Cheery place to shop

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SHOPPERS from the northern region are making a beeline to Little India in Penang with Deepavali just days away.

The Indian enclave is exuding a carnival atmosphere with shops blasting Tamil songs and the streets congested with traffic.

The shops are packed with customers looking for the latest sarees, some inspired by Tamil hit movies as well as Salwar Kameez, jippa and kurti designs.

Some jostled their way to buy traditional delicacies such as pal kova, ghee balls, seem pal, jelebi and laddu.

Choices aplenty: M. Sharmilla, 23, shopping for festive decorations at one of the stalls in Little India, Penang

Spotted among the crowd of shoppers at the Anita Sarees Centre was teacher K. Vignes, 33, who was accompanied by his wife K. Dharmeswary, 33, and daughter V. Mauval, 3.

Vignes, who is from Nibong Tebal, said his parents used to bring him to Little India for Deepavali shopping since he was a child.

“It has become a family tradition to shop here since there are a variety of items on sale,” he said.

Among the items on his shopping list were delicacies such as murukku and laddu as well as a saree for his wife and a Salwar Kameez for his daughter.

Anita Sarees Centre proprietor M.P. Alagarsamy said many shoppers bought sarees which were worn by actresses in popular Tamil movies such as Manggata and Adukalam.

Bright colours: (from left) Proprietor Alagarsamy showing the latest saree design inspired by an upcoming Tamil movie 'Velayutham' to housewife A. Jayanthi, 39, and student M. Dhivyasri, 16.

“We also have sarees inspired by the upcoming Tamil movie ‘Velayutham’ which is also a hit among shoppers,” he said.

Senior manager A. Poobalan, 55, was also spotted shopping yesterday with his wife K. Maheswari and their children, P. Nayanatara, 16, P. Sudhanthara, 15, and P. Tashmanth, nine.

Maheswari said they waited for their children’s examination to be over before doing their shopping.

Sudhanthara said she was looking forward to the festival as she had just sat for her PMR examination.

“It is time to be happy as the exam worries are over,” she quipped.