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Duty first: The men who make your Divali bright
And it's not for the first time that they will be working on a holiday, but they have been doing it for the past many years on Divali's, selflessly. While Divali is a time to celebrate, the fire brigade personnel of the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation (MC) will have to remain vigilant and in the highest degree of preparedness on this day. These officials will miss out the festivities and will remain stationed at their respective fire stations throughout the night. A driver with the fire brigade says when he joined the department, he knew that his job will require utmost devotion. “For residents, Divali means joy and festivities, but for us, it’s just another day on duty. In fact not only other day, but one of the busiest days for us because several fire incidents take place on Divali," he said. Another fire department official said with several years of duty, his family has started realising that going on job is more important than celebrating the festival of lights at home. Not only the fire brigade officials, but the traffic police personnel will remain on toes during the festival. "We have to manage traffic, especially at night. Its not only traffic, but tipsy drivers are a big nuisance and we have to remain vigilant," said a traffic constable. Inspector Beant Juneja, coordinator, PCR and traffic, said ever since the festival season has started, the policemen are on their toes. "Our personnel are performing duty till 11 pm daily and tomorrow being Divali, the staff will be on duty till late night," he added. Keep an eye on safety
(Source: Punarjot Eye Bank Society)
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Festivities fail to change fate of Clock Tower, Sidhwan Canal
Ludhiana, November 12 The clocks of the 106-year-old Clock Tower have stopped ticking. Courtesy: Apathy and years of ignorance by the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation and the state tourism department. When The Tribune team visited Clock Tower at 4 pm, it was showing 2:45 pm. A resident of the area rued that he still remembers how people used to set time of their watches looking at the clocks of the city’s oldest landmark. "But as the MC has turned a blind eye towards it, no person does it anymore because the clocks remain out of order most of the time," he added. The fate of Sidhwan Canal is even poorer. Due to callous attitude of the departments concerned, canal is slowly going the Budha Nullah way. The canal, which could easily be developed into a tourist attraction or a place for evening walkers, is choked with polythene bags and garbage. Presently, the flow of water in Sidhwan Canal has been closed for the construction of the Sidhwan Canal expressway (from Ferozepur Road till Doraha) and heaps of garbage, litter and polythene bags can be dumped in the canal. When contacted, Mayor Harcharan Singh Gohalwaria said: "The cleanliness drive is already on and we are chalking out a comprehensive plan to give Clock Tower a facelift. City residents should have faith in us and we will not let them down."
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Deck-up your house with candles, diyas
Ludhiana, November 12 “Diwali is an occasion when we want everything to be placed in order and I re-decorate my home with articles related to the festival. Lighting candles and diyas is what I enjoy most about the festival,” said Komal Sudana, a homemaker from South City. Rupali Jain, a vastu expert, said the direction of the puja room should be the North-East corner of a house and avoid using black colours in the interiors of the sacred place. She advised to spray salty water in every corner of your home. “It is believed that salt absorbs all the negativity from air, purifies the environment and help you be happy and content. Don't forget to wash your hands after spraying the water,” she said. A brief description of some of the most popular Divali decorative Items. Torans or door hangings
Torans, bandhanwars or door hangings are the most important of all Divali decorative items. These are used to adorn the main entrance door and that of the worship room to welcome Goddess Lakshmi. Divali torans are handcrafted and come embellished with embroidery, bells, beads, mirror, shells, image of Lord Ganesha etc. Divali Diyas
Diyas are an integral part of the festival. The traditional Divali diyas or lamps have witnessed a makeover in past few years. Wax filled diyas are the very much in demand as they are more convenient to use than the conventional oil ones. Candles
Aromatic and designer candles are an important Diwali decorative item. Besides, illuminating the house they present a calm and soothing atmosphere. Just as diyas, candles too have undergone a major transformation in terms of looks. Today they come in artistic shapes and innovative designs. Decorative lamps
Divali lanterns and Lamps come in variety of shapes and material ranging from clay and paper to glass, brass and marble. They are considered to be an important Divali decorations item as they turn a room bright in an artistic manner. Wall hangings
Wall hangings adorned with the image of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi are a popular Divali decorative item. Wall hangings with ethnic touch are preferred over others. Idols
As Lakshmi-Ganesh puja is an intrinsic part of the Divali, Lakshmi-Ganesh sculptures and idols are a very important. These come in interesting designs in various sizes to suit the varied requirements of people. |
Last-minute shopping makes the difference
Ludhiana, November 12 Gifts, home décor and personal items are being bought for different reasons. Gifts all kinds of things from sweets, cakes, gadgets, home décor items fashion accessories to friends, acquaintances and loved ones are being gifted. "I bought nice flower vases and bouquets for my friends," says Vidhi, who was shopping at Sarabha Nagar. Manjinder, a resident, bought a set of high-end pens to gift his colleagues in the office. "We have given gifts to our friends. But many are still pending. Divali is the only time to catch with some friends and loved ones. I get to meet some of my friends only on Divali," says Rashmi, a resident of Sarabha Nagar. "I always purchase a few designer candles on Divali. The best of the candles are available only during this time of the year," according to Harpreet, another resident.For people like Rohit, who are just giving final touches to their newly spruced up home just before Divali, he says, "We are purchasing flowers and new carpets for our home. It is difficult to take time out for shopping as here is no holiday before Divali," he says."We are
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Go green this Diwali, save environment
Ludhiana, November 12 There is no need to soften the festival spirit, all one has to do is make sure to keep the celebrations safe, sound and eco-friendly. “We should use traditional diyas and save energy instead of opting for candles or electrical lamps. This indirectly helps potters who are facing tough competition from electrical products. We light up our homes with these hand-made lamps and paper lamps, which make our home uniquely different and beautiful,” said Gagan, supporting the cause of “Green Divali”. Enjoy eco-friendly Divali Organic gifts
Go for organic gift items. Herbal products, scented candles, flowers and ethnic decorative items are a safe bet. The gifts are apt for the season and are also eco-friendly.
