Page 3 - Diwali

Muted festive season sales fail to light up Diwali for many shopkeepers

Hit hard by inflation, low-income groups have been cautious about spending this festive season

Delhi set for smoggy Diwali as firework sales thrive after two yrs of Covid

Ban, strict fines fail to deter buyers, Air Quality Index at 247, hits 'poor' category on Sunday, a day ahead of Diwali

With AQI of 265, Delhi's air on day before Diwali least polluted in 7 years

Delhi recorded an air quality index (AQI) of 265 on Sunday, which was lowest for the day before Diwali in seven years, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data showed. Diwali will be celebrated across the country on Monday. An AQI between zero and 50 is considered "good", 51 and 100 "satisfactory", 101 and 200 "moderate", 201 and 300 "poor", 301 and 400 "very poor", and 401 and 500 "severe". Last year, the AQI on November 3 (a day before Diwali) was 314. It had shot up to 382 on the Diwali day and 462 the next day. In 2020, Delhi recorded an AQI of 296 a day before Diwali (November 13), while it worsened to 414 on Diwali and 435 the day after. The capital logged an AQI of 287 on the day before the festival in 2019. It worsened to 337 on Diwali (October 27) and further to 368 the next day. The AQI was 338 on the day before Diwali in 2018. Interestingly, it improved to 281 on the Diwali day before aggravating to 390 the next day. The AQI was 302 and 404 on the day before Di

World's largest diya in Punjab's Mohali symbolises flame of global peace

To send out a message of global peace, world's largest oil lamp was lit in Punjab's Mohali, the organisers of the event claimed. Over 10,000 citizens contributed oil for the event that concluded with a world record, they said. Manufactured with around 1,000 kilogram steel, the world's largest diya measuring 3.37 metres in diameter was lit here on Saturday evening by chief guest of the event Lt Gen K J Singh (retd), former general officer commanding-in-chief of Army's Western Command, to spread the message of world peace, unity, secularism, and humanism. Over 10,000 citizens including 4,000 residents of 'Hero Homes', representing the diverse fabric and diversity of Indian society, pooled in 3,129 litres of organic and diya-appropriate oils to create this unique symbol of peace. Hero Homes, which had organised the event at its premises, is a residential unit of Hero Realty Private Limited, the real estate arm of Hero Enterprise. Themed around the festival of peace, the huge diya was

On average, Haryana sees 100 stubble fires per day; farmers blame govt

The impact of farm fires has been visible on Delhi's air quality. The AQI of the Delhi-NCR region is getting worse and will deteriorate post-Diwali

PM Modi to attend 'Deepotsav' celebrations in Ayodhya today on Diwali eve

PM Modi will perform the darshan and pooja of Bhagwan Shree Ramlala Virajman

Cyclone Sitrang: Northeastern states likely to witness rain on Diwali

IMD on Saturday said cyclone 'Sitrang' is likely to trigger light to moderate rains in most parts of the northeastern region during Diwali

No fine for flouting traffic rules in Gujarat during Diwali; Owaisi slams

No fines will be collected from from traffic rules violators till October 27 in view of Diwali festivities, the Gujarat government has announced. The decision was taken so that people's "Diwali is not spoiled," said Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi. The announcement, however, evoked a sharp response from All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief Asaduddin Owaisi who termed it a "Revdi" (freebie) from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. The BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have been vocal against the culture of offering freebies to woo voters. Assembly polls in Gujarat are expected to be announced soon. "From October 21 to 27, traffic police in Gujarat will not collect any fine from people. If anyone is caught without a helmet or driving licence or found violating any other traffic rule during this period, our police will give them a flower," said Sanghavi in Surat on Friday. The decision was taken to give relief to people during Diwali and it was being done under t

