Crowd swell in busy streets ahead of Deepavali celebrations

Despite the lingering wet season, major shopping hubs in Nagercoil and Thoothukudi were packed with people from various parts of the districts for their Deepavali shopping.

The festive spirit is clearly visible, with streets bustling with shoppers, temporary stalls lining the roadside and shops crowded since morning.

In Nagercoil, key shopping corridors such as KP road, Chemmankudi road, Avvai Shunmugam salai and Nanjil bazar witnessed heavy footfall throughout the day. Shoppers eagerly explored an array of items ranging from terracotta pottery, imitation jewellery, footwear, handbags, kitchen utensils, belts and wallets. Many of these goods were displayed along the pedestrian pathway near the Anna bus stand, drawing the attention of both regular shoppers and first-time buyers.

A huge crowd and Traffic jam at Palayamkottai road in Thoothukudi on Sunday on the occasion of Deepavali purchase.
| Photo Credit:
N. RAJESH

Jaisingh, a vendor selling belts and wallets said, “Thanks to rain god, for not disrupting our business today.” He added that he had sourced his products from Bengaluru a month ago and only a limited collection remains. “Overall, this year’s Deepavali season is turning out to be decent,” he noted.

Meanwhile, Nanjil Bazar, the city’s go-to destination for street shopping, was jam-packed with shoppers bargaining vigorously for each item.

Pavithra, a college student shared, “Shopping at Nanzil bazar is always a fun experience. The shopkeepers love testing your bargaining skills, and it becomes part of the excitement of buying new clothes for the festival.”

Muthuraj, a footwear vendor, observed that the business has been steadily picking up over the past few days. “Many people who buy dresses also pick up footwears and other essentials, creating a complete shopping package for Deepavali,” he said.

Roadside eateries and snack vendors also benefitted from crowds, with many shoppers pausing to grab refreshments during their shopping spree.

Other parts of Kanniyakumari district including Anjugramam, Thuckalay, Marthandam and Kuzhithurai also reported large gatherings of people shopping for the festival.

Meanwhile, Thoothukudi also witnessed similar scenes with major roads such as WGC road, Palayamkottai road, Ettayapuram road and Anna Nagar main road becoming hotspots for Deepavali shopping.

Shoppers were seen purchasing clothes, firecrackers, sweets, flowers and household items. Temporary stalls sprang up along roadsides, showing readymade garments, fancy goods, handbags and other items attracting large crowds eager to make their festival purchases.

Traffic congestion was reported across the city due to the influx of people and vehicles. However, clear weather and no rainfall throughout the day allowed business to flourish, with traders and shoppers alike enjoying the successful final leg of Deepavali preparations.

Across Kanniyakumari and Thoothukudi districts, the festive spirit was palpable with both buyers and sellers involved in keeping the festive spirit alive.