Festive days are here again for shoppers

By Sandeep Joshi

NEW DELHI, OCT. 31. The good old ``CP Shopping Festival'' is here again bringing with it some good cheer to what so far has been a lacklustre shopping season in the Capital. And this time round it is not just a wide array of attractive bargains that awaits Diwali shoppers, but also ``fun-filled entertainment'' that should make a visit to this part of Lutyens' Delhi memorable.

With the economy facing a slump and sales down, it has been a dismal year for the business community. The Puja festival too has gone by without any positive impact on the market. In a last- ditch effort, the traders of Connaught Place have knit together the fortnight-long pre-Diwali bonanza beginning this coming Monday.

All 500-odd shops and showrooms affiliated to New Delhi Traders' Association (NDTA) will be dressed up for the festival. Preparations are already under way with shopowners replenishing their stocks.

Says the NDTA general secretary, Mr. Manoj Agarwal: ``Like in the past, this year too the festival will focus on bringing delight to shoppers by offering something unique to everyone. With business not really picking up this festive season, shopkeepers are looking forward to the event which is likely to boost business by over 25 per cent.''

With sponsors determined to make it a lively affair, an outline of the various events to be organised during the festival has been chalked out. ``Last year it was go-carting. This time we have planned special live performances from the Ramayana besides a grand `aarti' every evening. On week-ends there will be performances by renowned artistes -- both classical and pop. The venue will be the park above Palika Parking,'' discloses Mr. Agarwal.

The idea, he adds, is to take the younger generation closer to their roots and acquaint them with Indian scriptures, traditions, culture and history. ``We want to retain the Indian flavour during the festival. And in these troubled times we really need to get together and pray for things to get better.''

The preparations have, however, not been without hiccups. ``It is unfortunate that even for a festival like this we have had to run from pillar to post. Though it has the blessings of both the Delhi Chief Minister, Ms. Sheila Dikshit, and the Lieutenant- Governor, Mr. Vijai Kapoor, securing the requisite permission from various government departments has not been easy,'' rues Mr. Agarwal.

``We want to improve the worth of buying during the festival so that visitors get the maximum benefit,'' he adds. Add to that an assortment of offers that Connaught Place restaurants are expected to make and shopping certainly should be value for money.

And this certainly is not all; a second such festival is on the cards from December 7.

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