RSS body slams Delhi govt ban on all kinds of firecrackers during Diwali

The RSS-affiliated Swadeshi Jagran Manch on Saturday slammed the AAP-led Delhi government over the imposition of a complete ban on all kinds of firecrackers in the city, terming the move "inappropriate and unscientific". It also alleged that the Arvind Kejriwal government's "blanket ban" on firecrackers was aimed at misguiding people and diverting their attention from the real cause of air pollution in the national capital. Government agencies have failed to solve the problem of stubble burning in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and other parts of the country even though it is the "biggest source" of air pollution in the national capital and the surrounding northern states, the SJM said without naming anyone. "The SJM strongly opposes the complete ban on firecrackers by the Delhi government during the festival of Diwali as it is inappropriate," it said in a statement. "The SJM also urges all state governments to make efforts to find a permanent solution to the problem of stubble burning and

Delhi's overall air quality likely to remain 'poor' till Diwali: Report

Delhi's overall air quality is predicted to remain in the 'poor' to the lower end of 'very poor' category until the morning of October 24, according to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR). Transport-level winds from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh towards Delhi will pick up from October 24 and, in all likelihood, will bring significant stubble-related emissions to Delhi, SAFAR said. The city's 24-hour average AQI was recorded in the 'poor' category at 265 on Saturday as residents flouted the ban on firecrackers in parts of the national capital ahead of Diwali, according to Central Pollution Control Board's (CPCB) data. An AQI between zero and 50 is considered good, 51 and 100 satisfactory, 101 and 200 moderate, 201 and 300 poor, 301 and 400 very poor, and 401 and 500 severe. "If stubble burning increases gradually, which is likely, its share in Delhi's PM2.5 (based on the average temporal variability of fire counts in the previous years) is like

Around 1.8 mn diyas to be lit; laser show to be part of Ayodhya Deepotsav

Around 18 lakh earthen lamps will be lit on Sunday here as part of Deepotsav, the Diwali celebrations that will include fireworks, a laser show and the staging of Ramlilas. The sixth edition of the Deepotsav will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Ayodhya Divisional Commissioner Navdeep Rinwa said over 15 lakh earthen lamps will be lit by more than 22,000 volunteers at Ram ki Paudi near the Saryu bank. The rest will be placed at important intersections and spots, officials said. Volunteers have been told to arrange 256 earthen lamps in a square and the distance between two squares will be approximately two to three feet, Deepotsav organisers said. Rinwa said there will also be a laser show, 3D projection mapping show and fireworks. Ramlila will also be staged by cultural troupes from other countries and states, he said. At the Ram Katha park, Lord Ram, Goddess Sita, Lord Lakshman and Lord Hanuman will be shown descending from a "pushpak vimana". An aarti of the Saryu

Carrying Diwali gifts to others, delivery agents hang on to incentive hopes

Delivery partners, riders or executives. Their designations are different, the mission the same shouldering outsized backpacks crammed with everything from lipsticks to lamps, and maybe even laptops, as they zigzag through streets delivering necessities and festivities to our doorsteps. It's Diwali but one edged with anxiety for the band of men on motorcycles and cycles, a familiar sight in cities across India whose work becomes more frantic during festivals. Making an average of Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 a month, they hope to earn an incentive, or at least a box of sweets in the season. Chandan, who works with a logistics company that handles couriers for brands such as FirstCry, Snapdeal and Ajio, is one of them. He usually delivers 50-60 parcels a day but this can go as high as 100 during Diwali. Does he get something by way of an incentive for Diwali after working to fulfil orders? The 30-year-old responded with an emphatic no. Let alone incentives, I will count myself lucky if

Around Rs 40,000 cr of business expected during 2-days of Dhanteras: CAIT

Around Rs 40,000 crore of business is expected to be generated on this Dhanteras, which is spread over the weekend, on the back of positive consumer sentiment, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) said on Saturday. Dhanteras, the first day of Diwali, is considered auspicious to buy new items, especially gold, silver jewellery, all kinds of utensils, kitchenware, vehicles, clothes and readymade garments, electronics, electrical goods among others. This year Dhanteras is spread over the weekend, with the muhurat beginning from 2 pm on Saturday till 6 pm on Sunday. "Around Rs 40,000 crores of business" is expected on two days festival of Dhanteras, CAIT national president B C Bhartia said in a statement. All India Jewellers and Goldsmith Federation national president Pankaj Arora said there is great enthusiasm among jewellery traders across the country regarding the sale of Dhanteras on Saturday and Sunday, for which the industry has made elaborate preparations. There is als

