins and shopping continues for at least three days afterward.
Shopkeepers are seen busy selling punjabi, dhooti, saree, and three-piece as per the demand of customers. Apart from this, customers were seen crowding the shops of shoe, jewellery and cosmetics.
Protiva Das, a resident of Old Dhaka, shared her shopping experience, having spent Tk 60,000 on a variety of clothing and accessories for her family.
“I have bought gifts for my families and relatives as we are extended families. I have bought various items, including saree, punjabi, shirt etc. even though prices of some products are high. Before the puja, sarees were sold at Tk 1,200 to Tk 1,500, but shopkeepers are now asking Tk 2,500 to Tk 2,800 for them.”
Residents of Old Dhaka are busy visiting various shops to buy necessary items according to their needs on the occasion of Puja. They were also crowding children's clothing shops including sarees, three pieces, punjabi, shirt-pant, shoes, jewelry, cosmetics.
Apurba Chowdhury, a student of Jagannath University who came to buy Punjabis for his father, grandfather and younger brother said, “I have bought a lot of things for my family.”
Biju Roy, an employee of a private company, has purchased saris for his family and a range of clothing and accessories for himself, expressing the pleasure of giving gifts during this festival.
Md Parvez Hossain, the branch manager of Easy Fashion Ltd, Bashundhara Branch, highlighted the increased presence of shoppers this season, despite high inflation.
He said, “Sales had been better than the previous year. We also give special discount offers on various products, particularly shirts, pants, and polo t-shirts. Every year Puja is really well prepared by us. So, sale is more than other times. After all, we are happy.”
Md Jony Box, sales supervisor of Cats eye, shared different thoughts. He said, “Our sales decrease from previous years. Although there is a sufficient collection and arrangement of new clothes, there are no buyers accordingly.”
Md Shamim Sheikh, Senior Store Manager at Apex Footwear Limited, Bashundhara, observed customers beginning their shopping for puja-related products early this year, with sales performing better than the previous year.
While focusing on medium-range products due to economic challenges, they have introduced 150 new items in anticipation of a successful Puja season.
Many have already finished shopping. Many are coming to buy new ones. Some people come for shopping. But of late the most selling items are jewelry items, cosmetics, shoes and sandals.
