For a majority of the people, especially kids who wait through the year to enjoy the fireworks, Diwali this year could at best be described as “muted”. The festival buzz was missing and there was hardly any sign of the glitter that the city witnesses every year on Diwali.
Many of the people preferred low-key celebrations owing to various reasons.
A slump in income, along with other factors like the Samaikyandhra stir, price rise, floods etc has forced the majority of the people to curtail their expenses and slash their budget for the celebrations.
A slump in income, along with other factors like the Samaikyandhra stir, price rise, floods etc has forced the majority of the people to curtail their expenses and slash their budget for the celebrations.
Apart from the rise in prices of essential commodities and other goods, the steep increase in the price of fireworks left many families dismayed. Though the kids tried their level best to get their parents purchase lots of firecrackers, the parents were unable to do so.
“Earlier, for Rs 500, we used to buy two bags full of crackers for our kids. But this year, the same amount was not enough to fill even a single bag. With my budget being tight, I will have to adjust with what is available,” said Durga Rao, a parent.
Stalls selling fireworks at at Swarajya Maidan, vendors at the wholesale flower market in I-Town, gift shops and textile showrooms across the city witnessed a slump in business as compared to last season.
“Though a good number of customers are visiting the marked, not many are spending much. They are only spending about Rs 200 to Rs 300 to purchase sparklers. Though we hoped for a last minute rush, we were forced to sell the firecrackers at a loss due to lack of customers in the evening,” said Lokesh, a vendor at Swarajya Maidan.
However, sweets shops witnessed brisk business as many preferred to sweeten the celebrations with gift packs of sweets with relatives and friends. Meanwhile, a few youngsters refrained from bursting crackers in their bid to reduce pollution.
Low key celebrations were also witnessed in Guntur and Khammam as the spiralling prices cast a dampener. The firecrackers shops at the Pavilion Grounds witnessed a slump in sales of firecrackers. It is learnt that many shopkeepers have heaps of crackers left over from last year, as a result, they did not place any new orders this year.
Meanwhile, a cracker godown at Aswaraopet caught fire on Saturday. Crackers worth about Rs 10 lakh were reportedly reduced to ashes. There were no reports of any casualties
Source:DC
Post a Comment