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| Diwali fervor not over yet | | | Early Times Reporter
Jammu | Nov 10
From the political nerve center of the winter capital to the Line of Control, the Diwali fever is not over yet even as working class today put down their instruments to celebrate the Vishwakarma day.
A day after the festival of lights, the town continued to wear a festive look with celebrations filling the atmosphere. Though yesterday's sales were unmatchable but today too the gift stores and sweet shops remained abuzz with the activity.
Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad threw a gala Diwali bash for the people of Jammu which witnessed a huge rush at his official residence. Governor S. K. Sinha, Mrs. Premini Sinha, Ministers Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly, top officers of civil administration, police, army, academicians, media persons, representatives of trade and industry, political leaders and prominent citizens from cross section of the society attended the Diwali Milan.
The Chief Minister and Shamim Azad exchanged pleasantries with guests and extended Diwali greetings to them. However, conspicuous by their absence were the PDP leaders as none of the recognized faces from the party turned up.
Meanwhile, soldier, posted at several places across the region celebrated Diwali with traditional fervor. For the fourth consecutive year troops guarding the border in the Jammu sector yesterday celebrated Diwali festival without any scare offiring from the Army across the border. Diwali celebrations were held at several border posts on the 187 km long international border, between Akhnoor and Kathua. While troops guarding the LOC at Pallanwala fired crackers, exchanged sweets theBSF companies celebrated the festival of lights.
The main function was organised at Border Outpost at Octroi near Suchetgarh in R.S.Pora sector where the spirit of ceasefire was witnessed when a team ofPakistani Rangers, led by Lt. Col Zamal Shah, and BSF commandant of 129 battalion, Mr P.S.Bains, exchanged packets of sweets. The two officers shook hands and exchanged greetings. A BSF spokesman said that BSF companies celebrated Diwali all along the International Border and the company commanders received greetings from their counter parts across the border. Groups of villagers were seen mixing with the Army and the BSF while celebrating the festival. Number of soldiers said that they missed their family members.
"We are happy. we celebrate the festival and at the same time guard the country's borders," said one official. Senior BSF officers recalled that prior to 2003ceasefire it used to be difficult for "ours troops" to celebrate any festival on the border At times crackersfired by the soldiers would be greeted by the gun fire from across the border. They said that since November 2003 the guns on either side of the border have fallen silent and there has been no violation of the ceasefire. |
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