Last-minute Raya shoppers throng Kuching’s India Street
KUCHING: As Hari Raya Aidilfitri looms, India Street here saw people arriving in droves from as early as 8am for a lastminute shopping spree yesterday.
Among the sea of visitors was 27-yearold Dayang Zakiah Mohd Samsuddin, who was busy choosing baju melayu for her two sons.
Describing the street as a shopping haven for locals, Dayang Zakiah said India Street offered better range of goods that were cheaper compared with those in shopping malls.
“I come here every year to do my Hari Raya shopping as there are a lot of things available here, from biscuits, clothes, songkok and head scarves to carpets and kitchen utensils.
“A pair of baju melayu for kids is priced between RM30 and RM50 only. The price is based on the quality and design.”
Freelance baker Nornasheila Ahmad Zaidi, from Kampung Bako here, said she came to India Street to buy baking ingredients.
“I have several cakes to bake tomorrow before I can start cleaning the house for Hari Raya. So, I come here early in the morning to get the ingredients,” the 28year-old said.
Nornasheila said she cut down her Hari Raya expenses this year by baking her own cakes.
“I used to buy cakes and cookies from the bakery. For instance, a ‘kek lumut’
cheese cake would cost about RM100. But I can bake three cakes at the same cost. Of course, I took time to learn baking skills, too.”
Despite the crowd, songkok seller Mohamad Hafiz Ahmad Daud said business was not as good as in the previous years.
He said the slow business could be due to
the economy and business rivals in the form of other songkok sellers dotting the street.
“Many people still come here, but they are not buying as much as before. A few years back, I could sell about 500 songkok per day, especially when Hari Raya was drawing near. But this year, I sell only 200 pieces a day,” he said.