Andhra Pradesh celebrates Diwali despite the rains

Diwali, the festival of lights, was celebrated with devotion and gaiety all across Andhra Pradesh today.

Dressed in traditional attire, people thronged temples to offer prayers in the morning, across the state.

Cracker sales were brisk since morning though the sharp rise in prices made it difficult for common people to make big purchases. Due to heavy discounts offered by many retail showrooms, sale of electronic goods and home appliances has been impressive.

For residents of coastal districts battered by heavy rains recently, Diwali celebrations were a low-key affair due to losses to crop and property.

Traders in East Godavari district rued that sales of new clothes, crackers and others have not been up to expectations this year due to heavy rains that destroyed crops in thousands of acres.

Several ministers and others visited the Raj Bhavan here to wish Governor ESL Narasimhan on the occasion of Deepavali.

However, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy chose not to celebrate Deepavali due to the recent heavy rains, official sources said.

Meanwhile, a 13-year old boy died of burn injures received while lighting crackers at Rellivalasa in Vizianagaram district today, police said.

Eight others were injured in the incident. They were were admitted to various hospitals in the district where the condition of five of them was stated to be serious, they added.