Updated: November 14, 2020 9:05:48 pm
Delhi’s Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, along with his wife Sunita Kejriwal, take part in the Diwali celebrations at Akshardham Temple. (ANI photo)
Delhi’s Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his cabinet colleagues performed Lakshmi Puja at the Akshardham Temple premises on Saturday during an event organized by the AAP government to celebrate Diwali.
Kejriwal, flanked by his wife Sunita Kejriwal, performed the rituals amid chanting of mantras by priests from the Jhandewalan temple. The 30-minute bid was broadcast live on 26 channels from 7.35pm.
The event, which was attended by AAP MLA, also featured cultural performances, including by popular bhajan singer Anup Jalota. In the run-up to the event, Kejriwal had said that the rituals would essentially be a collective prayer for the good health and well-being of the people of Delhi.
आप सभी के घर में माँ लक्ष्मी का वास हो, सभी का मंगल हो। अक्षरधाम मंदिर से “दिवाली पूजन” | LIVE https://t.co/DRNablwq2H
– Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) November 14, 2020
The Delhi government, in a statement, said the event was being held with the aim of preventing air quality from deteriorating further during Diwali and generating a sense of togetherness.
The government had previously imposed a blanket ban on firecrackers between November 7 and November 30, and the city was reeling from the impact of dangerous air quality and a sharp increase in the number of coronavirus infections and deaths.
An official from the Chief Minister’s Office said Kejriwal is likely to meet with Union Interior Minister Amit Shah to follow up on his request for additional beds at the Center-run hospitals.
“Delhi CM had announced various measures, including certain restrictions, to be taken next week to handle the situation. These steps will also be discussed. You can seek more help, including cooperation from other states to control air pollution, which is also behind the increase in cases, ”the official said.
Last year, the Delhi government had organized a laser show at Connaught Place during Diwali. The event was intended to discourage people from popping cookies.
Before the 2020 assembly elections in Delhi, the AAP had distributed a video clip of Kejriwal reciting the Hanuman Chalisa. The head of the AAP had called the BJP a group of “false Hindus” in the video, which was part of an interview he gave to a television channel.
AAP MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj had announced his plan to maintain Sundar Kand roads through his Greater Kailash constituency.
© The Indian Express (P) Ltd
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