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    Happy Diwali! Here's How The Festival Is Being Celebrated From Canada To India And Around The World

    Darpan News Desk, 07 Nov, 2018 11:13 AM

      The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas:

       

      "Today, we join Hindu, Sikh, Jain, and Buddhist communities in Canada and around the world to celebrate Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas.

       

      "This holiday – known as the Festival of Lights – symbolizes the triumph of good over evil, light over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance.

       
       
       
       

      "Families and friends will gather to pray, exchange gifts, share meals, and light diyas in a spirit of hope. Diwali is also a chance to honour the many communities that celebrate this occasion.

       

      "Canadians of Hindu, Sikh, Jain, and Buddhist faiths, as well as the larger South Asian diaspora, shape our country for the better every day.

       

      "On behalf of our family, Sophie and I wish everyone celebrating a happy Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas."

       
       
       

      Fireworks, LED lighting mark 'Bandi Chhor Diwas', Diwali at Golden Temple 

       

      A fireworks display and LED lighting marked the celebrations of 'Bandi Chhor Diwas' and Diwali as thousands of devotees flocked to the Golden Temple complex here on Wednesday.

       

      The traditional fireworks display was a spectacular event even though its timing was reduced to just 10 minutes this year owing to pollution concerns.

       

      The complex, where the holiest of Sikh shrines, the 'Harmandar Sahib' is located, was illuminated with LED lights, giving it a glittering look.

       
       
       
       
       
       

      There was festive spirit at the shrine complex in this Sikh holy city as thousands of people came here to offer prayers and seek blessings.

       

      Acting Jathedar (chief) of the Akal Takht, Harpreet Singh, read out his message to the Sikh community on the occasion.

       

      The domes, buildings and floors of the shrine complex were cleaned and lit up for the occasion.

       
       
       
       

      The day is celebrated in the Sikh religion as 'Bandi Chhor Diwas' (prisoner liberation day). On this day, the sixth Sikh guru, Guru Hargobind, returned to Amritsar after being released along with 52 princes from imprisonment by the Mughal emperor Jahangir from Gwalior prison in 1619.

       

      The guru and the princes arrived in Amritsar during the Diwali festivities. Since then, the Bandi Chhor Diwas and Diwali celebrations coincide at the Golden Temple complex.

       
       
       
       

      Elsewhere in Punjab, markets wore a festive look on the occasion of Diwali but traders said that sales were down.

       

      People thronged various markets in Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Patiala and other towns.

       
       
       
       
       
       

      Diwali 2018: Akshay Kumar, Varun Dhawan, Ranveer Singh, Kajol And Others Shower Fans With Festive Greetings

       

      On the occasion of Diwali on Wednesday, members of the film fraternity wished their fans and followers a happy and eco-friendly Diwali and urged them to avoid bursting loud crackers.

       

      Veteran actor Anupam Kher, in New York for work, tweeted: "My dear countrymen, Happy Diwali to all of you. May God fulfil all your wishes."

       

      Filmmaker Karan Johar too greeted everyone and asked people to stay positive -- always.

       

      Actor Akshay Kumar treated his fans to a picture of post Diwali puja, featuring his wife and author Twinkle Khanna, his daughter Nitara and his office team.

       
       
       
       
       
       

      Apart from wishing the people, actresses Anushka Sharma and Sunny Leone urged their fans to celebrate an eco-friendly Diwali.

       

      "Let's make this Diwali memorable. Avoid bursting loud crackers as animals and small kids get scared and those toxic fumes will only hurt everyone," Sunny tweeted.

       
       
       
       

      Anushka posted a short animated video of a dog thanking humans for "bursting less crackers this time".

       
       
       
       
       
       

      Here's what others said:

       

      Kajol: Wishing everyone a light filled bright happy prosperous Diwali. Let the light in your houses echo in your hearts and let's light up the world with our positivity instead of crackers.

       
       
       
       
       

      Arjun Kapoor: Love and happiness to you all.

       
       

      Kajal Aggarwal: Wishing you love, light and happiness all through the year.

       

      Sunil Shetty: Let the lights Shine On. Stay happy and healthy.

       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       

      Happy diwali to everyone from the Dhawans

      A post shared by Varun Dhawan (@varundvn) on

       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       

      Happy Diwali!!

      A post shared by Bobby Deol (@iambobbydeol) on

       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       

      This Diwali, light a diya for love and peace ✨♥️ #शुभदीपावाली

      A post shared by Diana Penty (@dianapenty) on

       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       

      Happy Diwali! May your world be filled with love and laughter #diwali2018

      A post shared by Twinkle Khanna (@twinklerkhanna) on

       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       

      Twitter Bonhomie Between PM Modi And ‘Bibi’ On Display On Diwali

       

      Bonhomie and camaraderie were on display on Twitter between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, who is affectionately called ‘Bibi’, on the occasion of Diwali on Wednesday.

       

      The Israel prime minister wished PM Modi and the citizens of India a joyous Diwali.

       

      “On behalf of the people of Israel, I would like to wish my dear friend @narendramodi and the people of India a joyous Diwali. May this luminous festival of lights bring you happiness and prosperity. Reply to this tweet with the name of the city where you’re celebrating!, (sic)” he wished on Twitter.

       
       
       
       

      Modi in his reply addressed the Israel PM by his nickname ‘Bibi’ and said he was celebrating Diwali by visiting the border areas and spending the day with troops.

       
       

      “Bibi, my friend, thank you so much for the Diwali wishes. Every year, I visit our border areas and surprise our troops. This year too, will spend Diwali with our brave troops. Spending time with them is special. I will share photos of the same tomorrow evening, (sic)” PM Modi tweeted.

       
       
       
       

      PM Modi Spends Diwali At Kedarnath, Meets Soldiers At India-China Border

       

      Modi reached Kedarnath in Uttarakhand today and offered his prayers at the temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. On his way there, he also extended Diwali greetings to soldiers posted on the India-China border at Harsil.

       
       

      According to a statement from his office, the Prime Minister told soldiers that doing duty in the remote icy heights is enabling the strength of the nation, and securing the future and the dreams of 125 crore Indians. The jawans, through their commitment and discipline, are also helping to spread the sense of security and fearlessness among the people, he said.

       
       
       
       

      Earlier today, Prime Minister Modi greeted the people on Diwali. "Happy Diwali! May this festival bring happiness, good health and prosperity in everyone's lives. May the power of good and brightness always prevail!" his tweet read.

       

      Last night, the prime minister had an interesting exchange with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu on twitter. Mr Netanyahu posted a tweet in Hindi wishing his "dear friend" PM Modi on Diwali, to which the Indian prime minister replied in Hebrew.

       
       
       
       

      The prime minister arrived in Dehradun this morning and he is expected to go to Kedarnath, where he is likely to offer his prayers and examine the reconstruction work at Kedarpuri. The foundation stone for the Kedarpuri reconstruction project was laid by the prime minister during his visit to Kedarnath last year.

       

      After becoming the prime minister in 2014, PM Modi had spent Diwali that year with jawans in Siachen.

       

      The next year, he visited the Punjab border. His visit coincided with 50 years of the 1965 India-Pakistan war. In 2016, PM Modi was in Himachal Pradesh, where he spent time with Indo-Tibetan Border Police personnel at an outpost. Last year, PM Modi had spent Diwali with soldiers at Gurez in Jammu and Kashmir.

       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
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