Retailers rule roost, Onam loses old charm

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It’s frenzied shopping time ahead for city folks as the state capital  plunges into a festive mood.  The city is  decked up to welcome Onam with  all retail outlets and shopping centres witnessing a huge rush.  The shoppers have taken over the city streets  with  Onam buyers preferring  everything  under one roof.

The consumer trend has changed these days.  Instead of stitched clothes, the people prefer ready-mades.  The traditional markets are  at a disadvantage.

Dubbing artist Bhagyalakshmi feels that retail outlets with all under one roof is a boon for many. “Shopping is part of Onam celebrations and people purchase not because they actually need things but to celebrate.

Now shopping is not a seasonal affair and people shop all the time. When I was a kid, shopping happened  twice or thrice a year and we got two or three dresses,” said Bhagyalakshmi.

Thanal Trust founder and trustee C. Jayakumar said that  this trend was a bad sign for our culture.

“I doubt  where we are heading — forward or  backward.  We are sliding backward compared to developed countries as  people no more think about the quality or the need of the product they purchase.   Society is market-oriented without space for tradition or values. Unlike old times, the quality of the products at retail outlets have come down drastically,” he said.

“Once,  Onam used to be a time when the people exchanged gifts and we cherished those memories. But now, there is nothing to cherish as exchanging gifts has  become a daily affair and  it is the cost of the gift that matters and not human relationships,” added Jayakumar.