Onam sales catch up: Vendors optimistic this year after last year’s washout

KOZHIKODE: After a dull phase due to floods, the trade is picking up now as the streets get enlivened with the onset of Onam season. Most streets in the city are witnessing the hustle and bustle of vendors, mostly from Tamil Nadu. These traders come into state to cater to the demands of middle/lower class section of the population with their low-cost items. Last year there was no Onam in region due to the months-long Nipah threat and also due to heavy rains that lashed till just before Onam.

Today, the streets are packed with customers on a shopping binge and the street vendors are enjoying brisk business at every nook and corner of the city. The Tamil vendors arrive in the city every year during the festival season and return on the eve of festival.

According to Ibrahim K, a street vendor in Mananchira, he along with a team of other traders come to the state every year during Onam and Vishu festivals expecting a good sale.

“Usually, we have tremendous sales during these festive seasons. But the continuous catastrophes in the state had wiped out the chances of getting a good business last year”, he said.

These vendors take over the market during the festive seasons. They appear only during this period to provide the customers with the best and the sales do provide them great relief for their livelihood.

“The business will continue for five more days till Thiruvonam”, Rafeek Mohammed, a street vendor near LIC, Kozhikode. “After that, we all will leave to our native place, where we do the same business”, he added. “We are selling the products at a low cost, without taking huge margin. When the market is down, it affects our livelihood severely,” he said.

“Last year we were very much disappointment and this year also it is a precarious situation after the flood”, he said. But so far, comparing with last year we are in a better position”, Rafeek Mohammed said. The vendors hope that the present sales trend will continue till Onam.