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Malls crowded, but no one is spending

The main markets like Khan Market, Green Park, Greater Kailash have seen lesser shopping this year

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City malls lit up and crowded ahead of Diwali. While this is usually the season to make brisk sales, recent rulings have dampened the splurging spree
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The national Capital is already in throes of festive fervour with bright lights and sales bedazzling the consumer in almost all the markets and malls of the city.

This season, however, has been particularly "slow", according to some businessmen, including hospitality. While they claim it is too early to say that Diwali this year has been an economic gloom, they agree on less enthusiasm among the people.

Some of the main markets like Khan Market, Green Park, Greater Kailash have seen lesser shopping this year, even if the crowd remained largely as huge as previous years. Similarly, even though Malls like DLF Saket, DLF Emporio, DLF Mall of India, Ambience, etc are having a steady footfall, the splurging that is generally associated with Diwali hasn't climbed.

Talking to DNA, Dinaz Madhukar, executive vice-president, DLF Luxury Retail and Hospitality said that this festive season has brought to fore a "cautious" side of customers. Dismissing the notion that people are not spending at all this Diwali, she said, "It is a misconception. The only difference, this year, is that people are doing it cautiously. They haven't tightened their purse strings but they aren't spending mindlessly either, as is the case on Diwali normally."

Restaurants in the city, too, are facing"mixed" business this year. While some claim that they recorded one of lowest sales compared to past few years, there are others like Suwbha Chopra of Civil House Cafe, who feels the business has been "slow" but could not be slotted under "losses" category. "It would be wrong to say that people are not eating out and hence saving money this Diwali. The fervour remains the same but this year, diners are being careful about where they want to spend their money on," she adds.

Meanwhile, Rohit Malhotra, Business Head Barcelos India, differs, "Business has been recorded the lowest in the last three years. Usually, restaurants are low during this festive season. It has a different impact in different cities; in north India during this season, there are new trends which have started like card parties or Diwali parties, whereas take-away or catering business has increased. But, overall there is a drop in all other business. As restaurants have been considered a luxury, so people do save on eating out.

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