Thiruvananthapuram: All roads led to Pazhavangadi and Chalai on the day of Uthradom on Sunday during the climax of the Onam shopping spree.
Though, elsewhere in the city, the shopping mania seen in the last few days seemed to have ended, Fort area was bustling. “Those selling low value products, such as shirts worth about Rs 300 earned most of the profit on Sunday. There was a demand for children’s clothes especially. They wanted daily clothes rather than dressy ones,” said Mohammed Aboobacker, a seller.
Famed tailors of the city were also working round the clock with several deliveries pending.
“Most of the shoppers hailed from places like Neyyatinkara and Nedumangaud and left early to catch the fair at Putharikandom as usual,” he added.
Even electronic appliances saw five times the normal sales on account of various exchange offers and discounts given during the season. “We had given nearly 50 per cent off on a particular microwave oven. Most of the products exchanged were refrigerators as people continuously yearn to get low power consumption products. GST had little impact on sales,” said a salesman of a prominent chain of electronic outlets.
At Chalai, florists who have brisk business late into the night also functioned round the clock. People and residents association would buy flowers a day before Thiruvonam and refrigerate them or keep them in airconditioned rooms.
“I heard the shelves at Supplyco outlets were being refilled multiple times a day earlier this week. It was hard for buyers to even get hold of shopping carts. However on Uthradom there was a lesser rush because people had probably made all their purchases,” said Renjini Shaktivel, a resident of Thirumala.
Surprise in store for fliers
A host of cultural events and surprise gifts will greet passengers at the Thiruvananthapuram airport this Onam season. The events that kicked off on Sunday with a floral carpet competition and musical concert will last till September 8.
A major attraction of the events being organised jointly by Airports Authority of India and various airlines are surprise gifts to passengers. Gifts ranging from chocolates to gold coins will be distributed through lucky coupons. Persons dressed as Mahabali and women in Kerala traditional attire would receive passengers, Airport director George Tharakan said in a statement.
A flash mob by airline staff and ‘Thiruvathira’ performance by airport staff also marked the celebrations on Sunday. Bharatanatyam, Keralanadanam, Ottamthullal, various dance performances, violin, nadanpattu and nadodi performances were planned for the six-day celebrations, said the statement.