UP minister reviews preparations of 'Deepotsav' ahead of PM Modi's visit

Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit, Uttar Pradesh Tourism Minister Jaiveer Singh on Saturday took stock of the preparations of 'Deepotsav' in Ayodhya

Dhanteras begins on positive note; jewellers expect footfalls to increase

Dhanteras, spread over two days of the weekend, got off to an auspicious start on Saturday as consumers began trickling in to markets, with jewellers expecting the momentum to increase towards the evening. Dhanteras, which marks the first day of Diwali in India, is considered an auspicious occasion to buy gold and silver as part of Hindu festivities. "Since the day has just begun, the footfalls are just trickling in. As this year Dhanteras is spread over the weekend, we expect the momentum to increase towards the afternoon and evening and tomorrow. "Mainly, since morning people who had pre-booked, are coming to pick up the items to avoid the crowd," All India Gem And Jewellery Domestic Council chairman Ashish Pethe told PTI. Since the last 3-4 days the consumer sentiment has been good and the sales momentum has been positive. The industry expects a good two days of business, he added. PNG Jewellers Chairman and Managing Director Saurabh Gadgil said in Maharashtra, the footfalls ha

2 out of 5 families to burst firecrackers in Delhi-NCR this Diwali: Survey

The percentage of households bursting firecrackers in Delhi-NCR on Diwali could be the highest in five years as two out of every five families are likely to indulge in the activity, according to a survey. Ten per cent of the respondents said they have already bought firecrackers from shops in Delhi, while 20 per cent said they have purchased firecrackers from other cities in the National Capital Region (NCR), indicating that the ban on the sale of such items is not as effective as it needs to be, according to the survey conducted by LocalCircles. The survey received more than 10,000 responses from the residents of all the districts in Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram and Faridabad. Sixty-nine per cent of the respondents were men, while 31 per cent were women. "Sixty-one per cent respondents said they will not be burning any crackers either because they are convinced that they cause pollution or because they are abiding by the ban. The survey results, when compared over time, indica

Expect record deliveries of cars, two-wheelers on Dhanteras: FADA

Rebounding after two pandemic-hit years, automobile dealers expect a bumper sale of two- and four-wheelers during the auspicious Dhanteras this year. Dealers expect a rush for automobiles across categories. Federation of Automobile Dealers Association (FADA) President Manish Raj Singhania said dealers are sitting on a record number of bookings this festive season and most customers are insisting on deliveries on Dhanteras. Dhanteras, also known as Dhanatrayodashi, is celebrated each year as the first day to mark the beginning of Diwali. On this day, Hindus, Jains and Sikhs buy brass, silver and gold objects as it is regarded as one of the most auspicious and ideal days to purchase expensive items. This year, Dhanteras is being celebrated on October 22 and 23. Auto dealers are expecting bumper sales in all segments, including passenger and commercial vehicles and two-wheelers. "We expect record retail sales of passenger vehicles on Dhanteras. Even two-wheeler sales are expected to .

Diwali a universal concept that transcends cultures: US VP Kamala Harris

Diwali is a universal concept that transcends cultures, Vice President Kamala Harris said on Friday as she opened her official residence for scores of Indian Americans to celebrate the festival of lights. The Naval Observatory -- official residence of the vice president -- was colourfully decorated with lights and diyas (earthen lamps) while the guests were served a wide variety of authentic Indian delicacies from pani puri' to traditional sweets, community leaders, who attended the event, said. Diwali is a universal concept that transcends cultures. It is about being inspired by the relevance of light over darkness, and shedding light in moments of darkness, Harris told the gathering of more than a hundred Indian Americans. As the vice president, I think a lot about it because we are not without great challenges in our own country and in the world. And these are the moments when a festival like Diwali reminds us of the importance of our power to bring light in moments of darkness,

Diwali 2022: Dhanteras likely to see bumper demand for jewellery

Industry captains expect a 15-20% increase in demand over last year's high base

Phones, watches, cameras: Diwali gift shopping is back with a bang

Two years of pandemic gloom appear over as e-commerce websites and malls report people splurging and bring them business