Last-minute rush for Diwali preparations
By Vithika Salomi, TNN | Nov 13, 2012, 08.25 AM IST
PATNA: The Diwali fervour was already in the air on Monday as Patnaites were busy making last-minute purchases and giving finishing touches to their preparations to celebrate the festival of lights on Tuesday.
The markets and malls as well as the lanes and bylanes of the city wore a festive look with various articles for home decoration selling like hot cakes. While a few people were already attending the pre-Diwali bashes, others were checking out the list of preparations to host guests at the their homes or visiting their friends and family members to share Diwali greetings!
Puja Kumar, a homemaker in Patliputra Colony, said, "I have got everything ready for Diwali and the only thing that remains is making 'Rangoli' on Diwali day. This year, I have decorated my home with terracotta 'diyas' that I would light up on Diwali night. Since my husband and I are not so inclined to burst crackers, we have just bought some for our daughter as a part of the tradition."
Sweetshops also saw record footfalls with health-conscious people opting for sugar-free variants and dry-fruits rather than the traditional 'mithais'. Suraj Singh, a businessman, said, "I had ordered sweet packets for my employees, friends and family members as I have been distributing sweets for many years. I have decorated my house with colourful Chinese lights and my wife has made all the preparations for the Lakshmi Puja as Diwali is celebrated on a large scale in my family."
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/Last-minute-rush-for-Diwali-preparations/articleshow/17202323.cms
http://www.buzzfeed.com/annanorth/14-beautiful-images-of-the-hindu-festival-diwali