Guest guest Posted October 22, 2006 Report Share Posted October 22, 2006 VARANASI, India (October 21, 2006): THE FESTIVAL OF lights, Diwali, was celebrated with enormous enthusiasm and traditional fervour here in Varanasi on Saturday. With the dusk setting in, the city was illuminated with decorated light arrangements. Fascinating scenes were manifested everywhere in the city as glittering lights and diyas decorated houses, business establishments and high rise buildings in the evening. City dwellers enjoyed fireworks with immense enthusiasm. Foreign tourists too enjoyed bursting fire crackers near Assi and Dashashwemedh ghats. Kids were seen bursting firecrackers in the supervision of their parents. Roads, lanes and by-lanes echoed with the sound of crackers and other fireworks. Bike riders faced lot of problem on roads while going from one place to another due to fireworks. Earlier, worship of Goddess Laxmi and God Ganesh was performed in houses and business establishments to celebrate the festival. Pundits and Pujaries were seen engaged in performing pujas at different places. Sweets and other items were offered to Goddess Laxmi and God Ganesha. Temples were decorated with garlands and flower petals. Dressed up in new clothes, girls and women were seen thronging different temples like Bankati Hanuman, Sankat Mochan, Durga, Ganesh and Tulsi Manas Mandir temples. The devotees also lit up diyays in temples to mark the occasion. People exchanged greetings. Since campaigning of civic body election is underway in Varanasi, candidates of different political parties also engaged in wishing people for Diwali festival. Thousands of makeshift shops of fire crackers, earthen diyas, `Lava' (related with paddy) and flowers had been set up in different localities such as Lanka, Assi, Durgakund, Sonarpura, Gaudaulia, Maidagin, Sigra, Lahuraveer etc. The wholesale market of crackers such as Harha Sarai and Dalmandi lane did brisk business. Wholesale markets of flowers and garlands at Bansphatak and Englishialine were overcrowded. The district and police administration had ensured tight security arrangements to avert any untoward incident. Station officers and cops of respective police stations were patrolling in their localities. Since the day of Diwali is also dedicated to Goddess Kali, people were getting ready to install idols of Goddess Kali at several places on Saturday midnight. Special puja were to be performed in mid night. However, sudden change in climatic condition, coupled with rainfall lowered the celebration level. Water logging was evident in low lying areas. Markets, set up in view of Diwali festival, faced a lot of difficulties. SOURCE: The Hindustan Times URL: http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/5922_1826037,0015002500030002.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 22, 2006 Report Share Posted October 22, 2006 This I would love to attend. - "Devi Bhakta" <devi_bhakta > <> Sunday, October 22, 2006 7:18 AM Diwali Celebrated with Fervour in Holy Varanasi > VARANASI, India (October 21, 2006): THE FESTIVAL OF lights, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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