Deepawali, the festival of lights is being celebrated across the country with traditional fervor and gaiety. It symbolises eradication of darkness and gloom and bringing of happiness, peace and prosperity in the life of people.The President, the Vice President and the Prime Minister have greeted the nation on the occasion of Diwali.
In the National Capital Delhi, markets and other public places are buzzing with activity.People are busy purchasing and exchanging gifts. Markets and houses are decorated with lights beautifully. Elaborate security arrangements are in place to avoid any untoward incident in the festive season. The Delhi fire department has also made adequate arrangements to make Delhi incident free.
In Tamil Nadu, people thronged the temples like Samayapuram, Madurai Meenakshi and Pillayarpatti temples early in the morning. More from our correspondent:
In Tiruchirapalli, people after applying gingelly oil had their bath early in the morning in Cauvery water and prayed in temples. Wearing brand new dress they distributed arisi murukku and sweets like palgova, athirasam, thenkuzhal and laddus among friends and relatives. The district administration had given strict orders enforcing Supreme Court’s order banning bursting of crackers between 10 PM and 6 AM. But still new varieties of fire crackers, flower pots, rockets lit the sky with colour and filled the air with smoke. There is indeed hope for environmentalists as for the past twenty years in Vettenkudipatti village in Sivagangai people celebrate Diwali without bursting crackers for the sake of migratory birds. Fire crackers are also banned near Vedanthangal, Kodiakarai bird sanctuaries
Deepawali, the festival of lights is being celebrated across the country with traditional fervor and gaiety. It symbolises eradication of darkness and gloom and bringing of happiness, peace and prosperity in the life of people.The President, the Vice President and the Prime Minister have greeted the nation on the occasion of Diwali.
In the National Capital Delhi, markets and other public places are buzzing with activity.People are busy purchasing and exchanging gifts. Markets and houses are decorated with lights beautifully. Elaborate security arrangements are in place to avoid any untoward incident in the festive season. The Delhi fire department has also made adequate arrangements to make Delhi incident free.
In Tamil Nadu, people thronged the temples like Samayapuram, Madurai Meenakshi and Pillayarpatti temples early in the morning. More from our correspondent:
In Tiruchirapalli, people after applying gingelly oil had their bath early in the morning in Cauvery water and prayed in temples. Wearing brand new dress they distributed arisi murukku and sweets like palgova, athirasam, thenkuzhal and laddus among friends and relatives. The district administration had given strict orders enforcing Supreme Court’s order banning bursting of crackers between 10 PM and 6 AM. But still new varieties of fire crackers, flower pots, rockets lit the sky with colour and filled the air with smoke. There is indeed hope for environmentalists as for the past twenty years in Vettenkudipatti village in Sivagangai people celebrate Diwali without bursting crackers for the sake of migratory birds. Fire crackers are also banned near Vedanthangal, Kodiakarai bird sanctuaries

In Andhra Pradesh, festivities are at a low key in several parts of the state with relief work going on in various parts of the north coastal and coastal districts. These districts have witnessed the ravage of the Nilam Cyclone followed by heavy rain. Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy has avoided Deepavali celebrations in solidarity with the farmers who suffered heavy crop losses due to the recent heavy rains and floods in the state. The Government has also decided to increase the input subsidy for farmers in the affected areas to enable them to take up sowing activities for an early Rabi season.

In Uttar Pradesh, price rise of commodities and security concerns have not dampened the enthusiasm of people. People have decorated their houses with bulbs and lights. Massive security arrangements are in place across the state and extra precautions have been taken at sensitive areas in view of recent violence in different districts.

Our Indore correspondent reports that mounds of Marigold flowers are greeting people in every nook and corner of the city, the commercial capital of Madhya Pradesh. The festival of lights has become more hi-tech this year. Aroma candles and designer diyas have replaced traditional diyas. Chinese lamps, LED lights and readymade rangolis are the other new entrants to the world of Deepawali decoration. Compared to last year, there has been a considerable increase in prices of firecracker. However people are still buying them. City's electricity supply is likely to shoot up to 320 megawatt today keeping in view the growing demand to light up commercial complexes and residential buildings.