India, Nov. 6 -- With Diwali just a couple of days away, temporary stalls and roadside carts selling diyas, decorative lights, home decor, and green firecrackers have sprung up across Noida.

On Thursday, HT visited the Sector 18 market and the Noida Haat to see how the city has changed ahead of the festival.

At Noida Haat, the Diwali Utsav, held from October 24 to November 9, features stalls selling handloom items, handicrafts, handmade jewellery, food items and other festive accessories. However, footfall remained relatively low, with only a few shoppers browsing the stalls.

Anurag Gupta, a local resident, said she had largely completed her Diwali shopping list. "This market is affordable, and I come here because it's within walking d...