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.
A gunfight erupted between security forces and terrorists in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir, with local reports suggesting that three terrorists are trapped in the encounter. The clashes come after India conducted precision strikes on terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, resulting in Pakistan's attempted attacks on Indian military bases. This comes as part of Operation Sindoor, launched in response to a terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed the lives of 26 people.
Security forces in the Singhpora area of Chatroo in Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir, have trapped three to four Pakistani-backed Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists. The ongoing joint operation by the Indian Army, CRPF, and local police is based on precise intelligence inputs and is aimed at neutralising the threat posed by the trapped terrorists. This is the second encounter in the same area, and officials have confirmed that the trapped group is the same outfit that had escaped last time. The situation remains tense, with local residents being urged to stay indoors as authorities take necessary precautions to prevent any further escape.
West Bengal's Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, gave praise to Raja Ram Mohan Roy on Thursday for his influential role in shaping Indian modernity. She acknowledged that Roy's efforts continue to make a lasting impact on society, even today. Roy is best known for spearheading reforms, such as abolishing Sati and advocating for widow remarriage, before his death in 1833.
Congress leader Sachin Pilot, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge paid tribute to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 34th death anniversary. Pilot hailed Gandhi as a visionary leader who led India with progressive and modern thinking. Kharge highlighted Gandhi's key decisions such as lowering voting age and spearheading the Telecom and IT revolution. The Congress party also shared a quote from Gandhi on the importance of education in creating a more egalitarian society.
A video of a bank manager at an SBI branch in Karnataka refusing to speak in Kannada despite repeated requests from a customer has gone viral, sparking a language debate in the state. The customer argues that as per RBI rules, public servants in the state should speak the local language, while the manager firmly stands her ground and insists on speaking Hindi. The standoff has reignited the ongoing debate around the use of local languages in public services, causing widespread backlash.
Every year on May 21, India observes National Anti-Terrorism Day as a mark of respect to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi who was assassinated on this day in 1991. This day serves to raise awareness about the destructive nature of terrorism and encourages people to stand united against violence and extremism. The pledge to promote peace and harmony is taken in all government offices, public institutions and many social organizations also hold events to highlight the impact of terrorism.
As the nation remembers former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 34th death anniversary, leaders from various political parties paid homage to him on social media. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister of Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma, and Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge took to Twitter to remember Gandhi's contributions to the country. The Congress party also shared a tribute, highlighting Gandhi's impact on India's progress.
The war of words between BJP and Congress continues as Congress MP Mallikarjun Kharge calls Operation Sindoor a "Chhutput Ghatna" and BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi condemns the remarks. The issue escalates as BJP MP Trivedi says, "Calling Operation Sindoor a small incident is not only condemnable but disrespectful to our armies" and Congress MP Jairam Ramesh claims the BJP is using the delegation's visit to divert attention. Meanwhile, the all-party delegation is set to visit key partner countries to showcase India's fight against terrorism.
In a devastating accident, four youths perished and five others were severely injured in Gazipur, Uttar Pradesh while they were preparing for the Kashi Das Baba puja. The incident took place in Narwar village of Mardah police station area, where one of the victims, Ravindra Yadav, was a constable in the UP Police. The community is in mourning as they try to come to terms with this tragic loss of life.
A video of an argument between a customer and a bank manager over language preference has gone viral on social media. The customer insisted that the bank manager should speak in Kannada since they were in Karnataka, but the manager argued that she is a citizen of India and will speak Hindi. This incident has sparked yet another debate on language politics in India.