I wonder

It's the Chinese New Year today and can I just say everything feels a bit muted.
The usual incandescent brightness that would blaze through the streets in forms of lamps and led's hanging from trees, paving the sidewalks, stuck around the city like jewels is non existent this year. Even the houses that would stud their windows and entries with ruby coloured illuminations in form of auspicious Chinese hangings are vastly absent.
The compounds have done their bit of fairy lights and what not but that's about it .
The streets, the city, the people, the houses all seem devoid of the usual Chinese New Year exhilaration.
How and why is this so?
Today I will go about the city, despite the rains and cold and see how Chinese New Years is being celebrated.

I mean I went to a supermarket yesterday, my mistake but there was an essential supply I needed and I remembered that it would be a mistake because during the few weeks before this event all markets etc are thronged to the point of claustrophobia by people who're out shopping. (Think diwaliX10) and yet it wasn't as crowded as I'd have expected.
I mean there were people but not in droves.
I'm beginning to wonder. Really wonder.