Delhi decked up to celebrate Diwali

New Delhi: With people making last-minute purchases and decorating their entry doors with marigold flowers and colourful patterns called rangoli, Delhi today are celebrating Diwali — the festival of lights.

The festival, which falls 20 days after Dussehra every year, is celebrated to mark the return of the lord Rama to Ayodhya after vanquishing the demon king Ravana.
A Hindu festival Diwali is marked by lighting of lamps and candles in the evening after worshipping goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha to seek wealth and prosperity throughout the year.
Dressed up in new clothes, the people paid visits to their near and dear ones to exchange greetings, sweets and gifts.
The tradition of giving gifts to friends, neighbours and colleagues, which begins at least a week before the festival, concludes on the night of Diwali.
Diwali also holds significance for trading community in India which worships its account books on this day.
It is believed that worshipping account books along with deities brings the blessings of goddess Lakshmi and the the business prospers.