India is celebrating one of its biggest festivals commemorating the victory of good over evil. In Bihar, which is in the middle of its biggest election campaign, festivities are in full swing. Archana Masih set out to capture the mood on the street of small town India and discovered some things that one no longer finds.
The festival season has already begun in the west and south of India with Ganesh Chaturthi and Onam, respectively, and consumer companies are witnessing a pick-up in sales compared to pre-Covid levels. Retailers, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and consumer durables companies expect their sales to grow in double digits this festival season compared to pre-pandemic times, as there are no curbs on movement now. Adani Wilmar expects sales volume to be higher by 15-20 per cent as rural India has largely witnessed good monsoon rains, and employment has picked up in urban areas.
Suman Guha Roy tells us how he met his wife.
The top court also stayed the proceedings against a third journalist, an associate editor in the same media house, who was recently summoned by the police in connection with the reports on violence.
Emerging from the meeting at 10 Circular Road residence of former Chief Minister Rabri Devi where he met RJD president Lalu Prasad, Raj Ballabh Yadav told reporters it was a courtesy visit to extend greetings of Durga Puja.
India will play their 250th Test at home when they face New Zealand in the second five-day game of the three-match series at the iconic Eden Gardens from September 30, and the Cricket Association of Bengal has lined up a host of events to make this a special occasion. To start with, a Lord's like bell will be rung to mark the beginning of the historic Test and the CAB also has plans to felicitate both the teams. "We just got a confirmation that this will be the 250th Test on Indian soil which makes it historic and special," CAB joint-secretary Avishek Dalmiya said.
Torrential rains pounded the tiny Himalayan state of Sikkim and the tea growing region of North Bengal, causing landslides that cut off National Highway-10, the main road linking Gangtok with the rest of the country.
'Mamata is synonymous with Bengal, its culture, language, traditions.'
Days after Al Qaeda issued a video threatening to carry out its campaign in India, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Saturday said the terror group is trying to set up base in the state and had "tacit understanding" with United Liberation Front of Asom.
Sources told Rediff.com that the terrorist captured alive provided information about the absconding terrorists.
Gandhi is scheduled to visit Amethi from October 4-6.
Mamata said the saffron party could not build even a small Ram temple in the last five years.
Virat Kohli's men will play 11 one-day internationals, nine Twenty20 matches and three Tests against Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka between late September and December.
A bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, R S Reddy and M R Shah said if any State/Union Territory in exercise of their jurisdiction under the Disaster Management Act (DMA) has taken a decision that it is not possible to conduct the final year/terminal semester examination by September 30, then they can make an application to the UGC for extending the deadline.
'She is associated with our growing up years.' 'When I first met her, it was a little awkward for a couple of days as she is a really popular actor of the '90s.'
'The local administration is working overtime to improve voter turnout and take it beyond the 50% to 60% mark. This is evident from the massive advertising being done to propagate the same. Not a single government building is left standing without it being plastered with the Election Commission's posters and banners.'
The Cricket Association of Bengal will seek permission from the Board of Control for Cricket in India to have a photograph of Sachin Tendulkar on the ticket for the legendary batsman's 199th Test, which will be staged in Kolkata.
Here's a list of some of the all-time best places in Delhi where you can shop for the festival without burning a hole in your pocket
The state Election Commission also issued certain guidelines for not using the coming festive days for political purpose in the seats where polling would take place in next phases.
Umesh Yadav and Mohammad Siraj have been added to the squad as injury replacements but they do not figure in the World Cup-bound squad, as of now.
Bhagwat also said only the weakness of the Hindus are to be blamed for their oppression in neighbouring Bangladesh.
Lalu and Rabri were keen that he marry during the traditional marriage season, but he asked them to give him more time to make his mark in politics.
Kolkata has, yet again, outdone itself when it comes to establishment-defying social commentary through Puja pandals.
'He's one of the actors I've seen who, compared to so many younger people that we get to work with, doesn't have any tantrums.'
While the numbers of fresh COVID cases and active cases are going up, the administration is focussing on testing, contact-tracing and treatment.
Heavy rainfall and high speed wind has badly affected normal life in Bihar in last 24 hours because of cyclonic storm Phailin impact of cyclonic storm. "More heavy rains are expected in Bihar in next 24 hours," a met department official said.
Satvik food is de rigueur this time of the year in most Western and Northern Indian homes, say chefs and food historians Arundhuti Dasgupta and Shally Seth Mohile.
"This TMC government is anti-people, anti-democratic and have compromised with national security," Adityanath said.
'Today's generation can learn from him how not to hurt anyone's sentiments at a time when many stand-up comedians deliberately set out to do so.'
Calling upon all Indians to get involved in the 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan', President Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday said the government alone cannot do it without people's involvement.
As Pranab Mukherjee passes away, we remember the man, the politician, the Rashtrapati.
India's residential market is expected to sustain demand momentum despite rise in mortgage and property rates as sales this year across the top 7 cities are likely to breach pre-pandemic level of 2.62 lakh units, industry players said. After braving four back-to-back disruptions in form of demonetisation, RERA, GST and COVID-19 in the last 6 years, industry experts feel the housing market is going through a lot of structural changes and is now at the start of a long-term upcycle. Homebuyers body FPCE gives credit to the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) under the Real Estate (Regulation & Development) Act, 2016 for this improved buying sentiment.
Shifting positions on religiosity and Covid may confuse the Hindutva citizenry, but you can rely on Bengal to turn a non-arguable issue into a raging controversy, notes Kanika Datta.
'If the Modi government doesn't act now, it will demoralise and hurt the people who voted in hope of a better times,' argues former BJP MP Tarun Vijay.
According to the latest health department bulletin, the positivity rate has also jumped to 9.55 per cent, amid the festive season and the rise in pollution level.
Ace Indian gymnast Dipa Karmakar, who finished a historic fourth in Rio Olympics vault, aspires to beat reigning Olympic champion Simone Biles of US in Tokyo Games four years later. "My next aim is to beat Simone Biles in Tokyo 2020, that's my target. I know very well that if I aspire to beat the champion, I would at least finish with a gold or silver," the 23-year-old who was given a golden crown at a felicitation ceremony of FD Block Sarbojanin Puja Committee said.
'No right thinking student of politics can name one state where the BJP gains in double digits.'
He also alleged that for the Bharatiya Janata Party dispensation and its allies being a Hindu is no different from the team identity loyalty of the 'British football hooligan'.
Auto sector cheers RBI rate cut as 'festival gift'
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Friday held Jharkhand and DVC responsible for the current "man made" flood in the southern part of the state and contended that it was caused due to the unplanned and enhanced discharge of water from dams and barrages in the neighbouring state without information.
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