There maybe hype around the ongoing CWG, but the city’s favourite shopping destination Dilli Haat hasn’t benefitted much from it, feel stall owners.
Foreigners thronging the venue isn’t much to boast about, says Mohsin Madni, who sells Kashmiri shawls, stoles and jackets at Dilli Haat. He explains, “The authorities p
re-poned ‘Master Creation’, which is held in December to October hoping tourists visiting the city for the Games will add to the profit, but it hasn’t worked. We make more than `1 lakh a day during Master Creation, but this time it’s hardly `15,000 per day. The Games has been a dampener for us. The local crowd isn’t adding to the sales either, they come here to check out the crowd and celebrations that happen in the evening, few tourists barely stay at one shop because of the crowd and are not willing to shell out more than `400 for a Pashmina, which is $10-20, how are we to benefit from it?”
Ray Houston from London is part of the camera crew, which is documenting the Games. First time in Delhi, he seems happy shopping for souvenirs. “I picked up some wooden carvings and miniature elephants for my house. I also bought Madhubani paintings to remind me of my visit here. Dilli Haat is a pretty organised market and I like the specialities that are here from different parts of the country. I have been to Chandni Chowk and got some great photos there. Travelling by Metro has been a good experience, I can see it’s popular with locals here and is quite crowded too,” he says.
Another stall owner Rajiv Tyagi, says he has more exquisite stuff especially for the Games crowd, and so far he’s happy with the response. “We worked six months in advance producing these hand-crafted souvenirs made from marbles like candle lights, incense burners, lamps and intricately carved elephants and coasters. Price varies depending on the work done. It starts from `50 upwards,” he reveals.
It was quite evident that Liz Chetzovich from Australia seemed pleased with her purchase. Rajiv quoted `2,250 for six marble artifacts and she brought it down to `1,500. “Not bad,” she remarked.
Liz added, “I bargained enough, even if he’s charged me more, I am not bothered as I am happy with what I’ve bought. Now I am off to buy a sari for my daughter. I also picked up few Pashminas, they are quite cheap here as compared to Australia.” Quadri says that though business has been okay he can’t say things have been great. “I just wish there was a fixed price sign we could use, I am fed up of locals bargaining for stuff which is prompting tourists as well,” he adds.