Page 4 - Diwali

Last metro train service on all corridors to start at 10 PM on Diwali

The last metro train service on all DMRC corridors will start at 10 PM from terminal stations on account of the Diwali festival, officials said on Friday. The routine time for that on regular days is 11 PM. "On account of the Diwali festival, the last metro train service on October 24 (Monday), will start at 10 (2200 Hrs) from terminal stations of all metro lines," the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation said in a statement. Metro train services will run as usual for rest of the day on Diwali from routine commencement timings on all the lines, it said.

PM Modi to visit UP's Ayodhya on Diwali eve for 'puja' at Ram temple

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh on the eve of Diwali on Sunday to have "darshan" and perform a "puja" at the Ram temple. Modi will also inspect the construction site of a grand Ram temple and later, perform a symbolic coronation of Lord Ram, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). At around 6.30 pm, the prime minister will witness the "aarti" on the banks of the Saryu river, which will be followed by the launch of the grand "Deepotsav" celebrations by him, the statement said. The sixth edition of Deepotsav is being held this year and it is for the first time that Modi will be participating in the celebrations. More than 15 lakh "diyas" (earthen lamps) will be lit on the occasion. Five animated tableaux and 11 Ramlila tableaux showcasing various dance forms from different states will also be prepared during Deepotsav. Modi will also witness a 3-D "holographic projection mapping show" at Ram Ki Paidi on the banks of the

Diwali begins in US from Times Square; Harris, Trump to celebrate on Friday

Diwali celebrations have started in the United States from the iconic Times Square in New York, with the US Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump celebrating the festival of lights at their residences on Friday. Eminent Indian-Americans from across the country started flying into the American Capital from Thursday night which now appears to be a week-long Diwali celebration by the Biden Administration and members of the Congress. Harris and the Second Gentleman have invited scores of eminent Indian-Americans, diplomats and members of the administration for the Diwali celebrations at VP residence on Friday. Three days later, US President Joe Biden and the First Lady Dr Jill Biden have invited Indian-Americans at the White House to celebrate the Diwali on Monday, October 24, itself. The Secretary of State Tony Blinken is hosting another Diwali party at the State Department with the diplomatic community on October 26. Diwali is also being celebrated at the US

Delhi Police intensifies patrolling in national capital ahead of Diwali

Ahead of Diwali, the Delhi Police has intensified patrolling, enhanced its presence and are carrying out anti-sabotage checks in heavy footfall areas of the capital, including markets and malls, officials said on Thursday. Flag marches and foot patrolling were conducted in the crowded market of Sarojini Nagar which usually witnesses heavy footfall during the festive season, they said. Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Sagar Preet Hooda said, "In view of festive season, we have intensified our patrolling in market areas, extra police pickets have also been installed and personnel have been deployed. "From the anti-terror point of view, anti-sabotage checks are being done to ensure that no anti-social or anti-national elements carry out activities that can harm anybody's life," the officer said. "We have strong police presence during the festive season. For women's safety, we have also deployed women personnel on the ground," he said. All preventive measures are being

BJP leaders dub Delhi govt 'anti-Hindu' over cracker ban ahead of Diwali

BJP leaders on Thursday targeted the Delhi government over the complete ban on firecrackers, dubbing the Arvind Kejriwal-led dispensation "anti-Hindu". The Kejriwal government said the ban on crackers was imposed on the orders of Supreme Court and the BJP leaders were showing disrespect to the court. Delhi BJP MP Manoj Tiwari said Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal should allow people in Delhi to burst crackers for two-three hours on Diwali. Party leader Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga termed the Kejriwal government as "anti Hindu" and said that it earlier banned Chhath celebration on Yamuna bank and was now trying to prevent cracker bursting on Diwali. The Delhi government, in a statement, said the cracker ban was imposed by the Supreme Court in view of health of the people. "In such a situation, the BJP leaders were disrespecting the Supreme Court order and indulging in dirty politics over health of the people," the statement said. The AAP government also questioned the BJP why it was mum

'Spend money on sweets': SC refuses to lift ban on firecrackers in Delhi

The Supreme Court on Thursday turned down a plea by BJP leader Manoj Tiwari seeking an urgent hearing on a petition challenging the blanket ban on firecrackers in Delhi

Airfares jump ahead of Diwali, Delhi-Mumbai route records total sellout

Airfares have jumped two to three times as compared to the normal times on non-leisure destinations

Delhi's air quality to turn 'very poor' ahead of Diwali, curbs imposed

With air quality in the national capital likely to deteriorate to 'very poor' category in ahead of Diwali, the CAQM in Delhi-NCR has directed the authorities to enact Stage 2 of the Graded Response Ac

Punjab rapped for failure to control stubble burning surge ahead of Diwali

On Monday and Tuesday, 1,045 events of stubble burning were reported as against 114 events during the same period in 2021

ITC, VIP Ind: Stocks brokerages are betting on for a cracker Samvat 2079

As we enter Samvat 2079, analysts believe that the domestic market's outperformance against global peers will sustain as fundamentals and profitability of Indian corporate improves

