On the auspicious occasion of Diwali, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extends his warm greetings and good wishes to all citizens of India. He prays for the well-being of the people and hopes that the festival of lights brings joy and prosperity to all. Let us all celebrate with unity and spread the message of hope, love, and compassion.
Diwali: The Festival of Lights
Diwali, the grand festival of lights, holds deep cultural significance for Hindus around the world. It is a five-day celebration that marks the triumph of good over evil and the return of Lord Rama to his kingdom after 14 years of exile.
Significance of Diwali
Diwali symbolizes the victory of righteousness over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil. The festival represents the triumph of Lord Rama, the avatar of Lord Vishnu, over the demon king Ravana. Rama's victory is celebrated with the lighting of diyas (earthen lamps) to dispel darkness and symbolize the victory of light.
Traditions and Celebrations
Diwali celebrations typically begin with Dhanteras, where people purchase gold and silver to bring prosperity. Lakshmi Puja, the worship of the goddess of wealth, is performed on the main day of the festival. Houses are decorated with lights, rangolis (colorful floor designs), and diyas. Fireworks and sweets are also a significant part of Diwali celebrations.
Prime Minister's Diwali Greetings
On Diwali 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his warm wishes to the citizens of India. He prayed for their well-being and hoped that the festival brought joy and prosperity. Modi emphasized the importance of unity and spreading the message of hope, love, and compassion.
FAQs
1. When is Diwali celebrated? Diwali is typically celebrated in October or November, depending on the lunar calendar.
2. What is the significance of lighting diyas on Diwali? Lighting diyas symbolizes the victory of light over darkness and represents the triumph of good over evil.
3. What is the origin of Diwali? The origins of Diwali can be traced back to ancient Hindu scriptures like the Ramayana and Mahabharata.
4. How is Diwali celebrated in other countries? Diwali is widely celebrated in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and other countries with significant Hindu populations.
5. What are some popular Diwali sweets? Popular Diwali sweets include laddu, gulab jamun, rasgulla, and kaju katli.
In a bid to promote integrity and fight against corruption, the Central Vigilance Commission has declared the observation of 'Vigilance Awareness Week' with the theme 'Our Shared Responsibility'. Health Minister JP Nadda, during the launch, stressed the need for institutionalizing ethical practices and building a culture of vigilance in every level of governance. He also urged for creating a checklist of do's and don'ts in simple terms to prevent unintentional wrongdoings.
Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa chaired a meeting to discuss ways to control dust pollution from construction activities in the city. He revealed that an extensive campaign has been launched to monitor and penalize illegal and unregistered construction projects. The Minister also directed officials to expedite field actions and simplify the registration process to ensure timely intervention against polluters.
In a press conference held in New Delhi, the Election Commission has announced phase two of special intensive revision of electoral rolls in 12 states. This comes after political parties raised concerns about the quality of the rolls. While Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin arrived at DMK headquarters to discuss the issue, Assam's electoral roll revision will be announced separately due to the ongoing process of the National Register of Citizens. The EC has assured that there will be no obstacles in implementing the roll clean-up exercise in West Bengal.
President Droupadi Murmu addressed probationers of the Indian Police Service 77 RR (2024 batch) and emphasized the significant role that effective policing and future-ready technology play in promoting growth and attracting investment in any state. She highlighted the transformational impact of technology in the realm of policing and urged young officers to remain ahead in adopting new technologies, including AI, to combat threats to citizens. The President also encouraged ethical decision-making and accountability among young officers occupying positions of power and authority.
CEC Gyanesh Kumar has announced the second phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in 12 states and Union Territories, covering 51 crore voters. He also addressed concerns over the state of West Bengal, clarifying that there is no confrontation between the Election Commission and the state government. Additionally, he reminded that Aadhaar card is not proof of citizenship, but can be used as identity proof in the SIR process.
After Chief Justice Gavai's formal recommendation, Union Government is set to appoint Justice Surya Kant as the next Chief Justice of India. With a distinguished legal career and key institutional roles, Justice Kant is highly regarded for his commitment to electoral transparency and landmark verdicts on various issues including abrogation of Article 370 and free speech. His term is expected to begin on November 24, 2025, and last for approximately 15 months.
On Monday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the fourth edition of the India Maritime Week 2025, where renowned leaders, policymakers, and maritime experts from India and abroad are expected to participate over the next 5 days. In his keynote speech, Shah highlighted India's growing maritime strength and strategic location, citing the government's efforts to increase port handling capacity and develop new mega and deep-draft ports. He also inaugurated state-of-the-art Deep-Sea Fishing Vessels under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojna at Mumbai's Mazagaon Dock. The event, organised by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, is being held in partnership with the Indian Ports Association and will conclude on October 31.
The annual Chhath Puja festival has once again become a battleground for Delhi's political parties, with the AAP accusing the BJP-led government of creating an "artificial Yamuna" to cater to PM Modi's ceremonial dip while ordinary devotees are forced to pray in the highly-polluted river. While AAP leaders criticize BJP for disregarding the sentiments of devotees, the latter defends their preparations, citing "unprecedented arrangements" for the festival. However, as the parties argue, environmental reports continue to warn about the dangerous levels of pollution in the Yamuna, posing a serious threat to the health of devotees.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to social media to share his Diwali celebration on board the INS Vikrant with the Indian Navy. He expressed his gratitude for the opportunity and highlighted the juxtaposition of the vast ocean and Mother India's brave soldiers. The Prime Minister also witnessed an impressive Air Power Demo and participated in the Bara Khana with naval personnel.
The Mahadev Khola Dham Welfare Trust in Meghalaya has accused local authorities of violating the rights of the Hindu community during Diwali celebrations. The Trust claims that an order issued by the Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills, ordering the closure of a shop selling puja materials, infringes on their constitutional rights. The Trust, which has been a place of worship for over a century, argues that this order was made without proper notice or verification and goes against earlier permission granted for the shop to operate during the festival. They have appealed for the withdrawal of the order and the safeguarding of their religious and cultural heritage.