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Because people had moved away from the values associated with Lord Ram, he said families across the world were facing divisions. Police personnel were deployed at key locations, while fire services remained on alert due to the use of fireworks. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Varanasi | Silver Rate in Varanasi | Bank Holidays in Varanasi | Public Holidays in Varanasi | Varanasi AQI | Weather in Varanasi | Petrol Price in Varanasi | Diesel Price in Varanasi | CNG Price in Varanasi | LPG Price in Varanasi Stay updated with the latest Varanasi news.
Participants said festivals represent the shared cultural heritage of the nation and should not be limited to any one religion. They also said traditions, customs and ancestral values remain important regardless of religious identity. Speaking on the occasion, Rajiv Shriguruji, national president of Vishal Bharat Sansthan, said Muslim women were working to strengthen unity in the country. Nazneen Ansari, national president of the Muslim Mahila Foundation, said Lord Shri Ram represented the ancestral and cultural identity of people living in India, irrespective of their present religion. She said religious practices may change, but ancestry and cultural roots remain unchanged. Najma Parveen said the idea of Ram Rajya was admired across the world.
The programme was held at Subhash Bhavan, where women gathered with decorated plates, lit earthen lamps and performed the aarti of Lord Shri Ram and Mata Janaki. They also sang the Shri Ram Aarti written in Urdu, took part in ritual worship and recited the Hanuman Chalisa. The event highlighted unity, love and communal harmony. He added that the ideals of Ram’s culture and sacrifice were needed for peace and social harmony. She urged people to remain connected with their traditions and heritage. She encouraged people to read about Lord Ram and bring his values into their homes. Nagina Begum, Nazma Bano, Shamsunnisha, Tabassum, Archana Bharatvanshi, Mridula Jaiswal, Zeenat Rahman, Roksar Parveen, Pragya, Ili, Khushi, Ujala, Dakshita, Saroj, Poonam, Sunita, Maina, Dhanesara, Parvati, Kishuna and others participated in the programme. Across Varanasi, residents began preparations early in the morning by making offerings, decorating entrances with rangoli and lighting earthen lamps. Markets in Godowlia, Chowk and other busy areas saw heavy footfall as people purchased sweets, flowers, idols, candles, decorative items and festive gifts. Shops remained busy throughout the day as families completed last-minute preparations for the evening celebrations. As evening set in, families gathered for Lakshmi Puja, recited prayers, exchanged greetings and shared festive meals. Temples across the city witnessed a steady flow of devotees, while the ghats along Ganga drew large numbers of residents, pilgrims and tourists. Rows of diyas illuminated the riverfront, with lamps placed along the steps and floated on Ganga as offerings. Special aarti ceremonies added to the devotional atmosphere, giving the ghats a calm yet festive appearance. Local authorities made arrangements for traffic management, crowd control, sanitation and public safety. Community groups distributed sweets, assisted elderly devotees and encouraged responsible celebrations, helping Varanasi mark Diwali with devotion, order and shared faith. Download the TOI App.
Attachment Attachment Attachment Attachment Varanasi : The city celebrated Diwali on Sunday with traditional rituals, illuminated streets, crowded ghats and prayers across homes and temples, while a group of Muslim women, associated with Vishal Bharat Sansthan and the Muslim Mahila Foundation, organised a Shri Ram Maha Aarti at Lamahi village.