Dussehra

On the rise again: Gold rates at a discount to tackle price jump

Local gold prices hit Rs 52,093 per 10 grams, the highest since August 16, and to lure buyers, dealers offered discounts up to $6 an ounce over official prices

Uddhav-led Sena mocks Shinde, says he just read out 'Modi-Shah Chalisa'

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena on Friday alleged that Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's Dussehra rally was a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-backed event, and mocked him saying that he only "read out Modi-Shah Chalisa" during his speech. It also dubbed the Shinde-led rebel faction as a "duplicate Shiv Sena". In an editorial in Shiv Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana', the party claimed that the Shinde camp must have spent Rs 50 crore to Rs 100 crore on the Dussehra rally held at the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), as nearly 2,000 buses were booked to ferry supporters and over two lakh people who attended the event were given food. "The rally at the BKC was one of the BJP-backed events. The amount spent must have been the same used for buying a couple of MLAs. The event was like a fashion show and a beauty pageant," it said. Ever since Shinde and other Sena legislators rebelled against the party leadership, the Uddhav Thackeray faction has been targeting them saying that each of the reb

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

Backed by strong winds Delhi records cleanest day after Dussehra since 2015

On the day of Dussehra, the AQI was at 211 under the "poor" category. It fell to 79 the next day, under the "satisfactory" category

Hyperlocal emissions behind spike in Delhi's air pollution after Dussehra

Delhi's air quality turned poor on Dussehra, though the early warning system of the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology had predicted moderate to satisfactory air quality in the capital. IITM officials said that they did not record any substantial changes in parameters like temperature, wind speed and emissions from farm fires on October 5 and "hyperlocal emissions" could have impacted the air quality. The possible sources of these emissions could be the large number of effigies burnt on the occasion of Dussehra and during a political protest, they said. With the air quality in Delhi dropping to the 'poor' category on Wednesday, authorities in the National Capital Region (NCR) have been asked to strictly implement measures under "Stage 1" of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) which include penal and legal action against polluting industrial units. The Centre's sub-committee on GRAP noted in a meeting that there has been a "sudden dip" in air quality parameters in the regio

Devendra Fadnavis hails Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde's Dussehra rally

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis hailed Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's Dussehra rally and exuded confidence for the upcoming Assembly elections

Over 70 injured in Andhra Pradesh's traditional stick-fight during Dussehra

More than 70 people were injured in the traditional fight with sticks during Dussehra celebrations in Andhra Pradesh's Kurnool district

Vice-President Dhankar, Delhi CM Kejriwal attend Dussehra celebrations

Effigies of Ravana, Meghnad and Kumbhakarna went up in flames at various places in the national capital during Ramlila celebrations, which were held with great pomp and show and without Covid restrictions on Wednesday. The festivities were low key events in the last two years due to COVID-19. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal participated in the celebrations, which culminated with the burning of the effigies, in separate places. Dhankar and former president Ram Nath Kovind attended the Dussehra celebrations organised by Shri Dharmic Leela Committee near the Red Fort. True to the meaning of "Ram Rajya", demonic and destructive forces are losing today and goodness is prevailing over them, Dhankar said. He said it was his first public programme in Delhi after taking over as the Vice President and that he felt overwhelmed by people's love and affection. The organisers presented him with a mace (gada) and he

Uddhav, Shinde accuse each other of betrayal at rival Dussehra rallies

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his predecessor Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday accused each other of betrayal as the Shiv Sena groups headed by them held Dussehra rallies in Mumbai. While Uddhav Thackeray branded Shinde and his supporters as traitors for teaming up with the BJP to wrest power, the latter said Thackeray had betrayed people of Maharashtra who voted for the Sena and BJP to form an alliance government, by teaming up with Congress and NCP after 2019 Assembly elections. Thackeray made an hour-long speech at Shivaji Park ground, where his party has been holding the Dussehra rallies since its inception half a century ago, while Shinde addressed the crowd for an hour and a half at a bigger ground at Bandra Kurla Complex. Shinde asserted his rebellion was not an act of "betrayal", but a "revolt" and asked Uddhav Thackeray to kneel down at party founder Bal Thackeray's memorial here and apologise for going against his ideals and aligning with the Congress and the .

Narrow escape for Dussehra revellers as Ravan effigy falls in Haryana

Several people had a narrow escape during a Dussehra event in Haryana's Yamunanagar on Wednesday when a burning effigy of Ravana fell while they were trying to go near it. Police said no one was injured in the incident. Yamunanagar Superintendent of Police Mohit Handa said some people were trying to go near the burning effigy but police personnel present there pushed them back. Asked whether the effigy fell on any of the spectators, the SP said it did not. It may appear that the burning effigy fell on some people but it was not the case, said the SP while referring to a video clip of the incident doing the rounds on social media. "We have checked in hospitals and police personnel were also present on the spot. There was no injury to anyone," he said. Effigies of demon king Ravana, his son Meghnad and brother Kumbhakaran are set on fire on the occasion of Dussehra to celebrate the victory of good over evil.

