Mangalore: Even before Diwali has arrived, its lights have marked their sparkling presence across all houses, markets, sweet shops, jewelry, rangoli, lantern shops and many more.
The panorama of markets become exceptional with the onset of Diwali, year after year! Both shops and people get very busy buying and selling as per their needs. Often they get snowed under the packages they carry!
This is the time, when marketing skills and tricks fall by the wayside as the demand is predictable! One can witness how shop owners effortlessly deal with the booming demand of customers and cater to their ceaseless needs prior to the onset of this prosperous festival.
However, once the countdown to Diwali begins, for many customers, the price is not an issue.
newskarnataka.com has captured several colorful and vibrant moments of these Diwali preparations.
In the run up to Diwali, several clay, ceramic, terracotta and colorful diyas have flooded the markets; these diyas come in bulk from Rajasthan, Chennai and selectively from Kolkata as well.
Among them, the ceramic diyas that come from Chennai are much in demand due to their comparatively low cost.
The diyas that come from Rajasthan are made up of clay, and carved and designed well. Once painted colorfully, their designs are embellished and they look exquisite.
In Mangalore, diyas are preferred to be lit during Diwali and Tulsi Pooja, unlike the northern cities where they are lit post Diwali too, at festivals such as Guru Nanak Jayanti celebrated among both Sikhs and Hindus.
“We see a flourishing demand for diyas during Diwali and Tulsi Pooja, which is grandly celebrated across the city. Our sales get boosted in the month of January as well, for Aaippa pooja celebration,” said Gajanand Shetty, who spoke on behalf of his shop-owner friend, Ravindra Prabhu.
One can find a variety of diyas such as lakshmi diya, fish-shaped diya, a woman’s effigy with folded hands to place a diya, which vary in cost from Rs 20, to Rs. 300.
“Owing to the higher demand of ceramic diyas, we order three lakh diyas from there and around 25,000 to 30,000 diyas from Rajasthan, during Diwali. We sell nearly four to five lakh diyas, though the number varies from year to year,” says Gajanand Shetty.
Crackers in the city, come all the way from Sivakasi, the fireworks hub of the country. Some crackers are popular and always catch the fancy of people every Diwali such as fuljari, chakri, annar, parachute rockets, butterflies, one shot, and 555.
A cracker shop-owner near PVS circle says, “Nearly 10 to 15 lakh of stock is sold each year during Diwali, also during Dasara we sell crackers but demand is less compared to this festive season.”
Several colorful Chinese lanterns are gracing the city’s markets. Besides, people have been spoilt for choice while choosing their desired lanterns. Several floral designed and colorful lanterns are available in the markets, made up of plastic, hand-made paper lanterns, glass lanterns, and also a cloth-lantern.
How can one celebrate Diwali without a Rangoli? Many rangoli craft net papers, sheets, goddess foot-print paper, jari, and all rainbow colors delighting customers that cross their way ahead of this prosperous festival!
