New Delhi: With hectic last minute shopping and frenzied exchanges of greetings via sms, Diwali was celebrated across India on Saturday to mark the victory of good over evil.
Hundreds of thousands crowded markets all over the Capital and in cities and towns all over the country buying a wide variety of goods from candles to kitchen utensils and electronic items.
Temples everywhere drew unending crowds right from the morning. And there was no stopping the exchange of Diwali greetings.
Eram S Rao has been flooded with text messages and her cell phone keeps beeping to tell her there is a new greeting almost every five minutes.
"Things have really changed. Earlier we would to send cards or may be call up friends and family. Now my inbox is flooded with e-greetings. I have got at least 20 text messages since morning," she said.
Shoppers continued to troop into markets on Diwali day to try their luck at branches of a leading store celebrating a "hi-tech" Diwali. The store is gifting laptops, LCD TVs, Handycams and iPods and cell phones to those who shop for Rs 1,000 and more.
But it was not a very happy Diwali for cracker sellers.
Cracker sales have been reportedly down because of the rising costs of the sparklers, 'rockets', charkhas, anars and the 'atom bombs'. According to a cracker seller, sales have fallen by almost 40 per cent.
Avantika, a PR professional, is happy there is a dip in sales. "I am so glad there will be less noise and air pollution this year," she says.
Agrees Sameera Rao, a class seven student says, "Every year post-Diwali my brother gets an asthma attack. I just hope people burst fewer crackers this year.”
"People should not buy crackers because many children are employed in the industry. We have been telling parents not to buy crackers," she adds. But the court banning bursting of crackers past midnight has irked many.
PAGE_BREAK
Ali Waris, a class eight student who ordered crackers online, is looking forward to the evening. "I did not get time to go and shop because I had my exams. So I ordered them online."
With many not getting time to shop, designer stores were selling designer lenghas by the dozen in Green Park market of south Delhi. And beauty parlours worked overtime to accommodate the many clients.
At the temples, devotees came in thousands. Mallika, who went to the Ram temple for puja says: "I was not surprised to see so many people at the temple early in the morning."
As the day progressed the city witnessed more jams on the road.
It was difficult to get parking space in many market places. "I had saved some of my shopping for Diwali morning because I thought the markets will be less crowded. But it is as bad as ever," she said, pointing towards the parking lot.
"With these jams I wonder if I will be able to meet up with my family," she added.
Electricians were in great demand with everyone wanting to light up their houses.
The halwais too did brisk business on Diwali day. In their extended shops it was not just sweets that were being sold. Attractively packaged dry fruit boxes seemed more in demand.
The trading community in parts of the country starts a new accounting procedure each Diwali. This is one reason, said a trader, why Diwali heralds the worship of goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth.
Some offices that hadn't organised a Diwali get together met up Saturday for a quick 'puja' and party and exchanged gifts.
Comments
0 comment