Thousands of drones turned the sky above Connaught Place into a canvas of festive images on Friday evening, depicting Lord Ram, Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha alongside visuals of a developed India, as Delhi’s two-day public Diwali celebration opened at Central Park with a mix of technology, devotion and music. The event, titled ‘Delhi Ki Diwali: Sabse Nirali, Milkar Manane Wali’, was organised by the Delhi Government’s Tourism Department on the occasion of Dhanteras.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta attended the celebrations and formally launched the ‘Jagmag Diwali’ festival. A large number of residents gathered at Central Park to watch the drone show and take part in the festivities. The aerial display was followed by a Maha Aarti dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi, creating a devotional atmosphere at the venue.
The evening then moved to a musical performance by the Keshavam group’s Bhajan Clubbing, which blended devotional songs with contemporary musical arrangements.
The Chief Minister greeted Delhi residents on the occasion and wished them happiness, prosperity and well-being. She said the celebration reflected the idea of a clean and green Diwali. The Chief Minister said the government wanted the capital to move beyond negativity and focus on development, addressing public concerns and fulfilling people’s aspirations.
CM expressed confidence that, with the blessings of Lord Ram, Delhi would move towards new heights of development and contribute to the vision of a developed India. Union Minister of State Harsh Malhotra, Delhi ministers Ashish Sood, Kapil Mishra and Ravinder Indraj, and MLAs Abhay Verma and Anil Kumar Sharma were among those present.
Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra said the Government was organising the event on a large scale for the second consecutive year. He said Connaught Place, as the heart of the capital, was being used to host a public celebration where families could come together and enjoy the festival. Mishra said one of the objectives was to replace the recent negative atmosphere around Connaught Place with a spirit of positivity and celebration.
He added that the event was intended to give Delhi a large-scale Diwali celebration similar to those held in other major cities and to bring residents together around the capital’s cultural identity. The celebrations will continue on Saturday at Central Park, with another mega drone show, cultural performances and Bhajan Clubbing.
The second day will offer residents another opportunity to participate in the public festivities. The two-day programme combines aerial displays, religious ceremonies and music as the Government seeks to establish a large public celebration of Diwali in the heart of the city.