Kolu boomai hawkers have arrived at North Mada Street, Mylapore for their sales this Navaratri season.
On Friday, at least a dozen of them were seen unpacking their kolu bommais and arranging it across their stalls.
Jai Ganesh, a hawker from Perungulathur in Chennai was one of the earliest to set up his stall located outside the local branch of Yes Bank on this road. And eager shoppers were dropping at his stall to check out the dolls and prices.
He said, “Every year, my family makes dolls for Navaratri. We also go to districts like Cuddalore, Kanchipuram, and Madurai to buy dolls for sales in Mylapore.”
“However, this year due to lockdown restrictions, we found it difficult to travel and source dolls from these places.”
And this, he points out has delayed them in starting sales this Navaratri. “We are late by 10 days.”
He also says that they have brought only limited dolls for sales this year. “As sales are unpredictable due to lockdown, we have brought only limited dolls. Also, we have not made any new models.”
Jai Ganesh has also planned to put in place necessary precautions to prevent virus spread. “I will wear mask and place a hand sanitiser at my stall. I will also ask people to maintain physical distancing and wear masks.”
Said another hawker here, “We hope we would have good sales this time like every year.”
Images of various gods and goddesses including that of Bala Tripurasundari, Hanuman, Lakshmi and Athi Varadar are available for sales at Jai Ganesh’s shop. An image of Bala Tripurasundari (big size) is priced at Rs 1000 at his shop.
In the coming days, more hawkers will be setting up their stalls here.
