Many people in Andhra Pradesh are staring at a wet Diwali which has already been affected by the Covid pandemic, bereft of the usual pomp and excitement associated with the festival in general. The Met department has forecast rainfall in parts of coastal Andhra Pradesh for the next three days. "This year I am not buying any crackers to celebrate Diwali. We have been told that bursting crackers is not advisable amid the pandemic," Penmetsa Nagarju, who supplies filtered drinking water on behalf of an NGO in Kallakuru village near Bhimavaram, told IANS.

Though green crackers are allowed, Nagaraju, 30, has decided not to indulge in Diwali pyrotechnics this time. Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the state government has issued directives to allow only the bursting of green crackers for two hours on the festival day between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. Likewise, the few cracker shops set up in a few villages like Seesali and Kalla near Bhimavaram did not look very happening on Diwali eve. "We are seeing lesser business this year because of coronavirus. People are avoiding coming out like before. We have to see how it will be tomorrow," said Boya Krishna Rao, who dabbled into cracker business for the festival.