Janakpurdham Market Bustles with Diwali and Chhath Preparations

This is a sample story for the Province section.

Janakpurdham. With the major religious and cultural festivals of Mithilanchal, Diwali and Chhath, drawing near, the market in Janakpurdham, the capital of Madhesh Province, has seen a significant surge in activity.

The market has been crowded with common people since early morning for festival preparations and shopping. The throngs of people buying flowers, clay diyas, kalash, sweets, and other puja materials have made the main squares and market areas of Janakpurdham festive.

Today, on the day of Diwali, since morning, there has been increased shopping activity in the main Ramananda Chowk, Janak Chowk, Murali Chowk, Pidarai Chowk, Bhanu Chowk, and other rural market areas of Janakpur.

As Lakshmi Puja will be performed in the evening, Hindu followers have gone to the market to buy puja materials, flowers, fruits, and home decoration items. Meanwhile, traders are extremely busy selling.

Managing the crowd that has gathered for shopping around the Janaki Temple in the main market area of Janakpurdham has become even more difficult. The movement on the road has also been affected due to the crowd of common people buying puja materials and other goods. Traffic police are also struggling to manage traffic due to the increased load of vehicles and pedestrians.

The condition of Hospital Road is also the same. Traders are busy selling fruits and essential festival items by setting up four-wheeled carts and temporary shops on both sides of the road. The increase in the number of shops and carts along the roadside has created problems in the movement of pedestrians and vehicles.

The trade of marigold flowers, which hold special significance during Diwali, has also increased at this time. There is a crowd of traders selling garlands and bunches of flowers in various places in the market. The number of people doing business has also increased significantly as the number of customers buying these flowers, which are needed to decorate homes, shops, and puja sites, has increased. Similarly, traders selling clay diyas, kalash, lids, and other puja materials are also busy trading on the roadside. Traders say that the demand for such materials has increased as there is a tradition of lighting clay diyas during Diwali. Preparations for materials needed for Chhath festival have also started appearing in the market along with Diwali shopping.

According to Ramkishore Singh of Janakpurdham-4, it is natural for the market to be crowded with common people as Diwali and Chhath are major festivals of Mithilanchal. However, he complains that despite knowing that the market gets crowded every year during the festival, sufficient attention is not given to management. 'The local administration and municipality know that the market gets crowded during the festival. But, as a result of not managing accordingly, common people are facing a lot of problems in commuting due to shops and carts being placed everywhere on the road,' he said.

With the increase in activity in the market and on the roads, sweet shops are also crowded with customers. The number of people buying sweets for Lakshmi Puja has increased. Meanwhile, traders in the city area have also started decorating their shops targeting the evening puja. Most shops have prepared to welcome Diwali by planting banana trees in front of them and decorating with various lights and flowers.

Diwali and Chhath, connected with religious faith, family gatherings, and cultural traditions, have added vibrancy to the market of Janakpurdham at this time. Local traders appear enthusiastic with the increase in business activity. However, local residents complain that the municipality has never paid attention to market management, controlling unorganized trade on the roads, and traffic management to make this hustle and bustle smooth and organized.

Although most Madhesh residents who were working outside have returned to their home districts to celebrate this festival, there is happiness in all these families as they can celebrate this festival in family gatherings.

The crowd seen in the market along with the joy of Diwali, colorful flowers, clay diyas, and decorated shops have made Janakpurdham festive. It is certain that the preparations for the Chhath festival in a few days will add more vibrancy to the market.