Diwali fever has gripped the nation, as people from all walks of life are in a celebratory, religious and spiritual mood.
In Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, devotees gathered at the Kanaka Durga Temple to perform the Mahalakshmi Yagya to please the Goddess of Wealth Lakshmi.
The yagya was conducted in the Indrakeeladri area of the temple.
In Siliguri, West Bengal, people paid tribute to the brave hearts who had recently lost their lives in a terror attack in Uri, Jammu and Kashmir. They lit earthen lamps and raised slogans in praise of the former.
In another part of Siliguri, hundreds of tiny tots took part in a march to spread awareness against the use of firecrackers during Diwali. They called on the people to celebrate the festival as per past traditions, by lighting earthen lamps in and around their homes.
The kids wore costumes resembling crackers and held up posters with messages like 'Diwali is a festival of light, not crackers, no crackers, no pollution'.
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Reportedly, West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB) has said that it will issue a notification setting the noise level emanating from the bursting of firecrackers at a ceiling of 90 decibels as per a National Green Tribunal (NGT) order. The noise limit for fire crackers is fixed at 90 decibels in West-Bengal, while it is 125 decibels in other states.
In West Midnapore, BJP workers distributed pottery among people to register their protest against the use of Chinese firecrackers and lamps.
BJP workers visited shops and said their movement was started to prevent the sale of Chinese lamps and firecrackers.
In Rajkot, Gujarat, the Rajkot Municipal Corporation organized a firecracker show for the public at the Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Ground. There was also a marvelous display of fireworks which left spectators enthralled. More than Rs.5 lakhs was spent on the firecrackers.
At the Mahakal temple in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, a five-day Diwali festival is on in which various cultures and religions have been encapsulated.