The shopping meter peaked across the city’s malls and markets on the last Sunday before Durga Puja.

The morning showers could not dampen the spirits of shoppers who stepped out in large numbers.

The Telegraph went around witnessing the buying spree.

Hectic

Shoppers everywhere wanted to make the most of the last Sunday before Puja.

Esha Saha was seen sitting on a bench on the first floor of South City Mall with her shopping bags lying sprawled in front of her. Her mother Tina said they had been out shopping for several hours.

“We need to catch our breath. We wanted to eat out but now I am having second thoughts because of the number of bags we have to lug around,” she said.

Subham Sarkar, a techie who works in Bangalore, was looking to buy some T-shirts, shirts and trousers. “This is the time of the year to be in the city. Today is the first day I am out shopping and the streets are already lit up. The festive feel is hard to miss,” he said.

The general manager of South City Mall, Deep Biswas, said the footfall had been increasing steadily every day this week and it peaked on Sunday when the count crossed 2 lakh.

Shop, eat, repeat

This seemed to be the mantra for a group of friends from Jadavpur who had lunch at Hatari on Rashbehari Avenue before heading to Acropolis Mall for some shopping.

Ishita Dasgupta, a fashion-designing student who was part of the group, said she and her friends picked up a few accessories at Gariahat before lunch.

“Be it earrings or chunky neckpieces, nothing beats the shops that line the pavements of Gariahat,” Ishita said.

Hiya Dasgupta, another member of the group, said all the walking had made them hungry but they had to wait for at least half an hour for a table.

Soma Mukherjee of New Town had lunch at a star address on the EM Bypass before going to South City Mall.

“I completed almost all my shopping last week. Today was more of an outing with a little shopping thrown in,” she said.

Homecoming

Ajoy Thapa and his wife Pushpa stay in the US but come home every Puja.

“Coming to Gariahat to pick up festive wear is a ritual for us,” Ajoy said.

Wife Pushpa said they had picked up kurtas and saris for the entire family on Sunday.

“The crowds are swelling by the hour. Now, we will go home to save some energy for tomorrow,” she said.