Ranchi, April 17: People turned out in large numbers to shop for the ?festival of power? as the district administration today laid down a few ground rules for a peaceful Ramnavami.

Adequate arrangements have been taken to ensure that festivities are not marred by unpleasantness. Ranchi senior superintendent of police Anurag Gupta said, ?We are on high alert. There will be no untoward incident tomorrow. We appeal to the devotees to celebrate the festival in the right spirit.?

One company of Rapid Action Force (RAF) will keep watch over the processions. Four units of Sengel, the elite anti-rebel force, have been deputed across the city. Three Sengel units will be kept on standby at the police control room to tackle any ugly incident. District police officials have also been directed to carry out continuous patrols.

The police have also identified sensitive points in the capital. ?Some of these areas are Karbala Chowk, Urdu Library, Doranda and HB Road. There will be constant patrolling at the points. We are ready to tackle any situation,? said Gupta.

When asked what the police will do if devotees brandish sharp-edged weapons in processions, Gupta said, ? That cannot be allowed. We will keep a close watch. We have information that some take out sharp weapons at Kokar and Doranda. Strict action will be taken against anyone caught,? he added.

The district administration has also placed curbs on traffic movement on Monday and Tuesday (see graphic).

Residents thronged different hardware shops of the city to shop for swords, daggers, steel whips and bamboo staffs ? an inseparable part of the festival that is foremost a celebration of military prowess. Ravinder Tiwari, a shopkeeper said, ?The weapons are a huge hit among buyers. Ramnavami is a festival of power and marks the victory of good over evil. It is incomplete without weapons.?

He added, ?All the weapons are brought from Amritsar and come at different prices, ranging from Rs 65 to Rs 600-700.?

Different akharas of the city have planned to bring out grand processions besides performing dramas and plays.

Rajeev Ranjan Mishra, general secretary of Mahavir Mandal, the city?s biggest akhara, said, ?This year, the procession will be bigger than before. It will be joined by other rallies passing through the important roads .?