News for 'Festival of India Programme'

'Students India's future': Prez Murmu promises fair exams in I-Day eve address

'Students India's future': Prez Murmu promises fair exams in I-Day eve address

Rediff.com14 Aug 2026

Underlining that students are the "architects of India's future," President Droupadi Murmu on Friday said the government is taking comprehensive steps to reform public examinations to completely curb paper leaks and unfair means, making the system transparent, secure, and trustworthy.

Why 2 MP temples celebrated Independence Day four days early

Why 2 MP temples celebrated Independence Day four days early

Rediff.com14 Aug 2026

Two prominent temples in Madhya Pradesh, the Pashupatinath Temple in Mandsaur and the Bade Ganesh Temple in Ujjain, observed India's Independence Day on August 11, four days ahead of the national celebration. This unique tradition stems from their adherence to the Hindu calendar, specifically Shravan Krishna Chaturdashi, which corresponded to August 15, 1947, and fell on August 11 this year. Special rituals, flag hoisting, and a Tiranga Yatra marked the early celebrations.

Adivi Sesh: 'Whenever Vande Mataram Would Come Up, I Would Stand Up'

Adivi Sesh: 'Whenever Vande Mataram Would Come Up, I Would Stand Up'

Rediff.com15 Aug 2026

'For someone who found his patriotism for India while living in America, this is a very momentous occasion.'

Ayodhya Ram Temple to train, certify priests for India, abroad

Ayodhya Ram Temple to train, certify priests for India, abroad

Rediff.com26 Jul 2026

The Ram temple trust's decision to establish a permanent institute for training and certifying Hindu priests is being seen by religious leaders and members of the Indian diaspora as a significant step towards addressing the growing demand for qualified 'archaks' (priests) not only in India but also overseas.

Raghav Juyal's Brother Makes A Fascinating Film!

Raghav Juyal's Brother Makes A Fascinating Film!

Rediff.com11 Aug 2026

'Raghav and I complement each other. He talks to me a lot about form and how he approaches his characters. Our paths are different, but we both are very much aligned emotionally.'

India Celebrates 'Fit India Sundays' And Commonwealth Games Day

India Celebrates 'Fit India Sundays' And Commonwealth Games Day

Rediff.com24 May 2026

Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya joined a cycling event in Ahmedabad to mark the 75th edition of 'Fit India Sundays on Cycle' and Commonwealth Games Day, encouraging citizens to embrace cycling for fitness and short commutes. The event saw participation from athletes, celebrities, and citizens across India.

The Irrfan Film That Almost Didn't Get Made

The Irrfan Film That Almost Didn't Get Made

Rediff.com30 Jul 2026

'It would have never crossed anybody's mind where life would have taken us or that Irrfanji would fall sick.'

Ram Temple Theft Hurt Devotees But...: Yogi

Ram Temple Theft Hurt Devotees But...: Yogi

Rediff.com15 Jul 2026

'The Ayodhya incident has certainly hurt the faith of all of us, of Ram devotees like us.'

'Not Sonam Wangchuk': Aamir Khan's '3 Idiots' remark sparks storm

'Not Sonam Wangchuk': Aamir Khan's '3 Idiots' remark sparks storm

Rediff.com17 Jul 2026

Aamir Khan's comments that his 3 Idiots character Phunsukh Wangdu was not based on Sonam Wangchuk has triggered reactions from politicians, activists and social media users, with some accusing the actor of distancing himself from the educationist, who is currently on a hunger strike.

Exiled author Taslima Nasrin to return to Kolkata after 20 years

Exiled author Taslima Nasrin to return to Kolkata after 20 years

Rediff.com14 Jul 2026

Exiled Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasrin is set to return to Kolkata next month for an anti-fundamentalism literary event, nearly two decades after she was forced to leave the city amid violent protests over her writings. The BJP government in West Bengal is projecting this as a reversal of past capitulation to religious fundamentalism.

13 Terrific Movies That Rocked Cannes

13 Terrific Movies That Rocked Cannes

Rediff.com2 Jun 2026

13 films from the 2026 Cannes film festival, highlighting award-winning international cinema, unexpected gems, and restored classics that truly celebrated the art of filmmaking.

Banerjee Accuses BJP Of Dividing Bengal On Religious Lines

Banerjee Accuses BJP Of Dividing Bengal On Religious Lines

Rediff.com20 Apr 2026

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee criticised the BJP for allegedly attempting to divide people on religious and caste lines during a community outreach programme in her Bhabanipur constituency.

Banerjee Accuses BJP Of Dividing Bengal On Religious Lines

Banerjee Accuses BJP Of Dividing Bengal On Religious Lines

Rediff.com19 Apr 2026

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee criticised the BJP for allegedly deleting names from electoral rolls and attempting to divide people on religious and caste lines during a community outreach programme in her Bhabanipur constituency.

