Broadway sees Onam sales surge despite rain hampering evening business

Broadway's narrow lanes swelled with hundreds of shoppers on Sunday as Onam sales surged after days of sluggish business, though intermittent downpours threatened to wash away the day's momentum.

Street vendors, who bore the brunt of a disappointing season, reported renewed enthusiasm among buyers as footfall jumped sharply. Most stalls priced garments starting at ₹100, with premium items reaching ₹500 to ₹600.

Rain disrupts evening sales peak

The weather turned precisely when business was expected to pick up. Ashiq N.S., a street-side vendor holding a glass of black tea while calling out to customers, was mid-sale—coaxing a woman in her thirties to overlook small dirt marks on a dress—when rain began. Workers and shoppers scrambled to pull plastic sheets over clothing displays.

"This is the problem. It is evening, and sales are supposed to improve now, but that is precisely when it rains," Ashiq said. "This has become routine. All we can do is wait for the rain to stop. By then, we will have lost several customers," he added.

Vendors struggle on commission-only earnings

Muhammed Noushad, another street vendor, questioned whether customers had purchasing power this season. "We brought in these Onam clothes for the festive season. We earn on a commission basis, and the rain has further affected sales. All we can do is fold our arms and wait for it to stop," he said, demonstrating by folding his arms across his chest.

Abdul Razack (name changed), who lost his own shop on the street years ago after suffering losses, has restarted as a commission-based seller. "Sales have been lower this season, except yesterday and today. Perhaps people are buying from online stores," he said.

Social media draws buyers—and confusion

Even as vendors blamed online retail for pulling customers away, the internet also drove foot traffic to Broadway. Shahana, who travelled from Puthuvype with her sister-in-law Thahira, was hunting for a specific green outfit she had spotted in a video advertising clothes sold at low prices "and even by weight". "We still haven't found the place," Shahana said, while Thahira playfully warned that "all hell would break loose" if they failed to locate it.

Source: The Hindu