New Delhi, Nov 13 (ANI): The Festival of Lights, Diwali, is being celebrated across India today. The President, the Vice President and the Prime Minister have greeted the nation on the occasion of Diwali. President Pranab Mukherjee, who extended his warm greetings and good wishes to the countrymen in India and around the world on Diwali, called for a pollution free celebration on the occasion. On the joyous
PM, Prez wishes Happy Diwali
occasion of Diwali, I extend my warm greetings and good wishes to my countrymen in India and around the world. Diwali is a time for festivity and happiness cutting across all faiths and cultures. It is an occasion to share our joy with those who are needy and deprived, said President Mukherjee in his message.Source: Indian-Express
President Obama's Diwali Message
Today, here at home and across the globe, Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and some Buddhists will celebrate the holiday of Diwali – the festival of lights. Diwali is a time for gathering with family and friends, often marked with good food and dancing. It is also a time for prayer and reflection about those less fortunate. It is a testament to the compassion of these communities that so many of them have helped those that have been devastated by Hurricane Sandy. Many who observe this holiday will light the Diya, or lamp, which symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance. As that lamp is lit, we should all recommit ourselves to bring light to any place still facing darkness. Earlier this year, we were reminded of the evil that exists in the world when a gunman walked into the Sikh gurdwara in Oak Creek, Wisconsin and opened fire. In the wake of that horrible tragedy, we saw the resilience of a community that drew strength from their faith and a sense of solidarity with their neighbors, Sikh and non-Sikh alike. We also saw compassion and love, in the heroic actions of the first responders and the outpouring of support from people across the country. Out of a day of sadness, we were reminded that the beauty of America remains our diversity, and our right to religious freedom. To those celebrating Diwali, I wish you, your families and loved ones Happy Diwali and Saal Mubarak. Source: Sikh News Network
David Cameron greets Britons on Diwali
British Prime Minister David Cameron on Tuesday conveyed his best wishes to all the Britons and people across the world celebrating Diwali. “Let me take this opportunity to wish everyone in the UK and across the world a very happy and peaceful Diwali. A festival which celebrates hope over all else, it represents values shared by many of us in the UK,” he said in a statement. “As British Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists join friends and family to celebrate this festival of lights, let us also celebrate the great
cultural, social & economic contribution they, and generations before them, have made to this country,” he said, praising the contribution to the British society by Indian-origin residents. “So once again, let me wish all a very happy and prosperous Diwali and Saal Mubarak (New Year),” said the British Prime Minister, who hosts an annual Diwali party for a select group of invitees at Downing Street. Source: Deccan Chronicle Pakistan wishes to have "friendly, cooperative and good neighbourly relations" with India as there are tremendous opportunities for the two countries to enhance cooperation for their mutual benefit, President Asif Ali Zardari said. Zardari made the remarks at a special Diwali dinner he hosted at the presidency for visiting Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and his delegation last night. Source: Hindustan Times
cultural, social & economic contribution they, and generations before them, have made to this country,” he said, praising the contribution to the British society by Indian-origin residents. “So once again, let me wish all a very happy and prosperous Diwali and Saal Mubarak (New Year),” said the British Prime Minister, who hosts an annual Diwali party for a select group of invitees at Downing Street. Source: Deccan Chronicle Pakistan wishes to have "friendly, cooperative and good neighbourly relations" with India as there are tremendous opportunities for the two countries to enhance cooperation for their mutual benefit, President Asif Ali Zardari said. Zardari made the remarks at a special Diwali dinner he hosted at the presidency for visiting Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and his delegation last night. Source: Hindustan Times
Tibetan PM-in-exile greets Indians on Diwali
Dharamsala, Nov. 13 (ANI): Tibetan Prime Minister-in-exile Lobsang Sangay has conveyed his greetings and best wishes to the people of India on the auspicious occasion of Diwali. In his message, Sangay said: "I just want to wish everybody in India a happy Diwali. Being born and brought up in India I have celebrate Diwali and burst a lot of firecrackers since childhood and looking forward to a very noisy evening and smoky nights for a few days to come." Meanwhile, Speaker of Tibetan parliament in-exile, Penpa Tsering pointed out the mythological significance of the festival. "Diwali is very symbolic. It is symbol of victory of good over evil and that marks the festival of lights. On behalf of all the Tibetans we want to wish all Indians a very happy Diwali," said Tsering. Diwali, the festival of lights, is celebrated to commemorate the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after completing 14 years of self-exile and killing Ravana. Source: News Track
Newly elected Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard wishes everyone a Happy Diwali (festival of the lights). This festival holds extra meaning to her as the first Hindu ever elected to Congress.
