Festive attire adds charm to Sharadiya Durga celebrations

The Sharadiya Durga Puja is at the doorstep, there is hardly any time left in hand, so the last-minute shopping is now at its peak.

Centered around Durga Puja, crossing the alleys of Rajshahi city, the brightest colors of the festival are now seen most in Shaheb Bazar, New Market and the big shopping malls.

In total, the city's shopping centers are now filled with nothing but crowds of people and the buzz of shopping.

The joy of Puja means the scent of new clothes. As a result, the variety of clothing in Puja shopping is also eye-catching. And to make that joy colorful, shopping continues day and night.

One outfit alone is not enough for the Sharadiya celebration; there are separate calculations for morning and evening for each day from Shashthi to Dashami.

From the serene attire for offering Anjali on the morning of Ashtami to the gorgeous Aarti of Navami, everything needs a matching outfit.

Visiting the clothing shops of New Market and Shaheb Bazar in the city, a huge crowd of shoppers is seen.

At the top of women's preferences are traditional handloom sarees, Jamdani, Dhakai Benarasi, Benarasi, Rajshahi Silk, Kantha Stitch, Muslin and Kanjivaram.

Besides, young women are being attracted by kurtis of various designs, comfortable co-ord sets and Pakistani three-pieces.

The sight of groups of friends entering shops together searching for a blend of colors is also noteworthy. Some are helping friends choose clothes, while others are looking for new festive-suitable clothes for themselves. Who will match which shade of clothing is being meticulously checked and sorted out while sitting and chatting.

Manik Karmakar, a saree trader at RDA Market, said they are waiting for these few days of Puja.

The demand for traditional red-bordered white sarees and Jamdani for Saptami and Ashtami is as high as always. But this time young women are looking more for light-colored soft silk and designer kurtis.

From morning till night, there is no space to step into the shop due to customers. Sales are good, so the tiredness feels good and is forgotten. But people are seeing things online and coming to look for them.

The main attraction in men's shopping, as always, is the Punjabi. Punjabis made of cotton, tussar, Kabuli Punjabi, silk or khadi with fine thread work and zardozi designs are selling more.

From the dhoti-panjabi for the immersion on Dashami to the casual shirt for the evening of Ashtami, nothing is left out of the list.

Akash Hasan, a Panjabi seller at RDA Market, said this time, in men's shopping, Panjabis with fine thread work on khadi are more in trend. Young people are buying light-colored semi-long Punjabis for offering Anjali, and heavy-work designs for the evening.

The tendency to come in groups of friends and buy matching clothes is quite noticeable this time. In this last-minute buying and selling, they don't have a moment to breathe.

However, the biggest excitement of Puja has been seen in children's clothing. Little ones are roaming from shop to shop holding their parents' hands.

For baby girls, displays are decorated with frocks or Barbie gowns, lehengas, sarees of various colors including red and white, dhoti kurtis, sharara and gharara sets and Rajasthani ghagras, and for boys with colorful kurtas, dhoti panjabis, fatua, Kabli sets, T-shirts, polo T-shirts and small Panjabis.

The family's festival preparation seems to be fulfilled by the smiles on the children's faces.

As soon as you step into the big shopping malls and elite showrooms of the city, a gorgeous festive atmosphere catches the eye.

From the entrance to the corridors, soft lighting decorations and light instrumental music create a serene feeling.

New collection clothes are perfectly arranged in transparent glass displays, in the large show-windows around, mannequins are draped with colorful silk sarees, colorful kurtis and elegant Panjabis - whose shiny brilliance is catching the eyes of passersby.

On the escalators from one floor to another, family members going up and down with shopping bags in hand and the lively laughter of friends create a living hustle and bustle throughout the mall.

There is also a little crowd in front of the trial rooms, some have gone to try on their chosen clothes and some are standing waiting with some clothes in hand.

Some are wearing clothes and showing their family, while others are busy taking selfies.

University student Sushmita Sen said the color of the clothes must match the feeling of each day of Puja.

"I have bought a light-colored cotton kurti for going to the pandal with friends on the morning of Saptami, and for the Maha Ashtami Aarti I have chosen a traditional Jamdani," she said, adding,"We came to shop as a whole group of friends, although it is very hot, it is still a lot of fun."

Service holder Ashim Kumar said, "For myself, one Panjabi is enough, but shopping for the kids is now the biggest job."

"I have bought my daughter her favorite dress, now it's my son's turn to shop. The crowd in the market is huge, yet seeing the excitement on the children's faces erases all tiredness. The festival is actually filled with smiles," he added.