Diwali diyas make way for Halloween costumes in spooky season

The Allied Stores in Khan Market, one of Delhi’s oldest novelty shops, has turned into a Halloween hub.

The shelves are lined with ghost masks, spider webs, vampire capes, skeleton garlands, bats, and spiders. From the walls and ceiling hang plastic pumpkin lanterns, fake cobwebs, skulls, and severed, bloody limbs. Shoppers are sifting through costumes – Wednesday Addams, Chucky and Michael Myers costumes are the most in demand.

“Demand is increasing every year,” says Chanakya Mehra, owner of the store. “We start our decoration and stocking in September. Many of the props and costumes are sold out now.”

Advance orders had been placed for K-pop costumes, and they sold out quickly, Mehra says. “The demand for adult costumes has gone up in the last two years. Earlier people bought only accessories, now they want the full look,” he says.

Rakesh Gupta, owner of Gift Palace Toy Store in Khan Market, confirms that sales have “definitely increased” since last year. “Since it is a long weekend this year there are a lot of parties and events happening,” Gupta says.

“About 70 per cent of customers are children who buy whole costumes. Adults buy smaller elements like masks, teeth, capes,” says Gupta. The most popular costumes in his shop are those of Harry Potter, witches, and pirates.