Shopping during Diwali

farah Sabreen, IIK Young Reporter
Sunday, November 15, 2020

Do you know the time when ladies of all age are found in clusters in the saree shops bargaining for the best sarees ? The time when people crowd around the cracker shops such that the shop literally runs out of crackers ? The time when the streets are full of beautiful stalls selling colourful, pretty things which are a treat for the eyes ? Yes, I’m talking about our beloved Diwali shopping .

Now something I miss very much during The pandemic is Diwali shopping .We already love shopping a lot , so you don’t even need to talk about Diwali shopping because you’ll find every street packed before Diwali. You will see most kids in the cracker and light shop and ladies and men in the textile shop . Some stores have discounts while some don’t . Join me in this journey as I take you all on a tour , so that you can explore Diwali shopping even during the corona time .

Torans and Garland shopping

So the first stop in Diwali shopping is Torans and garlands . Torans are creative and beautiful door hangings made of real or artificial flowers , these Torans are commonly hung on the front doors of every house during Diwali . Garlands are bought for decorating the house and walls . These things not only look look beautiful but also lift up the spirit of Diwali , adding charm to the festival. Whenever you go into the Toran and Garland shop you will find so many great designs of decor flowers to choose from . I usually buy the ones at a reasonable price and the ones which look attractive. In the street shops you get Torans within the price of hundred rupees. Oh and speaking of Torans I want to tell you bout Mr. Sharma living next door , his door is decorated with a lot of these during Diwali . Last year , when he was decorating his door with Torans , I lit this cracker which made a huge noise and from that day onwards he started wearing earmuffs and does not speak to me till date . Oh that’s it , crackers! So we’re done here , let’s head to the next place shall we ?

Diyas , crackers and candle shopping

Yes ! This is every kid’s favourite part of shopping . As soon as the parent goes to the shop thinking about the huge Diwali budget , the kids eye looks right at that direction where the biggest box of crackers are kept . And Diyas are the main decor items .There are so many crackers but the classic one

is the sparkler which is basically a stick which when burnt start sizzling . There are so many crackers from the biggest to the smallest sizes and quantities . People tend to buy crackers that are grand and ones that emit more light . And when your talking about crackers you have to talk about Diyas and candles . Diyas are kept in the backyard , in the house, in the window sills and wherever you could think of . These beautiful clay lamps lit the whole house and symbolize light over darkness . And is also the main reason Diwali is celebrated and is named after . But this time I have decided I won’t burst crackers because they are an environmental hazard . So this year I’ll only lit Diyas , as it will be good for Mother Earth as well as Uncle Sharma .You get these at a cost of 250 to 500 rupees . Alright, so next up , festive garments !

Dresses , sari’s and kurti shopping

Now Diwali is that time of year when you invite many people over so there’s no doubt you should look good . And that’s why shopping for clothes is the main part of shopping during Diwali. India is famous for silk and hence silk garments are worn most during festivals like Diwali .Ladies wear a lot of jewelry from head to toe and wear brightly colored saris . While men wear colorful kurtis with pants and closed jackets . Kids often wear cotton T shirts and silk skirts and blouses . When you enter the shop you will find a whole collection of beautiful saris for you to wear from the brightest to the darkest colour from the oldest to the latest designs . Sari shops are crowded the most during Diwali even though women buy saris the entire year when it’s not Diwali because ladies are just obsessed with saris especially during this season. And if you unlock your phone , you’ll find all of social media flooded with sari designs and pictures of people wearing saris. No matter where you live , if you’re an Indian you will always find that group of ladies wearing saris and a lot of jewellry and if you couldn’t stay in India during Diwali people buy saris in advance and wear it for Diwali . And during Diwali you get grand offers like buy one get two free and also you get extra accessories which I love a lot because it’s like two mangoes on one stone . And also Sharma uncle’s wife wears a beautiful silk saree every Diwali , but last year when she was decorating her house , she accidentally tripped and fell on the rangoli and got a lot of stains on her saree . Wait , that reminds me . Okay so I have picked my garments and last but not least , Rangoli colors !

Rangoli colours

In India when there’s any special occasion, people always make a rangoli on their doorstep . Rangolis are beautiful designs made with rice flour limestone powder or powdered quartz which is coloured naturally with turmeric or vermilion and nowadays with artificial colours . People usually make floral designs with different colours as a part of Diwali decoration . Little Diyas are placed above the rangolis to make them look bright and colourful. People also make rangolis with flower petals and marigolds .You will find different colours of rangolis in small pockets and also rangoli making instruments which will make you work easier . A set of rangoli kits is available at rupees 500 to 1000.


Phew ! That was some serious shopping ! There is a lot of stuff we bought ! So it’s time for Diwali celebrations . May this festival bring joy to you and your family and May it give you peace and wipe away all the fear . May the cheer , merriment , delight , blissful moments , triumph and happiness surround you always .

No time to worry , it’s Diwali time so hurry ,
Forget the corona fight, because it’s time to bring some light ,
When Diwali is near , Say no to fear ,
Celebrate at home with your family , warm and bright wishes for Diwali .

s
Farah Sabreen
View full profile


Read this article at www.indiansinkuwait.com