Nokha: On the auspicious occasion of Dhanteras, markets in Nokha witnessed a massive surge in shopping, bringing cheer to traders. From early Friday morning, the first day of the five-day Diwali festival, customers flocked to shops selling clothes, utensils, gold, silver, sweets, and electronics, among other items. It is estimated that business worth approximately ₹3.5 crore was conducted in the Nokha market on Dhanteras.

Following tradition, people purchased Lakshmi idols, calendars, auspicious symbols like 'Shubh-Labh', Lakshmi's footprints, and 'Shri Yantra'. Ready-made garment stores, crockery shops, grocery outlets, hosiery, jewelry, and sweet shops also reported excellent sales. Even shops selling animal adornments saw good customer traffic.

Vehicle purchases also saw significant enthusiasm. Rahul Dharaniya, a representative from a bike showroom, stated that around 325 motorcycles were sold on Dhanteras. A large tent was set up outside the showroom to facilitate the simultaneous delivery of all bikes. Traders noted that the market had been experiencing a slowdown for the past four months, but the robust sales on Dhanteras provided much-needed relief.

The markets were so crowded that shopkeepers worked continuously, with many not even finding time for meals. To manage the crowd, police set up barricades at key locations including Sadar Bazar, Ghantaghar, Bhutda Kolhu, and Jain Chowk. Despite staff shortages, Nokha Police and traffic personnel managed the intermittent traffic jams on the highway caused by the influx of vehicles and shoppers. Homes and shops were beautifully decorated for Diwali, illuminating the entire town with lights as night fell.