The Build-up to Diwali

[Guest guest]

Namaste Friends,

This is a cross-post from our OzHindu Egroup. Bb, Sy

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Aum Ganesh <aumganesh>

Sat Oct 27, 2001 10:05 am

The Build-up to Diwali

 

 

>From http://www.indolinks.com/websights/diwali/buildup.htm

 

The Build-up to Diwali

 

Festivity is in the air as Jaipur gears up for this most important of

all Hindu festivals. The annual house-cleaning done (Diwali's a great

time to find misplaced things!), the city seems to be on a shopping

spree.

 

All sorts of make-shift stalls suddenly spring out on the pavements

and the bazaars are choc-a-bloc with people. It's not the best of

times for the diabetic as mithai shops display their latest

temptations.

 

With everyone needing diyas (clay lamps) for the deepawali puja, as

also to decorate their houses, potters do roaring business. So do

flower-sellers who sell garlands by the dozens.

 

And, of course, you have every second shop selling fire-crackers.

Excited children (and adults too) falling over each other to check

out this years' new offerings. Hoping to make the biggest bang in

their mohalla.

 

With the Hindu New Year commencing from Deepawali day, traditional

business-men throng the Rokar-Bahi-Khata shops for their hisaab-

kitaabs (account books). Unfolded, these compact-looking red books

seem a mile-long!!

 

Back home, the ladies are even busier. Making maandana on the floor

and giving final touches to their homes, which would soon see a

flurry of friends and relatives dropping by to wish a "Happy Diwali"

 

And for those who cannot pay a personal visit, there is a mind-

boggling range of cards to choose from. In fact, it's boom-time

(literally speaking too) for the greeting-cards industry - akin to

Christmas time in other countries.

 

 

 

 

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