![The Principal Secretary of Tourism department said it best: \Do we really need an order to celebrate Onam?\](http://dc-cdn.s3-ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/dc-Cover-1lih1d623tomv4rbp4r5i6vrb1-20160730014835.Medi.jpeg "The Principal Secretary of Tourism department said it best: \Do we really need an order to celebrate Onam?\")
Kochi: With just a month to go for Onam and Eid al-Adha, traders are getting ready for the grand shopping season. Special fares have been set up and discounts and offers have started raining in with traders hoping to make it big during the festival season. However, there is a shift in customers' preferences when it comes to shopping locations. No longer are MG Road and the Broadway the favourite destinations. Kochiites now prefer to shop at malls at the city outskirts, the shops located on the NH Bypass and areas like Edapally and Tripunithura.
Even the 'Kudumbashree' Mission, which eyes a turnover of Rs 10 crore this season, plans to set up 110 Onam markets spread across the district rather than focusing on city areas alone. "This time over, we focus on setting up Onam markets at the heart of every municipality, panchayat and towns. Vegetables and fruits free of pesticides will be distributed at fair prices through these outlets, thanks to the 'Polivu' initiative," said Kudumbashree district co-ordinator Tannie Thomas.
Traders point out that the ongoing Metro construction works, bad roads and traffic congestion in the city have led to customers preferring city suburbs for shopping. "Our sales have come down since Metro construction began. However, a heavy demand is experienced in Sundays and other holidays when there are few vehicles on the road. We've now started opening shops on Sundays and take an off day during the week days," said Sageer P.A., president, Broadway Shop Owners' Association.
