Indians abroad celebrate Diwali

Washington, Oct 18: Indians settled abroad celebrated the festival of lights Diwali with fervour amid bursting crackers and lighting of lamps on Saturday, Oct 17.

Sri Lankan Tamils marked the festival with President Mahinda Rajapaksa promising the beginning of a new era where their sufferings "will be a thing of the past" adding "the light of goodwill will dispel the darkness of terror in our land".

The entire Nepal is in festival mood of Diwali, the five day long Hindu festival, which kicked off with the worshipping of crow, a news agency report said.

In UAE, Indians from all walks of life greeted each other, exchanged gifts and joined festivities on the occasion of Diwali across the Gulf region.

In London, Diwali was celebrated for the first time at the 10, amid chanting of Vedic prayers for world peace, with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown terming it a "historic event".

OneIndia News