Now Reading: Uthrada Pachil shopping peaks across Kerala ahead of Thiru Onam
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Uthrada Pachil shopping peaks across Kerala ahead of Thiru Onam
Kerala saw a surge in last-minute shopping on Thursday, the eve of Thiru Onam, as residents crowded markets, malls and textile shops. The traditional Uthrada Pachil was especially visible at Chalai Market…
The Story in Brief
Kerala saw a surge in last-minute shopping on Thursday, the eve of Thiru Onam, as residents crowded markets, malls and textile shops. The traditional Uthrada Pachil was especially visible at Chalai Market in Thiruvananthapuram, Broadway in Kochi and S.M. Street in Kozhikode.
The Hindu reports that grocery prices were down by at least 15% after an abundant kharif harvest and steady freight supplies, though coconut oil prices rose by at least Rs 80 per litre. Prices of plantains and banana leaves stayed stable. Retailers also reported brisk sales, while malls and showrooms used performances and festival displays to attract shoppers.
The Indian Opinion
The easy story is that Onam shopping is either a pure consumerist rush or an unbroken celebration of tradition. Thursday showed both, but also a sharper divide: malls drew urban shoppers while small retailers reported weaker business. Falling grocery prices offer some relief, yet coconut oil costs squeeze households and restaurants. The useful test is not crowd size alone, but whether small shops and ordinary families share the festival’s gains after prices are counted.
Source: thehindu.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
