Festive spirit fades as Diwali celebrations split into two days

Diwali celebrations split into two days has dimmed the festive spirit. A few residents celebrated Diwali on Thursday while others would be celebrating the festival on Friday. Unlike previous Diwali celebrations, there was much less footfall of customers in markets.

The enthusiasm of celebrating festival of lights on one day was missing this time. The bonhomie witnessed while exchanging gifts in the neighbourhood after Lakshmi Puja was also missing as people were not aware which family was celebrating Diwali on which day.

Sound of firecrackers being burst in moderate quantity was audible on Thursday night. It was expected that many residents of the district would celebrate Diwali on Friday.

Sant Ram, a vendor selling terracotta idols and diyas at Khadoniyan Wala Bazaar, said unlike previous Diwali celebrations, when people jostled to buy earthen made idols of deities and lamps, this time much less people thronged markets for shopping. He said some people visited markets on Thursday and other on Friday, but it did not increase their sales. Their stocks remained unsold yesterday, he said. He said traders hoped to clear their stock of goods on Friday.