The gamosa, which has become a symbol of protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, has also become the most popular present this Christmas.

The stores are packed with year-end gift items but the anti-CAA protests have dampened the festive spirit.

This year, shopkeepers are stocking up on the gamosa, a symbol of the state’s indigenous “son of soil” against the amended citizenship law that they see as a dangerous threat to their unique culture.

“All kinds of gift items are available in my shop as Christmas or New Year gifts which I brought from Calcutta and New Delhi,” said a gift shop owner in Assam’s Tinsukia town on Tuesday.

“However, when the bill became an Act on December 11 night, the commerce of the state went downhill. The protests against the bill have dampened the festive spirit. The countdown for 2020 has begun but there are no smiles on the faces of the people. I had never seen such a fall in business since 2004,” he added.

The state has been witnessing continuous protests against CAA.

“Meticulous gift wrapping used to be a service that our customers enjoyed with no extra charge but these days even this offer is not attracting people,” said a gift shop owner here.“Gifts make the atmosphere festive. But in place of gifts we are purchasing gamosas and going to participate in agitations,” said John Induwar , a resident of Christian Basti here, while going for prayers at church for the state and its people. I would feel more honoured if I would be gifted a phulam gamosa as a year-end gift,” he added.

The gamosa is being sported by one and all, around their heads, neck, waists and is being embellished with anti-CAA slogans.

“This is like a flag or a symbol of pride. It represents Assam, its culture and is uniting us. It is our collective social and political aspirations,” said a young protester.