Festive spirit drenched the city as surging crowds of last-minute shoppers descended on the city’s main commercial centre around the Rockfort on Deepavali eve, here on Tuesday.
Even as children and youth ushered in the festival of lights by bursting crackers, arterial roads leading to the main commercial centre around the N.S.B.Road in the city witnessed a heavy traffic flow, often leading to traffic snarls. The festival trade had gathered momentum over the past fortnight only to be dampened by the intermittent showers during the past weekend.
However, it was a sea of shoppers on Tuesday and the festival trade reached a feverish pace. Scores of vendors, who had spread their wares along Singarathope, Big Bazaar Street, the NSB Road, and Nandhi Kovil Street ahead of the Deepavali festival, drew shoppers looking for a good bargain.
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Traditionally, trade goes on right through the night on Deepavali eve in the city. “It is always exciting to visit the bazaar on the eve of Deepavali along with friends. You can make some good buys,” said Vignesh, an engineering student.
Sweet stalls and cracker shops drew big crowds across the city. Cracker retailers heaved a sigh of relief as the sun shone brightly by afternoon on Tuesday. The spell of rain had them worried. The number of cracker shops seemed to be relatively fewer in the city this year.
“Prices of crackers have been steadily climbing up over the past few years and this year has been no exception. My son who has stepped into college this year has decided against bursting crackers saying it is a waste of money. We could use the money better for some other need,” observed R.Gopalakrishnan, a city resident.
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