India’s big and most important Festival of the year -Diwali, meaning ‘row of lights’ is here again. The festival is noted as a festival of Joy and Prosperity for the Hindu People.
Diwali is celebrated yearly to honor Rama-chandra ( a believed incarnation of the god Vishnu) whom they believe returned to his people after a 14-year exile to deliver his people from the demon king Ravana.
On this occasion of the festival, Kim Jung-sook, wife of South Korean President Moon Jae-in, walks with artists dressed as Hindu god Rama and his wife Sita during “Deepotsav” celebrations to mark Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, in Ayodhya in the northern state of Utar Pradesh, India.
She also inaugurated a memorial of Heo Hwang-ok, a first-century queen in the northern temple town of Ayodhya on Tuesday.
Ayodhya, known as the birthplace of the Hindu god Ram, holds special significance for both nations.
It is believed that Indian princess Suriratna, also known as Heo Hwang-ok, traveled to Korea in 48 A.D. and married a local king Kim Suro, the legendary founder of the Karak dynasty and king of the state of Geumgwan Gaya in southeastern Korea.
Kim who is on a four-day visit to India also participated in the celebrations of Hindu festival of light Diwali and prayed for prosperity between the two nations.
Image Credit: Reuters