Dehradun, November 3
The festive fever that had already gripped city markets for the past few weeks has now reached its climax. The prime shopping centres have worn a festive look and been converted into a display of colourful tableaux. Today on the day of Dhanteras, residents thronged city markets, which are beautifully decorated for the festival. From exchanging mini items to exquisite gifts, people are all set to welcome festivity with their friends and relatives.

Markets like Paltan Bazar, Hanuman Chowk, Dilarmam Bazar, Moti Bazar, Rajpur Road and many other areas of the capital are decked up with an array of decorative and consumer items. Today, maximum shoppers were seen thronging to the shops selling steel utensils and other cookware as the day is considered auspicious for purchasing metals.

Purchasing yellow metal and and silver coins is another propitious affair on the day of Dhanteras. With craze for 24-carat gold and silver coins, women are purchasing jewellery to wear it on the night of Divali. “On the occasion of Dhanteras, a majority of people are thronging markets to buy gold and silver coins, but gold bangles, chains and diamonds are also being bought for personal utilisation,” said Devender, a jeweller at Dhamawala.

Apart from this, people are also busy buying other decorative items to make their houses look clean and beautiful on the occasion. Whereas the main entrance is decorated with rangolis, a creative design made out of rice and dry colours, hangings and sparking lights also add a meaningful definition to the festival of lights.

“We have all types of electrical lights, scented candles, floating candles, twinkling diyas, flowers, handmade paper hangings and footprints of Lakshmi, which are bought at the time of the Lakshmi puja on Divali,” said Vikas, a shopkeeper.

Along with kandel (traditional chandelier), lampshades made from colourful pieces of cloth, traditional diyas are another significant connotation on the occasion. Madhav Lal, a potter and diya seller in the main Paltan Bazar market, said: “I have simple diyas worth Rs 10 as well glittery diyas, which are for Rs 15 and above, according to the intricate designing. My whole family has made earthen lamps ourselves besides gullak (pigi banks) for kids that are very much in demand on the day of Danteras”.

However, Diwali also brings a brisk business for sweets makers and dry fruit sellers. Come Divali and it is season of dry fruits. Heaps of attractive gift hampers, including sweets, chocolates and dry fruits, are found at almost every shop of the city. Almonds are selling for about Rs 400 per kg, cashewnuts Rs 400 to Rs 600 and raisins almost for Rs 120 to Rs 200 during the festival. “A majority of people buy dry fruits for gifting purpose as they can be kept for longer time, has nutritional value and are available in attractive gift packs. We also have roasted and non-roasted gift packs of quality dry fruits by renowned companies,” said Krishna, one of the salesmen at Kamboj Sweets.

No festival or celebration is complete without sweets. Delectable sweets in different flavours invigorates the mood and makes the festival all the more exciting and enjoyable.

Haridwar/ Roorkee, November 3
The markets in Haridwar and Roorkee marked a tremendous turnout on the eve of Dhanteras.

There was a huge crowd on the streets, shopping on the occasion. Dhanteras is an auspicious day before Divali, according to Hindu mythology. Excited people since mid-afternoon had hit the markets to buy utensils, jewellery and clothes as it is believed to be auspicious and lucky.

Despite reports on adulteration in sweets, the flow of people was seen at these sweets shops. Businessmen had been fearing the reverse, said an employee of Prakash Sweets House here.

Temples in the town were all lit and religious ceremonies were performed in the evening. Chocolates in unique tastes with eye-catching packings have become a craze amongst the younger generation.

To avoid any mishap in the heart of city, the police has directed shopkeepers not to do any business of crackers in the narrow streets or markets.

In Roorkee, the administration has earmarked Nehru Stadium as a central place to have cracker stalls and if anybody was caught disobeying the same, he would be punished.

The police was seen in strength to ensure safety and traffic control in Haridwar district. “Special deployment has been done in the main market and town wherein Inspectors and Sub Inspectors have been put on duty,” said Superintendent of Police, Rural, RL Sharma, Roorkee.

Pitthoragarh, November 3
Though markets in the district headquarters and satellite towns are full with Divali material in this border district, the police and fire officers are cautious about the swelling mobs in the markets and keeping a strong vigil on the situation.

“We have separated the crackers market this year from the main market as well as keeping a high vigil on the mob in the markets. Women come in big numbers for shopping so it is necessary that they feel safe in the market,” said Nilesh Anand Barane, SP, Pitthoragarh.

According to senior citizens of the district, the modern face of Divali is a new one to the district and adjoining villages as there is prosperity in the area after 1970 when more and more people of the district got into the Army, which raised the perks for its personnel after the 1971 Indo-Pak war. “Before that people in the traditional society in this border district were not so prosperous that they could go to markets and purchase modern items,” said Pitambar Joshi, ex-serviceman.

“Out of our total annual sale, we sell 50 per cent items on Divali as customers turn up to purchase consumer durables during this festival in large numbers,” said Shekhar Pant, proprietor of Gunjan Electronics.

