No takers for earthen lamps this year, say hawkers

NAVIMUMBAI: Unseasonalrainhas not only dampened Diwali celebrations but has also disheartened those come from far-flung areas of the state to sell kandils (paper lamps) andearthendiyas.

Every year, around 300 people fromdifferentpartsofstatecome to the city during the festival season.

This year, their earnings have dipped.

Sanjay Patel, 32, has come from Nanded to sell diyas. He is disappointed that he has not sold enough to earn a little more than last year.

“I was here last year with my three brothers. This year, we have hardly sold any diyas. This is the only time in the year we earn a little more. Without this extra earning, it is difficult to make ends meet,” said Patel.

ManylikePatelareseenvending at busy junctions at Belapur andKhargharjustbeforeDiwali.

They stay in city for a couple of months before Diwali, sell earthen lamps and decorations and return to their village.

Hemant Sharma, an activist from Kharghar, said, “I see these vendors at signals and other busy areas. I help them in selling their ware. This year, too, I tried but demand is low.”

Patel said there is no work back home during this time of the year. Sowing of the crops will start after January.

“We have been selling ecofriendly earthen diyas and kandils. This year, we have seen fewer buyers. Residents may not be buying because of the rain,” said Vinod Dhuliya, 45, who has come from Solapur.

Many have switched to earthen diyas after seeing the hand-painted decorated lamps.

“Instead of purchasing Chinese lamps like I got diyas to decorate my house,” said Kanchan Tiwary, 35 a resident of Kharghar.

The vendors dressed traditionally are seen doing business across the city.

“Lastyear,Iearnedmorethan ₹1,000a day. Thisyear, wehardly haveanybuyers.Wearehappyif weearneven₹500aday.Rainhas affected oursale asnotmay want to buy earthen lamps,” said Dinesh Rao, 32, who came to the city from Nanded.

KALYAN: The civic body took action against firecracker vendors on Saturday, a day after a scuffle broke out between the hawkers and mediapersons in Kalyan’s busy Shivaji Chowk market.

Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) removed five handcarts from the streets.

The crackers were sold illegally and some mediapersons had reached the market to report on Friday.

The firecracker vendors roughed up the mediapersons, abused and pushed them.

A non-cognisable offence was registered against the firecracker vendors at the Mahatma Phule police station.

“A scuffle broke out between them. As per the complaint by the mediapersons, we have registered a non-cognisable offence,” a police officer.

Followed by the incident, local mediapersons demanded that the illegal firecracker vendors be removed from the market areas.

“The vendors stopped us from doing our job and pushed us. When many gathered in our support, they ran away. There is a group of such vendors operating the Kalyan for the past three days,” said Atish Bhoir, 40, who works with a local daily in Kalyan.

KDMC officials, who had turned a blind eye to the illegal firecracker vendors, were forced to take action after the reporters lodged a complaint.

On Saturday morning, a team of eight along with a hawkers evicting vehicle reached Shivaji Chowk market and took away the five handcarts and also seized the firecrackers.

“Firecrackers are not allowed to be sold on streets. They can only be sold in open spaces. These vendors were operating for the past three days and we were planning to take action against them. We will ensure that they do not come back,” said Bharat Pawar, ward officer of KDMC.

“We have our team deployed there,” added Pawar.

› Last year, I earned more than ₹1,000 a day. This year, we hardly have any buyers. We are happy if we earn even ₹500 a day. Rain has affected our sale as not may want to buy earthen lamps. DINESH RAO, 32, who came to the city from Nanded