Visitors to the bazaars will find colourful traditional clothing, costume jewellery, various types of Indian sweets and biscuits as well as decorative items. — Filepic
Only four locations in Brickfields, Jalan Masjid India approved
KUALA Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has reduced the allocation of Deepavali bazaar lots in the city by a staggering 51%.
It is offering only 87 lots this year, compared to 179 last year.
Only four locations have been approved for the bazaar, including in Masjid India, leaving traders and shoppers with fewer options for the festive season.
A DBKL spokesperson said this decision was made after traders showed a lack of interest last year.
“Based on feedback from non-governmental organisations (NGOs) managing these lots last year, many traders did not take up the available spaces,” said the spokesperson.
“Only four locations have been approved for this year’s bazaar, three in Brickfields and one in Jalan Masjid India.”
The designated areas in Brickfields are the pedestrian walkway in front of Kompleks Tun Sambanthan (10 lots), Jalan Travers/ Jalan Rakyat (25 lots) and Jalan Tun Sambanthan (20 lots).
There are 32 available lots in Jalan Bunus/ Jalan Masjid India.
DBKL said the bazaars would operate from Oct 7, with trading hours from 10am to midnight.
Sundraraj says most of the lots in Masjid India have been taken.
Pertubuhan Kebajikan Peniaga Dan Penjaja Kecil Interaksi Kuala Lumpur dan Selangor, organiser of this year’s Deepavali bazaar in Jalan Masjid India, anticipates business to increase closer to the festival.
Its chairman Sundraraj Marieppan said the group hoped to draw more visitors with a stage show scheduled for Oct 27.
“We did not have a show last year, so it was quiet.
“This year, we are hoping the show will attract more visitors.”
Sundraraj said most of the Masjid India lots have been taken.
“These are mostly taken by single mothers and senior citizens hoping to earn some money.
“Each lot measures 3m by 3m, and we are charging RM1,500 per lot, which includes canopy, electricity, licence fee and platform,” he said.
He added that visitors could expect to find biscuits, tidbits, Indian attire, prayer items and costume jewellery at the bazaar.
In Brickfields, Persatuan Prihatin Peniaga Kecil Little India is overseeing lots in Jalan Travers/ Jalan Rakyat.
Its secretary P. Thinakaran said, “We’ve been given the Travers/ Rakyat stretch, while Brickfields Business Community Society is managing lots along Jalan Tun Sambanthan in Little India.
“Another NGO is overseeing the Kompleks Tun Sambanthan stretch.”
In previous years, Deepavali bazaars were held in several areas in Kuala Lumpur, including Brickfields, Lebuh Ampang, Lorong Tuanku Abdul Rahman and Masjid India.
Last year, DBKL allocated 179 lots in Jalan Bunus 6, Jalan Rakyat, Jalan Tun Sambanthan and Lebuh Ampang.
