Diwali is the busiest time for all the vendors and sellers as many people wait for this festival to get new clothes, utensils, household items and even electronics. It is a time that is associated with a lot of hustle-bustle in the market. Dadar market is one of the markets that is flocked by people that come here to buy lanterns, diyas and firecrackers.
However, this year continues to be slow for most businesses. While there are pictures of people overcrowding and flouting social distancing norms but local shop keepers claim that their businesses have been badly impacted in this post-coronavirus world. Most people observe that the festivities are very low key this time and they are also blaming booming online sales for the reason why the market sentiment is not the same as last years.
Mahim Kandeel Galli is known for various types of lanterns available including paper, cloth and wood. Mumbaikars come to this place from all over the city to buy the lanterns (known as Kandeel in Marathi). The variety offered here is mind-boggling and every year this market is bustling with people who come to buy these lanterns to decorate their houses, along with rangoli colours, stencils and other items that can be used to decorate their homes.
Even this year there are a lot of products on display in the market but not as many takers. According to the shopkeepers in this market, due to low demand from consumers, they have not been able to sell even of their goods.
A shopkeeper owner said that this year they have even reduced their order as they felt that the market sentiment might not be as great and they would first check the customer’s response before placing bulk orders. Usually every year, the marketers place in build orders. However, the items are not flying off the shelves as they used.
However, it is not that all types of lanterns that are facing the same luck. People are still looking at buying innovative and different types of lanterns. This year the lantern that is most sought after is the one that is made from mining cloth. Seeing the demand for these, a family living in Byculla started making sky lanterns using mining cloth.
Meanwhile, the potters across the nation have started preparing traditional lamps and expect that they will be in big demand this season. Whether they will be sought after is something that only time will be able to tell. For now, the business of these lamp makers has been strongly hampered due to uncertainties induced by coronavirus pandemic.
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