Bazaar brimming with festive spirit

The crowd at the Deepavali bazaar at Jalan Ungku Puan in Johor Baru. — Photos: THOMAS YONG/The Star

WITH less than a week to Deepavali, the vibrant colours and tempting aromas of the festival are reaching their peak.

The festive atmosphere is unmistakable at the famed bazaar at Jalan Ungku Puan in downtown Johor Baru, where merchants’ stalls are draped in dazzling silks and sporting shimmering accessories or the sweet scent of freshly-made mithai and traditional snacks.

Checks at the bazaar confirmed that traders are currently enjoying brisk business, with the market, which has 200 lots, now experiencing one of its liveliest weeks as last-minute shoppers pour in.

Despite a reportedly slower start than previous years, the traders confirmed that the crowds have now dramatically picked up, signalling the final, enthusiastic push towards the Festival of Lights.

Textile trader S. Sures, 52, said the festive rush came later than expected but the number of visitors has been encouraging in recent days.

“It was a bit quiet at first, but now we are seeing more people coming in.

Traders at the Deepavali bazaar at Jalan Ungku Puan in Johor Baru offer everything from intricately crafted tops and sarees, to footware, snacks and accessories.

“Last weekend, even with the heavy rain, the crowd was bigger than I expected.

“It shows that people are still eager to celebrate and shop despite the weather,” he added.

Sures, who has been operating at the bazaar for more than a decade, said although the people were more cautious with their spending, festive shopping remained important to many families.

“Many people are more careful with money due to the rising cost of living, but they still want to celebrate.

“Deepavali only comes once a year; people still make an effort to buy new clothes and festive items for their loved ones.

“I think we will see the biggest turnout in the final few days before Deepavali,” he said.

Better foot traffic

Jewellery trader K. Sandran, 60, shared similar sentiments, saying that while customers might be spending less, the overall foot traffic was better than last year.

“Things only started picking up last week, but the crowd has been steady even with the unpredictable weather.

“Many shoppers wait until the last few days to buy gold-plated accessories or costume jewellery to match their new outfits,” he said.

Aline likes to make preparations early.

Food stall operator S. Vikneswaran said the festive mood has been growing stronger as the festival approaches.

“This is our first time operating a stall at the Deepavali bazaar here, and the response has been encouraging so far,” he said.

Vikneswaran, who sells traditional Indian snacks and savouries, said the mix of visitors added to the charm of the bazaar.

“Apart from Indians, we also have people from other races dropping by just to enjoy the atmosphere or try our snacks,” he said.

Henna artist T. Raina Gee Velu, 39, who has been practising the craft for more than 20 years, also noticed an increase in customers this week.

“People usually get their henna done about a week before Deepavali, so that it lasts until the festival.

“This year, I have seen customers coming in earlier, and the response has been so good that I had to bring in another henna artist to help meet demand.

“I think people missed the full bazaar atmosphere during the pandemic years, so now they are making the most of it,” she said.

Raina said many customers also came in groups to get matching designs, making her booth one of the busiest in the evenings.

Henna artist Raina is being kept busy at the Deepavali bazaar.

Snack trader K. Gayathri, 54, said she expected the coming days to be even busier as Deepavali draws near.

“Some shoppers come early to look around, but they will return at the very last minute when traders start offering discounts. That is when it gets really packed,” she noted.

Gayathri said her stall, which sells traditional treats such as murukku and laddu, had already seen an uptick in sales compared to last year.

“As in previous years, the crowd will be at its peak two to three days before Deepavali. That is when the atmosphere really feels festive,” she added.

Deepavali preparations

Visitors, too, said they were eager to soak in the cheerful atmosphere and variety of offerings, calling the bazaar a one-stop centre for everything Deepavali-related.

Among them was S. Pavitra, 35, who said her preparations were going smoothly.

“My Deepavali preparations are coming along well, though I have started a bit later compared to previous years,” said Pavitra, who works in a production department.

She was out shopping for new clothes and festive items with her family.

“Luckily, I managed to get most of what I was looking for.

“I am not looking for anything too different this year. I just plan to celebrate with family and close friends as usual,” she said.

Pavitra said she was spending more cautiously this year but she still wanted to make the most of the celebration.

“With the cost of living going up, I am trying to spend wisely. But I still want to enjoy the celebration since it only comes once a year,” she added.

Best of both worlds

Another visitor, Aline Rebecca Arumeinathan, 39, said going to the Deepavali bazaar was a family tradition for her and her husband’s family.

“Every year, we come here together to shop for cookies, lights and festive items. It has become part of our family routine leading up to Deepavali,” said Aline, a teacher at an international school here.

She said her family had already started preparing for the celebration.

“We have begun cleaning the house and baking cookies, though it is a bit less compared to previous years.

“I like to get things done early so we can enjoy the celebrations without rushing,” she said.

Aline, who is from a Christian family, said she enjoyed being part of both Deepavali and Christmas.

“My family celebrates Christmas, but my husband’s family celebrates Deepavali.

“So we get the best of both worlds, one in October and one in December,” she said.

Aline said the trip to the bazaar each year was more than just about shopping.

“This trip is something we all look forward to every year.

“It is not just about buying things; it is about spending time together as a family, enjoying the crowd and sharing the festive spirit,” she added.

Meanwhile, engineer L. Kathiravan, 41, said the atmosphere this year reminded him of pre-pandemic celebrations.

“I used to visit the bazaar every year with my family, but it slowed down for a while after Covid-19 hit.

“This year feels different. It is lively again, like the old days,” he said.

Kathiravan, who came to shop for decorations and festive snacks, said he enjoyed seeing traders regaining their momentum and enjoying good sales.

“It is not just about shopping. For many of us, coming here is part of the Deepavali experience.

“You meet people you haven’t seen in years, you feel the community spirit,” he said.

He added that bazaars such as the one in Johor Baru played a key role in keeping festive traditions alive.

The bazaar at Jalan Ungku Puan, which started at Sept 20, ends on Oct 19. It is open from 10am to midnight.