Telangana, Andhra celebrate Diwali with gaiety

Hyderabad: Diwali, the festival of lights, was celebrated on Wednesday with gaiety and enthusiasm in both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The skies lighted up with firecrackers while homes and shops were illuminated with "diyas" to mark the festival.

People, especially youngsters were in jovial mode as they burst firecrackers after the sunset. Fireworks lit the streets in Hyderabad and other major towns in Telangana and in Visakhapatnam, Vijayawda, Guntur, Tirupati and other places in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.

Scenes of communal harmony were witnessed as people of other communities joined Hindus in the celebrations. Muslims were seen greeting their Hindu friends. People of the two communities also exchanged sweets.

At Osmania University, students from other countries joined the locals in celebrating Diwali with firecrackers. The market was teeming with shoppers during the day. Cracker shops set up in open places witnessed huge rush. People offered special 'puja' on the occasion. The devotees thronged the temple in both the Telugu states since morning. Special 'puja' was also held in shops and homes for prosperity.

E. S. L. Narasimhan, the governor of both the states, received visitors at Raj Bhavan on the occasion of Diwali. Politicians, top officials and eminent people from various walks of life called on the governor and his wife and greeted them.

Speaking on the occasion, Narasimhan said Diwali signifies the light. He hoped that the festival will bring happiness and prosperity to people of both the states. Chief Minister of Telangana K. Chandrasekhar Rao and his Andhra Pradesh counterpart N. Chandrababu Naidu greeted people.

Source: IANS