Grand decoration plans to woo buyers in Walled City

JAIPUR: With less than two weeks left for Diwali, market associations in Jaipur are leaving no stones unturned to grab the trophy of best decorated market with their theme based decorations. However, with hiked electricity rates and inflation, anxiousness is writ large on the faces of association members.
Business associations are expecting some relief from the government.T C Agarwal, president, Jaipur Vyapar Mahasangh says asTo keep the tradition alive, all associations will surely deck up the markets, but this year we want some support from the government too. It would be extremely difficult for us bear the electricity charges. We have urged the government to provide electricity at subsidized rates during the festival.a?
Tripolia Bazar, one of the popular marketplaces among buyers for festive shopping, is all set to be immersed in a sea of lights during Diwali. Ramesh Chaman, president of Tripolia Bazar Association says, asThe market is situated between Chandpole and Johari Bazaar, so anyone who wants to go to either of these places has to cross the Tripolia Bazaar. Therefore, instead of decorating just the gate, we will light up the entire street.a?
Chandpole Bazaar Association is planning several innovative ways to deck up the marketplace, and promises to surprise visitors with this yearas theme. Narotam Jhalani, president of Chandpole Vyapar Mandal says, asWe believe in attracting crowd with our out of the box ideas. Over the years, we have decorated the market based on the designs of City Palace, Hawa Mahal, Vidhan Sabha. This year, we have instructed the artisans to showcase the Rajasthani culture in their designs. For such elaborate decoration, the association is counting on the governmentas help. asOtherwise our expenses will increase by Rs 2 lakh, and it will be difficult for us to arrange the decorations at a grand scale.a?
Johari Bazaar Association has decided to design the entrance gate to the market on the lines of the Jaipur Metro. asMetro is the talk of the town and everyone is excited about metro running in Jaipur. So we will design a prototype of it on our gate this yeara? adds Agarwal.
Rajendra Sethi, general secretary of Chaura Rasta Vyapar Mandal, which the won first prize in 2010, dismisses all the speculations over the design and decorations as loose talk. asNo market association will reveal the actual theme for decoration before the festival. All this is done to just create confusion.a? On the preparations by his association, Sethi only reveals that this year they have sought more power to decorate the market better.