KUALA LUMPUR: The Deepavali bazaar at Bukit Jalil is bustling with last-minute shoppers ahead of tomorrow's festivities.
Located in the National Stadium parking lot, the bazaar witnessed a surge in shoppers making final purchases as traders slashed prices at the eleventh hour.
Many shoppers expressed their satisfaction with last-minute shopping, as it allowed them to enjoy significant discounts from the traders.
Anceletta Peter, a 29-year-old shopper, mentioned that she opted for last-minute shopping to take advantage of substantial discounts.
She appreciated the better choices and the ability to negotiate lower prices with sellers, especially at the eleventh hour.
"I came here because the choices are better, and it is a one-stop centre for all.
"I can also bargain for lower prices from the sellers, particularly at the very last minute."
Another last-minute shopper, Narvin Raj, said he came all the way from Tanjung Malim, Perak, heading to his hometown in Gemas, Negri Sembilan.
"The bazaar here is reasonably accessible as it is near the highway I use to return to my hometown.
"As usual, I would do last-minute shopping as I feel I can save so much money from my purchases."
He said he had received a discount of up to 70 per cent due to his last-minute shopping.
Traders and sellers, however, said they had noticed a drop in consumer purchases, even at the very last minute.
Stephanie Shanmugam, who operates one of the booths in the bazaar, said that her business had been quite slow.
"We have to give extra discounts. For example, one of the dresses with a price tag of RM180 had to be slashed to RM50.
"I think people are tightening their belt over their spending. People are saving up money due to the not-so-good economy," she said.
Another trader who declined to be named said sales were better last year after people had the chance to celebrate Deepavali after Covid-19 restrictions had ended.
"This time around, it is rather different. We have seen a slight decrease in sales."
He, however, remains optimistic despite slower sales.
"Business, no matter how slow, is still business," he said.