Natural rangoli
Avoid chemical-based rangoli colours. Use natural colours and dyes like rice flour, turmeric powder, kumkum, lime, petals, coal and leaves. Keep looking around for different flowers that can be used for bringing more colour to your design. Light lamps and candles
Divali is traditionally a celebration associated with lights. Do not rely on electric decorative lighting. Use earthen lamps and candles. You can now get a wide variety of decorative lamps and scented candles. These lamps, lit with oils and cotton wicks are not only eco-friendly, but also help in sustaining the trade of local potters and artisans. Choose crackers carefully
Since everyone will not be willing to say no to firecrackers, so buy crackers that rely more on display and less on noise to create an effect. Instead of traditional crackers, opt for eco-friendly products that are made from recycled papers and the noise produced is within the decibel limits set by the Central Pollution Control Board. To lessen the use of crackers, colony or housing societies can pool in money to buy them and gather at a common place for the firework display. Clean up the litter
Have a good time, but also be a responsible citizen. Pick up papers and metal wastes after the celebrations, and dispose them of safely.
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Dry fruits, chocolates in demand
Jagraon, November 12 A majority of people, particularly the educated ones, now prefer dry fruits, chocolates, branded sweet products, cakes, fruits and other gift packs. As a result, most of the sweets shops wore a deserted look on the eve of Divali. Insecurity due to economical losses was clearly visible on the faces of the owners of these shops. According to the owners, there has been a considerable decline in the customers during this season. The shopkeepers admit that there has been about 20 to 30 percent decline in the customers. "Earlier, around half of our products were sold on the eve of Divali. This time around, however, there has been a substantial decline in the sales of sweets. If the sweets prepared by us are not sold by tomorrow, we are bound to face heavy financial losses," said Mohan Das, a local sweet shop owner. Owners of sweets shops said that due to the use of substandard material and adulterated khoya by some of them, the whole industry is being adversely affected. On the other hand, huge rush of customers was witnessed at the shops selling dry fruits, chocolates, branded sweet products, cakes and fruits. Taking advantage of the changing trend, the owners of these shops have been making good earnings.
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Cakes a better option
"Traditional sweets are not liked by youngsters in particular, says 19-year-old Shruti. "My friends and I find cakes a much better option for ourselves as well as for gifting it to others," she adds. Some of the residents say that as people are becoming health conscious, they have started going for other items instead. "We know what happens to the sweet boxes that are gifted. They are generally given away as "Divali" to maids. Sweets are replete with sugar, and because people in general are becoming more health-conscious, they opt for other things", said Tripat Kaur, who bought cakes. "There was no market for cakes a few years ago. But now, cakes are in demand on every occasion. They are being sold on Divali as well," says a bakery owner. Another baker said earlier cakes were restricted to birthday or wedding anniversary celebrations, but now, cakes can be made on any theme to suit all occasions. And Divali being the biggest festival, there has been a surge in demand for the Divali cakes over the years," said a worker from a bakery outlet.
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Grab stencil to make a perfect rangoli
Ludhiana, November 12 “Rangoli stencils are selling like hot cakes n the markets. It is the first time that such an item has arrived in the market and now all those who do not know the art of making rangoli can also try their hand at it,” said Subhash, a stationery shop owner, who has also kept rangoli stencils for the festival. The bigger stencil is priced between Rs 70-75 while the smaller version is available at Rs 40-45. “It is such a great idea. I just have to fill the colours in the spaces given and my rangoli will be ready to welcome the guests. It is a rocking idea. I always wanted to make rangoli on Divali, but since I am not very good at art I cannot make one but this will be different,” said Rupam, who has bought four rangoli stencils. Many people are coming to buy stencils.
