Chennai, Oct 31 (UNI) Deepavali, the festival of lights, was celebrated in
Tamil Nadu with traditional gaiety and fervour on Thursday.
Right from early morning, after the traditional 'Ganga Snanam' (gingelly oil
bath), people clad in new attires, burst crackers to celebrate the occasion.
Colourful rangolis dotted the courtyard of the houses, and people thronged
various temples to offer special darshan.
People went to the houses of their family members, friends and relatives
and shared the deepavali greetings by distributing sweets and bursting crackers.
Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi, Leaders of various political parties greeted the
people on the occasion.
More than five lakh people have travelled to their native places to celebrate the
festival with their family members.
Thanks to the state government, declaring a holiday for Friday (a working day)
in deference to the wishes expressed by cross sections of the society, it was an
extended festivities for the people, that would continue till the weekend.
The State government operated more than 5,000 special buses for the benefit of
the people and Southern Railway also operated special festival specials to meet
the heavy rush of passengers.
UNI GV 0645