City on Diwali Shopping Spree

City on Diwali Shopping Spree

Mangalore Today News Network

Report by- Nishanth Raj M

Pics by- Ramachandra Bhat Ullal

Mangalore, November 04: Of all the festivals celebrated in India, Diwali is by far the most glamorous and important. Enthusiastically enjoyed by people of every religion, its magical and radiant touch creates an atmosphere of joy and festivity. Diwali is a festival symbolizing the victory of good over evil - the glory of light. This festival commemorates Lord Rama’s return to Ayodhya after completing his 14-year exile.

 

 

On the day of Diwali, the entire country appears resplendent as people light up diyas and candles all around their house to mark the joyous ’Festival of Lights’. Homes are decorated and sweets are distributed. Thousands of lamps are lit to create a world of fantasy. Diwali is a time for fun and revelry too. It is a unique confluence of happiness, bliss and prosperity.

The festival of lights, Diwali, is round the corner. The people are much enthusiastic to celebrate the festival of light with high pomp and gaiety as they experience more blissful moment on the prominent three days. This year, Diwali or Diwali is going to be celebrated on 5th November 2010. Even though Diwali is an Indian festival, in the recent decade it has become global and the festival is expected to be celebrated all over the world.

Barack Obama, the President of United states of America, will have more words on Diwali and about its celebrations in India, as the president will visit India on November 6.

Mangalore is also among the other region in India, which celebrates Diwali on all the three days. The people belonging to all religions join hands and take active part in celebrating Diwali.

 

 

 

   

 

The core aspects of the celebration are shopping, decorating house, shops, and streets, preparing and relishing delicious foods including sweets and bursting colourful but dangerous fireworks on the auspicious three nights.

Shopping Spree:
The shopping belts in Mangalore like Central Market, state Bank area, K S Rao Road, M G Road, Lalbagh, Bulmatta, Kankanady, Falnir Road and along the Hampanakatta road starting from Lady Goschen to till Bavuta Gudda remain crowded with the busy shoppers buying ostentatious Jewellery items, colourful apparels, Diwali lights, candles of different shapes, sweets made of ghee and several gift items for their kids as well as for their near and dear ones. As the city wears festive look with heavy crowd, Mangaloreans will not forget to buy home appliances and, electronic items  which will be sold at reasonable rates, as shop keepers, street vendors offer special discounts for their products in order to create business as well as profit in the festive season. The festival celebrations will not complete: unless buying big and elegant stars (Nakshathra) of different shapes.  Diwali is popularly known as the festival of lights. Diwali means a row of lamps. Lamps are lit during Diwali to signify the triumph of good over evil.

Though the prices of gold items are already reached the sky, Mangaloreans will not backlash from buying costliest and precious jewelerry on the auspicious occasion, spending so much money on jewellery.

Shop owners here say that “The textile business may not be doing too badly because as Hindus believe that they must buy at least one new outfit for Diwali,” and there is no doubt that business in the city will pick up this coming weekend. The traders are hoping that many will do last minute shopping as they get incentives, festival advance from their respected company in the last minute. The shop keepers are preparing to face the huge crowd with bulky goods to meet the needs of crowd in the city now. Most traders sell their goods at reasonable prices hiding original price tag on the box items.

 

Sweets topped the list of fast moving items. Several sweet shops like Kalpana sweets, Gokul sweets at central market, Cochin Bakeries at various places have cleared their dining spaces and filled it with rows of sweets of every conceivable variety. Differently coloured and delicious smelling, sweets found in the racks of all most all bakeries.

Retailers of firecrackers in the town were also booming with business ahead of Diwali. This is the bumper season for the fire cracker merchants all over India. The business turn over is estimated to be over hundred crores.

 

 

 

Hampanakatta and Central market are famous not only for the variety of items one can buy there but also because there is something to fit every pocket. People from across the district come here to buy goods. Over the past few Days State Bank bus terminus and the Mangalore Central railway stations have also been witnessing huge crowds coming to the city from the neighboring districts to do their Diwali shopping. Though malls have mushroomed across the city, Hampanakatta continues to be the favourite destination for middle-class shoppers as the stores here deal in huge volumes and are hence able to offer the largest discounts.

 

Diwali is a festival symbolizing the victory of good over evil - and the glory of light. May the light of Diwali bring you peace, happiness and good health.“Happy Diwali!”