A stall of ceramic items from Bangladesh at Utsav on Friday. Picture by Eastern Projections

Sept. 8: Festive shopping was never so alluring for the residents of the city.

Appreciating the “honesty and spontaneity” of the customers, the participants of Utsav 2006 today announced a slew of sops, including a flat 50 per cent discount on various goods, including jewellery from Myanmar and jamdani sari from Bangladesh.

Dipankar Ghosh, general manager of City Mart, a chain of shopping malls, said the traders at the fair were impressed with the customers of Guwahati.

“Unlike in other cities, customers here are straightforward, honest and spontaneous. If they like a product, they will purchase it immediately. They do not think twice. In other cities, it is difficult to know the mind of customers. They do not buy immediately even if they like a product. Therefore, we feel obliged to make the customers of Guwahati happy,” he said.

Ghosh said though Utsav would conclude on September 13, people could avail the discount till October 31 by producing the entry tickets to the fair. “Besides the pre-Durga Puja shopping, we are trying to make their Diwali and Id-ul-Fitr shopping a pleasant and happy experience,” he said.

A total of 100 stalls have been put up at the fair. Participants from Thailand, Myanmar and Bangladesh are also selling various products.

Cho Cho Maw, a representative of Myanmar delegation, said there was a huge demand for the gems and jewellery from her country. “We are getting a good response. The shopping is expected to reach its climax in the coming days,” she said.

Nachirudhin, a trader from Bangladesh who has a stall at the fair, said despite being predominantly a Muslim country, the people of Bangladesh have an affinity towards Durga Puja. “We hope to make the Puja revellers of Guwahati happy by giving them products from Bangladesh at a much cheaper price,” he said.

Nachirudhin is a fan of singing superstar from Bengal — Nachiketa — and is eagerly waiting for the show at the end of the fair. He said Guwahati is fast becoming a shoppers’ paradise.

The fair was organised with a view to ensure that the great Indian middle class has a good time during the festive season.