Bangalore celebrates Eid Milad-un-nabi, Sankranti, Infant Jesus feast in style
Various religious processions caused massive traffic jam during peak hours in the city.
The city is preparing to celebrate Makara Sankranti on Wednesday with religious fervour and preparation of various delicacies.
This harvest festival marks the beginning of the movement of the Sun into the northern hemisphere.
Though the Sun changed its axis on Tuesday, celebrations will be held on Wednesday.
Makara Sankranti is the last major festival in the Hindu calendar.
Those celebrating the festival have reasons to cheer this year as the prices of fruits and vegetables have not witnessed a steep increase, despite truck strike. HOPCOMS field manager Keshava said, “Vegetable prices have not increased and the prices of some of the vegetables such as capsicum, cucumber, tomato and beetroot have actually fallen. The truck drivers’ strike has not affected the supply of goods and the sales have been just like last year.”
However, the prices of flowers did pinched buyers as it went up 70 per cent. K.R Market Flowers Merchants’ Association President G.M Divakar said, “The flower prices went up 70 per cent on Monday and Tuesday. However, this has not affected sales.”
Processions in peak hours jam traffic
More than 10 ambulances were among the thousands of other vehicles that got stranded in and around various parts of the city, thanks to a massive traffic jam caused by various religious processions taken out during peak hours on Tuesday evening.
Starting around 6 pm at the nerve centre of the city - Corporation Circle - roads to and from Majestic, Malleswaram, City market, K R Market, Mavalli, Domlur, Nimhans, Richmond Road, Shivajinagar, R T Nagar, DJ Halli, K G Halli, Neelasandra, Vijayanagar, J J Nagar, Tilaknagar, Siddapura, Mysore Road, Banaswadi, and Kammanahalli were jammed for nearly three hours.
Frustrated commuters and citizens had no option but to wait for the processions to get over for resumption of traffic flow. Nrupathunga Road was closed off by authorities as a precautionary measure.
A woman who was experiencing severe labour pain was inside an ambulance that was caught in the jam on Richmond Road. Sources said the woman was screaming in pain and crying for help, but there was no way out as all the surrounding roads to nearby hospitals were blocked for a few kilometres.
She is said to have delivered a baby inside the confines of the ambulance; and there were reportedly very few traffic policemen around to control the situation.
“This is the first time in five years that religious processions have been organised during peak-hour traffic. We were pressured to grant permission for the processions to be held,” an agitated traffic policeman said.