Even with the skies opening up and heavy rainfall lashing across Tamil Nadu this Monday, October 20, 2025, the spirit of Deepavali remained vibrantly alive. The Festival of Lights was celebrated with its characteristic enthusiasm and unwavering joy.
Early risers donned their finest new clothes, eager to commence the day’s festivities. The morning air was filled with the sounds of firecrackers, set off in adherence to the Tamil Nadu Government’s specified two-hour window—a directive influenced by a 2018 Supreme Court judgment. Revelers enjoyed bursting crackers from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. and again from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
However, the persistent rain showers certainly played spoilsport, forcing many to punctuate their firecracker displays with frequent breaks, seizing every dry moment between downpours to light up the sky.
Authorities also reiterated important safety guidelines, emphasizing that firecrackers should be avoided in ‘silence areas’ such as hospital zones. Additionally, extreme caution was advised against bursting crackers near vulnerable structures like huts or any other locations prone to catching fire.
Prominent figures, including Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi and Leader of Opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami, extended their heartfelt Deepavali greetings. Governor Ravi shared a message on his official X handle, wishing for “happiness, health, and prosperity from Maa Lakshmi, filling our lives with love and compassion and fostering a harmonious society rooted in peace and oneness. Wishing everyone a joyous, vibrant, and safe Deepavali.”
Meanwhile, former Chief Minister and AIADMK General Secretary, Mr. Palaniswami, conveyed his wishes for a festival day where “love and peace flourish across the nation, all sorrows fade away, giving rise to a bright and radiant future, divisions disappear and unity prevail, and prosperity and well-being abound in everyone’s life.”
Adding to the star-studded wishes, legendary actor Rajinikanth upheld his long-standing tradition, greeting his eager fans outside his Poes Garden residence in Chennai around 10 a.m. and sharing his warm Deepavali felicitations.
Fellow actor and Makkal Needhi Maiam founder, Kamal Haasan, also joined in, taking to X to share his Deepavali message: “A festival of all efforts to dispel darkness with light; a day of joy united by light; let all good things in life prosper; let Deepavali bring good things to every one.”