Planning to buy gold this Dhanteras? Check price, purity and hallmarking

The price of the gold depends on the karat which is a measurement of the purity of a piece of gold

Smog-covered festivities for Delhi-NCR as stubble burning, Diwali coincide

Ongoing construction across NCR to exacerbate situation; While the number of residue-burning cases reported so far is about half of last year's figure, it is likely to shoot up in the days ahead

UK Parliament in London celebrates Diwali with prayers, candles

Prayers for peace recited by priests from the Hare Krishna Temple and the lighting of candles marked this year's Diwali celebrations in the Houses of Parliament complex in London. The celebration was held in the State Rooms of the Speaker's House, described as the grandest residence within the Palace of Westminster, on Monday evening. It marked the largest Diwali event of its kind in the Parliament complex, which brought together cross-party parliamentarians, diplomats, community leaders and International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) representatives. I would like to wish all communities celebrating Diwali peace and joy, both here and across the world, said Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle. Opposition Labour Party Leader Sir Keir Starmer joined Bhaktivedanta Manor ISKCON Temple President Visakha Dasi, veteran Indian-origin Labour MP Virendra Sharma and Liberal Democrat House of Lords peer Navnit Dholakia to light the candles following prayers concluding with Om ...

20% allocation in gold ETF a better investment strategy: Quantum AMC

At a time when there are many risks and uncertainties in the global economy, a 20 per cent allocation to gold ETFs in an investment portfolio during Diwali is ideal, said Quantum AMC

FTA with India no longer working to Diwali deadline: UK Trade Secretary

The free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations with India are no longer working towards a Diwali deadline, UK Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch has confirmed. During a visit to a Scotch whisky distillery on Thursday, the Cabinet minister in charge of the FTA negotiations at the Department for International Trade (DIT) said the deal being lined up with India would bring great wins for the industry as the steep tariffs of up to 150 per cent are set to be slashed. However, while the negotiations are progressing well, signing a draft agreement by October 24 is no longer the goal. "We are close. We're still working on a deal. One of the things that has changed is that we are no longer working to the Diwali deadline, Badenoch told the BBC. We've closed a lot of chapters (the sections for the negotiating text). The negotiations are progressing well. But we want to focus on the quality of the deal rather than the speed of the deal. Given the changes that have taken place not just in government b

PM launches several projects, says Diwali has arrived early in Himachal

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who launched several projects related to pharma, education and connectivity in Una, said the festival of Diwali has arrived eraly for Himachal Pradesh

Biden to mark Diwali at White House on Oct 24, Trump at his Florida resort

US President Joe Biden plans to celebrate Diwali at the White House on October 24 while his predecessor Donald Trump is working on celebrating the festival of lights at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on October 21. Biden plans to celebrate Diwali with eminent members of the Indian American community and members of his administration. First Lady Jill Biden will also join the festivities at the White House on October 24. Details of Diwali celebrations at the White House are still being worked out. Meanwhile, the Republican Hindu Coalition (RHC) on Tuesday announced that Trump would celebrate Diwali with its members and Indian American community leaders at his Mar-a-Lago resort on October 21. It is being planned for four hours, said Shalabh Kumar from RHC, adding that the Trump team was exploring the possibilities of fireworks as well.

Only green firecrackers with QR codes to be imported, sold in Bengal: HC

The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday directed that no fireworks other than green crackers bearing QR codes would be imported and sold in West Bengal. It also said that only green crackers bearing QR codes would be sold at a 'bazi bazar' (firecracker market) which is proposed to be held in Kolkata from October 18. The court directed that representatives of the state pollution control board (PCB) and police personnel will inspect firecrackers which would be sold at the market and the police will seize banned firecrackers which are offered for sale there. A division bench comprising justices Joymalya Bagchi and Apurba Sinha Roy directed the state PCB and the Commissioner of Police, Kolkata to deploy the appropriate number of personnel in the 'bazi bazar' to ensure implementation of the direction. "Similar exercise shall be undertaken by pollution control board and police authorities to prevent importation and sale of firecrackers other than green firecrackers bearing QR code in any plac

Partial solar eclipse on Oct 25 will be visible from most parts of India

During the Diwali festival on October 25, there will be a partial solar eclipse which will be visible from the city as well as from most parts of the country, astrophysicist Debi Prasad Duari said. The eastern metropolis, however, will be able to witness the partial solar eclipse, the second in 2022, for a very small duration, the celestial phenomenon will be better observed in the northern and western regions of the country, he said. The eclipse will not be observed from north eastern India as the celestial phenomenon will be occurring after the sunset in those regions, Duari said. Apart from India, the October 25-partial cosmic affair will be visible from most parts of Europe, northern Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia, Duari elaborated. "The partial solar eclipse will begin in Iceland at around 14:29 hours IST and will be seen at its maximum from Russia at 16:30 hours (IST). It will end at around 18:32 hours (IST) over the Arabian Sea," he told PTI while sharing ...

Railways set out special trains to manage extra rush till Chhath Puja

Major destinations throughout the country would be connected by 179 pairs of special trains on rail routes including Delhi-Patna, Delhi-Bhagalpur, Delhi-Muzaffarpur, and Delhi-Saharsa