madurai the city on monday morning had signs of normalcy with people shopping for groceries and fruits in large numbers whilst maintaining social distancing as the tamil new year falls on tuesdayit is not going to feel like a new year as we are going to stay indoors but it is considered auspicious to have essentials like sugar oil salt turmeric etc so i came out for shopping said tharani from anna nagarshe was among many other residents who had decided to get their commodities home delivered and contacted the numbers circulated in whatsapp groups but when i called the concerned shop they told me to come and collect them as delivering goods in the contained areas is banned she saidall the shops had their display windows shut while some stores in anna nagar checked the body temperature and asked people to sanitize their hands before entering the shops others just urged them to maintain social distancingminimal crowds in shops and empty streets seem to be an example of what it is going to be like during the first few days after the lockdown is extended said mayailvaganan of k k nagar one thing is for sure life is never going to be the same he addedthe only thing we are missing is the flowers its nowhere to be found in the city said rani of vilangudimeanwhile some meat stalls and roadside eateries selling idlies and paniyarams were seen functioning near the karimedu fish market it saw a steady flow of customers a police personnel on duty in anna nagar said they were ensuring that the people maintained social distancing they let people stand in the queue till 1 am to finish their shopping considering the tamil new year