Come any festival, and the Sweet Meat (SM) Street suddenly becomes the nerve-centre of Kozhikode, the place anyone and everyone who wants to buy something invariably ends up. It could not have been otherwise on Sunday evening too, since Id-ul-Fitr is expected on Monday.
It was as if the entire district was flowing into its alleys. The Karkkidaka rain gave some respite in the evening, which both the buyers and sellers made the most of.
Traffic regulation The police had blocked the vehicular traffic to the street by afternoon to avoid bottleneck. But shoppers and strollers choked the street.
Shops in the street, which would usually remain closed on Sundays, stayed open, expecting a festival windfall.
With last minute shoppers and bargain hunters thronging from all its four openings — Kidson Corner, Palayam Moideenpalli Junction, Court Road, and the Railway-Kammath Lane Junction — the street came alive.
Vendors touted their products and customers walked about, looking for the best buy.
Taking a walk on the eve of the festival through the street is in itself a delight and part of the celebration for some. For some others, it’s an occasion to meet friends and socialise in a festive ambience.
However, paucity of proper parking facilities came to the fore with even small vehicles including motorcycles struggling to find at least “half a parking spot” nearby. At times police personnel intervened and fined vehicle owners for causing snarls.