The Only Indian Film Competing At Cannes

The Only Indian Film Competing At Cannes

Rediff.com5 May 2026

'Cinema is such a powerful medium. It is not just the emotional impact, but some of these films are so strong that your entire body cannot help but react.'

Modi's Austerity Push Faces Reality Test

Modi's Austerity Push Faces Reality Test

Rediff.com25 May 2026

Following through announcements with enforcement of measures is key, as a run through recent Indian economic history shows, points out A K Bhattacharya.

Operation Sindoor: The 11-yr-old who served tea to soldiers

Operation Sindoor: The 11-yr-old who served tea to soldiers

Rediff.com7 May 2026

An 11-year-old boy's simple act of serving Indian soldiers during Operation Sindoor has become an inspiring story. Shavan Singh voluntarily provided tea, water, and lassi to Army jawans deployed in his village along the Indo-Pak border, earning him national recognition and the title of 'Youngest Civilian Warrior'.

Titan's Q4: Bullion Demand Fuels Revenue, But Margins Face Headwinds

Titan's Q4: Bullion Demand Fuels Revenue, But Margins Face Headwinds

Rediff.com18 May 2026

Jewellery majors Titan Company and Kalyan Jewellers reported robust Q4 FY26 results, with Titan's consolidated revenue surging 81 per cent year-on-year, largely propelled by a sixfold increase in bullion and digital gold sales. Despite strong top-line growth, Titan's gross and operating profit margins faced pressure due to the higher share of lower-margin gold products and increased marketing expenditure.

Haryana CM Saini Emphasises Sikh Values at Baisakhi Celebration

Haryana CM Saini Emphasises Sikh Values at Baisakhi Celebration

Rediff.com13 Apr 2026

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini emphasised the importance of Sikh Gurus' teachings at the Baisakhi Mahotsav in Kurukshetra, highlighting the government's efforts to promote these values and support the Sikh community.

Hanumankind lights up Colombo ahead of India-Pak clash

Hanumankind lights up Colombo ahead of India-Pak clash

Rediff.com15 Feb 2026

The atmosphere at the R Premadasa Stadium reached a fever pitch on Sunday evening as rapper Hanumankind delivered a high-energy performance ahead of the much-awaited India-Pakistan clash in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup.

Modi Slams TMC for Alleged Disrespect Towards President Murmu

Modi Slams TMC for Alleged Disrespect Towards President Murmu

Rediff.com14 Mar 2026

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has accused the Trinamool Congress (TMC) of insulting President Droupadi Murmu and disrespecting tribal communities and the Constitution, following a controversy surrounding the President's visit to West Bengal.

Governor Ravi Urges Collective Effort to Restore West Bengal's Glory

Governor Ravi Urges Collective Effort to Restore West Bengal's Glory

Rediff.com15 Apr 2026

West Bengal Governor RN Ravi has called for collective efforts to restore the state's past glory, highlighting concerns over economic and educational indicators. His remarks coincided with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee criticising him for allegedly 'abusing' her instead of extending New Year greetings.

Flipkart, Amazon Stack Up Space For Festival Rush

Flipkart, Amazon Stack Up Space For Festival Rush

Rediff.com9 Sep 2025

Festive sales are expected to surge 27 per cent to cross Rs 120,000 crore in 2025, driving Amazon and Flipkart to expand warehousing capacity by millions of cubic feet and extend delivery networks to thousands of new pin codes -- an infrastructure buildout that could reshape India's retail landscape for years.

National Centre of Excellence for Winter Sports Coming to J&K

National Centre of Excellence for Winter Sports Coming to J&K

Rediff.com26 Feb 2026

Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya announced the establishment of a National Centre of Excellence to promote winter sports in Jammu and Kashmir and the expansion of the Khelo India Winter Games into a 15-day event.

Amazon, Flipkart deploy war rooms for Rs 1.2 trillion festival battle

Amazon, Flipkart deploy war rooms for Rs 1.2 trillion festival battle

Rediff.com23 Sep 2025

At the stroke of midnight, live dashboards lit up simultaneously across Amazon India's World Trade Centre headquarters and Flipkart's Outer Ring Road office in Bengaluru. In sprawling "war rooms" at both the companies, executives monitored real-time data streams tracking payment speeds, inventory levels, and delivery logistics as millions of shoppers flooded online platforms.

SIT raids Zubeen's festival organiser, manager's homes amid protests

SIT raids Zubeen's festival organiser, manager's homes amid protests

Rediff.com26 Sep 2025

Assam Police's Special Investigating Team (SIT) is probing the death of singer Zubeen Garg, conducting raids and facing protests as the investigation unfolds.

