New Delhi, Oct 17 (IANS) Last minute rush kept the markets in the national capital buzzing Saturday as thousands thronged them to buy gifts for their friends and family on the occasion of Diwali.
Confectioners who had opened early expecting a brisk business from last-minute buyers were also not disappointed.

“It’s usual for me every year as I don’t get time from my office to do Diwali shopping. With all these gifts and sweets, I have to rush to my relative’s place before returning home for the Diwali celebrations,” said 25-year-old management professional Jayant Surana.

Major markets like Chandni Chowk, Karol Bagh, Sarojini Nagar, Laxmi Nagar witnessed a huge rush. People were busy buying firecrackers, sweets, candles and earthen pots.

A lot of people also bought electronic items as gifts.

“Items such as cellphones, microwave ovens, LCD TVs, refrigerators, handycams, laptops are in great demand. As expected we saw a jump in sales today and yesterday,” said Ashwini Gupta, a shopkeeper in east Delhi’s Laxmi Nagar.

People started the day with cleaning their homes and praying for prosperity. They wore new clothes and exchanged Diwali greetings with relatives and friends. Goddess of prosperity Lakshmi was invoked in many homes.

“Cleaning was obviously the first thing to be done in the morning. Then we all went to the local temple for prayers. In the evening, we are organising a get together with all our relatives,” said Rajendra Gaba.

Radhika Mishra, a marketing professional, said: “I got up early and went to the temple with my family. We also picked flowers and like every year my sister and I will decorate the courtyard with rangolis and diyas.”

Boxes of sweets were exchanged, and firecrackers and diyas (earthen lamps) were readied for the evening festival of lights.

Homemaker Shuchi was busy cooking up a storm. She said: “I like to make the sweets myself and don’t buy from the market. After the sweets are ready we will visit our relatives and friends, carrying gifts.”

People sent “Happy Diwali” greetings to friends and relatives, with SMS messages going to and fro all the time.

Neha Verma, 23, has been flooded with text messages and her cellphone keeps beeping almost once in five minutes to tell her there is a new greeting.

But it was not a great Diwali for cracker sellers. Delhi Police has issued fewer licences for selling firecrackers in the national capital this year.

Puneet Rajrani, a call centre worker, was happy because of the dip in cracker sales. “I am happy that there will be less noise and air pollution. I think awareness among children has also contributed to it,” he added.

However, it’s not that people are not buying firecrackers at all.

Sanjay Singh said he “didn’t want to miss out on the festivities and fun” and purchased firecrackers worth Rs.2,000.

In the evening, millions of lights from tiny earthen diyas to dazzling strings of electric bulbs will light up homes, factories and offices.

Meanwhile, many people have extended their Diwali weekend and taken a small vacation.

“I took the opportunity to go to Jodhpur with my wife. She was eager to see how the festival is celebrated in Rajasthan,” Prateek Shah, an engineer, told IANS.

Delhi Police also beefed up security in all major markets on the occasion of the popular festival. Additional police personnel have been deployed to keep vigil. The fire service department too has geared up by mobilising its entire fleet.