Madhya Pradesh Minister Patwari organises lunch for kids in Indore

The Madhya Pradesh State Minister Jitu Patwari on Sunday organised a lunch for underprivileged children at a five-star hotel in Indore on the occasion of Diwali.

CM Patnaik to visit SOS Children's Village

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will visit the SOS Children’s Village in Bhubaneswar on Sunday and celebrate Deepavali with the kids. The Chief Minister has also advised the Chief Secretary, Development Commissioner, APC and officials of CMO to visit childcare institutions and celebrate Diwali with the children. Besides, all Collectors have also been asked to visit childcare institutions in their district. DGP, all senior police officers, and SPs have been advised to spend time in battalions and celebrate Diwali there with jawans and their family members today.

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Tamil Nadu's children of prisoners celebrate Diwali

Earlier on Friday, the children of prisoners from six districts in South Tamil Nadu came together to celebrate Diwali at Justice V R Krishna Iyer Community Hall on Friday. Under the banner 'Oli' (light), 104 kids of prisoners from Madurai, Theni, Ramanathapuram, Sivagangai, Virudhunagar, and Dindigul gathered to celebrate Diwali. The chief guest of the function was the commissioner of police, Davidson Devasiravatham. He gifted new dresses, sweets and gift boxes to the children.

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Diwali the festival of lights

Diwali is celebrated with great fervor and gaiety across India. As per Hindu mythology, the festival marks the return of Lord Ram after his victory over the demon king Ravana in distant Lanka, as well as the culmination of his 14-year-long exile. Lord Ram is widely regarded as the reincarnation of Lord Vishnu in Hinduism.

Diwali is also celebrated to honour Goddess Lakshmi, the Hindu deity of wealth and prosperity and the consort of Lord Vishnu. It is believed that the Goddess Lakshmi blesses those homes that are clean and well lit. On Diwali, people illuminate their houses with coloured lights and earthen lamps.

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(With ANI inputs)