A sharp slump in business this puja has been a nightmare for wholesale garment and cloth traders of Howrah but curiously there has been no let up in demand for traditional panjabis or kurtas for men that the Bengali babus don on Ashtami.

Hence tailors and traders alike are doing brisk business with orders pouring in from both the wholesale and retail buyers that will give them a decent profit.

“Most of the Bengali men like wearing panjabis or kurtas during Durga Puja, particularly on Ashtami. This tradition has not changed. So orders for the wholesale panjabi sellers are steady like past years. Orders come mainly from Calcutta,” said Nazur Hossen Mollah, an ostagor of Domjur.

Almost the entire marketing and production of panjabis are controlled by traders in Burrabazar. Cloth needed for panjabi are available there. “Variety of cloth including cotton, tussar, garad, silk, jeans and other types are found in Burrabazar,” said Sheikh Akhtar a panjabi trader.

Giving finishing touches to panjabis at Makardah. Pictures by Anup Bhattacharya

Most of the panjabis made in Domjur, Nibira, Salap and few other areas of Howrah are sold to the wholesale traders of Burrabazar. “Besides, there are retail traders from Calcutta’s Gariahat, Maniktala, New Market, and other areas who place orders for panjabis directly to us instead of buying them from Burrabazar,” said Dilbar Ahmed, who has been tailoring panjabis for the last 30 years.

Though traditionally, ladies’ garments are stitched in Howrah, panjabis tailored by the ostagors of this district are in great demand in West Bengal and in other states. “Panjabis are worn by Bengalis on special occasions like Durga puja, Saraswati puja and during marriage. Demand for panjabis is always the same,” said a trader.

Two piece panjabi and jacket sets for children