Prayagraj: As the holy month of Ramzan (provided the moon is sighted today) and the festival of Navratri begins on Tuesday, markets in Sangam city were all decked up with many items associated with the two occasions. However, the rising cases of Covid-19 cases did keep a large number of people away from the markets as shops witnessed low crowds than expected.
With the city witnessing record-breaking infection cases of Covid-19, people were seen taking precautions at some of the markets, but the safety norms were flouted at many other prominent markets. At Chowk, which is considered the hub of all commercial activities in the city, people were seen at the shops, checking out items related to the rituals associated with Navratri and customers preparing for the month-long fasting during Ramzan. However, the numbers of buyers were comparatively low as was the expectation of the traders.
Moreover, only a few of the customers were seen wearing face masks to protect themselves. At many shops, even the shopkeepers were seen selling their products without wearing facemasks. At the same time, many were seen indulging in Covid inappropriate behaviour like wearing their masks below the chin, more so to escape the fine imposed by the police than for shielding themselves against the virus.
“It is so uncomfortable and in this intense heat, I feel suffocating to wear a mask”, said one of the salesmen in Chowk, oblivious to the threat to him being maskless. He was selling dates and other eatables that would be consumed during the month-long fasting.
Likewise, the customers were seen making their purchases, standing in close vicinity to each other, least bothered by the fact that their fellow buyers could be Covid positive, given the spiralling cases of Covid-19 infection.
Besides the areas of the market, the smaller shops, located at the entrance of the temple of goddess Durga too were decked up with the puja items. However, these shops did witness an influx of customers during the evening but for the day, it was a low-profile sale.
“We are taking all care and observing the Covid protocols but still the strength of customers who turned up has been low, as people are avoiding coming out in large numbers”, says Rajesh Jaiswal, a shopkeeper at Alopidevi area.
As the nine days of goddess Durga worship begins on Tuesday, all the temples of the city have been decked up. Unlike the last year, when the temples were closed because of the strict lockdown owing to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, this year the temples authorities have made arrangements to contain and avoid the spread of the virus.
“We have decided that we will not go to the temple as the city is witnessing a record number of cases for the past one week. It is better to worship the deity from within the house and opt for online darshan”, said Tripti Yadav, a resident of Mundera.