Diwali Halts Diamonds

Published on 29/11/11

Come Tuesday, diamond emery wheels - diamond polishing equipment - in the world's biggest diamond cutting and polishing centre in Surat will come to a grinding halt. At least 4,000-odd big, small and medium-scale diamond manufacturing units will be closed for a 20-day Diwali vacation.

Varachha and Katargam - the nerve centre of diamond trading and manufacturing in the city - will wear a deserted look as over 4 lakh people, including diamond traders and workers, would have left for their hometowns in Saurashtra.