Deepavali Bazaars Remain Preferred Choice Despite Online Competition

SEREMBAN, Nov 5 (Bernama) -- The trend of online shopping is increasingly gaining the attention of consumers, but it does not overshadow physical bazaars as part of the Indian community still prefers to personally procure Deepavali necessities ahead of the Festival of Lights celebration this Sunday.

A Bernama survey at the Deepavali Carnival Bazaar in Jalan Dato Lee Fong Yee, also known as Little India Seremban, found that visitors are still flocking to the bazaar to obtain various festive necessities, including traditional clothing, snacks and home decorations.

Indian traditional clothing trader, N. Leena, 37, said customers still have the option to get festive clothing at the bazaar even though online shopping is gaining more attention.

She said that the price of traditional clothing, which previously could reach RM250 to RM300, is now offered at around RM150 to RM180, thus providing more options for consumers.

"Many young people nowadays prefer to shop online, but there are still customers who choose to buy clothes at the bazaar in order to see, try, and assess the fabric material themselves here," she told Bernama.

Meanwhile, jewellery and prayer necessities trader, V. Preeya, 39, said her shop offers a variety of items with discounts of up to 50 per cent in conjunction with the carnival.

Preeya, who has been trading there for the past seven years, said that physical stores are still the choice of the Indian community, especially the elderly, even though online sales are gaining more attention.

"Every year we do business here by offering a variety of goods and special promotions. Although there is competition from online sales, older people still prefer to come to the store to shop," she said.

For henna hand artist, M. Bvithra, 30, the demand for henna painting services increases ahead of the Deepavali celebration as she receives double the usual bookings.

With a 12-year experience in the field, Bvithra said that customers, including the Malay community, also seek henna painting services at her shop, with prices starting from RM5 to RM8 and above, depending on the chosen design.

"Usually, there is an increase in customers two days before Deepavali because most of them come to decorate their hands with henna patterns in preparation for the celebration. At that time, it was indeed quite busy because customers come in succession, and some even make reservations to ensure they get their turn," she said.

Meanwhile, the Special Adviser on Indian Community Affairs in Negeri Sembilan, Datuk VS Mogan, said they expect more than 30,000 visitors to attend the 10-day carnival, with the bazaar featuring 140 traders offering various goods including clothing, traditional sweets and festival necessities.

-- BERNAMA