Lokhandwala market shop owners say they don’t even have money to put up Diwali lights due to big drop in sales, surge in online shopping
The Lokhandwala Market, which is usually adorned with lights during Diwali, wears a deserted look. PIC/MADHULIKA RAM KAVATTUR
The Diwali tradition of putting up string lights in the Lokhandwala market along Lokhandwala Complex Road, which has been going on for many years, will not be followed this year. The streets, which usually had a canopy of string lights along the whole stretch of the road 15 days before the festival, are now bare, with some shop owners only decorating their shop fronts.
Vyapari mandal Speak
The reason for this shift in tradition lies in a heavy fall in profit for the whole market. Speaking with mid-day, Raichand Jain, president of the Lokhandwala Vyapari Mandal, said, “The sales at shops in the market have fallen by almost 40-50 per cent as people are choosing to buy things online now. They are ready to buy things online even if they are costlier than what we offer. The convenience of getting things delivered to their homes has made our business difficult.”
Andheri’s Lokhandwala Market transforms into a riot of colours and lights during Diwali 2023. FILE PIC
This is not the first time that the Vyapari mandal has decided not to string up lights for Diwali. The previous two incidents that Jain could remember were for different reasons: “In 2006 when the recession was about to hit, and we lost profits due to that, we decided not to put on the lights.” The second time that the market wasn’t adorned was during the pandemic in 2020, when the mandal took the decision to avoid crowding, which happens at the market between Diwali and Christmas — the duration for which the lights are kept up. Jain said that it costs over Rs 1 lakh for the lights to be put up and for electricity.
Shop vendors disheartened
Ganesh Appaji Kamble, who owns a small tailoring stall, said, “Leave aside the Rs 20,000-Rs 30,000 that each one of us used to contribute each year for the lights, we aren’t even able to give Rs 10,000. This market has faced a very steep fall in sales, especially due to online options.” Another tailor, who has a similar shop to Kamble's, said, “I have had loyal customers who now tell me that they have found an online website that does alterations and other work on clothes. They said that they won’t come to me anymore. With such things happening, how do we even celebrate Diwali? We don’t have Diwali this year.”
“Even if we now declare to the rest of the city that we are drowning in stagnation, what change will it bring? No one wants to leave the comfort of getting things delivered to their doorstep. It is not because there is a drop in the number of people who come to shop during Diwali, but because in general, throughout the year, we have seen fewer people come to our shops,” said a fashion jewellery shop owner.
Sukhdev Singh, a flower seller at the end of the market street, said, “We keep our prices the same throughout the year and don’t inflate them during festivals, but the loss we have faced due to online delivery options is a lot. Putting up the lights is not even an option we considered, because we simply cannot afford it.”
People Speak
Shoppers at the market are surprised by the absence of lights this year. Forum Shah, who lives in one of the bylines from the market, expressed her surprise about the lights not being already put up this year. “I was just wondering today as to why the lights aren’t already installed. But if the reason is due to people not coming to the shops and choosing online services, then it is very sad,” she said.
Shah is among those who believe in supporting local shops for getting her daily products. “It is only for last-minute purchases when I order from the apps that deliver to doorsteps, but for my daily groceries and other things, I have taken the time to develop relations with the shop and stall owners around my house, who directly send the order home. But at any point of the day, depending on the time I have, I choose to come down and buy things from the shops myself, which might not be possible for the people who have different working hours or young people who are still figuring out their schedules.”
Bharat Ranga, who was out shopping, said, “My family has 50-50 balance in the things we purchase online and in person. There are times when we order online because those things aren’t available in the shops here. But for festivals, getting out and buying things is an experience in itself. It is sad the lights aren’t being put up.”
Karan Jotwani, co-founder of Lokhandwala Oshiwara Citizens Association, said, “We have been pushing for people to buy more from local shops, but for now, it is too late to put up the lights. Everyone prefers to buy online and there is heavy competition for the shop owners now. But luckily, we still have people who prefer going to the shops, and I also make an active effort to buy from stores.”
Another shopper said, “It is a shame that the lights, which have been a part of our whole life in Mumbai, are now not being installed because we have decided that things need to be delivered to our doorstep. Maybe this is supposed to be a wakeup call for us to make better purchasing decisions.”
People’s perspective
Clothing: Preference to buy online as people believe there is a wider variety of options available
bDoorstep delivery provides comfort and convenience, especially to those whose working hours aren’t fixed
Fashion jewellery: Much more options available at the click of a button, with several offers to attract customers
Shopkeepers’ perspective
Clothing: Shopkeepers say that they don’t just offer variety, but are also willing to order styles people want, at a lower rate than online
Groceries: People can see firsthand what they are buying. Shopkeepers claim that in many instances, they have better quality goods than what is sold online
Fashion jewellery: Ready to bargain and negotiate on price with customers; one can easily find similar deals to what is offered online
Voices
Raichand Jain, president, Lokhandwala Vyapari Mandal
‘The sales at shops in the market have fallen by almost 40-50 per cent as people are choosing to buy things online now. They are ready to buy things online even if they are costlier than what we offer. The convenience of getting things delivered to their homes has made our business difficult’
Ganesh Appaji Kamble, tailor
‘Leave aside the Rs 20,000-Rs 30,000 that each one of us used to contribute each year for the lights, we aren’t even able to give R10,000. This market has faced a very steep fall in sales, especially due to online options’
Bharat Ranga, local resident
‘There are times when we order online because those things aren’t available in the shops here. But for festivals, getting out and buying things is an experience in itself. It is very sad that the lights aren’t being put on this year’
Sukhdev Singh, flower seller
‘We keep our prices the same throughout the year and don’t inflate them during festivals, but the loss we have faced due to online delivery options is a lot. Putting up the lights is not even an option we considered, because we simply cannot afford it’
Forum Shah, Lokhandwala resident
‘I was just wondering today as to why the lights aren’t already installed. But if the reason is due to people not coming to the shops and choosing online services, then it is very sad’
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