Pokhara, October 5:

With the arrival of Dashain festival, people have begun flocking to local markets to do Dashain shopping. The crowd of people doing shopping for clothes and other necessary items for the festival can be seen jamming the footpaths as well as expensive shops. Vendors on the footpaths of Mahendrapul, Chipledhunga and Prithvi Chowk have made it difficult for pedestrians even to walk.

The Clothes’ Entrepreneurs Association of Pokhara informed that there has been a remarkable increase in the sale of clothing within a week. Owner of Sarita Emporium, Mahendrapul, Tika Ram Pariyar said that mostly people from villages are coming to buy clothing rather than from city areas. Different supermarkets and shops in Pokhara are giving special festival discounts on different items being sold here.

Street vendor, Krishna Neupane said that there has been an increase in the business in footpaths also over the last week. A customer, Durga Sigdel who was buying new clothes at Mahendrapul, commented, “When to buy new clothes if it isn’t during Dashain, which comes only once a year.” She added that buying new clothes, eating meat delicacies etc are the major attractions of Dashain and for that people even take loans. Nirmal Poudel of Park and Shop, Chipledhunga informed that the sale of readymade clothes, pants, shoes and t-shirts is increasing over the last one week and added that these are usually purchased by youths. Clothes are usually given as gifts during Dashain. Businessmen also said that the sale of paints and dry fruit is also increasing. Also people were seen buying barley for planting Jamara.

Consumer Forum, Kaski has requested businessmen not to increase the prices of necessary goods during Dashain and also not to create shortage of these items, otherwise action will be taken. Similarly, measurement and quality control office, Pokhara has also requested consumers to be careful about the expiry dates and quality of goods being purchased.