This Diwali, poll fervour grips Jaipur markets

JAIPUR: As the state gears up for the assembly polls scheduled later this year, Diwali celebration in the city will be doused in the spirit of democracy. City’s markets are all set to put up voter awareness messages along with Diwali decorations.

Most markets in the city have started to come alive with lights and frills. This year, traders in the city have decided to motivate people to vote in the state assembly elections. Johri market and M I Road markets will have hoardings with a message inspiring the public to vote in the upcoming elections.

The secretary of Johri Bazaar Vyapar Mandal, Kailash Mittal said, “Last year, our theme was surgical strike, but this year, to inspire voters to be a part of the democratic exercise, we have decided to put around 50 hoardings all over the market. These hoardings will request people to vote in the elections. Along with this, there will be hoardings with a message of Swachh Bharat Mission to keep the surroundings clean, especially during the time of festivals.” The lighting at the Johri market will be of yellow and white theme on both the sides of the road. Keeping in mind elections and heritage structure of the city, M I Road market association has decided to decorate the entire market from Ajmeri Gate to Khasa Kothi with colourless lights. Only Panch Batti Circle and a few heritage buildings around it will be decorated with colourful lights, highlighting the importance of those buildings.

However, due to the ongoing smart city work at Kishanpole market, there is a possibility that no lighting or decoration will be done there this year. There are no poles in the market as of now, which could be used to decorate the place. The city administration is yet to install the poles there. According to Manish Kotala, general secretary of M I Road Vyapar Mandal, the authorities said that the poles will be installed by November 4, but that will be too late to begin decorating the place.

“Dhanteras will be celebrated on November 5 and we need at least seven days for the decorations. The roads are now being cemented, so we can’t even install our own poles. If the poles are not installed in time, Kishanpole market will remain dark for the first time this Diwali,” said Manish. This year, there is no electricity concession announced by the Jaipur discom. Traders have complained that they should be given some concession in the electricity rates, as was given last year.