Diwali
festival passes off peacefully
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New Delhi: The festival of Diwali passed off peacefully throughout the country on Tuesday. Security agencies heaved a sigh of relief as the festival passed off without incident, as all eyes were on the security arrangements following Saturday's serial bomb blasts in Delhi that claimed 62 lives and maimed over 200 others. In the National Capital, a heavy security blanket was thrown around bazars and other places of importance. About 100 fire incidents were reported in Delhi on Tuesday. Most of the fires were apparently caused by fireworks.
In one of the incidents, 100 shacks were gutted in the Lodhi colony slum. On the outskirts of Delhi, one person reportedly lost his life in a fire incident near Dadri. In Gujarat seven persons lost their lives in Dahod while making firecrackers illegally. In Mumbai a major fire broke out at the Shere Colony in Chembur when the Mahanagar gas pipe line burst shortly after midnight. The fire was still raging when last reports came in. People from all age groups came in large numbers to greet the President of India APJ Abdul Kalam at his official residence.
Preparations for the day began in the morning with people doing last minute shopping, right from things required for the evening prayers to buying new clothes and accessories. All important buildings, shops and temples were brilliantly lit on the occasion. People also performed religious rituals. In Gujarat, businessmen performed the "Chopda Pujan" on Diwali. In this ritual Goddess Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth, along with their accounts books, is worshipped. "We worship Goddess Lakshmi so that she showers her blessings on us and help us in our business throughout the year. We have been performing this rituals since the last 14 to 15 years, once I started my business," said Pranav Patel, a businessman. In Kolkata, Diwali coincided with Kali Puja, a festival dedicated to appeasing the Goddess of Power and Destruction, Kali. "We celebrate Diwali and Kali Puja on the same day. The children wear new clothes. We worship the goddess (Kali). We go out on outings, burst crackers and enjoy ourselves," said Naru Gopal Saha, a local.
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Nov1, 2005
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