A girl lighting diyas on Friday. Picture by Biju Boro

Oct. 24: The cityscape sparkled with lights as Kali Puja was celebrated in households and 300-odd pandals today.

Frenzied celebrations broke out as households lit up their thresholds with rows of lamps, burst crackers and went pandal-hopping to pay obeisance to Goddess Kali who, as the myth goes, killed the wicked Raktavija on this day.

Soon after dusk, neighbourhoods gleamed as people dressed in their festive best, lit lamps and candles. Several commercial establishments were also adorned with strings of coloured electric bulbs that twinkled merrily in the cool night.

Children played with sparklers and other soundless firecrackers like charkis, flowerpots, coloured ropes, magnetic torches and so on under the eagle eye of elders. Among the older children and adults, mirchi crackers and atom bombs were the favourites.

The city wore a bright look with huge illumined gates in front of pandals lighting up the paths of pandal-hoppers.

Among the north Indian community, choti Diwali — a day dedicated to lights and prayers — was celebrated with traditional fervour. Lamps were lit, friends and relatives visited each other and exchanged sweets and gifts.

Till late afternoon, shoppers thronged the main markets of the city to buy diyas, candles and crackers.

Roadside kiosks and stalls selling lamps, wicks, candles and firecrackers at various points in the main markets and in neighbourhood bazaars did brisk business.

With city police having made elaborate arrangements, celebrations were by and large incident-free.

Police patrol cars kept vigil at both entry and exit points of the city, the main thoroughfares and around the pandals.

However, at many street-corners, revellers burst crackers, away from the eyes of patrolling policemen.

Though bursting of crackers was banned between 10 pm and 6 am, a few die-hard revellers dared to make merry. A police official said despite their best efforts, it was not possible to catch the offenders since it was difficult to exactly pinpoint a bang.

In several areas, preventive arrests were made in order to pre-empt trouble. Gambling, a popular game during Kali Puja and Diwali, was conspicuous by its absence with the Kamrup district administration banning it in public places.

But in many homes, friends and relatives got together for a game of cards.

The district administration ban also includes lotteries, sale of gift coupons and even advertisements inciting these activities.

There were crowds of visitors at major Kali Puja pandals in Maligaon, Kalapahar, Ulubari and Athgaon, both in the morning when puja was performed and in the evening when cultural programmes were held. Medical and blood donation camps, sports events, art and cooking competitions were also part of the celebrations.