Why Deepavali shoppers still make time for the bazaar

Online shopping may be quicker, but for some Deepavali shoppers, scrolling through a screen simply cannot replace the pleasure of wandering through a bazaar.

At the Deepavali Carnival Bazaar on Jalan Dato Lee Fong Yee, better known as Little India Seremban, traders are still welcoming customers looking for traditional clothing, jewellery, prayer items, snacks and festive decorations ahead of the Festival of Lights.

For clothing seller N Leena, 37, the appeal of shopping in person is easy to understand. Customers can see the colours properly, feel the fabric and try on an outfit before deciding whether it is right for them.

“Many young people nowadays prefer to shop online, but there are still customers who choose to buy clothes at the bazaar in order to see, try and assess the fabric material themselves,” she told Bernama.

Leena has also seen prices become more competitive, with some traditional outfits that once sold for RM250 to RM300 now available for around RM150 to RM180.

That ability to browse, compare and ask questions face to face remains especially important for older shoppers, according to V Preeya, 39, who sells jewellery and prayer necessities.

Preeya has been trading at the bazaar for seven years and says many customers still enjoy making the trip themselves, particularly during the festive season. Her shop is offering discounts of up to 50% during the carnival.

“Every year we do business here by offering a variety of goods and special promotions,” she said. “Although there is competition from online sales, older people still prefer to come to the store to shop.”

For henna artist M Bvithra, 30, Deepavali brings a different kind of rush. She has been working with henna for 12 years, and says bookings can double as the celebration approaches.

Customers usually begin arriving in greater numbers two days before Deepavali, with some reserving their slots in advance.

“Most of them come to decorate their hands with henna patterns in preparation for the celebration,” she said, adding that her customers include Malays as well as Indians. Prices start from RM5 to RM8 and rise depending on the design.

Across the bazaar, these small encounters help give Deepavali shopping its atmosphere: choosing an outfit in person, picking out jewellery, discussing a henna pattern or stopping for festive treats while the streets grow busier.

Around 140 traders are taking part in this year’s 10-day carnival, which ends tomorrow, with organisers expecting more than 30,000 visitors.

For the vendors, that means long days and busy counters. For shoppers, the attraction may be something harder to replicate online: the chance to make festive preparations feel like part of the celebration itself.

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