Diwali 2018: PM Narendra Modi celebrates festival with jawans at Harsil in Uttarakhand

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Kedarnath on the occasion of Diwali to offer prayers at the Himalayan shrine.

बैकग्राउंड

Diwali 2018 LIVE Updates: The country is all set to celebrate the festival of lights Diwali, also known as Deepavali, it's time of the year when people celebrate the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. Diwali celebrations are of great significance this year with major political developments scheduled to take place throughout the day. Today Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Kedarnath on the occasion of Diwali to offer prayers at the Himalayan shrine and is expected to review Kedarpuri reconstruction projects. The Prime Minister arrived at the temple at around 10:00 am. After visiting Kedarnath, PM Modi said that he will celebrate Diwali with Army jawans and will also share the pictures of his experience. Even in Uttar Pradesh Diwali celebrations is going to be special this year as chief minister Yogi Adityanath is expected to make a big announcement regarding the construction of a grand statue of ‘Lord Ram’ as he will visit Ayodhya accompanied by South Korean First Lady Kim Jung-Sook. Both the dignitaries will reportedly lay the foundation stone for the Korean Memorial, which is dedicated to Korean queen Suriratna (Heo Hwang-ok). Apart from PM Modi and Adityanath, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will celebrate Diwali with Indian Army troops deployed at forward posts in Dibang Valley district of Arunachal Pradesh. She will fly over the general area and visit Anini and Andrala Omkar forward posts and meet the troops there today. Sitharaman would be briefed about the defence preparedness and infrastructure improvements by the Army and would also meet and interact with the families of soldiers who died in the line of duty, news agency PTI quoted an Army official as saying. Amidst the Diwali celebrations across the country, its national capital is facing some major concerns of incredibly toxic air. Delhiites woke up to a haze of smog after the city’s pollution level reportedly crossed the limit set by the World Health Organisation (WHO) limit by 20 times. Though the Supreme Court of India has imposed a ban on all hazardous firecrackers in the capital, green fireworks with reduced emissions have been permitted. The apex court has further directed that the use of firecrackers would only be allowed from 8-10 pm on Diwali.

07/11/2018 16:43:00

"You are not only protecting one corner of our land. By securing the country's borders, you are making safe the lives and dreams of 125 crore Indians," Modi told the soldiers in the presence of Army Chief General Bipin Rawat. Likening the soldiers with 'diyas' (earthen lamps), the prime minister said, "The way a diya burns itself to light up the world you lead a hard life to spread the light of fearlessness all around."

07/11/2018 16:41:28

Greeting the jawans in the Harshil cantonment area, the prime minister said they, through their commitment and discipline, are securing the future and the dreams of 125 crore Indians and helping spread a sense of security and fearlessness among the people.

07/11/2018 13:36:27

Greeting the jawans in the Harshil cantonment area, the prime minister said they, through their commitment and discipline, are securing the future and the dreams of 125 crore Indians and helping spread a sense of security and fearlessness among the people.

07/11/2018 13:00:38

"As an RSS member,I got opportunity to live among Army men. At that time I heard a lot about One Rank One Pension.Many govts came&left.Since I was connected to you I understood your emotions. So,after becoming PM it was my responsibility to fulfill your dreams of OROP," PM Modi said earlier in the day.

07/11/2018 11:50:38

After meeting the ITBS jawans, PM Narendra Modi leaves from Kedarnath.

07/11/2018 11:37:34

Border Security Force and Pakistan Rangers exchanged sweets at Attari-Wagah border today, on the occasion of Diwali.

07/11/2018 11:31:03

Border Security Force and Pakistan Rangers exchanged sweets at Attari-Wagah border today, on the occasion of Diwali.

07/11/2018 11:06:53

PM Narendra Modi meets locals at Kedarnath after offering prayers at Kedarnath Temple.

07/11/2018 10:47:27

Meanwhile, Congress President Rahul Gandhi took to Twitter and extended his Diwali greeting to the country. "My best wishes to all Indians, on the auspicious occasion of Diwali. I wish you all peace & happiness," Rahul tweeted.

07/11/2018 10:45:41

After his trip to the shrine, PM Modi will also watch a video presentation prepared by the state government officials on the reconstruction work of the guest house near the Kedarnath temple.

07/11/2018 10:38:28

According to reports, PM Modi will review the five projects after concluding his visit to the shrine. These projects include widening of the approach road to Kedarnath, construction of ghats and retaining walls on rivers Mandakini and Saraswati, construction of houses for priests, and construction of a grand ‘samadhi sthal’ of Adi Sankara.

07/11/2018 10:32:53

According to reports, PM Modi will review the five projects after concluding his visit to the shrine. These projects include widening of the approach road to Kedarnath, construction of ghats and retaining walls on rivers Mandakini and Saraswati, construction of houses for priests, and construction of a grand ‘samadhi sthal’ of Adi Sankara.

07/11/2018 10:33:28

According to reports, PM Modi will review the five projects after concluding his visit to the shrine. These projects include widening of the approach road to Kedarnath, construction of ghats and retaining walls on rivers Mandakini and Saraswati, construction of houses for priests, and construction of a grand ‘samadhi sthal’ of Adi Sankara.

07/11/2018 10:32:22

PM Modi is currently performing puja inside the Kedarnath temple. Last year prime minister visited the shrine twice - in July and September.

07/11/2018 10:32:31

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is at the Kedarnath shrine offering prayers.

07/11/2018 10:28:52

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is at the Kedarnath shrine offering prayers.

