"Praying for health, prosperity of all": Amit Shah extends Diwali greetings

"Heartfelt Diwali greetings to all on this festival of lights and joy. I pray to Lord Shri Ram for the health and prosperity of all," Shah posted on X.

Union Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju also extended greetings on the occasion of Diwali, wishing love, peace and harmony across the country.

"To all my fellow citizens, Happy Diwali! May the divine glow of diyas bring warmth, happiness & success to every home. May this festival inspire us to spread love, peace & harmony across our nation," Rijiju posted on X.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday extended Diwali wishes to the people of India.

In a post on X, PM Modi said, "Greetings on the occasion of Diwali. May this festival of lights illuminate our lives with harmony, happiness and prosperity. May the spirit of positivity prevail all around us."

Earlier, the Prime Minister also urged Indian consumers to buy domestically made "Swadeshi" products during the festival, encouraging the purchase of Indian-made products and supporting local artisans.

"Let's mark this festive season by celebrating the hard work, creativity and innovation of 140 crore Indians. Let's buy Indian products and say--Garv Se Kaho Yeh Swadeshi Hai! Do also share what you bought on social media. This way you will inspire others to also do the same," wrote PM Modi on X.

Meanwhile, on the eve of Deepotsav, Ayodhya entered the Guinness World Records by lighting over 26 lakh oil lamps and hosting the largest-ever Saryu aarti.

The event was organised by the Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department in collaboration with the Ayodhya District Administration.

In the largest display of oil lamps, 2,617,215 diyas were lit along the banks of the Saryu River.

Many participants engaged in a simultaneous 'diya' rotation. According to officials, over 30,000 volunteers from universities, colleges, and various other departments took part in the diya-lighting and rotational activities. The diyas were arranged in a precise pattern to ensure accurate counting and verification by representatives from Guinness World Records.

In the Saryu aarti, 2,128 devotees performed the aarti on the evening of October 17.

Diwali is a five-day festival that starts on Dhanteras. On Dhanteras, people buy jewellery or utensils and worship God. The second day is called Naraka Chaturdashi. It is also called Chhoti Diwali or Small Diwali.

The third day of Diwali is the main day of the celebrations. People worship Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi on this day and offer prayers to bless them with wealth and prosperity.

The fourth day of Diwali is devoted to Govardhan Puja. The fifth day is called Bhai Dooj. On this day, sisters pray for their brothers to have long and happy lives by performing the Tika ceremony, and brothers give gifts to their sisters. (ANI)