Dehradun, November 4
A day ahead of Divali today, markets were packed up with festive goodies and gifts, showcasing a variety for one and all. With the significance of light and prosperity on the festival, Divali comes with many types of candles, crackers and diyas that make the festive spirit all the more exciting and enjoyable.

Where women are indulging themselves in shopping for household and utility items, children are busy thronging to the cracker stalls to purchase at least one set from all the available types.

Each and every one is busy shopping items of their choices. Crackers, which remain the centre of attraction during Divali, was providing a brisk business to its dealers today. The shops of crackers would remain opened today in the hustle bustle area of Dhama Wala Market situated in the Paltan Bazar till late night. The area that received exceptional response on the first day is likely to make good revenue on the eve of Divali.

“Crackers that add glitters to the festival of Divali are very much appreciated by children. It gives a perfect combination of fun, sound and brightness during the celebrations. This season shops have endless variety of sky shooters. Staring from Rs 500, the sky shooters are as expensive as Rs 10,000. Penta sky shooter, Enjoy 1000, Pride of India, Sky Booster, Boomer 37, Little Best 100 and Hilli-billi Piper are some of the latest varieties of the cracker by Cock, the famous company manufacturing crackers from the past several years,” said Vikas, a cracker seller.

Whether it’s a below middle class income group or a multimillionaire, crackers hold utmost importance, besides feisty meal and exchange of gifts. The market is also decked up with an array of crackers, including regular flowerpots, pencils, mini-bombs, rockets and many others. “During Divali, people love to purchase everything in large quantities as it’s all about celebrations and togetherness. With normal crackers this time we have a large variety in sky shooters and particularly enjoy 1000 and a series of mini-bulbs worth Rs 5,000 and Rs 10,000 are in demand for its long-lasting effect,” said Raghubir, a cracker shop owner.

Moreover, who wants to purchase powerful bombs with deafening impact to their neighborhood, can pick Classic and Dynamite bombs worth Rs 60 by the Cock brand. “Specially, boys are interested in purchasing heavy duty bombs that are too loud and explode with a big bang. Apart from them sky shots with a series of 1,000 bombs are in very much demand,” said an elated Rakesh Kumar, a cracker seller.

“We have all types of electrical lights, scented candles, floating candles, gel candles, glitter candles, twinkling diyas, flowers, hand made paper hangings and footprints of Lakshmi, which are bought for the Lakshmi puja on Divali,” said Vijay Kumar of Sai Perfumeries at Dispensary Road.

Like previous years, the Uttarakhand Environment Protection and Pollution Control Board (UEPPCB) this year too will keep tabs on the noise and air pollution levels of Dehradun on Divali.

The board has set up three ambient air stations at the Clock Tower, Nehru Colony and Raipur Road. This apart from mobile vans fitted with sound-level meters that will record the noise levels at different locations across the city on the day.

Similarly, for measuring noise pollution levels, residential areas of Nehru Colony, the silence zones of the Doon Hospital and Combined Medical Institute and the Clock Tower, as a commercial area have been earmarked.

Regional Officer, UEPPCB, PK Joshi said the board was also set to monitor the noise and air pollution levels on Divali.

Significantly, the UEPPCB teams work round the clock to monitor the air and noise pollution levels on Divali. While the whole night is spent in the monitoring exercise, it takes a day and more to complete the data so generated and get inferences.

Interestingly, the noise levels were higher in 2008 during Divali compared to 2009, evidently due to lesser quantity of crackers purchased either due to rising inflation or due to growing sensitisation about the environmental damage caused by these.

Officials of the Health Department today conducted raids on sweets shops in the district and destroyed 50 kg of spurious khoya on the Delhi-Yamunotri route check post. It was being transported from Saharanpur.

Besides, the police seized 2 quintal of paneer from a vehicle coming from Saharanpur. Food Inspector GC Kandwal said: “We took samples of the paneer for analysis. It was seized by the Uttarakhand police during a routine check at the Delhi-Yamunotri route post,” said Kandwal.

Meanwhile, the Society of Pollution and Environmental Conservation, an NGO, collected 218 samples from various areas. “A total of 163 samples were found to be adulterated and we had conducted tests with the help of the Rasoi Ki Kasoti kit, especially designed for undertaking tests,” said Dr Brijmohan Sharma, secretary of the NGO.

