The last Sunday before Durga Puja saw a shopping blitzkrieg in malls and markets across the city.

Around 4pm, Gariahat was teeming with people. Perched on tools, several hawkers shouted at the top of their voices to attract customers.

Kaftans to trinkets, handbags to melamine bowls and dishes, everything sold at a brisk pace.

A large police contingent was deployed to manage traffic at the Gariahat intersection. By 6pm, the police had put up barricades to block the entry of Gariahat-bound cars on Gariahat Road from Golpark. The cars had to take the Gariahat flyover. The surge in the number of people on the road forced the curbs.

“The familiar frenzy is finally here. The cloudy sky had us worried. But thankfully, rain has largely stayed away,” said Monotosh Barik, who works at a store selling saris.

Tarit Mukherjee, a resident of Chinsurah in Hooghly, had come to Gariahat with his wife and son. Around 4.15pm, the three waited for a Howrah-bound bus at Gariahat, their hands full with bags.

“This is an annual ritual for us. To come to Calcutta on the last weekend before Durga Puja, eat somewhere and buy new clothes,” said Mukherjee, who works at a cooperative bank.

For a long time in August and September, the shoppers from suburbs had kept off Calcutta, apparently because of the series of protests that erupted after a young doctor was found raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

The result was low footfall in markets around the city. But for the past couple of weekends, shoppers from adjoining districts have been coming to Calcutta again, said traders.

Around 5pm, the long queue of cars on Prince Anwar Shah Road had a ripple effect on vehicular movement in bylanes of Jodhpur Park. The majority of the cars were headed to South City Mall.

Inside, almost every store was busy. The cash counters on the first-floor outlet of a department store chain had long queues.

Almost every trial room was occupied.

“The conversion rate is very good. Seven out of 10 people who are entering the store are buying something,” said the store manager of a menswear chain.

New Market looked like a sea of people on Sunday evening. Space came at a premium and walking on Humayun Place, Lindsay Street and Bertram Street was a challenge.

Around 6.30pm, the food stalls along the lane connecting Lindsay Street and Humayun Place were buzzing with people. At least 50 people sat outside a cart selling south Indian food. Rolls, fries, noodles, everything had many takers.

Chandni Kumari, her two-month-old son in tow, was selling stuffed toys. She lives in Canning in South 24-Parganas and takes a train to Sealdah and then a bus to Esplanade.

“I come here for two weeks every year. Sales have not been good this year. But today, it is like the old times,” said Chandni.

Acropolis and City Centre 1 and 2 also remained busy throughout the day.

“We are thrilled to see the enthusiasm of shoppers. The mall is buzzing with excitement as we head into the final days before Durga Puja,” said Subhadip Basu, general manager of Acropolis Mall.