Not many shops in the twin townships will be decked up with Tricolour flags and badges this week. Like everything else, the pandemic has taken a toll on the Independence Day shopping list.

“Remember how hawkers would run up to cars at traffic signals and sell miniature flags around August 15? They are selling masks now,” says Sarman Pandit of Modern Decoration Centre in CA Market. “These small time hawkers would buy flags from us before but this year none of them have showed up.”

Students Corner, a stationery shop in GD Market, will not have a single Tricolour flag, badge or wristband on sale this year. “I am unwell and I don’t have the manpower to go buy these memorabilia from Burrabazar. Other stationery items are delivered to us by companies but such seasonal products have to be picked up in person,” says Bappa Sarkar, who runs the store.

Another stationery shop in GD Market — Loknath Stores — has some paper printouts of the tricolour and table flags. “One or two customers have asked for flags on straws — that cost Rs 3 to 5 — but that’s it,” says Ajit Kundu. “Neither is there demand this year nor do we have much to offer.”

Sri Guru Bhandar in IA Market will display flags, badges and tricolour wristbands from today. “But we haven’t bought anything afresh. We are simply selling leftovers from last year,” says Rishiraj Ghosh, who runs the store. “In other years, nearby hotels and hospitals would come buy merchandise to decorate their premises but this year one can hardly expect them. The bulk of buyers would be students using the items for programmes at school. Even that won’t be happening this year.”

Nonetheless they are stocked with Rs 10 badges of India’s flag and map and Rs 10 synthetic wrist bands. The price of cotton flags begins from Rs 25 and the largest 6ft silk flags cost Rs 220. IA Market traders will themselves be hoisting the Tricolour on Saturday with a flag from this store.

An inflatable flag stands tall among other Independence Day merchandise at Needs outside Baisakhi Abasan

At New Town Gift Gallery in Eden Shop, Nasirul Islam says they have about 10 per cent stock of what they had last year. “And it is all last year’s leftovers taken out of cold storage. Students and offices from the nearby DLF building would be our main customers but now schools are shut and offices are operating from home so we haven’t bought anything new,” says Islam.

Prasenjit Pal had gone to Needs, a miscellaneous store in Baisakhi, to buy drawing books for his three-year-old when he got attracted to an inflatable Tricolour. “My son has an online Independence Day programme from his playschool this year. They haven’t really asked him to get any flags but this inflatable one looks cute and I’m taking one home for him.”

The Baisakhi store has a good collection of Independence Day merchandise — ribbons, paper hats with ‘Bharat mata ki jai’ written, paper flags, badges…. “We have the works but sales are low,” Nitai Chandra Debnath shakes his head. “In other years, customers buy big flags as well as small ones to place in cars and on bikes. This year the saving grace is this inflatable flag that is a novelty and hence being picked up by some. It costs between Rs 30 and 40.”

Srimaa, a clothing store in CK Market, has a mannequin with a tricolour sash over a kurta. “We went and bought 30 to 40 such satin scarves before Independence Day. They are quite popular for dances and other stage programmes and even if they don’t sell this week, I’m sure they will sell off and on around the year,” says Tamosha Mukherjee. The scarves cost Rs 50.

Even though retails sales may be modest, Modern Decoration Centre in CA Market says they have been contacted by offices in New Town to decorate their premises. “We shall do so with tricolour balloons, ribbons and flags. We’ve got to make the best of the situation.”