People throng Madurai streets to complete festival shopping ahead of Deepavali

Busy shoppers on South Masi Street in Madurai on Sunday. | Photo Credit: G. MOORTHY Madurai’s commercial heart has transformed into a sea of colour and activity as thousands of shoppers flood the streets ahead of the Deepavali festival.The city’s prime shopping hubs—including South Masi Street, Vilakkuthoon, East Avani Moola Street, and Town Hall Road—are witnessing heavy pedestrian footfall as residents from Madurai and neighbouring districts gather to complete their festive purchasing.Textile showrooms, jewellery stores, and roadside stalls are packed with customers buying traditional attire, sweets, household goods, and decorative items.The surge in footfall has led to significant traffic congestion across central Madurai, prompting authorities to implement strict crowd control measures. Local police have deployed extra personnel around the Meenakshi Amman Temple zone and key market corridors to manage vehicle movement, prevent petty crimes, and streamline pedestrian flow. Temporary parking spaces have also been earmarked along outer arterial roads to ease downtown gridlock.Despite rising prices, local merchants report robust foot traffic and express optimism for peak weekend sales. For street vendors and major retail chains alike, the pre-festival rush marks a vital economic highlight, bringing Madurai’s iconic market avenues to life in full festive spirit.Recalling last year’s Deepavali sales, which fell short of expectations due to continuous rainfall, local merchants expressed hope for better weather. “This year, we expect a rain-free week at least until the day of the festival so we can turn a good profit,” a trader noted.A. Baskaran, a hawker selling dhotis and women’s apparel along Kamarajar Salai, mentioned that he traveled from a village located between Melur and Tiruchi.“Last year, I did not even come to the city out of fear of heavy losses and poor sales. However, I am optimistic that business will be strong this year,” he shared.To ensure he does not miss a single sales opportunity, Mr. Baskaran has been staying at his son-in-law’s home in Madurai city. This allows him to arrive at his stall early in the morning and return late at night.Meanwhile, a shopkeeper running a women’s boutique in Anna Nagar admitted that business owners initially feared losing sales to the sudden surge of online fashion platforms.“Although we have launched our own website, major e-commerce giants offer lucrative incentives and massive collections to attract buyers,” the proprietor explained.To remain competitive, she sourced fresh collections from across the country. “Fortunately, sales have not suffered as much as we feared,” she observed.She attributed the steady footfall to a major drawback of online shopping: customers cannot touch or feel the fabric. “Men’s clothing is relatively simple, and the fabric selection is not as complex,” she noted. “However, when shopping for women’s attire, customers inspect everything—from the material and quality to the thickness of the fabric.”Expressing relief, she added that the festive season promises to be better than anticipated, as many shoppers who shortlist designs online still prefer visiting physical stores to finalise their purchases. “To ensure we do not disappoint them, we make it a point to stock the exact same or very similar designs,” she said. Published - November 01, 2026 07:33 pm IST