Bhubaneswar/Cuttack, Oct. 28: Mrunalini Sen, a 38-year-old homemaker from Calcutta, was in awe of the collection of diyas at Odisha State Museum.

She was here to shop for Diwali. Around 400 terracotta diyas collected from various districts and a number of antique lamp stands made of brass that are over 50 years old have been put up.

"Diyas are important part of celebrations. So, we wanted to promote the idea of eco-friendly Diwali and showcase the vibrancy through terracotta," said superintendent in charge of the museum Jayanti Rath.

A demonstration kiosk has also been set up showcasing the making of terracotta diyas for the visitors. Ajay Pratap Jagdeb, an artist from Khurda, is seen busy working on the terracotta wheel and shaping lamps in varying sizes and designs. The exhibition will continue for a week.

Youngsters from Cuttack and Bhubaneswar have come up with innovative ideas to promote the idea of an eco-friendly Diwali.

A lot of people in Cuttack have also decided to go for a 'cracker-free' Diwali to pay tributes to the Indian soldiers killed in Uri terror attack.

"Awareness is increasing among people about environment. They are taking various measures to celebrate in a responsible way," said Seema Agarwal, a homemaker.

Nidhi Garg, a young entrepreneur from Bhubaneswar, is making designer diyas to promote traditional lighting instead of electric illumination. A number of youths have been holding rallies and promoting campaigns urging people to stop using crackers.

Sharda Rajput has come all the way from Hyderabad to sell colourful fibre diyas. These handmade diyas made by her family is available in floral design and has caught the attention of buyers.

"My brother and I make these every year. This year, we thought of making it available in other parts of the country, so, we have come here. Other members of my family have gone to places such as Calcutta, Lucknow, Mumbai to sell them. I have received a very good response," said Rajput, who has sold around 50 boxes of lamps.

Earlier, temporary firecrackers shops used to dot every single road near residential areas as well as main roads ahead of Diwali. This year, the scene is a little different with police having clamped restrictions on sale of firecrackers near residential areas and along main roads in the twin cities.

The sale of crackers has dipped by almost 15 per cent this year, claim traders. "The prices of firecrackers usually register a hike of 10 to 15 per cent every year. This time, however, it is between 15 to 20 per cent due to transportation and other expenses incurred by us. Also, the fall in the number of temporary cracker shops has led to sharp rise in the prices of firecrackers so many people are not able to afford," said said Ramesh Prusty, a wholesale trader.