CHENNAI: Everything has its rightful place in the aisles of Ranganathan Street, which is why it attracts shoppers from across Chennai and its adjoining towns and villages through the year. With some of these shops of repute being locked and sealed by the CMDA and Corporation officials in October last, shoppers say finding a substitute shop is hard but they are forced to seek others, as their preferred shops are shut.“Chennai Silks is best known for its range of inexpensive silk wear for gifting. They are easy on the wallet but are still different than the ones offered in other bulk shopping stores. But with this shop being shut down, I’m finding it hard to see such a wide range in most of the other popular T Nagar showrooms,” says Archana, who was scouting for new shops on Wednesday evening, looking for a dozen silk sarees with a similar motif to gift to a set of relatives. “Some of the traditionally popular stores have opened in new locations after their previous buildings were sealed. But there is a good reason we go to those old stores, because of the options and decent help from the store hands. When I went to Ranganathan Street recently, I didn’t find many hands to help. And even those who were available were not as helpful. When it comes to things like vessels, cookers and other household items, I find women more understanding of the needs than the men who are hands at the store. Women generally have a better understanding of the issues at play. So, I have had to revisit the places again and again in T Nagar and Mylapore this time,” says Lalitha Krishnan of Thiruvanmyur, who is shopping vigorously for her daughter’s wedding in December. With mid-January marking another season of weddings, purchases will have to be completed by mid-December for most, as the period between December and January is considered inauspicious in the Hindu calendar. This has also forced shoppers to rush to other stores for available options, while a few others say they are hopeful of shops opening after the November 30 verdict, which will give them a fortnight till December 15 to buy for the wedding season.
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