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With the Festival of Lights just a night away, preparations are at peak. People across Twin cities – Bhubaneswar and Cuttack -- are all set to celebrate with colourful decorations, sparkling lights and abundance of sweets.
After the government’s directives, responsible citizens have decided to say ‘No To Chinese Crackers’ this festive season, which are not only hazardous for health but also pollute the environment. People are thronging markets to buy rangoli colours, candles, crackers, sweets and other items.
Green crackers are in huge demand this year. This apart, Swiggy, Zomato, PayTM and Modern Kumphis are also attracting buyers too.
“Looking at the busy market and the traffic jam, you can guess how much the people were waiting to celebrate Diwali after two years of the Covid-19 pandemic. Especially, children are very happy. We will make sure that there is no pollution, but enjoy a little without affecting the environment,” said Bandana Mahapatra, a customer in Bhubaneswar.
Even cracker traders have become cautious of buying and selling hazardous Chinese crackers. Following the directives of the government, they are strictly denying to sell Chinese crackers and crackers producing more than 125 decibel sound.
A cracker trader, Harekrushna Tripathy said, “People have become conscious and they are not buying heavy sound crackers. Only the ‘kumphi’ and ‘chakri’ and green crackers are of huge demand. Even as the price is high, people are buying happily and we hope this year’s Diwali sale will be more than our expectation.”
On the other hand, The Twin City police has made all elaborate arrangements for a safe and happy Diwali in both Cuttack and Bhubaneswar. A team of six additional DSPs, 37 ASPs and 300 police forces have been deployed to check illegal sale of crackers.
The Commissionerate Police has strictly advised people to burst crackers only from 8PM – 10PM Monday night.
“We have set a few guidelines for the sale of firecrackers in the Twin City. Police have been deployed to check illegal crackers sale. And people can only burst crackers between 8-10PM,” informed Cuttack DCP Pinak Mishra.
On the other hand, Diwali this year, will be a one-day celebration as it collides with the Surya Grahan (Solar Eclipse) and also the Kali Puja or the Shyama Puja. Devotees in Puri Srimandir will also celebrate Diwali and offer prayers tomorrow before the Solar Eclipse as fasting and offer prayers is not advised after October 24, 4:57AM Monday night.
(Reported by Chandan Paikray, Debasish Mohanty & Madhusudan Mishra, OTV)
