NEW DELHI, INDIA, November 9, 2004: Imported icons of Lord Ganesha and the Goddess Laxmi have proved to be a hit with the masses preparing for Deepavali this year. Devotees have particularly taken a fancy for clay icons from China and Thailand which are both good looking and inexpensive. Suresh, a shopkeeper, admits that these Chinese-manufactured icons are doing brisk business. “We sell more Chinese icons. They are cheaper. People want to save their money and buy these icons,” said Suresh. “People are buying these Chinese Ganeshas because they are auspicious. They are cheap and good to look at,” said Rashmi Aggarwal, a customer. The festival of lights, which was traditionally celebrated with the lighting of diyas, has also now been taken over by Chinese bulbs. With the free-trade policy between India and China, the latest designer electronic items, the light bulbs and even electronic icons of Hindu Gods and Goddesses are freely available in the Indian market and attract huge customers.
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