Icon’s absence dulls Diwali spirit in city

Guwahati: Usually abuzz with the vibrant spirit of Diwali at this time of the year, Guwahati is witnessing an unusual air of sombreness this festive season.It has been a month since the untimely passing of Zubeen Garg, and his absence is being felt in every lane, home and marketplace — casting a pall of gloom over what is typically the brightest time of the year.Traders and shopkeepers, who had prepared for the usual festive rush, now report a drastic decline in footfall. “This time last year, cracker sales were much better. Now we’re barely selling anything. Every morning I set up my stall, expecting good business, but only a handful of customers have come so far,” said Raunak Jain, a cracker seller at Fancy Bazar.Jain said he had stocked a wide range of firecrackers, sourced both locally and from other states, but was now ruing his decision.“I regret buying these crackers. We invested heavily, ordering fresh stock seven to eight months ago, expecting a normal Diwali. But this year, customers are few, and sales are less than half of what we anticipated,” said Moni Das, another seller under the Arya Nagar flyover.Dilip Kumar, seller in Khanapara, said he had managed to sell only about Rs 5,000 worth of crackers so far. “People are mostly buying flowerpots. We’ve also kept decorative lights,” he said.