07/11/2018 10:25:46

Narendra Modi reaches Kedarnath shrine for 3rd time as serving PM. The current temperature of the area is zero degree celsius.

07/11/2018 10:15:28

Narendra Modi reaches Kedarnath shrine for 3rd time as serving PM. The current temperature of the area is zero degree celsius.

07/11/2018 10:14:39

PM Narendra Modi reaches Kedarnath in Uttarakhand.

07/11/2018 10:12:44

PM Narendra Modi reaches Kedarnath in Uttarakhand.

07/11/2018 10:12:18

PM also said India is taking great strides forward in defence. He spoke of various measures being taken for welfare of ex-servicemen, including One Rank, One Pension. He said that Indian Armed Forces draw admiration and appreciation across the world, in UN peacekeeping operations.

07/11/2018 10:11:23

Speaking to jawans of the Indian Armed Forces at Harsil in Uttarakhand, PM Modi said, "Your devotion to duty in the remote icy heights is enabling the strength of the nation, and securing the future and the dreams of 125 crore Indians."

07/11/2018 10:01:06

Speaking to jawans of the Indian Armed Forces at Harsil in Uttarakhand, PM Modi said, "Your devotion to duty in the remote icy heights is enabling the strength of the nation, and securing the future and the dreams of 125 crore Indians."

07/11/2018 09:53:40

PM Modi leaves for Kedarnath from Harsil

07/11/2018 09:51:03

PM Modi celebrated Diwali with ITBP Jawans in Harsil.

07/11/2018 09:15:22

Prime Minister Modi is likely to reach Kedarnath soon. It will be his third visit to the holy place after assuming the charge as prime minister. He will inspect the development work in the city and will also visit the under-construction 'samadhi' of Adi Shankaracharya.

07/11/2018 09:22:51

It was noted that Delhi Metro services will be terminated an hour earlier on Diwali night. DMRC has announced that metro services will be available till 10 pm from terminal stations on Diwali, November 7.

07/11/2018 09:20:50

A day ahead of Diwali, the Delhi police said on Tuesday that it was 'fully prepared' to implement the Supreme Court order on green crackers as well as the timing fixed by the court for bursting these crackers.

07/11/2018 09:14:28

A day ahead of Diwali, the Delhi police said on Tuesday that it was 'fully prepared' to implement the Supreme Court order on green crackers as well as the timing fixed by the court for bursting these crackers.

07/11/2018 09:06:37

In a recent report, over 200 people have been booked by the police in Tamil Nadu on Tuesday for bursting crackers outside the time fixed by the state government for Diwali. Government had fixed 6am to 7am and 7pm to 8pm for the bursting of crackers during Diwali.

07/11/2018 08:59:00

On the occassion of Diwali, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath offered prayers at Hanuman Garhi temple today.

07/11/2018 08:56:11

"I extend my warm greetings and good wishes to the people of our country on the auspicious occasion of Deepawali, the festival of lights. Deepawali signifies the victory of Good over Evil and reaffirms our faith in the noble qualities that Lord Rama embodied," tweeted Vice President Venkaiah Naidu.

07/11/2018 08:34:01

Dispite a ban imposed by the Supreme Court on hazardous firecrackers in the national capital, shopkeepers in Delhi continue to sell restricted crackers.

07/11/2018 08:29:09

As Diwali is upon us and the entire nation is all set to rejoice the festival of light, security forces in forward areas will continue to safeguard the borders. However, the jawans last night celebrated the festival at the borders. Like every year, PM Modi will celebrate Diwali with soldiers later in the day.

07/11/2018 08:19:49

As Diwali is upon us and the entire nation is all set to rejoice the festival of light, security forces in forward areas will continue to safeguard the borders. However, the jawans last night celebrated the festival at the borders. Like every year, PM Modi will celebrate Diwali with soldiers later in the day.

07/11/2018 08:17:34

President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday morning took to Twitter and extended his Diwali greeetings to the nation. "Wishing all fellow citizens a happy and prosperous Diwali. May the Festival of Lights illuminate every home and every family, in our country and across our shared planet," he tweeted.

07/11/2018 08:09:04

Adityanath’s grand Diwali plans for UP this year established a global recognition after 301,152 'diya' or earthen lamps lit up simultaneously on the banks of the Sarayu river on Tuesday.

07/11/2018 08:00:04

Adityanath’s grand Diwali plans for UP this year established a global recognition after 301,152 'diya' or earthen lamps lit up simultaneously on the banks of the Sarayu river on Tuesday.

07/11/2018 07:57:55

UP CM Yogi Aditynath on Tuesday renamed Faizabad district as 'Ayodhya' on the occassion of Diwali, which commemorates Lord Ram’s return home after 14 years in exile.

07/11/2018 07:55:39

South Korean First Lady Kim Jung-sook attended the Diwali celebrations in Ayodhya on Tuesday evening, where she was treated to a dazzling display of over three lakh earthen lamps on the ghats of the Sarayu river.

07/11/2018 07:51:04

According to the Air Quality Index (AQI) data, major pollutant PM 2.5 is at 228 (poor) and PM 10 at 232 (poor) in Lodhi Road area.

07/11/2018 07:44:30

According to the Air Quality Index (AQI) data, major pollutant PM 2.5 is at 228 (poor) and PM 10 at 232 (poor) in Lodhi Road area.

07/11/2018 07:43:25

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Dehradun. He will soon reach the Kedarnath shrine to celebrate the festival of Diwali.