Maldives National Chamber of Commerce has reported that more than 8000 people visited night market that began last night. The annual night market is held at Lonu Ziyaarai Kolhu this year.
“We had as much crowd as we hoped, and business was good. Though there were petty some issues in organizing, everything went smoothly”, Ahmed Adheeb, the treasurer of the Chamber of Commerce said.
The Night market was inaugurated with 480 tables by Ibrahim Muththalib, MP for Fares-Mathoda constituency. Ibrahim Muththalib had worked as one of the key officers with the Chamber of Commerce before he won a seat in the People's Majlis.
Night Market this year has been sponsored by Alora, the furniture shop.
“We got the feedback from the participants, and they are satisfied about the organization as well as the crowd turn-over. Now there are no major issues. Since this time it is being held in a new place, some of the things were new”, said Mr. Adheeb.
Chamber of commerce and Malé City Council had a difference in opinion about where to hold the night market, and Malé city council wanted to charge an amount of MRF 750.00 per table but later they abandoned the idea.
Even though most of the items in the night market have been claimed to be offered at a lower price than their market prices as in previous years, some have noted that this year there seems to be not much difference in the prices.
“There is not much difference. It is almost same as shop-prices. The only difference here is that it is much crowded. No difference in the price”, a visitor to the market last night said.
Night Market has always been an event which allows people to buy a huge variety of goods at much cheaper prices, and many use it as a chance to shop for Ramadan, the Muslim fasting month, before which the Market is usually organized. However, this year the "cheaper-than-shop" advantage has vanished, and many visitors have expressed their dissatisfaction due to this. Still, sellers have a different story to tell. “We are selling items at half price compared to our shop-prices”, said a seller who claimed to have participated in the night market for years.