Bargain-hunting time of the year is here
The Hindu
Madurai is awash with vendors and shoppers ahead of Deepavali
Madurai’s festivals are synonymous with boisterous crowds, revelry and a carnival atmosphere. If it is religious zeal during Chithirai festival, it is shopping, rather bargain-hunting, that attracts people during the run-up to Deepavali which reaches a crescendo on the festival eve.
The shopping hubs are Vilakkuthoon-South Masi Street area, Nethaji Road-West Masi Street area and commercial streets leading towards West and South towers of Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple. While all big shops sell white goods with attractive offers, it is the small shops and pavement ware the crowds are after. Just a folding cot, table or a cart and you have your shop ready. And there are stands with 50 or so hangers with dresses which can be moved around. Even shoulders become display stands for a few, and stationary bikes too.
Everyone talks about the Airport Metro, but one look at the pillars and completion seems nowhere in sight. Meanwhile, a faster, cheaper, roomier alternative called the Suburban Rail Airport Corridor is finally getting off the drawing board. This dedicated corridor with its specialised coaches will link the airport to vast stretches of Bengaluru, where the metro connection is still years away.