Diwali

Sentiments have neither collapsed, nor have they stepped down after the festive season. They seem to have sustained the elevated levels they had achieved during the festive season

In October, FMCG sales in rural areas stood at 0.8 per cent while urban sales declined 0.1 per cent against September, according to data by Bizom- a retail intelligence platform

Diwali is the start of the air pollution season in the states in the Indo-Gangetic Plain, and the worst of the season may be ahead of us, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board's Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Station. According to the analysis by National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) Tracker, average PM 2.5 levels in October this year were higher as compared to 2021 in the capital cities of Delhi, Chandigarh, Lucknow and Patna. The PM2.5 levels in October 2022 have surpassed those in October 2021, despite delayed withdrawal of monsoon and a comparatively cleaner Diwali over the last five years. The rains also delayed the stubble burning season this year, the NCAP Tracker analysis said. "The PM 2.5 levels for October 2022 in Delhi and Patna remained above (Central Pollution Control Board) CPCB's daily safe limits of 60 micrograms per cubic metre. Delhi recorded an average PM 2.5 of 105 micrograms per cubic metre in October as opposed to 74.88 micrograms

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More than 48 lakh bottles of liquor worth over Rs 100 crore were sold in Delhi on the weekend preceding Diwali, officials said on Sunday. People celebrated Diwali with pomp on Monday after two years of muted festivities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Diwali, October 24 (Monday), was a dry day in the national capital. "That led to a rush on the weekend from Friday to Sunday with heavy liquor sales across the city," said a senior excise department officer. "More than 48 lakh bottles were sold on Friday-Sunday, worth over Rs 100 crore, ahead of Diwali on October 24," he said. The average daily sale of liquor in Delhi is around 12.50 lakh bottles, the officer said. Giving details, officials said 13.56 lakh bottles worth over Rs 30 lakh were sold on Friday and 15.09 lakh bottles worth nearly Rs 32 lakh on Saturday. On Diwali eve on October 23, a record sale of more than 19.42 lakh bottles worth over Rs 42 lakh was recorded, they said. The excise business in Delhi has been hit hard wi

Britain's King Charles III has sent a special Diwali message to the Hindujas, highlighting his commitment to all faiths and communities. The message was delivered by his Principal Private Secretary Sir Clive Alderton at the Hinduja Diwali reception held at their Carlton House Terrace on Wednesday. More than 300 guests including peers, MPs, Ambassadors, diplomats, business leaders attended the event. Conservative Party chairman Nadhim Zahawi, MP, former Health Secretary Matt Hancock, Foreign Office Minister Lord Ahmad, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan were also present on the occasion. Welcoming the guests, Gopichand Hinduja, co-chairman of the Hinduja Group, spoke of the significance of Diwali and how real wealth comprises blessings and contentment earned through acts of giving. G P Hinduja fondly mentioned missing his elder brother S P Hinduja, who is unwell. His other two brothers Prakash and Ashok were present on the occasion. Arjun Rampal with his partner Gabriella, playback singer

Punjab reported 1,111 stubble burning incidents on Thursday

His film Ram Setu is likely to touch Rs 75-80 crore in collections by Sunday-end; star's past Diwali releases have also clicked

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Diwali turned tragic for Hothpet village in Shahapura taluk of Yadgir, Karnataka as two persons died and over 40 are being treated at a hospital after allegedly drinking contaminated wat

As communities grapple with hate crimes and darkness, New York City Mayor Eric Adams has urged people to live in the spirit of Lord Ram, Sita and Diwali and be the beacon of light and hope each day of the year. There's too much darkness. We have been engulfed in the desire to just find places we disagree, he said on Tuesday, giving a clarion call to people and communities "to live true to what Diwali represents". Let's live in the spirit of Ram, let's live in the spirit of Sita. Let's live in the spirit of Diwali. Let's live up to what this holiday represents and then we will know that we have fulfilled our responsibility and obligation, Adams said, as he wished Happy Diwali to a large gathering of prominent members of the Indian-American, South Asian and other communities at a Diwali celebration hosted at his official residence. It is time for us to live up to Diwali, to sit down and communicate, to push back against hate crimes against Sikhs, against AAPI (Asian American Pacific .