Dehradun, November 4
As part of the 208th group day ceremony of the Bengal Sappers to be held on the November 8, an array of skills was on display at the Bengal Sappers Centenary Pavilion in Roorkee today. A scintillating display of horsemanship presented by the Bengal Sappers left all spectators in awe.

The daring riders on horsebacks matched skill with speed and balance to demonstrate an old cavalry sport of tent pegging wherein the olden days the cavalryman would pull out the pegs from the enemy tents with their spears while astride on speeding horses to leave the enemy trapped within the tents as they collapsed.

Spectators thronged the stadium to witness a variety of events this evening. “It’s amazing seeing our soldiers displaying these skills at arms length as everyone is not lucky enough to see these skilled acts live,” said Avinash Goyal, who had accompanied his Army friends from Mussoorie to see the show.

Various eye-catching events that left the audience spellbound included a martial arts display of tae kwon do by the recruits of No 1 Training Battalion while the recruits of No 2 Training Battalion put up an impressive display of rifle drill, which was unique as it was synchronised without any word of command. The talented young gymnasts of the Boys Sports Company enthralled all with a display of their strength of endurance as they flawlessly performed exercises on the floor, vault, pommel horse, the trampoline, parallel bar and horizontal bar. Children were thrilled to see the clowns trying to emulate the gymnasts. The Bengal Sappers have also produced many sportsmen at the national and international level.

There were a couple of paramotorists who sailed the blue skies in reaching the pavilion to leave the audience awestruck with their daring skills.

The spectators were captivated by the melodious tunes of three Army bands that played a number of military tunes in a prelude to the grand finale that had a dazzling display of fireworks bringing alive the stadium with the sound of crackers and sparkling lights.

The Pavilion display was graced by the Commandant of the Bengal Sappers, Brig DS Ahuja, who alongwith his wife Pia Ahuja, and other distinguished guests as well as the Officers and PBOR of Roorkee Cantt with their families and civil dignitaries witnessed the same.

Dehradun, November 4
Khanna House took the Athletics Cup, while athletes of St Jude’s School presented their mettle on the field as the school celebrated its 16th annual sports and PT display here yesterday. The eagerly anticipated event began with the arrival of the chief guest, Brig Ashwani Kapoor, Brigade Commander, 14 Arty Brigade.

The spectacular event began with the non-participants carnival. Students of Class III to V stepped out together in orange, white and green dresses. Students of Class VI to VIII depicted the athletes of the Commonwealth Games. The display of the common man, coolie, tiffin wala, vegetable vendor and Indian bridegroom on horses, was part of the carnival.

Following this was the march past that displayed perfect coordination of the squads. Students of Class III kicked off the dust while their legs well coordinated with the beat of the drum and presented sunrise PT.

The first race began with 50-metre skipping by girls, followed by 50-metre flat race run by boys. The students cheered the athletes of their respective Houses and their enthusiasm was evident. They displayed their courage by performing various skills of karate.

The guests were mesmerised by the display of perfect coordination by girls of Class IV and V who performed aerobics. Then followed the 4X50 metre mixed shuttle relay, 4X100 metre mixed relay and 200-metre race for boys. Next was the PT display by students of Class VI to VIII performing a mass drill to the tunes of the Commonwealth Games anthem “Jio, utho, badho, jeeto” culminating into a formation that left the audience spellbound.

Dehradun, November 4
The Roller Skating Association of Uttarakhand affiliated with the Uttarakhand State Olympic Association will select the state team for the 11th All-India Roller Skating Open Championship 2010 to be held from November 18 to 21 at Meerut.

The championship is being organised by the Uttar Pradesh Roller Sports Association in collaboration with AB Roller Skating Team.

During the event, roller hockey for sub junior-under 12 years, junior under-16 years and senior above-16 years will be organised. Speed for Rink I, II and III for adjustable, quad and inline skaters below four years to above 14 years in boys/girls groups will be held.

The last date for entries is November 12. To know more, log on to www.yatiskates.com or contact secretary Arvind Gupta at 9897137838.

Interested candidates can also visit Hotel Surabhi Palace, Chakrata Road, or The Olympus High School, GMS Road, for practice.