SHILLONG: This Diwali, celebrations are witnessing an all-time low with a crunch on the purchasing power of many as a result of escalating prices of essential commodities and inflation in the city.
Dealing with agitations spanning over 2 months now, the business-class community see festivals as an opportunity to make brisk business, but again inflation has dampened the spirit of Diwali in the pine city.
Not only this, even the price of fire-crackers has shot up this year, which was not the case earlier.
Fire-crackers will find less space in the list of celebration commodities this year because of the hike in their prices.
“Last year I came to market with Rs 2000 to buy crackers in good amount but this year because of the sky-rocketing prices of fire-crackers I could buy very few,” said young Vijay who earns his daily living.
On the other hand, a businessmen said, ” My business has gone down in the last two months because of this agitation, bandh, sale was down and now during Diwali I expected to at least earn enough profit but because of high prices, my profit margin is pretty low,”
Ravi, a father of three children says, “Most of the time there were agitations and bandhs, we were worried because of the arson cases in the town, I work day and night to save some money for my little children to celebrate Diwali but the price of the sweets, fire crackers, lights everything has shot up, imagine how a poor man like me will celebrate Diwali,”
This is not just the story of one family that has been affected by high inflation, but several other families of the city too are planning to curtail their budgets for festival celebrations.
Meanwhile, Meghalaya Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma and Governor KK Paul have extended greetings to the people of the State on the occasion of Diwali.
The Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee has conveyed its greetings and best wishes to the people of Meghalaya on the occasion of the ‘Kali Puja and Diwali.
Blaze Sports Social and Cultural Association, Upper Mawprem has conveyed its best wishes to the people of the State on the occasion of Kali Puja, Laxmi Puja and Diwali.
While celebrating the triumph of good over evil, the MPCC hopes that the festival would foster peace, brotherhood and bring harmony in the State where different religions co-exist in the spirit of love and respect.
The Narendra Modi Fan Club, Meghalaya has extended warm greetings and good wishes to the people of the state on the occasion of Diwali and Kali Puja festivals.
