Deepavali revellers in Odisha celebrate festival following norms

Bhubaneswar: Deepavali, the festival of light, was celebrated across Odisha with gusto and enthusiasm. Though the fun was diminished a bit this year due to the restrictions on bursting of fire crackers, people across the State were in no mood to let the Deepavali occasion go without enjoying it to the fullest.

People decorated their houses with diyas or earthen lamps and fancy lights. Women drew variety of rangoli designs with murujas or colour powder. As this year the Orissa High Court allowed bursting of green firecrackers only, people will have to content with firecrackers emitting less smoke and noise.

Netrananda Sahu, a resident of Bhubaneswar, the State’s Capital city, said, “This year we celebrated Deepavali with colourful paper lanterns and green crackers. The fun was not subdued in any way as the spirit for the celebration was there. It is a good thing by bursting green crackers there will be less pollution when we are fighting the pandemic.”

Echoing similar view, Subhasish Joshi, a resident of Bargarh said, “The purpose of Diwali is to remember the forefathers. Hence, bursting firecrackers with high decimel is not a way to celebrate the Diwali. That too, during the pandemic time bursting crackers with loud noise and lots of smoke must be avoided.”

The State government fixed 8 PM to 10 PM timing for bursting of crackers during Diwali.

In Puri, prohibitory order under Section 144 was clamped at ‘Bada Danda’ (Grand Road) on Diwali. People were completely barred to burst crackers or light ‘kautnria’ stick (jute plant stem).

Taking advantage of the demand for fancy lights and LED decorative lights, some unscrupulous traders sold them at exorbinat prices.

Nihar Ranjan, a resident of Bhubaneswar, said “For the first time this Diwali, I am finding fancy lights are being sold at two-three times of their actual prices. This illogical price hike definitely has disappointed many.”

Other than sporadic instances of mishap during bursting of crackers, there was no major untoward incident at any place in the State.