Kolkata: Preparations for the International Yoga Day celebrations on Red Road on Sunday, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be leading a mass yoga session, have triggered a sharp rise in demand for yoga-related products across Kolkata. This has provided a healthy boost to the city’s sports goods retailers.From yoga mats and athleisure wear to caps, water bottles and footwear, retailers across key commercial hubs reported a surge in sales in the run-up to the event. Most traders estimated that demand had risen by around 40 to 50% over the past week, driven largely by bulk orders from govt departments, educational institutions, wellness centres, traders’ associations and individual participants.The increase in sales comes as Kolkata gears up to host one of the country’s largest International Yoga Day celebrations. West Bengal is hosting the event at this scale for the first time since the observance was introduced in 2014. The state govt is organising the programme jointly with the ministry of Ayush.Traders said the unexpected demand has helped offset a sluggish summer season, with many retailers reporting one of their busiest weeks in recent months.“The demand picked up from Monday when we started getting a flurry of orders. It came as a pleasant surprise. There has been a rise of almost 50% in the past one week. The bulk of the demand has come from govt departments and educational institutions. Many have got the names of their institutions and departments printed on the back of the T-shirts,” said Mohammad Ahmed, owner of Samy Sports & Sons in BC Roy Market, Esplanade.Retailers said customised T-shirts, track pants and yoga mats have emerged as the most sought-after items as organisations prepare to participate in the large-scale event.“We started receiving enquiries nearly two weeks ago, but the demand picked up significantly over the last few days. Orders for yoga mats and sportswear have increased by nearly 40 to 50% compared with a normal business period,” said Rajesh Agarwal, a wholesaler of sports goods on Burrabazar’s Sir Hari Ram Goenka Street.Another wholesaler and retailer in central Kolkata said the demand was spread across both institutional and retail customers.“Schools, colleges and private organisations are purchasing in bulk, while many individuals are also buying yoga mats and sports shoes. Sales have been strong this week in the run-up to International Yoga Day,” said Karan Kundra, owner of Ganpati Enterprise, on Synagogue Street.A giant stage measuring 12 feet in height, 60 feet in length and 40 feet in width has come up on Red Road for the event. The backdrop is expected to rise nearly 36 feet, making it one of the largest stages built for a govt programme in the city.Over the last few years, interest in yoga has steadily grown in Kolkata, with wellness centres, residential complexes and corporate offices increasingly incorporating yoga sessions into their regular activities.Officials expect a turnout of around 50,000 participants at Red Road on Sunday. Bamboo barricades and additional crowd-control measures have also been put in place along the stretch to manage spectators expected to gather to witness the event.Apart from the main stage, officials have arranged designated yoga zones, medical assistance booths, drinking water facilities and emergency response teams along the Red Road stretch.