But, people who have survived to witness this electronic era say otherwise. According to them the tradition of Lakshmi Pujan on Divali though was related with some prosperous people in this society some 50 years ago, the occasion of Bhaiya Dooj on the third day of Divali was observed as the main day of the Divali festival as this was only occasion when sisters used to meet their brothers at any cost. “On this day the arrival of even a sister in the family used to be considered a good omen,” said Padma Datt Pant, a historian .

“We have taken samples of not only prepared sweets, but also of the raw khoya,” says Archana Sagar, Chief Health Inspector of Pitthoragarh district. “Students from all private and government schools of the town took out a long rally yesterday raising slogans against the use of crackers to celebrate Divali and also took oath at their respective schools against exploding crackers in big numbers,” said Lalit Pant, organiser of the rally and manager of the Gandhi Vidya Peeth.

Mussoorie, November 3
Hectic shopping on the occasion of Dhanteras and the coming Divali festival, led to a traffic rush in Landour Bazar. A police team, headed by police station in charge JS Bisht, was busy managing traffic in the area to avoid inconvenience to the people.

The cops were seen removing vehicles parked wrongly at the Landour Chowk on their own to make way for the traffic. They diverted the outgoing traffic at Anupam Chowk towards South Road.

According to Bisht, the police was actively keeping an eye from every vantage point on the crowd and assisting the crowd wherever necessary.

Dehradun, November 3
The Abhimanyu Cricket Academy (ACA) claimed the title of the Under-17 District Level Cricket Tournament beating the Rao Cricket Academy 45 runs here today.

Rao Cricket Academy won the toss and opted to field first. ACA mustered 179 runs in 35 overs at the loss of six wickets. Man of the match Sushant Aale (49*) was the mainstay of the innings of the batting side. He hit three sixes and four boundaries during his wonderful knockout but missed half-century.

Rajkumar (35) and Akash Bisht (35) were the other principal scorers for ACA. For the opponent team, Sanjay took two wickets. Sahil, Sachin and Dipanker also got one wicket each.

Batting second, Rao Academy was bowled all-out for 134 in 30.5 overs. Highest scorer of the match Akash Sonkar’s (62) innings went in vain. And he had the most disappointment as he couldn’t get support from other end and had to lose the match despite his brilliant performance.

Rajkumar and Siddhant of ACA pocketed maximum three wickets each. Abhishke and Varun Bhardwaj got a wicket each.

Meanwhile, Sushant Aale was declared man of the match. Akash Bisht of ACA walked away with the man of the series award. Varun Bhardwaj of ACA and Akash Sonkar of Rao Cricket Academy were declared best batsman and best bowler, respectively. Abhinav Bisht of the National School of Cricket was announced best up-coming player. Chief guest senior cricketer Anil Dobhal gave away prizes to the winning and the runner-up teams.

Dehradun, November 3
A brace scored by talented Prabhanshu Gairola guided St Joseph Academy to a 2-1 final win against KV, IMA, to annex the ONGC Ram Bahadur Chetri Memorial Inter-School Football Championship here today.

Gairola scored two back-to-back goals to down KV. He struck in the 21st and the 24th minutes of the first half. The goals sent jitters in the side of KV that could not reply in the first half.

It was Jitender (53rd) who could strike the first goal and the lone goal for KV in the next half.

Meanwhile, Golden Boot was given to Atish of the KV,FRI.

While fair play trophy went to Kasiga School.

Best defender was given to SGRR Mission’s Amar Thapa, best goalkeeper was given to St Joseph Academy’s Thomson, best mid-fielder went to Prabhanshu Gairola and best striker award was given to Saurabh of KV, IMA. Chief guest Anil Raturi, IG (Intelligence), gave away the prizes.

Dehradun, November 3
A three-day Lawn Tennis Tournament concluded at Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC) here today. Cadet Gokul Mahajan and cadet Ayush Salaria emerged victorious in the event. A total of 124 cadets from all classes participated in the event and all matches played were doubles.

Cadet Sunandit Mahajan and cadet Shashank Chauhan were the runners-up in the tournament. The award for the most promising player of the tournament was given to cadet Param Bhoominathan and cadet Utkarsh Baru. All matches were played on synthetic court and the clay court and most of these were held at night.

The chief guest of the evening was Col Pankaj Kumaria, Commandant, RIMC. He said he was pleased to see the active participation of the cadets and promised to include this game as an inter section activity from the next term. The other dignitaries present were Lt Col R Nathawat, KS Ahlawat, Wg Cdr SK Thapliyal, Maj SR Sahu and Balvir Chauhan was the coordinator of the event.

Dehradun, November 3
Athletes of Pestle Weed College, Children’s Academy and Kay Cee Public School presented their mettle on the field on the occasion of 19th Annual Inter School Athletics Meet of Pestle Weed College here today.

The event began with the arrival of chief guest Maj Gen GS Bal, VSM, SM, Deputy Commandant and Chief Instructor of the Indian Military Academy (IMA). Following it was the welcoming and introduction of the chief guest.

The first race began with cycle race for senior participants. The students cheered the athletes of their respective schools and their enthusiasm was evident. The guests were mesmerised by a display of perfect coordination by the students presenting calisthenics. The competition also comprised equestrian performance followed by synchronised march past.

The chief guest awarded the winners and appreciated the efforts put on by the students and teachers to make programme a big success.