Diwali is the festival of light, festival of joy, and festival of hope. With these feelings in heart and precautions in mind, Nagpurians are all prepared to celebrate the festival amid COVID-19 pandemic situation.

 

All the other festivals since March this year had to be celebrated in a low-key manner, due to lockdown and then restrictions on gathering. Central and State Governments issued standard operating procedure for various festivals, and people responded to those positively. Ram Navami was celebrated at households but no traditional procession was taken out. Nagpur’s unique tradition of ‘Marbat’ was preserved, but no procession as usual was taken out. Similarly, other festivals like Eid, Easter Sunday, Dhammachakra Pravartan Din were celebrated without social gathering. Ganeshotsav, Navratri festivals also saw events being held online. Many organisations did not even install the big idols. All these affected the people whose livelihood depended on festive occasions.

 

However, after Vijayadashami, the Governments announced some relaxations and certain retrictions were lifted as part of ‘unlocking’. By the time festive season of Diwali came, markets were abuzz with hopes. Shop-keepers stocked up goods, customers started visiting markets to make purchases, gifts and gadgets and other items were being booked online too, hoardings carrying advertisements of various products started dotting the cityscape. All these happenings around elevated the general mood of the city. On the auspicious occasion of ‘Dhanteras’, the buyers visited jewellery shops. Amid this upbeat mood, however, some people threw the guidelines to the wind. The photograph of Sitabuldi market with massive crowd a few days ago had come as a rude shock. For, COVID-19 pandemic is not over yet. While celebrating the festival of Diwali, Nagpurians need to maintain social distancing, wear face-mask, use sanitiser, as they did during other festivals earlier this year.

 

Though the noisy firecrackers have been banned in city, several shops were seen selling those. Considering the risk of COVID-19 infection due to air pollution, only ‘green crackers’ have been allowed this Diwali. But, these ‘green crackers’ were in short supply. City Police have allowed bursting ‘green crackers’ only, that too, between 8 pm and 10 pm during Diwali. It will be interesting to watch whether Nagpurians follow these norms and COVID-19 guidelines on ‘Laxmi Pujan’, ‘Balipratipada’, and ‘Bhaubeej’. For, more than 50 per cent of the population in city and more than 70 per cent population in rural areas of Nagpur district are ‘still vulnerable’ as per the sero survey results.

 

Overall, the mood is upbeat, hopes are revived, atmosphere is filled with enthusiasm and positivity. The only thing needed during this year’s Diwali celebrations is precaution, to keep one and one’s family safe amid pandemic.