As the Festival of Lights approaches, the city is getting into the festive spirit, with homes decked out in fresh paint, rice lights, and diyas. The markets are crowded with families looking for traditional diyas, rangoli colors, colorful objects, and lanterns. Sweet stores are packed with people anxious for ladoos and barfis, adding to the festive atmosphere. In this cosmopolitan city, Bengalis are preparing for Kali Puja by changing local pandals, while others are preparing for Diwali and Lakshmi Puja customs.
As the evenings cool, buyers come to shops to load up on diyas, rice lights, and candles, which illuminate homes around the neighborhood. Many pandals that previously hosted Durga Puja have been redecorated for Kali Puja, attracting both worshipers and revelers. With Dhanteras marking the start of Diwali festivities, families went shopping for gold and silver things as well as new utensils, hoping that these purchases would bring them riches and good fortune in the coming year.
