Wishing all the DARPAN readers a very happy Diwali, a very peaceful and prosperous year and blessed with good health.
I would like to add a simple note: at Diwali you do not pray only to Maa Lakshmi, you also pray to Ganesh ji and Maa Saraswati. Ganesh ji takes away every obstruction from your way. You pray to Maa Lakshmi so that she blesses you with wealth. Maa Saraswati blesses you with knowledge so that you know how to treat that wealth given by Maa Lakshmi when it comes to you.
US television host Padma Lakshmi has said she was raped at the age of 16, but kept silent as she feared fingers would point at her for bringing it upon herself.