Festive spirit grips Delhi on Diwali (Lead)
October 26th, 2011 - 3:07 pm ICT by IANSNew Delhi, Oct 26 (IANS) Colourful rangolis and marigold flowers embellishing homes and shops, elaborate prayers, exchange of sweets and last minute festive shopping… It was a festive like atmosphere in the capital as Delhiites celebrated Diwali with fanfare Wednesday.
?After visiting the temple, we went shopping for crackers in Sadar Bazaar and sweets in Bengali Market. We would be visiting relatives all day,? said 24-year-old Manish Awasthi.
Like every year, rangolis were the most popular and inexpensive decoration tool with Delhiites. From floating candles to fancy lights and the standard coloured powder, everything was used to make rangolis.
For 30-year-old painter Anubhav Chauhan, the festival is an occasion to exhibit his artistic skills. He creates vivid rangolis depicting Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi on the forecourt of his Mayur Vihar home in east Delhi.
?Once every year the threshold of my house transforms into a canvas,? said Chauhan, whose designs attract hordes of neighbours.
Diwali, which is celebrated on Amavasya, is marked by lighting of lamps and candles in the evening. It is the day to worship Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth.
The festival of lights also celebrates the triumph of good over evil, and is widely believed to mark the return of God Ram to Ayodhya after vanquishing Ravana.
For 18-year-old Varun Mehta, Diwali is synonymous with just one word — crackers.
?I will be buying lots of crackers for my brother and myself,” explained Varun, who claims that no one in his neighbourhood in recent years has been able to compete with him when it comes to crackers.
?We shall definitely light up the night sky,? added the Patel Nagar resident.
Markets in the capital were abuzz with activity as shops selling sweets, crackers and Diwali related items were thronged by last minute shoppers.
“The business has been good this year. I opened at eight in the morning and will clear my stock within hours,” said Vijay Yadav, selling marigold flowers on a kiosk in south Delhi’s Green Park market.
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Tags: amavasya, anubhav, artistic skills, awasthi, colourful rangolis, diwali, east delhi, festival of lights, festive spirit, floating candles, forecourt, goddess lakshmi, good over evil, lord ganesha, marigold flowers, minute shoppers, night sky, patel nagar, ravana, yad