Archive · 12 Oct 2026
Kolkata Malls and Markets Draw Heavy Puja Shopping Crowds
People in Kolkata went shopping in large numbers for Durga Puja.
Sunday was especially busy at malls and markets.
Some stores said they were selling more than they did last year.
One retailer expects its sales across eastern India to reach nearly ₹200 crore in the 50 days before the festival.
Shop managers said many people began shopping after Pitri Paksha ended on Saturday.
Some shoppers travelled from outside the city to find new clothes and styles.
Stores stayed open later, but customers still faced crowded shops and long waits for fitting rooms.
Retailers said they expect some shoppers to keep coming until Sashthi.
Sunday was described as one of the season’s busiest days at Kolkata malls and markets, with mall parking full by afternoon.
A retailer estimated its eastern India sales in the 50 days before Durga Puja could rise from about ₹170 crore in 2024 to nearly ₹200 crore in 2025.
Stores reported year-over-year growth, including about 20% at a South City Mall menswear store and 20% in apparel and 25% in footwear at Acropolis Mall.
Retailers said shoppers returned in large numbers after Pitri Paksha ended on Saturday, despite earlier concerns about consumer sentiment.
Some shops extended hours, while shoppers reported long trial-room queues and visitors travelled from districts to shop in Kolkata.
- Who
- Puja shoppers, Kolkata retailers and mall operators.
- What
- Malls and markets saw heavy crowds and retailers reported strong festive sales and sales growth.
- When
- Sunday, during the last weekend before Durga Puja 2025; retailers said shopping picked up after Pitri Paksha ended on Saturday.
- Where
- Kolkata, including South City Mall, Acropolis Mall, City Centre Salt Lake, City Centre New Town and Gariahat.
- Why
- Shoppers were making last-minute purchases for Durga Puja; retailers said shopping momentum strengthened after Pitri Paksha ended.
Retailer optimism
Lingering shopping constraints
Consumer sentiment and spending
Retailer optimism
Retailers said shoppers were spending again and reported stronger sales after an initially cautious period.
Lingering shopping constraints
Ramesh Pandey said protests in India and global unrest had dampened consumer sentiment for a long time, prompting initial apprehension.
Crowded shopping experience
Retailer optimism
Retailers welcomed the large crowds and extended opening hours to serve customers during the final shopping stretch.
Lingering shopping constraints
Shoppers faced packed stores and long waits for fitting rooms; one South City Mall visitor described the trial-room queue as painful.
- Retail sales estimate
- One department store and lifestyle retail chain reported around ₹170 crore in eastern India sales in the 50 days before Durga Puja in 2024 and expected close to ₹200 crore in 2025.
- South City Mall menswear
- An executive said business was up around 20% compared with the same period last year.
- Acropolis Mall apparel
- Apparel stores recorded 20% growth compared with last year.
- Acropolis Mall footwear
- The footwear segment recorded 25% growth compared with last year.
- Expected footfall
- Acropolis Mall expected footfall to exceed 25,000 on Sunday.
- Extended shop hours
- Traders Assembly at Gariahat stayed open until about 9–9:30pm, later than its usual 8pm closing time.
- Sari prices cited
- A shop owner said pure-quality saris cost ₹10,000 and up, while blended varieties cost about ₹3,000–₹3,500.