Bhopal, Oct.16 Members of the Indian women hockey team celebrated Diwali, the festival of lights here before leaving for Bangkok on Friday for the Women's Asia cup which starts off on October 30.

It was a joyous sight to notice the hockey players bursting firecrackers and celebrating Diwali with full enthusiasm and joy on Thursday (Oct.15), two days ahead of the festival.

People across the country will celebrate Diwali on Saturday (Oct.17) this year. It is an occasion when Hindus worship Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth and Ganesha, the God of wisdom and auspicious beginnings.

The team members along with the hockey board officials also offered prayers, lit candles and burst firecrackers at the SAI Centre Camp in the city.

Team's coach M.K. Kaushik believes that such celebrations and get together events boost the team spirit and hence hold significance.

"Hockey is a team game, so if everyone comes together it works for the team. It is good for hockey as it boosts unity, so if you sit, stand, eat and celebrate festivals together, it makes a lot of difference. If we come together for such events, if we celebrate festivals together, it is naturally effective,' said Kaushik.

The players are at a camp preparing for the Asia Cup and the Commonwealth games to be held in Delhi in 2010, and the festivities they say, did boost their morale.

"It is a good feeling when everyone comes together to celebrate Diwali. The team as a whole was happy. We did not expect anything like this but when we saw it we were all very happy and it was like being with our own families,' said Surinder Kaur, captain of the team.

Deepavali has its origins in the celebrations in Ayodhya, marking the return of Lord Rama after serving 14 years of self-exile and having killed the demon king Ravana. By Ram Chand Sahu (ANI)