Festive season brings back normalcy to markets across NCR

After 15 difficult months due to the pandemic and multiple lockdowns, the markets in NCR have finally started seeing increased footfall and some cheer as the festive season approaches. With Raksha Bandhan – the first festival of this season – just weeks away, the markets in NCR are all decked up, and the shoppers have begun to arrive. Markets like Sarojini Nagar, Lajpat Nagar and Gurgaon’s Arjun Marg are once again seeing the kind of footfall they did pre-pandemic.

Rachana, who has been to Gurgaon’s open markets a few times recently, says, “Markets are prepping for Raksha Bandhan. Given the pandemic, most of us won’t be travelling to extended family but mailing them our rakhis. So, going to the markets now when there is a smaller crowd makes sense. Beyond that, just wear masks, use hand sanitiser, and maintain social distancing and you should be okay.”
Delhi resident Nilesh Kapoor adds, “Raksha Bandhan is almost here, and then Ganesh Chaturthi and Janmashtami are next. Shopping for these festivals can’t be done online. I am prepared to head to the markets given that vaccination has increased now. We have to get used to the new normal now.”

Despite the increased footfall, the shop owners maintain that there is no crowding and social distancing is maintained. “Of course, the footfall is high, so there is a risk of it getting crowded. But most shops have a cap on the number of people going inside. We discourage shoppers from crowding in one place. It is well-organised. We try to be as systematic as possible,” says a shop owner from Sarojini Nagar market.
Most markets also have sanitisation and thermal screening processes in place. A shop owner from Arjun Marg tells us, “We have thermal screening and sanitising stations at the entrance. Additionally, most shops have sanitisers and everyone wears masks. We regularly tell people to not take off masks and we never take off our masks, too.” Shoppers say they don’t see safety precautions as a hassle but just a necessity. Asha Gupta, a Gurgaon resident, says, “The precautions are for our own safety so we should not get annoyed by them. In fact, if anything, we should avoid going to places where such precautions are not being taken. So far, I have observed that bigger markets are trying to keep things safe.”