Puja shopping is in its last lap and busiest phase, retailers said.
Sunday was arguably the most crowded day at malls and markets this season.
Car parking slots at malls were full by afternoon. Space came at a premium inside the stores.
A department store and lifestyle retail chain registered sales of around ₹170 crore across eastern India in the 50 days leading up to Durga Puja in 2025. This time, the figure should be close to ₹200 crore, said an official, who wished not to be named. Calcutta is central to the operations in the east.
An executive at a menswear store in South City Mall said business had grown by “around 20%” compared to the same time last year.
Ramesh Pandey, chief operating officer-marketing and events, at Ambuja Neotia Group, promoters of City Centre Salt Lake and City Centre New Town, told Metro: “Last weekend was humongous. This weekend seems even better. Many non-Bengalis don’t buy new things during Pitri Paksha. It ended on Saturday, and they are coming to stores in large numbers.”
Pandey said the ongoing protests in India and global unrest had dampened consumer sentiment for a long time.
“We were initially quite apprehensive. But that has changed since last week. People are again spending,” he said.
Sib Sagar Shaw, general manager, facility, Acropolis Mall, said: “With festive shopping gathering momentum, we expect footfall to cross 25,000 today.”
The apparel stores in the mall recorded 20% growth compared to last year, and the footwear segment recorded 25% growth, he said.
Most shop owners were upbeat about the sale in the last weekend before Bengal’s biggest festival.
“In the last leg, it is usually the genuine and serious buyers who come to our store. Since October 2, things are looking up, and sales have been good,” said Nirmal Punjabi, owner of Asha Bros.
They are expecting some buyers right up to Sashthi.
Sari shoppers were divided between those who wanted nothing but pure silk, tussar, gadwals or Kanjeevaram and those who opted for the blended variety.
“When it comes to pure quality, the price would be ₹10,000 and up, but for a blended variety they can get one for ₹3,000 to 3,500 and would naturally be able to buy more saris,” said a shop owner at Gariahat.
At Traders Assembly at the Gariahat junction, customers kept coming in hordes throughout the day.
The store does not like to turn away any customer. “Usually we close at 8pm but now in the run-up to the
Puja we are open till 9-9.30pm. We cannot extend beyond that because our staff also have to go home,” said Manabendra Saha of Traders Assembly.
Many started early to avoid both traffic on the road and crowds in the malls.
The anchor stores in any mall are usually the most crowded.
“Selecting a dress is still alright, but waiting in the trial queue was a pain,” said Rituparna Banerjee, a Kamalgazi resident who went to South City Mall.
Some from the districts hired cars to come to the city for shopping.
“My son wanted to come to Calcutta for the latest trends,” said a resident of Bongaon.