Markets shut for 4 days for summer break

All electrical shops in Phagwara Gate and surrounding markets, including Milap Chowk, Chahar Bagh and Bhagat Singh Chowk, will remain closed from June 26 to 29 (Thursday to Sunday) as part of their annual summer holidays.

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The decision was announced by Amit Sehgal, president of the Phagwara Gate Electrical Dealers Association. “This is our annual summer break. Every year around this time, we voluntarily decide to shut operations for a few days so that shopkeepers and workers can get a brief rest from the intense heat,” he said.

Phagwara Gate is one of the city’s busiest hubs for electrical goods, catering to contractors, retailers and consumers across Jalandhar and neighbouring districts. The four-day closure will bring the entire electrical market to a standstill, affecting both retail and wholesale customers.

This is not an isolated closure. Several traditional markets in the city, including Mai Hiran Gate and Dilkusha, observe similar holidays during this period. Many traders use this time to travel with family or visit hill stations to escape the harsh summer. The atmosphere during such breaks is often likened to a curfew, with shuttered shops, empty lanes and little activity in otherwise crowded commercial areas.

Trade associations across different sectors usually enforce such holidays collectively. In some markets, penalties are imposed on shopkeepers who attempt to open during the designated break.

Customers have been advised to plan their purchases in advance. Sehgal urged clients to cooperate and understand the need for this coordinated break, which helps rejuvenate traders and ensures smoother operations ahead. The market will reopen on Monday, June 30, with regular business hours.