Kolkata cools down with sherbets & shopping sprees

As Kolkata simmers under an unforgiving sun, with temperatures consistently hovering above 38°C, residents are seeking every possible escape – whether it’s clutching a chilled glass of tangy sherbet or finding solace in the air-conditioned corridors of shopping malls. Both road-side sherbet shops and malls are witnessing a noticeable spike in footfall as everyone looks for comfort, refreshment, and a momentary pause from the scorching reality outside.



Malls offer a cool escape from the heat
With the mercury soaring, families are flocking to shopping malls for a break from the sweltering heat. With air conditioning, food, shopping, and fun under one roof, malls are seeing a surge in visitors. “The mall at Kasba has witnessed almost a 20% increase in footfall over the past week,” says Subhadip Basu, corporate general manager of a hospitality group and city mall. Summer vacations have also brought in more children and families, boosting entertainment zones and driving a 30% rise in overall sales.


Daaber sherbet, mango lassi & more
Be it lassis or syrup-based sherbets, local shops see a spike in sales particularly in the evening hours. ‘There’s a rush post-6 pm when people usually come looking for something to cool them down after a long day,’ says Sunil Arora, owner, juice shop and eatery. Stalls selling seasonal drinks have also witnessed an
increase in sales.

Quotes:
Gaming zones, food courts, and multiplexes are scoring big due to the summer vacations. Salt Lake and Rajarhat malls have seen a jump in sales by almost 15% – Ramesh Pandey, VP, marketing & events of a hospitality group

Students often come in large groups during lunch hours, or after their classes. They are particularly fond of daaber sherbet and mango flavoured coolers – Ravi Sharma, owner of a sherbet shop in north Kolkata