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The crowds filling business areas ahead of the Diwali festival of lights on Saturday are raising the hopes of India’s distressed business community after months of lockdown losses, but also raising fears of a massive increase in the coronavirus.
People who have restricted their shopping to essentials for months seem to be in a celebratory mood and merchants are enjoying it, said Praveen Khandelwal, secretary general of the Confederation of Traders of India.
“The last three days have seen a tremendous increase in the influx of customers into the markets shopping for festival purchases,” he said.
But among the millions of shoppers, large numbers of people are seen ignoring the masks and social distancing rules in major cities and towns in India. India has confirmed more than 8.7 million cases of coronavirus infection, the second most in the world, and more than 128,600 deaths.
In neighboring Nepal, another predominantly Hindu nation, people seem to have better responded to a government call to celebrate the festival indoors and only with immediate family and avoid large gatherings or public celebrations.
Many areas of the Himalayan state have banned the tradition of “Deusi-Bhailo”, where groups of girls and boys go to their neighbors’ houses to sing and dance and, in return, receive money and sweets. The festival spans five days in Nepal with different days to worship crows, gods, cows and brothers.
Moderate start
This year’s Indian festival season started on a moderate note with Dussehra celebrations last month, but traders say people have now left their homes and are flocking to the shopping areas of major cities. from India, such as New Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Lucknow and Patna. week.
Most people buy flowers, candy, nuts, candles, and lamps for Diwali. The Hindu celebrations of Dussehra, Diwali and Durga Puja in October and November of each year are also an occasion to splurge on expensive items like gold, houses and cars, as well as clothes, smartphones and electronics.
Traders expect Diwali festival sales to reach $ 8 million, Khandelwal said.
But several say they are trying not to let their hopes get too high, as crowds may be hunting for bargains and people are wary of spending their money during the pandemic.
“If we compare our business to last year, then it is only 40 percent right now. Sixty percent of the customers are not there. Because everyone is afraid of Covid-19, “said Jitender Sachdeva, a store owner in New Delhi’s upscale Sarojini Market.
“I had gone to the market and there are a lot of people because of Diwali. So I think (coronavirus) can spread further, “said Payal Jha, a 20-year-old student.
The Hindu festivals of India attract tens of thousands of people, filled with temples, business districts and family gatherings to exchange gifts.
Virus resurgence warnings
On Diwali night, people lit the sky with firecrackers, their smoke causing air pollution that takes days to clear. New Delhi Prime Minister Arvind Kejriwal banned firecrackers this year. Thick smog spread over the Indian capital and its suburbs on Friday, fueled by smoke from raging agricultural fires.
Health experts warn that crowded holiday celebrations are causing a resurgence of the virus hitting India’s healthcare system. New Delhi has already seen an increase in cases with more than 7,000 daily in recent days and also an increase in the death toll.
In exclusive areas, authorities and trade authorities have implemented coronavirus protocols, but the crowding of people waiting to enter was one of the main causes of concern for traders. There are announcements over the public address systems to wear masks and maintain a safe distance.
On the bright side, domestic brands are getting a boost from a trend to boycott Hindu deity statues, holiday LED lights, and Chinese-made electronics in favor of locally made products following India’s border clash with China.
With this boycott, China will lose about $ 5.3 million worth of business in the Indian market this holiday season, said BC Bhartia, president of the Confederation of Traders of India.
For India’s nearly 70 million merchants, who employ some 400 million people, a rebound could not come quickly enough.
(AP)
