Imphal, October 29 2008: HOPES OF thousands of people, mostly teenaged youths converged Tuesday night to witness the lights of Diwali at Paona Bazar and Thangal Bazar shattered as most of the shops and residences in the market places were not decorated with colourful lights like previous years.

The prevailing law and order situation, tighten security measures taken up to thwart militants activities and apprehension of the people on the statement of the KCP(MC) after the bomb blast at Imphal Ragailong on October 21 last can be cited as behind the non-celebration of the festival in a fanfare manner.

Mention may be made that KCP(MC) while giving reason for the high intensity blast at Ragailong had stated the bomb attack was also against the alien culture of Diwali which has spoilt the local culture while calling the people not to participate in the festival.

Apart from this state government has also beefed up securities in Imphal areas after the two recent blasts which were took place near the chief minister's bungalow on October 19 night and at Ragailong, Imphal which claimed 17 lives and wounded to more than 42 people.

Police and state security forces detailing at every nook and corners of the Imphal most importantly in city areas have been conducting frisking and checking to all kinds of vehicles entering and exiting the city area in the aftermath of the blasts.

Meanwhile, celebration in vast scale was not witness in the market and Bazar area last night, people performed religious ritual and ceremonies at their respective homes normally as pervious years.

Housewives with new or clean tradition attires offered prayers to the idols of the goddess Luxmi with last night.

Lighting of candles and other were also seen at almost all the households of Hindus in the state.

Today also, on the other hand, Gorbadhon Pujahs were performed their Hindus households.

Housewives also offered fruits and sweets to the almighty.

The morning of day was also a hectic day for the flower sellers in Imphal`s Khwai Bazar as they could earn a good income from selling marigolds (Sanarei).

Most flower sellers could sell above Rs.3000 which could hardly be believed by anyone.

A garland of marigolds cost from Rs.30 to 60 according to the kind of marigolds strung on the garland.

A woman vendor selling marigolds said that garlands of large size (Sanarei athonba) were sold at Rs.50 at the minimum and that too after bargaining.

"We quoted the prize at Rs.60 and after discounts of upto Rs.10 we sold it at Rs.50," a woman selling flowers under the flyover bridge on the Uripok side said.

Other garlands made up of smaller marigolds were sold at Rs.30 at the minimum.

The vendors usually buy the garlands from flower growers.

"We buy the garlands from Rs.20 to 40 according to the kind of marigolds that make it and get at least Rs.10 per garland," another woman said in a brief talk with this correspondent.

However, they had no time to talk elaborately.

When first approached, they only said, "How many garlands do you need".

Even after finishing their stock, they ran from one place to another searching for more flowers.

Till late evening customers thronged the flower stalls and even rejected garlands were finally taken away at the last minute before dusk.

All the temporary flower stalls on the roadside at Khwai Bazar and its surroundings were crowded with customers choosing and selecting garland of their choice for the Diwali night and Goverdhan Puja on the next day.

On Diwali day usually the houses, shops and business centres are decorated with garlands of marigold and on the Goverdhan Puja day also the garlands are strung around the necks of cows and bulls at religious rituals.

The streets leading to the Paona Bazar and Thangal Bazar remained crowded throughout the day since the last few days as thousands of people converged into the heart of the city for shopping for Ningol Chakouba which falls on October 31 .

The city police and traffic police were kept busy in regulating one way traffic as the crowds were allowed to enter the marketplace from the Keishampat side and on the Paona Bazar road and could not turn back.

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