Jammu, Oct 20: Festive vibe was palpable with major markets wearing a bridal look, imbuing the spirit of ‘Deepawali’ across Jammu on Monday.
Sparkling skyline, well-illuminated temples, houses and other structures were manifesting the splendour of the festival of lights, which parts of the region celebrated, like other parts of the country, on October 20.
However, the majority of the region will celebrate the festival on Tuesday, October 21, 2025.
In J&K, the gazetted holiday on account of Diwali (Deepawali) is also on October 21, 2025.
The festival delineates the triumph of light over darkness; good over evil and knowledge over ignorance.
In Jammu city and its outskirts, tastefully decorated Apsara Road, Gole Market Gandhi Nagar, Channi Himmat, Raghunath Bazar, Purani Mandi, Raj Tilak Road, City Chowk, Residency Road witnessed maximum footfall of shoppers – purchasing decorative lamps (Diyas); buntings; lanterns; flowers; gifts, sweet-packs and idols of deities.
Special Pujas after lighting candles and ‘Diyas’, both designer and earthen lamps, besides the bursting of crackers, mark the spirit of the festival.
Besides confectioneries and cracker-stalls, the markets are witnessing major crowds outside the shops and showrooms dealing in clothes, gift accessories, jewellery, electronic gadgets and automobiles.
Special stalls for sale of crackers have been erected at the designated places including in the area behind Hari Singh Park; Ban Talab, Janipur and Gandhinagar areas.
Multi-layer security has also been put in place across Jammu city and adjoining areas. Additional deployment has been made with the setting up of additional nakas to ensure safe and peaceful celebrations of the festival.
Responding to the calls for “Green Diwali” and “vocal for local”, the shoppers of all age-groups are preferring eco-friendly crackers and local products. Consequently, the green crackers, special varieties for children, including ‘Barbie’, ‘spinners’, ‘helicopters’ are dominating the market and luring the young shoppers.
A shopkeeper Munish, who has set up his stall for crackers at the designated space in Jammu city, shared that the latest varieties viz., 12-star; Fanta-star sky shot; ‘Chitput’; ‘Butterfly’ proved to be quite popular among the youngsters.
“As per the government guidelines, shoppers are preferring green crackers. Chinese crackers are being avoided,” he stated.
“In the same breath, I’ll request that the parents should accompany children while bursting crackers. Celebrate Diwali with safety – should be the spirit,” he said.
Meanwhile, women self-help groups from different places, including the one formed at Purkhugarhi in Mishriwala along the border, could be seen selling eco-friendly cow-dung lamps.
Shoppers’ enthusiasm has inspired more and more women to join these groups to earn a livelihood. These ‘Diyas’ are available in the market at the rate of Rs 5-10 per piece.
Ahead of Deepawali, Jammu markets witnessed a boom on the occasion of ‘Dhanteras’, celebrated on October 18.
As per conservative estimates by a local federation of automobile dealers, a sale of around 1000 vehicles, including 200 two-wheelers, was recorded in a single day on October 18 in Jammu city. The bullion markets also displayed an upswing.
GST 2.0 implemented ahead of the festive season, too contributed to the momentum in the market sentiments on the occasion of 5-day Deepawali festivities.