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Fruit prices head north on Divali eve
Ludhiana, November 12 “During the festival season the price of every commodity is high, and now that Divali is here, fruits are becoming expensive though prices of vegetables have stabilised. I hope the prices are normalised once the festivas season gets over,” said Apeksha, a homemaker from Rajguru Nagar. “Since the demand for fruits has gone up, the prices have instantly risen. Once the festivities get over, the prices will once again become normal,” said Mianji, a fruit shop owner at Aggar Nagar.
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Colourful programmes herald Divali at city schools
Ludhiana, November 12 Apple Tree Preschool
Divali and Children’s Day were celebrated at Apple Tree Preschool, BRS Nagar, on Monday. The school was decorated with diyas and colourful buntings. The kids made rangolis and performed “Ganesha and Lakshmi Pooja”. The teachers enacted stories on Lord Rama and Jawahar Lal Nehru. The parents were told to use eco-friendly earthen lamps instead of decorative lights. Sweets and gifts were also distributed amongst children. Bhartiya Vidiya Mandir
Students of Bhartiya Vidiya Mandir, Kitchlu Nagar, took part in various activities on the occasion of Children’s Day and Divali celebrations. For exploring the artistic and creative skills of the children many competitions were organised -- Diya and candle decoration for Class I, gift wrapping and poem recitation for Class II, paper reading on eco-friendly Divali and Chacha Nehru for Classes III to V and rangoli making for Classes VI and VII. Classes VIII to X participated in lantern making. Ryan School
Sparkling diyas, dazzling lights and luminous candles heralded the festival of Divali at Ryan School. Students of Classes I and II showed their creative talents as they participated in a spectrum of activities. Diya making, clay designing, pot decoration, and rangoli making were the activities enjoyed by the students. Their art work was praised by Tagore Public School
Divali, the festival of lights, was celebrated with great pomp and show by the Kindergarten students at Tagore Public School, Aggar Nagar. Principal Suman Arora also joined the festivities and appreciated the students for their efforts. The school was decorated with diyas and candles. Display boards were decorated with material related to the festival. Students of LKG and UKG presented a bhajan. Students also presented dance items, recited rhymes and delivered speeches. All students pledged to celebrate an eco-friendly and noiseless Divali. Don Bosco Global School
Don Bosco Global School celebrated Divali and Children’s Day on its premises on Monday. The celebrations started with “Lakshmi Pooja” in which the whole school took part. This was followed by speeches in Hindi and English highlighting the significance of the festival. Inter-house rangoli, card making and “thali” decoration competitions were also held. A DJ Party was also organised in which the students tapped their feet to different songs. The principal of the school, Vinay Sharma, motivated the students to celebrate a green Divali and say no to crackers.
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Delay in paddy procurement dampens celebrations
Mandi Ahmedgarh, November 12 Commission agents and workers associated with cleaning and packing of paddy bags are no exception to the trend. They all had to remain on guard to protect their produce from sparks of crackers. Baldev Singh of Lohgarh village said it was for the first time in the last two decades that he could not visit his sisters to present specially prepared sweets to their families. Sikandar Singh of Jartoli village said he had to purchase sweets from market, as his brother could not manage to send sweets and khoya prepared from the pure milk available at his native village. His brother had been waiting for the procurement of paddy at the local grain market. Jasbir Singh and Kulwant Singh, residents of Chhapar and Barundi villages respectively, are among those who had to remain alert for protecting their produce from sparks emanating from bursting crackers and uncontrolled rockets. They even had a scuffle with a few youths who were adamant on bursting crackers near the heaps of paddy lying in open at the grain market on the Divali eve. Avtar Krishan Sharma, a commission agent, said his staff, including accountants and workers handling the cleaning and packing of the paddy, was no exception to the trend. Delay in lifting of the procured commodity was cited as one of the major reasons behind the delay in the process.
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Students distribute gifts to needy
Ludhiana: The students, staff and heads of Gujranwala Guru Nanak Institute of Management & Technology (GGNIMT) celebrated Divali by distributing woolens, stationery items, sweets and other goodies to the underprivileged at Sikli Ghar and Bhai Baaj Singh Public School, Tajpur Road. Director Prof Kuldip Singh and principal Dr PS Khattra congratulated the staff and students for donating for a noble cause. Eco-friendly Divali
Doraha: National Service Scheme department of Doraha Institute of Management & Technology pasted posters to sensitize college and school students about celebrating an eco-friendly Diwali. The other methods used to spread the message were social networking websites, SMSes and e-mails. In one of the messages on Facebook, a house sparrow can be seen appealing to the mankind to avoid using crackers. In another message on Facebook, the NSS department spread awareness about consumer rights. The message stated, "Pay for weight of sweets you buy, not for the weight of the cardboard box at the same price.” — TNS
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martyr Kartar Singh Sarabha’s Birth Anniversary Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, November 12 "Panchayat of Sarabha village has invited a singer who is known for singing vulgar songs. This would not be tolerated," a protester said. Representatives of various organisations including AK Maleri from Bhagat Singh Vichar Manch and Arun Kumar from Punjab Students’ Union said that Sarabha and other martyrs laid their lives for the independence, and the "vulgar programme" was an insult to the sacrifice they made. Vulgar songs should be banned and strict action should be taken against the people singing such songs, another protestor said. They appealed to the administration to stop the programme from being organised.
