Bengaluru, May 4: Booze lovers ushered in the resumption of liquor sales in a spirited fashion in Karnataka onMonday thronging stores hours before shutters went up at severalplaces and made no secret of their celebratory mood.
At some places, they flocked liquor shops even before day-break and performed "special prayers" with flowers, coconuts,incense sticks, camphor and crackers in front of the stores.
Liquor outlets had been shut in the State from March 25 following the lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Excise revenue loss during the period was about Rs 2,500 crore, according to government sources.
About 4,500 standalone liquor outlets (CL-2 and CL- 11licence holders), which comprise wine stores and those owned bystate-run Mysore Sales International Limited, outside containmentzones were allowed to be opened from Monday from 9 am to 7 pm withsome restrictions.
Free Games on Deccan Chronicle. No Installing, No Charges. Stay Home Stay Safe. Click the Banner to play Now.
These include customers compulsorily wearing of facemasks andmaintaining social distancing with not more than five people inside liquor shops.
Many customers were indeed well-prepared.
At many places, they came with umbrella, raincoat, newspapers and books and queued up as early as 3 am.
At a liquor shop in Salegame Road in Hassan, the tipplers lit the traditional lamp and incense sticks, performed 'aarati'with camphor and decorated the store with the garland of flowers.
With folded hands, they all performed 'special prayers'.
In Mandya, the tipplers queued up before Martaanda liquor shop before dawn.
An hour before the sales were to resume, a few people burst crackers in celebration.
Some tipplers in Belagavi were more "enterprising."
They wentto a liquor store on Sunday night itself, performed special prayersand placed their "representatives" in the form of slippers, bags and stones in the "social distancing boxes" they themselves had drawn sothat they don't have to stand in queue in the morning.
An elderly woman Dakamma was the centre of attraction in Shivamogga.
The bent body did not bend the determination of this spirited lady, claimed to be 96-year-old, who was heard saying "liquor is goodfor health."
At the taluk headquarters town of Brahmavara in the coastal Udupi district, the queue of the booze lovers was reported to be almost half-a-kilometre.
Long queues were seen at liquor stores at Mariyappana Palya and K R Puram, among others, in Bengaluru.
The store managers too were no less cautious while dealing with customers in the COVID era.
They let the customers enter after spraying sanitisers in their hands, and allowed only those who hadworn masks and maintained social distancing.
To maintain law and order, authorities had deployed policemen in good numbers at these stores and they were seen on duty ensuring that customers maintained social distancing.
Comments
who cares? go to hell
Media made her popular. No valve for this award. I strongly support raviji for this.
I wish that in your next birth you born as a girl in a backward country like Pakistan or Afghanistan , and if then you are able to raise your voice after being shot at and then if you still stay strong and become an inspiration to millions and the word then and only then would you deserve the respect that your are seeking so desperately.
Malala was also a western drama.... More people deserve to be honoured..... But why shriji just opposed malala only..... Shows comunal mentality clearly
I agree with Ravishankarji.
I agree with Ravishankar ji.
Bro Mohammad, #2
There is medicine for JEALOUSY, HATE, CRIME, EVIL habits... But the person should take the change to change himself.
Let the Jealous person read the biography of Prophet Muhammad Pbuh. and also let him read the QURAN which is the Guidance for humanity and how to live life according to the law of God. JEALOUSY will run away automatically if We PONDER on what DIVINE knowledge says to us.
Mr sri sri sri
We all know that your work/service doesn’t come free free free
It’s not a Nobel Prize offer Mr sri sri sri we all know that, at the most, it might have been just a nomination for the prize, which are in hundreds and this information is for you for free free free
He is the no. one duplicate & feku. any one shake him well all his originality will come out. No doubt one day will be soon.
Master Ravi Jeeee First I Thought would have our Great Leader Master Scorer C T Ravi jeee he is right person to award Nobel Peace award. any way Sri / Siri says he was rejected and against to Ms Malala's selection, you all surely know very well, Malala totally un fit to award it but discriminated fools around the world chosen not Maste Narendra Modi selected Ms Malala because you all fools of this criminal minded world knows against of a group or de polarise the entire group. Sri Sri is good to magic man in this world making beautiful woman Fools.
Jai Hoo Narendra Modi.
They gave noble prize for Obama, for what???....I did not find any reason for it....Malala is an inspiration and hope for millions of underprivileged girls around the world...
Really... these awards should be given to Narendra Modi, Mohan Bhagwat, for their rolE to implement successfully Acche din in the country, if this award would have been given to Ravishankar could be better also...Now all are silent this fellow started Barking
Malala Yousafzai has done nothing to deserve Nobel Peace Prize
why did you congratulate #Malala two years ago if you don't think she deserved the @NobelPrize?
WHO CARES FOR U SRI SRI SRI ,
BEC U RAISED THE SLOGAN PAKISTAN ZINDABAD PLEASE GO TO PAKISTAN U HAVE NO RIGHT TO STAY HERE ANYMORE ....
I agree with him. I love Malal for her bravery, but when it comes to Nobel prize what was her contribution?
100% i Agree With Shri Shri Ravi Shanker....
After being shot in the head.. she is still fighting for the rights of girls and children.. you say that she is not deserving one.. then who deserves more??
Shri Shri Ravishankar please stop your non-sense,
This swamiji dont have any work simply putting nose to everything. if this swamiji dont want any award let him sit at ashrama, there is no rule to follow him,
Ravi shankar received padmavibhushana this year,
There is no Medicine for JEALOUSY. Dont waste your precious time try to learn about ISALM. And be prepared for your Future.
Dear Sri,
First pay the Pending TAX to the Govt then give the lecture.You did right thing of giving back the Nobel prize as you your self know that you really dont deserve.
He is a Man with Two Faces.
Add new comment