Chandigarh: Markets woo Diwali shoppers with grand prizes

Diwali festivities, which kicked off with Dhanteras, are in full swing in the city. Beautifully decorated markets bear testament to aesthetic sense of traders.

While Sector 17, 22, 35, 15 and 19 are on everybody’s market-hopping list, the other business places also took the challenge to spell out Diwali with vibrant makeovers. Chandigarh Beopar Mandal has announced awards for the “Best Decorated Market” and “Best Traffic/Parking Management”.

In times of mega malls, one often ends up asking the relevance of old markets like that of Sector 17, 22 and 35, but shopkeepers and their respective market associations have proved how they are ready to change with time to sustain their customer footfall. Not only the market association brought Portugal’s famous “Umbrella Street” alive in Sector 17 but also Indianised the popular concept by adding lights. The idea behind this decoration is to attract the crowd even during daytime.

The electrical market of Sector 18 is all lit up with fairy lights, fancy flower lamps and “jhoomers”, which are really in high demand. Saurabh Gupta, who is second generation in the electrical business, shared, “We have been running this business since 1979. Everyone shop owner contributed to setting up five entrance gates and decorating the whole market with “dupattas”, floral hangings, carpets and lighting, up to the roundabout near the Sector 18 Church.”

Sector 22-D, which is known as the ‘jewellery market’, held lucky draws to attract customers. Arvind Jain, president, Vyapar Sadan, Chandigarh, said, “Ours is the oldest shop in the market. The market association has been sponsoring and organising Diwali shopping festival since 2022. We have been decorating the market in the festive season since 2000.” This year, the association has kept 20 grand prizes, including five cars. The shopping festival to win these prizes is on till December 29. The Sector 35-C market, another favourite spot for jewellery, utensils and apparel shopping, has a similar attraction called ‘Mega Shopping Bonanza’. Anyone making purchases worth more than Rs 4,000 will get a coupon to win from 41 lucky-draw prizes, including 6 luxury cars and 36 electronic items.

Shopkeepers of the Sector 35-A flower market had a grim look as not many customers turn up to buy fresh flowers or artificial ones. Vijay Sharma, who has been running a flower shop for almost 23 years, said, “The first-ever flower shop here had shut business many years ago. Diwali is not bringing any extra income.” Yet, they have decorated their shops with dupattas and other decorative pieces using fresh flowers.

Another shopkeeper said rose and lilies were the most sought-after flowers. Potters and diya-sellers don’t look happy too. For Raju, who is a third-generation in pottery-making, it’s a dull Diwali. “During the Diwali festival also, people prefer electric lights and Chinese diyas over earthen lamps. They have forgotten the significance of diyas in Diwali,” he said.

Florists, potters see low sales

Shopkeepers of the Sector 35-A flower market had a grim look as not many customers turn up to buy fresh flowers or artificial ones. Potters and diya-sellers don't look happy too. For Raju, who is a third-generation in pottery-making, it's a dull Diwali. "During the Diwali festival also, people prefer electric lights and Chinese diyas over earthen lamps. They have forgotten the significance of diyas in Diwali," he said.