Liquor traders want dry day

West Bengal has decided to allow bars to serve liquor 365 days a year and to curtail the number of dry days - when liquor shops remain shut - from 12.5 to four. Ironically, liquor retailers, who tend to detest dry days, are now in low spirits over non-closure of their shops during Durga Puja. Hence, the All Bengal Excise Licensees' Association has requested the state excise department to allow its members to keep their shops closed on Mahashtami. "We have received a number of appeals from our members to allow this day to be observed as a holiday because all our staff and workers offer puja to Devi Durga on this day," the association has said in a letter to the government. "We request you to take our prayer forward to the department concerned… All people, irrespective of their age, offer anjali to Devi Durga on this day and seek blessings."