Uddhav's brother Jaidev shares stage with Shinde at Dussehra rally

Jaidev Thackeray, the elder brother of Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, on Wednesday evening shared the stage with Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde at the rebel faction's Dussehra rally at the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) in Mumbai. Jaidev Thackeray's estranged wife Smita was also present at the MMRDA ground in BKC, the rally site in suburban Mumbai, along with Nihar, the son of late Bindumadhav Thackeray, Uddhav Thackeray's eldest brother. Champa Singh Thapa, a trusted aide of the late Bal Thackeray who served the Shiv Sena founder for 27 years, was also present at the event. Talking to reporters, Smita Thackeray said she was invited to the rally by Shinde, who heads the rebel faction of the Shiv Sena. Jaidev Thackeray, son of Bal Thackeray, said to share an uneasy relationship with his younger brother Uddhav Thackeray. The Uddhav Thackeray-led faction has organised its own Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park in central Mumbai. Both Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray claim their

How Delhi effigy makers bounced back in business post-Covid pandemic

Apart from making effigies two-three months before the festive season, the artisans usually get their source of income from different businesses for the rest of the year

'Shiv Sena isn't Uddhav's private company,' says Shinde at Dussehra rally

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday asserted his rebellion was not an act of "betrayal", but a "revolt" and asked Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray to kneel down at party founder Bal Thackeray's memorial here and apologise for going against his ideals and aligning with the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Addressing a mega rally at the Bandra Kurla Complex's MMRDA ground on the occasion of Dussehra, Shinde said voters in the state elected the Shiv Sena and the BJP in the 2019 Assembly elections, but Thackeray "betrayed" people by joining hands with the Congress and the NCP to form the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. He said massive crowds at his Dussehra rally was proof enough to show who are true inheritors of Bal Thackeray's legacy. Slamming Thackeray, Shinde, who heads the rebel faction of the party, said the Shiv Sena was not a private limited company and maintained the 56-year-old outfit was built through hard work of common Sena ...

'This time Ravan is different': Uddhav's jibe at Shinde at Dussehra event

In a scathing attack on Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his supporters, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday said their reputation as "traitors" will never be washed away. Addressing the annual Dussehra rally at the iconic Shivaji Park ground here, Thackeray lashed out at Shinde, whose rebellion in June this year brought down the Thackeray-led Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress government in the state. "As time changes, Ravan's face also changes. Today, it is the traitors (who are Ravan). When I was unwell and underwent a surgery, I had given the responsibility to him (Shinde). But he conspired against me thinking I will never stand up on my feet again," the former chief minister said. The Shiv Sena does not belong to one person but it belongs to all loyal Sena workers, Thackeray said, adding, "If you feel I should not remain the Sena president, I will quit. "There is a limit to lust for power...After the act of treachery, he now wants the party, its symbol and also

Over 500,000 people witness historic Dasara festivities in Mysuru

The Dasara festivities celebrated on a grand scale in Mysuru came to an end with the iconic 'Jamboo Savari' on the occasion of Vijayadashami

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal attends Dussehra festivities at Red Fort

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday attended Dussehra festivities at the historical Red Fort ground here. Speaking at the Lav Kush Ramlila Committee's 'Ravan Dahan' programme, Kejriwal wished for India to become the "best and strongest nation in the world". He said Ramlila is very important for the people as it connects them to the culture of the country and spreads the message of Lord Rama's life. Ramlila is the enactment of the victory of good over evil in the Hindu epic of Ramayana. The chief minister also witnessed the burning of the effigies of demon king Ravana, his brother Kumbhkaran and son, Meghnad. Actor Prabhas of 'Baahubali' fame also attended the event. 'Ravan Dahan' programmes were organised by different Ramlila committees at the Red Fort area that drew huge crowds after a two-year lull due to the Covid pandemic.

Himachal: Modi becomes first Prime Minister to attend Kullu Dussehra

In the nearly 400 years of the history of the world-famous weeklong Kullu Dussehra festivities, Modi became the first PM to pay obeisance to Kullu Valley's chief deity Lord Raghunath in the festivity

Religion-based population imbalance cannot to be ignored: RSS chief

Population imbalances lead to changes in geographical boundaries, says Mohan Bhagwat at a Vijayadasami event

Mohan Bhagwat's Dussehra address: Highlights from his last five speeches

In his annual Vijayadashami speech on Wednesday, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat sought a comprehensive new population policy applicable to everyone equally. Here we look at his speeches from the last 5 years

'Need to empower women', says RSS chief in his Vijayadashami address

RSS chief Dr Mohan Bhagwat has strongly advocated for women empowerment in the country, and said that men and women are equal in every aspect and respect, have equal potential and capabilities