Diwali, also called Deepavali, is one of the biggest festivals in India which is celebrated throughout the country. Indians living in other parts of the world also celebrate the festival of lights with great pomp and show. The festival, which signifies the triumph of good over evil, represents happiness, togetherness, success, and prosperity. As the world celebrates Diwali on November 12 this year, we take you through A to Z of the festival of light.
A is for Aarti: Arti or Arati is a Hindu ritual employed in worship, part of a puja, in which light is ritually waved for the veneration of deities.
B is for Blessings: Seeking divine blessings of deities and also our elders is a must on the auspicious occasion of Diwali.
C is for Candles: Apart from diays, some people also like to use candles to light up their homes and offices.
D is for Diyas: Diyas is a must-have for many people celebrating the festival of lights in India and around the world. They love to décor their homes and offices with hundreds of diays. Trust me, it’s a sight to behold!
E is for Excitement: Be it the kids or the elders in the family, everyone seems brimming with excitement around the festival of Diwali.
F is for Firecrackers: Celebrating Diwali without bursting firecrackers is no fun for many people, especially kids.
G is for Guests: Welcoming guests, relatives, and friends with open arms on the auspicious festival of Diwali is a common practice in Indian households.
H is for Harmony: Harmony unites people in spite of their diversity and prevents enmity and conflicts. And what’s the better way to promote it on Diwali!
I is for Incense: Every household celebrating Diwali lit dozens of incense while performing aarti. The swirls of incense in the air are something that we all love to smell on Diwali.
J is for Joyousness: On Diwali, we all share in the infectious joyousness of the occasion.
K is for Kindness: Kindness is a virtue that we should show every day. On Diwali, some people show their kindness to the poor by giving them sweets, clothes, and other gifts.
L is for Laxmi Puja: The festival of Diwali is incomplete without Laxmi Puja. On the occasion, people perform Laxmi Puja for the veneration of Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity.
M is for Money: People celebrating Diwali love to spend money buying things like candles, diyas, and brass idols for home decoration and gift purposes.
N is for Noble: On the auspicious occasion of Diwali, we should all pledge to do the right and noble things for the betterment of our society.
O is for Outfits: Diwali and new colourful outfits are synonymous with each other. People love to buy perfect Diwali outfits to illuminate their celebrations.
P is for Prosperity: Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped on Diwali and it is believed that following the right rituals will ensure wealth, peace, and prosperity in life.
Q is for Quality Time with Family: Sweets, savouries, new dresses, and crackers - Diwali is not only just about these. For a lot of people, the festival of light means spending quality time with friends and family.
R is for Rangoli: Making beautiful, vibrant rangolis is the most popular Diwali tradition. People use coloured powders to make elaborate florals.
S is for Sweets: To sweeten the mouths of themselves and guests during the festive season, people make dozens of sweets at home or buy them from the market.
T is for Teen Patti: Playing cards is extremely popular on Diwali day. It is said that on playing cards, the goddess of wealth smiles upon the player and ensures her goodwill. The tradition of gambling on Diwali also has a legend behind it. It is believed that on this day, Goddess Parvati played dice with her husband Lord Shiva and she proclaimed that whosoever gambled on Diwali night would prosper throughout the ensuing year. Feeling lucky already?? Bring out those cards and play Teen Patti with your family and friends!
U is for Unity: Celebrations of Diwali are held in a variety of ways and styles in various states showing our unity in diversity.
V is for Value: Diwali projects the rich and glorious past and teaches its observers to uphold the true values of life.
X is for Xylograph: Some people love to buy Xylography-inspired gifts and merchandise for their loved ones.
Y is for Yummy Food: People celebrate the festival of light with various yummy dishes. While the food eaten during Diwali varies, the most popular traditional foods include snacks, fasting food, and sweet treats!
Z is for Zeal: Celebrating Diwali with full zeal is what everyone looks forward to on the auspicious occasion.
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Big B defends his choice to praise Abhishek openly and others privately
Amitabh Bachchan reveals why he praises Abhishek publicly but not Jaya or Aishwarya
Quick highlights:
Amitabh Bachchan has responded to online comments asking why he often praises son Abhishek Bachchan on social media but not wife Jaya Bachchan, daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai, or daughter Shweta. The actor explained that while he chooses to support Abhishek publicly, he honours the women in his family privately, saying he prefers to respect them “in his heart.”
Bachchan defends Abhishek praise, addresses fan remarks online
The 81-year-old actor, who regularly shares photos and thoughts with fans, recently posted images of himself meeting admirers outside his Mumbai home, Jalsa. Captioned “Yes, I praise Abhishek. So?”, the post sparked comments from users questioning why he doesn’t do the same for Jaya, Aishwarya, or Shweta.
Responding directly, Bachchan wrote, “Yes, I shall praise them in my heart… not publicly… respect for the ladies.” His reply quickly circulated across platforms, with many praising his thoughtful answer. Others pointed to his tendency to engage more often when defending Abhishek, especially around film releases.
Bachchan also shut down a user accusing him of having “paid fans,” bluntly replying, “Prove it! You are small-minded… why don’t you pay and get fans too?” When another person mocked those waiting outside his home as “unemployed,” he replied with characteristic wit: “So give them a job? When they stand at the gate of Jalsa, they are EMPLOYED in love.”
Actor remains active on social media while juggling film projects
Bachchan has become increasingly interactive online in recent years, often directly responding to criticism and fan feedback. Meanwhile, Abhishek was last seen in Housefull 5, a multi-starrer comedy that released earlier this month. Jaya Bachchan appeared in Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani in 2023, while Aishwarya Rai was part of Mani Ratnam’s Ponniyin Selvan films. Despite the online chatter, Amitabh continues to walk his own path, on-screen and online.