Vijayawada, November 1, 2013: Deepavali festival is invariably preceded by the customary task of visiting the local market and carting home the traditional earthen diyas, loads of crackers, and other puja paraphernalia.

The festival of lights is around the corner and local shops and malls are bursting at the seams with Deepavali stuff like attractive gifts and garments, sparkling designs of jewels, latest gadgets, home appliance and home décor. Homes are dusted spic and span, walls get a fresh coat of paint, mantles are cleared to make way for candles and diyas, new curtains, decorative lamps, fire crackers and an assortment of sweets complete the pre-festival tasks.

Vendors have occupied some of the city pavements flaunting their collection of earthen diyas available for reasonable price. Children can’t wait for the row of fire crackers that dot the sprawling Swaraj Maidan. Works are apace to set up the shops in the ground.

The city has woken up to the fad of chocolates as gift items.

This is perhaps because chocolate assortment boxes are considered more long-lasting than traditional Indian sweets. Chocolates also make a popular distress gift purchase for those short of time or ideas.

New shops

New shops have come up on Bandar Road offering all this and much more. For those seeking high-end gift items, it has designer ware such as Swarovski crystal miniatures, jewellery, pens, figurines of deities, sterling silver items, flower vase, laughing Budha and a host of other attractive stuff. A range of imported chocolates, cookies, dry fruits, international brands of perfumes are up for grab.

Source: The Hindu