Transcript for her video message on Diwali: As you know, Diwali is not a fun holiday; but it also represents the victory of truth over untruth, of righteousness over wrong. While this is the time of celebration, this deeper meaning of Diwali could not come at a more appropriate time. As we put the campaigns and election year behind us, it’s time now for all of us to come together, setting aside our differences and find ways to work together, towards the greater and common good. It’s an opportunity to remember that true happiness and true success comes through being of service to others
and not just living for yourself. I personally have faced a variety of challenges in my life whether in the desert of Iraq, in the halls of Washington DC, or along a very tough campaign trail. The one constant for me that has guided me always is this understanding doing my best to be of service to others. I know that by keeping this at the forefront of all that I do, I will not be led astray. The lighting of the lamps on Diwali continues the longstanding tradition of celebration and reflection on the year that is behind us and to pray for the year coming ahead. Please know that as you rejoice and reflect with your families and your community, I send you the warmest aloha, look forward to serve you in Congress, and whish you a very happy Diwali. Source: Channelapa
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan Wishes Everyone Happy Diwali, Conferred French Honor
Aish was honored with the second-highest Order Of France, Ordre des Arts et des Lettre, in a ceremony held at the Embassy of France in Mumbai on November 1st, the same day as her 39th birthday. Pics from the event below. Source: One-Asian-World
Sunita Williams greets Indians from space on Diwali: NASA astronaut and flight engineer Sunita Williams appears to touch the Sun in this amazing photograph snapped from space. It was taken during the 32nd expedition to the International Space Station after an epic 6 hour spacewalk on September 5th 2012.
Indians around the world got a special Diwali message from outer space as Indian-American astronaut Sunita Williams sent out warm wishes on the occasion from the International Space Station. Floating upside down in the space station as she appeared on the screen before the Indian tricolour for a local TV show, Williams said, "I just want to wish everybody in India and people of Indian origin around the world a happy Diwali". "It is a wonderful festival and I am happy we are part of it up here at the International Space Station," she said. Williams, 47, spoke to Indian-origin student of New York University Riti Bhalla, who as a city-based TV host interviewed Williams on her Diwali special programme. The tricolour was not the only Indian object accompanying Williams in space. She has also carried a picture of the Sanskrit word 'Om' and a copy of the Upanishads, which her father gave to her before she left for the space mission. "I did bring a couple of things that have to do with India from my father, particularly a peaceful 'Om' that stays outside my crew quarters where I sleep and the Upanishads so I can read it while I am up here. "It is a small version (of the Upanishads) but it definitely brings the wisdom to us while we are here and allows us to think of the true meaning of life and what we are doing. "I have a couple of real true reminders of my Indian heritage while I am up here," Williams, dressed in a blue T-shirt and brown shorts, said. Williams expressed appreciation for the support she has received from people in India and for their "heartfelt sincere feelings for the work we are doing up here and how we are doing and for our safe return back home". As she waved goodbye and floated off, Williams said she hopes to visit India next Diwali "to say thank you to all the people in person". The interview would be telecast in 75 countries on the occasion of Diwali. In August, the Indian-American astronaut had displayed the tricolour on board the International Space Station and wished Indians on the eve of their 66th Independence Day. Williams along with Yuri Malenchenko of Russia and Japan's Akihiko left for the ISS aboard a Russian spacecraft on July15. She holds the record of the longest spaceflight (195 days) for a female space traveller. Source: Indian Express, Images: flickr.com, wikimedia.com
Mahendra Singh Dhoni wishes everyone Happy Diwali
The Indian Cricket Team Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni Wishes everyone Happy Diwali and given the emphasis to be with holy spirit of lamps instead of fire-crackers
Kevin Pietersen tweets Diwali wishes, Image Link Blogspot
May this Diwali and its festivities brings joy, happiness, wealth, health and prosperity for you and your family. https://twitter.com/kevinpp24
Diwali mela is organised by Indian comunity in Australia,, various cultural program's were organised including the selection of Miss Canberra (India)
This Video is all about one of delight-full dance performance by Japanese people on Bollywood song during Diwali Carnival in yokohama
Diwali 2012 Diwali Celebration held at Chattanooga, TN - USA. Where American Girls Dance on Bollywood Songs with acute dress-up and style very much similar to Indian cultural. ***