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Raising a toast to kindness, too
Ludhiana, November 12 Kamaljeet Kaur, warden at Bal Bhavan, said some people come and give gifts to children every Divali. "We are expecting them to come in the morning tomorrow," she said. For Sarabjit, a resident of Dugri, a better way to celebrate Divali will be to help those in need. "Rather than throwing money on firecrackers, it will be better to gift it to the underprivileged," he says. "It is sad that people waste so much money on fire-crackers, which in fact only harms the environment and raises noise pollution," said Abhishek, another resident. "It is always better to help those in need," he said. "It is great that World Kindness Day and Divali are being celebrated on the same day, and we will celebrate the two together," said another resident. Residents swear by the hospitality and kindness of the people here. "If Mumbai has been termed as one of the rudest cities, then Ludhiana will be one of the kindest cities in the country. People here don't refrain from extending help to those who need it," says Rajinder, a resident.
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Ludhiana scan
Divali was celebrated Gadri Baba Bhan Singh Memorial Park, Sunet (BRS Nagar) by Punarjot Eye Bank Society in association with Maha Sabha, Ludhiana. The function, "Laat Baldi Rave", was dedicated to Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha and other martyrs. On this occasion Mayor Harcharan Singh Gohalwaria appealed to the public to celebrate a "crackerless" Divali. The Mayor also appealed to them to plant two saplings. Sweets distributed
Ludhiana branch of Asian Club celebrated Divali with mentally challenged children at Ekjot Viklang Bachyan Da School at BRS Nagar on Monday. Stationery, biscuits, pastries, sparklers, sweets and fruits were distributed among 80 students and other needy children. The club managing director Sukhminder Singh extended a warm welcome to the guests and members. Call for green Divali
Punjab PWD Minister Sharanjit Singh Dhillon has offered Divali greetings to all the people in the state and Punjabis settled elsewhere in the country and abroad. Giving a call to the people to celebrate the festival of lights in a pollution-free way, he commented that this festival was common for all the religions. "Let us all celebrate this festival with love, mutual brotherhood and strengthen the bonds of communal amity," he said. Vishwakarma Day
Vishwakarma Day will be celebrated at a state-level function at the Grain Market on Gill Road on Wednesday. According to Resham Singh Saggu, general secretary, Baba Vishwakarma International Foundation, 14 persons who had excelled in their respective fields, will be presented "Vishwakarma Rattan Award" at the function. Book release
A book titled "Success Through Spirituality" was released during the 64th Sarab Hind Vidiak Conference on Monday. The book has been authored by Surinder Jeet Singh Pal. According to him, the book is about the laws of success on the basis of the religious texts of India. — TNS
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Man held with 100-gm smack
Khanna, November 12 The accused has been identified as Sandeep Singh Seepa (24), alias Naepali, a resident of Shamgarh village near Samrala. Talking to mediapersons, SSP, Khanna, Jatinder Singh Aulakh said a police party of Samrala spotted a youth at Dhilwan village. On suspicion, the police chased him and nabbed him with 100 gm of smack. The police has registered a case under the relevant sections of the NDPS Act. The SSP revealed that during preliminary investigation, they came to know that he was the main supplier of smack in the periphery and the police was trying to establish his links in the area and also about his sources from where he obtained the contraband. The SSP said the market value of the recovered smack was about Rs 10 lakh. Police nabs proclaimed offender Dehlon: The local police has arrested two persons including a proclaimed offender and a drug peddler. 18.5 kg of poppy husk and a motorcycle used in the crime was seized from the possession of the peddler. Assistant Commissioner of Police, Gill, Gurpreet Singh Sikand informed that a police party supervised by SHO, Dehlon, Amandeep Singh Brar had nabbed Klutter Singh of Narangwal Kalan village who had been declared a proclaimed offender in connection with an FIR registered against him on February 8 in 2007. In another case, Navi Deen alias Ravi of Tibba village was arrested at a check post near Khanpur under supervision of SI Harjit Singh. A plastic bag containing 18.5 kg of poppy husk and a motorcycle were seized.
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Ludhiana, November 12
Ludhiana, November 12