Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday extended warm Diwali greetings to people across the country, wishing everyone happiness, well-being and prosperity on the occasion of the festival of lights. Diwali is being celebrated across India on Sunday, November 8, on the occasion of Kartik Amavasya, with homes, temples and marketplaces lit up in the traditional manner.
In his message, the Prime Minister wished the festival would bring light, joy and good fortune to every household. The greeting came as millions of families prepared for the evening’s Lakshmi Puja, the centrepiece of the festival, when Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped for wealth and well-being. On the eve of the festival, Mr Modi had also met Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan and extended Diwali greetings to him.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also posted Diwali greetings on social media on Sunday morning, wishing all Indians joy, prosperity and fresh energy on the festival of lights. Posting on X in Hindi, Mr Shah wrote that the festival symbolises the victory of light over darkness, a message echoed by leaders across party lines through the day.
Diwali, one of India’s biggest festivals, marks the return of Lord Ram to Ayodhya after fourteen years in exile, according to tradition, and is celebrated with the lighting of earthen lamps, bursting of firecrackers, exchange of sweets and gifts, and prayers in homes and temples. This year the festival comes at the end of a five-day celebration that began with Dhanteras, when gold and silver buying traditionally peaks.
Markets across the country reported brisk business through the festive week, with traders saying sales of diyas, decorative lights, sweets, dry fruits and gifts had picked up strongly in the days leading up to Sunday. Jewellers, too, saw heavy footfall on Dhanteras, with industry estimates putting gold sales on the day at around Rs 60,000 crore.
State governments and civic bodies made elaborate arrangements for the festival, with special attention to safety and crowd management at temples and marketplaces. In Uttar Pradesh, the state government assured 24-hour power supply across the state until November 16 to cover the Diwali and Chhath period, a move aimed at ensuring uninterrupted celebrations.
Security was tightened in major cities, and police in several states issued advisories on the safe use of firecrackers and the observance of local timings for bursting them. Hospitals kept burn units on standby, as is customary on Diwali night.
As evening falls, the festival will reach its peak with Lakshmi Puja in homes and the lighting of lamps on doorsteps, balconies and courtyards. For many families, the night ends with fireworks and the sharing of sweets with neighbours, a ritual that has defined Diwali for generations.
Beyond the celebrations, the festival also marks the start of Samvat 2083, the new Hindu accounting year, which traders and businesses traditionally begin with fresh account books and prayers for prosperity. The stock exchanges will mark the occasion with their customary one-hour Muhurat trading session on Sunday afternoon.
