Sale of candles and earthen diyas ahead of Deepawali has significantly surged up in the markets in Dehradun following several organisations having urged the common people to shun the fancy Chinese lights and other decors in retaliation of the pro-terror and pro-Pakistan stance of the People’s Republic of China Government.
The shopkeepers have a mixed feeling. While on one hand, they say they are happy to respond to the nationalistic call some say that the profit they used to earn from the voluminous sale of the cheap Chinese lights and decors has come down this year.
Deepawali festival a few days away, hordes of people are now thronging the markets, bringing broad smile on the faces of the traders.
Gaurav, owner of a candle shop, Paltan Bazaar said,” I am hoping to earn extra this year following boycott of Chinese fancy lights. The sale of candles has shot up correspondingly.” He said that various kinds of candles which attract the customers are available in his shop in ample quantity. This is his family business, albeit a seasonal one. Eight members of his family have remained involved in the business over the past 30 years.
He said, “There is a myriad kind of candles like flouting candle, Jel candle, aroma candle, heart- shaped candle, fruit candle, T- light candle aside from earthen diyas. These all are available in the shop. The cost of making such candles varies from `20 to `400. We have also kept candles priced `10 for the customers who are not inclined to go for costly ones,” he said.
He further said they had purchased the candles from traders based in Hyderabad while the ingredients had been brought from Nainital.