Dubai: His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, wished celebrating residents a joyful Diwali on Thursday. In his tweet, Sheikh Mohammed added, "May the light from the festivities around the world shine a blessing of love and hope on us all."
Dubai Festival City hosted a grand Diwali celebration, touted as the biggest in Dubai yet, on Thursday night with fireworks, laser shows and performances. Diwali is celebrated in countries including Fiji, Guyana, Pakistan, Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar, Singapore and Sri Lanka, but is widely marked in India and Nepal because of their large Hindu populations.
Dhanteras, observed a day before Diwali, is considered auspicious for buying gold and many UAE residents had crowded Dubai's jewellery stores this week to purchase gold ornaments.
