India Celebrates Festival Of Lights “Deepawali” With Religious Fervor : Report

New Delhi, Nov 14, IRNA – “Deepawali”, festival of lights was celebrated Tuesday across India with religious fervor. Earthen diyas dotted houses and fireworks illuminated the evening sky as people celebrated Deepawali decorating their homes with colourful rangolis, twinkling electric bulbs and exchanged sweets. It was fun and frolic for children and youth as they burst crackers and lit fireworks while families visited their neighbors, exchanged 'Happy Deepawali' greetings and sweets. In the national capital, Delhi, people decorated their homes and shops with colorful 'rangolis', flowers and lightings and lit 'diyas' or earthen lamps. The security arrangements were tightened in the national capital in view of intelligence warnings of possible terror attacks by militant outfit Indian Mujahideen (IM). People also celebrated Deepawali in other parts of the country with traditional fervour and gaiety. Devouts thronged temples and offered prayers. President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice President Hamid Ansari and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh greeted the people on the occasion of Deepawali, saying the festival of lights strengthens the country's resolve to follow true ethical values. Deepawali is a time for festivity and happiness transcending all faiths and an occasion to share joy with the needy, President Pranab Mukherjee said greeting the nation on the festival. Meanwhile, as excitement gripped the country, tragedy struck a family in Uttar Pradesh's Auraiya district when six of its members and two others died in an explosion in a house where fire crackers were manufactured illegally. According to Hindu belief, Deepawali is celebrated to mark the return of Hindu God Lord Rama to Ayodhya from his exile after vanquishing demon-king Ravana./end