Shopping gains momentum in capital ahead of Durga Puja
Fashion houses and leading brands have launched special Durga Puja collections, while many outlets are offering festive discounts
Durga Puja, the biggest religious festival of the country's Hindu community, will begin on 28 September, with preparations for the celebrations underway across the country.
In addition to decorating idols, Dhaka's clothing markets are bustling with festival-focused activity as sellers report brisk sales compared to last year.
Fashion houses and leading brands, including Aarong, Infinity, Le Reve, Yellow, Bishwarang, Anjans, Gentle Park and Desi Dosh, have launched special puja collections, while many outlets are offering festive discounts.
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Women's collections feature Jamdani, Katan, silk, cotton, Tant and embroidered sarees, along with three-pieces and lehengas in vibrant colours.
For men, shops are offering dhotis, short panjabis, shirts, t-shirts, pants and trousers, while children's wear and footwear outlets are also drawing crowds.
At the Bashundhara City Shopping Mall, shopping is underway in the children's shops on the ground floor while some people are buying sarees, some are purchasing punjabis and some are picking up shoes on other floors.
Almost everyone has shopping bags in their hands, with the presence of buyers noticeable in every shop.
What buyers are saying
Polly Sarkar, from Narinda in Old Dhaka, came to the Bashundhara City Shopping Mall to shop for the Puja for her family. She said she bought a saree for herself, tops and three-pieces for her daughter and a punjabi for her son.
She added that now she has to shop for her in-laws, parents and close relatives.
Another buyer, Dr Sourav Sarkar, lives in Kalabagan in the capital. This time around, he will go to his village home in Pabna for Durga Puja, so he has bought clothes for everyone in the family.
He said, "I bought a saree for my mother and a punjabi and shoes for my father. I still have to buy clothes for my relatives."
Sales
Azizul Hakim, a seller, said that this time the sales are a little better than the last Durga Puja.
Sohel Rana, a salesman for Aarong at the Bashundhara City Shopping Mall, said, "Our sales are going well. Some 80% of buyers who came today came to make purchases on the occasion of Durga Puja."
Meanwhile, most saree vendors at New Market, Dhanmondi Hawkers Market, Khilgaon Taltala Market, Mouchak Market, Chandni Chowk and Gauchia are spending their time trying to accommodate the buyers.
Talking to shopkeepers and buyers, it was learned that the demand for women's sarees and salwar-kameez is high in this puja market.
Buyers are more interested in sarees made of cotton, georgette, silk and embroidery. Tangail's Tant and Jamdani sarees are also in high demand.
Kawsar, owner of Noni Saree Ghar at Dhanmondi Hawkers Market, said that this year's puja market is seeing a high demand for women's silk, Tant and Jamdani sarees. This year, sales are better than in previous years, he added.
Sales are also booming in the imitation jewellery shops of New Market. Women are buying bangles, necklaces, rings and various other ornaments to match their clothes. Shopkeepers said that along with clothes, the selling of women's jewellery, vermilion, bangles and other accessories is also going well.
E-commerce platforms are also riding the puja wave, offering promotions, customised designs and home delivery services. Traders said online sales are complementing physical store purchases, making this season especially lively.
This year's Durga Puja will run from 28 September to 2 October.
