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.
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra expresses gratitude to her brother Rahul Gandhi for guiding and supporting her during her electoral debut in the Wayanad bypolls, where she gained a staggering lead of over 4 lakh votes. She also promises to be the voice of the people of Wayanad in Parliament.
The Bharatiya Janata Party-led Mahayuti alliance registered a thumping victory in Maharashtra, leading in 48 Assembly and 2 Lok Sabha constituencies. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and congratulated him on the alliance's win in the state. This is a developing story with more details to be added on the leading and winning candidates as well as reactions from other parties.
The Wayanad bypolls have caught the attention of the nation as Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the Congress candidate, is leading with a commanding margin of over 4 lakh votes. This could potentially surpass her brother Rahul Gandhi's victory margin in the 2024 parliamentary elections. With the counting of votes currently underway, all eyes are on Wayanad as the results have the potential to reshape the political landscape of Kerala.
In the ongoing Rajasthan bypolls, the BJP and Congress party are facing unexpected competition from the Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP) candidates, with the BAP candidates leading in two out of the seven seats. The Jhunjhunu seat saw a direct contest between BJP and Congress, while the Chorasi seat witnessed a fight between BJP and BAP candidates. In other seats, there was a close fight between BJP and Congress. The results of these bypolls may affect the political landscape in Rajasthan.
As soon as the election date is announced, political parties in India begin their preparations for the upcoming battle. With a shift from paper ballots to Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), the electoral process has evolved significantly. But what happens to these machines after the votes are cast? The EVMs are stored in highly secure strong rooms, and after the results are declared, they are kept for 45 days before being moved to a storage facility. Before the next election, they are retrieved, and the integrity of each machine is verified by representatives from political parties before being reused.
The counting of votes for the Channapatna bypoll has begun and Congress candidate CP Yogeeshwara is currently in the lead. His main competitor is Nikhil Kumaraswamy, grandson of JD(S) supremo HD Devegowda. The by-election was called after the resignation of HD Kumaraswamy. With a total of 31 candidates in the fray, the outcome of this closely-watched election will determine the next MLA for Channapatna. Stay updated with live result updates to find out who will emerge victorious in this political race.
In a heated electoral clash between the Pawar family members, Ajit Pawar has emerged as the victor with a commanding lead over his uncle Sharad Pawar's faction. With a strike rate of 61.02%, this victory cements Ajit Pawar's position as a strong contender in the electoral landscape. However, with the BJP outdoing expectations with leads and wins in 130 seats, questions arise about the upcoming chief ministerial pick in Maharashtra. The split in the NCP family has created consequences that are drastically different for both factions, with this being the first election after their vertical split.
NCP leader Ajit Pawar's election campaign in Maharashtra has been focused on the color pink, symbolizing feminine energy and garnering support from women voters. As the Mahayuti alliance leads in the state, Pawar's party is performing well in 36 constituencies, including his own in Baramati where he is currently leading with a significant margin. This victory holds extra significance for Pawar, who is using the color pink to not only claim victory, but also to avenge the perceived betrayal by his uncle and political rival Sharad Pawar. The use of this strategic color scheme in his campaign has also been seen in his wardrobe, with reports claiming that he owns 18 pink jackets. Ultimately, the success of the NCP's pink campaign could help decide the fate of the ruling alliance in Maharashtra.
In a stunning blow to Uddhav Thackeray's political career, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has emerged victorious in the Maharashtra assembly elections, solidifying his claim as the leader of the "real Shiv Sena". Shinde's faction, part of the ruling Mahayuti alliance, is leading in over 200 seats, surpassing Uddhav's faction and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi. Shinde's focus on preserving the party's original ideology seems to have resonated with voters, establishing him as the rightful heir to the Shiv Sena's political legacy.
The split between Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar's NCP has resulted in over 70 seats being flipped from their parent parties to the BJP in the Maharashtra Assembly election. This has dealt a major blow to the opposition alliance, Maha Vikas Aghadi, which has only managed to secure 53 seats so far. Without these 70 seats, the opposition stands no chance against the dominant BJP, which is on course for its best ever score in the state. The BJP is expected to rely on these offshoots for a majority in the assembly, potentially leaving the Maha Vikas Aghadi out of reach.