Indians across
the world are celebrating the festival of lights, Diwali. The biggest festival
in the Hindu calendar, Diwali or Deepavali marks the victory of good over evil.
On the occasion, search engine giants Google have added a new feature to enhance
user experience.

Upon searching
for the word ‘Diwali’ on Google, a Google Doodle with an animated lamp will
appear. If you click on the lamp, the search page will darken and a circle of lamps
will appear.

One of the lamps
is lit, which can be used by the user to light the other lamps as well by
hovering it near their wicks. The doodle was unveiled by CEO Sundar Pichai in a
tweet.

“Happy Diwali
to everyone celebrating the festival of lights! (Look for the Diya lamp when
you search for “Diwali” on Google),” the Madurai-born executive tweeted.

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According
to Ramayana, Lord Rama, his wife Sita and brother Laxman returned to Ayodhya
after spending 14 years in exile. He returned after defeating the demon kind
Ravana in battle, who had kidnapped his wife Sita and kept her in a garden in
his palace.

The people
of Ayodhya celebrated Lord Rama’s return by lighting diyas, which is where the
name ‘Deepawali’ comes from, and the festival of lights was born.

Last year,
celebrations had been somewhat subdued due to the raging COVID pandemic, but with
daily cases falling, the festivities have bounded to an extent.

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Devotees
queued up at temples and gurdwaras across Punjab and Haryana including
Chandigarh to pay obeisance. Diyas, candles and electric lights dotted houses
and people exchanged sweets and gifts on the occasion.

In West Bengal,
people also celebrate Kali Puja. Decked-up community pandals celebrating Kali
Puja came alive in the evening with colourful illumination while people
decorated their houses with ‘diyas’ (earthen lamps), candles and electric lamps
to celebrate the festival of lights.