The country is celebrating Diwali with much pomp and geity. The President, prime minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson greeted the nation a Happy Diwali. Manmohan Singh wished peace and prosperity for the people. While youths and children are gearing up for lighting up the sky with beautiful decorations tonight with a variety of crackers, households are busy with pooja paat (rituals).

All the streets in all parts of the country are bustling with people and festive atmosphere is prevailing everywhere. The cracker shops too are busy with the flow of people thronging to take home a range of available crackers. However, compared to last year, the crackers sales dipped given shot in prices like never before.

Crackers apart, sweet shops too are busy as Diwali is not only the festival of lights but even the festival of sweets. It has been believed that exchanging sweets on Diwali brings in lots of fortune. Also, people pray Goddess Lakshmi today since today being Amavasya (no moon day-the day on which Goddess Lakshmi was believed to have taken birth).

On this special occassion, Wishesh network takes an opportunity to wish all its readers a happy and a safe diwali.

(AW Phani)