Over 400,000 gig and temporary workers were reportedly hired to meet the high demand during this year's festive season

Delhi air quality 'very poor' the day after; improvement over previous years

Intermittent rain and warnings of cyclone 'Sitrang' saw air pollution levels dip in Kolkata on Diwali, though the rain gods could not stem fireworks' use and the resulting noise in the capital of neighbouring state of Jharkhand. Air pollution level across Kolkata on Kali Puja-Diwali evening was "far less" than what it was on the occasion in the last three years, an official of West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB) said on Tuesday. The dip in air pollution can largely be attributed to intermittent showers since Monday morning under the impact of cyclone 'Sitrang', he said. The light rain cleansed the air and prevented a section of revellers to go out and burst firecrackers, the official said. At Rabindra Sarobar in south Kolkata, the air quality index was 43 at 11 pm, which comes in the 'good' range. The AQI in the same locality was 168 around the same time on last year's Kali Puja. Similarly, the AQI at an air monitoring station in Jadavpur was 44 on Monday as compared to 24

A total of 30 burn cases, eight of them in Ahmedabad alone, were reported in different parts of Gujarat on Diwali night, a rise of 400 per cent from normal days, the Emergency Management and Research Institute (EMRI) said on Tuesday. Diwali was celebrated across Gujarat on Monday in an environment free of coronavirus-related curbs after two years with people bursting firecrackers to mark the festival of lights. "As against six burn cases reported on normal days, 30 cases related to burn injuries were reported on Diwali night on Monday, recording an increase of 400 per cent," Ahmedabad-based EMRI said in a statement. However, the institute did not disclose the cause of burn injuries. The institute operates '108' free ambulance service across Gujarat in partnership with the state government. Apart from eight burn cases in Ahmedabad, three each were reported in Rajkot, Narmada and Kutch, two each in Surat, Gandhinagar, Bharuch, Bhavnagar and Kheda, and one each in Chhotaudepur, ...

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The fire department received more than a dozen calls from Noida and Greater Noida on Diwali, officials said on Tuesday. Chief Fire Officer (CFO) Arun Kumar Singh said, no loss of life was reported in any of the incidents. In two instances, the water tenders and firefighters returned midway after the flames were doused before they arrived at the spot. "Altogether 13 fire incidents were reported from 6 am Monday till 6 am Tuesday. Three fire incidents were reported from homes, including an apartment in a high rise society, while rest were from shops and garbage dumping spots in Noida and Greater Noida," Singh said. One water tender and four fighters were sent at 12 spots, he said. "Maximum four water tenders were rushed along with firefighters to Vedantam society in Gaur City 2 area of Greater Noida (West) after a call alerted us about the fire in an apartment around 10 pm Monday," Singh said. The blaze had spread to two floors of the apartments but was put out within an hour, he ..

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi wished Diwali to all Bharat Yatris, drivers and labourers working in the party's Bharat Jodo Yatra camp, offered them silver coins and sweets, and hoped their faith in India's true values will defeat hate. In his letter to them, he said their faith in India's true values will also illuminate the path forward. He also gifted his fellow Bharat Yatris who are walking the entire yatra and the workers and drivers with a silver coin and sweets. "We have walked hand in hand in the beautiful Bharat Jodo Yatra - your faith, your belief in yourselves and in India's true values will defeat hate and illuminate the path forward. "Don't talk, act. Don't say, show. Don't promise, prove. I wish you and your family a very Happy Deepawali," Gandhi said in his letter to all yatris and those working at the camp. The Congress also tweeted Gandhi's letter and said, "Wow... beautiful...full of affection. On the auspicious occasion of Diwali, Rahul Gandhi ji gave a wonderful

Pollution 'very unhealthy' and 'unhealthy' in the national capital and cities around it

Incidents of bursting of firecrackers on Diwali in Delhi dropped by 30 per cent this year as compared to last year and the city recorded its best air quality for the day after the festival in five years, Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on Tuesday. The air quality index (AQI) stood at 323 on Tuesday (the day after Diwali) as compared to 462 last year, he said. "People of Delhi were very thoughtful on Diwali this year and I want to thank them. Today, the pollution level is the lowest in five years," Rai told reporters on the sidelines of an event where he launched 150 mobile anti-smog guns. He said the anti-smog guns will be deployed at 40 spots across the capital where air pollution is high. The minister said incidents of bursting of firecrackers came down by 30 per cent on Diwali this year. "The AQI of 323 is still worrying and tells us that air pollution will increase in the coming days," he said. Rai further claimed the Punjab government controlled stubble burning in the st