#LocalWaliDiwali: Rangoli colours, earthen diyas and Diwali décor: Head to Noida’s Indira Market for last-minute festive shopping
Due to the pandemic, most of the local vendors in the market have had no work during the festive season.
Local vendors and small businesses have been affected the most due to the pandemic. Even a day or two before Diwali, many small vendors in markets across the city were still waiting for people to turn up to shop for the festival. With our #LocalWaliDiwali series, we bring you a glimpse of the Indira Market in Sector 27, Noida, where vendors have been struggling and wishing for a happy Diwali.
Sant Ram, a 62-year-old, who has been selling rangoli colours in the market from last 10 years, shares, “Even couple of days before Diwali, there were no people in the market. Rangolike colours waise bhikam log lete hain, aur ab woh bhi nahi hai. If people don’t buy rangoli colours on Diwali, then how can I earn? We get these colours from Rajasthan, par iss baar kuch bika hi nahi.”
It is not just Sant Ram, who has been facing the crisis, most of the local vendors in the market have had no work during the festive season.
Aasim, a 22-year-old diya seller, says, “ Kaam hai hi nahi toh kharcha kaise chalega. Jitni rakam lagayi hai, woh bhi wapas aane ki umeed nahi hai. Last year, we were really busy during this time. If I had earned Rs 1,000 on a daily basis last year ahead of Diwali, then was I earning Rs 200 this year. How will we survive like this?”
Sant Ram, a 62-year-old, who has been selling rangoli colours in the market from last 10 years, shares, “Even couple of days before Diwali, there were no people in the market. Rangolike colours waise bhikam log lete hain, aur ab woh bhi nahi hai. If people don’t buy rangoli colours on Diwali, then how can I earn? We get these colours from Rajasthan, par iss baar kuch bika hi nahi.”
The market has so many wares to offer, but barely any customers this year
It is not just Sant Ram, who has been facing the crisis, most of the local vendors in the market have had no work during the festive season.
Sant Ram, a rangoli seller, says that the pandemic has badly hit his sales and there were literally no customers during this festive season
Aasim, a 22-year-old diya seller, says, “ Kaam hai hi nahi toh kharcha kaise chalega. Jitni rakam lagayi hai, woh bhi wapas aane ki umeed nahi hai. Last year, we were really busy during this time. If I had earned Rs 1,000 on a daily basis last year ahead of Diwali, then was I earning Rs 200 this year. How will we survive like this?”
Aasim, a young diya seller, shares that while last year he would earn around Rs 1000 on days ahead of Diwali, this time it was barely Rs 200 a day
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