Nation gears up for Diwali celebrations

Markets are abuzz with umpteen customers across India ahead of Diwali. Images of unprecedented crowd at famous markets like national capital's Karol Bagh, Sarojini Nagar, Sadar Bazar, and Lajpat Nagar, Chennai's T Nagar market and Indore's Rajwada market, Mumbai's Crawford Market, Dadar, and Lalbaug, are going viral on the internet. The health experts expressed concern over the flouting of COVID-19 norms at public places. Talking to ANI, a shopkeeper in Delhi's Lajpat Nagar market said, "After 2 years, the market is witnessing such a footfall before Diwali. We're hoping for good sales this year." People are also decorating their houses and offices with lights. In Rajasthan, the earthen lamp sellers are hoping for good business this Diwali. "The sale of earthen lamps had gone down after COVID-19 hit the country. However, we're expecting good sales this year and want people to buy local products," said a seller. The Delhi government is building a replica of "Ayodhya Ram Mandir" at the Thyagaraj Stadium complex in New Delhi as part of its 'Dilli ki Diwali' celebrations in which CM Arvind Kejriwal will perform Diwali Puja.