GEORGE TOWN: With the interstate travel ban now lifted and most of the country’s adult population fully vaccinated, Little India is abuzz again with people shopping for clothes, essential food items and decorations for Deepavali.

       While the roads leading to the inner part of the enclave were closed due to heavy traffic, pedestrians were seen making a beeline for shops to purchase last-minute sundry goods, sweets and savouries.

       “Business has certainly picked up this year by at least 30% compared to last year and quite a number of customers here are from Kulim and other parts of Kedah,” said a store owner Thanneermalai Subramaniam.

       “People have adjusted themselves well to the pandemic and since most of them are vaccinated, they are braving the crowd to be here and many of them are getting new cooking utensils, food essentials and decorative items.”

       Penang Island City Council employee Gogeshwary Ragu, 29, accompanied her aunt M. Krishnamal, 51, as they checked out a decorative garland in one of the stores.

       “I am on leave from today and this is the best time to get whatever we have missed out from our shopping earlier, especially decorative items, cakes and sweets,” said Gogeshwary.

       Krishnamal, who works at a factory in Bayan Lepas, said she did not fancy last-minute shopping but was there to complete her shopping for the festival.

       “Traders, especially those selling clothes, are giving discounts up to 70%. I may just get additional clothes as the prices will not be this low after Deepavali.”

       At another shop people were queuing up to purchase food items such as rice, ghee, flour, oil and spices.

       “Business is certainly good this year with an increase of at least 30% and we are a favourite store among customers who have been buying from us for more than two decades,” said company director Mohamed Meera Sahib Mohamed Noordeen.

       “There is a slight price increase for most of the food items this year, but people have decided to put the pandemic behind and celebrate the festival on a much grander scale than last year.”

       Meanwhile, roadside stalls under a canopy in the enclave are a favourite spot for customers to get a variety of sweets and savouries such as muruku, candy and mixtures.

       “Mixtures are a hit this year and the overall business has jumped by at least 40% compared to last year,” said stall owner Thanaraj Maniam, adding that they had been operating there for 40 years since his father’s days.

       “We’re relieved that people are coming back to celebrate Deepavali after a very subdued affair last year.

       “Many of our customers are from outstation, from as far as Ipoh, and the lifting of the interstate travel ban has certainly boosted our business this year,” he said.