Diwali Shopping Frenzy Grips City as Festivities Approach

As the highly anticipated Diwali festival approaches, the city's markets were a hive of activity on Sunday, October 17th, 2025, as citizens thronged the streets to make their final preparations. The markets were bustling with shoppers seeking out the perfect outfits, firecrackers, sweets, and decorations to celebrate the joyous occasion.

The firecracker market near Raipur Darwaza was particularly busy, with sellers reporting a high demand for both the latest varieties of crackers as well as the more traditional ones. "The demand is high for the new crackers, but people are also buying the old favorites," one seller remarked.

In addition to the Diwali festivities, many households also celebrated Kali Chaudash, or Naraka Chaturdashi, by making vada from multiple grains and offering prayers in local temples. In some parts of the country, this day is also known as Chhoti Diwali, a precursor to the main Diwali celebrations.

As the day drew to a close, the city remained lively, with buses packed to capacity as students and professionals headed home to celebrate the festivities with their loved ones. The anticipation for the grand Diwali celebrations was palpable, with rows of earthen lamps set to mark the auspicious occasion.