Pankaja, O'Sey Balamma Make It To Sundance

Pankaja, O'Sey Balamma Make It To Sundance

Rediff.com26 Jan 2026

Pankaja and O'Sey Balamma bring deeply personal yet universally resonant stories to Sundance. They represent a new wave of South Indian storytelling, blending cultural authenticity with cinematic innovation, and mark an important step in amplifying regional voices on the international stage.

India's GDP Grows 7.8% in Q3 Under New Series; beats estimate

India's GDP Grows 7.8% in Q3 Under New Series; beats estimate

Rediff.com27 Feb 2026

India's economy experienced a growth of 7.8 per cent during the October-December quarter of 2025-26, according to the new series of national accounts with 2022-23 as the base year.

If You Are In New York On March 20 Don't Miss Ravi Shankar Ensemble

If You Are In New York On March 20 Don't Miss Ravi Shankar Ensemble

Rediff.com18 Mar 2026

The multi-generational ensemble of world-class musicians dedicated to the masterful compositions and enduring legacy of the legendary sitar-musician.

Sarma Accuses Congress of 'Sin' for Mentioning Zubeen Garg's Death in Election Promises

Sarma Accuses Congress of 'Sin' for Mentioning Zubeen Garg's Death in Election Promises

Rediff.com31 Mar 2026

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has strongly criticised the Congress party for including the issue of singer Zubeen Garg's death in its election manifesto, calling it a 'sin' and accusing the party of exploiting the singer's memory for political gain.

India's GDP estimated to grow at 7.4% in FY26; fastest in the world

India's GDP estimated to grow at 7.4% in FY26; fastest in the world

Rediff.com7 Jan 2026

The Indian economy is likely to grow at 7.4 per cent in 2025-26, up from 6.5 per cent in the previous fiscal, mainly on account of better performance of manufacturing and services sectors, as per the government data released on Wednesday.

Decked churches, midnight masses: India celebrates Christmas

Decked churches, midnight masses: India celebrates Christmas

Rediff.com25 Dec 2025

Christmas was celebrated with devotion and festive gaiety across India, with churches decked in lights, midnight masses, and community events spreading cheer. Leaders extended greetings, and celebrations took place in various states with prayers for peace and harmony.

Remained unapologetic on Op Sindoor: Tharoor addresses issues with Cong

Remained unapologetic on Op Sindoor: Tharoor addresses issues with Cong

Rediff.com24 Jan 2026

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor addresses reports of differences with party leadership, clarifying his stance on party positions and emphasizing the importance of national interest.

'Going By The BJP's Style, A Surprise Can't Be Ruled Out'

'Going By The BJP's Style, A Surprise Can't Be Ruled Out'

Rediff.com25 Mar 2026

'The BJP is keeping its options open and that the final decision is still tightly held.' 'That is consistent with the party's tendency to preserve suspense, avoid premature factional conflict, and use leadership selection as a way of resetting internal hierarchies.'

If language pride is a 'disease'...: Raj Thackeray slams RSS chief

If language pride is a 'disease'...: Raj Thackeray slams RSS chief

Rediff.com10 Feb 2026

In a post on X, Thackeray also claimed that those who attended Bhagwat's programme in Mumbai on February 7-8 to mark the RSS centenary did not come out of love for him but due to the fear of Narendra Modi's government.

RBI Proposes Strict Curbs On Bank Recovery Agents

RBI Proposes Strict Curbs On Bank Recovery Agents

Rediff.com13 Feb 2026

Abusive language, threats, harassment, excessive or anonymous calls, public humiliation, and misleading representations are explicitly prohibited.

India's Most Unusual Dussehra Celebrations

India's Most Unusual Dussehra Celebrations

Rediff.com2 Oct 2025

These traditions have survived centuries, even as India has changed dramatically around them.

Upset with Rahul, Tharoor to skip Cong strategy meet

Upset with Rahul, Tharoor to skip Cong strategy meet

Rediff.com23 Jan 2026

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor is reportedly upset and likely to skip a strategy meeting for the upcoming Kerala polls due to perceived slights and attempts to sideline him within the party.

HC Orders Fishing Ban In Kaziranga During Magh Bihu

HC Orders Fishing Ban In Kaziranga During Magh Bihu

Rediff.com23 Dec 2025

The court asked the state government, forest department and Kaziranga National Park authorities to place on record the steps taken so far to control illegal fishing and to explain how such activities can be effectively prevented in future.

Sardar Patel wanted to unite Kashmir with India, but...: Modi

Sardar Patel wanted to unite Kashmir with India, but...: Modi

Rediff.com31 Oct 2025

Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas celebrations at the Statue of Unity, commemorating Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's birth anniversary with a unity pledge and parade.

Modi Celebrates Diwali On INS Vikrant

Modi Celebrates Diwali On INS Vikrant

Rediff.com20 Oct 2025

Prime Minister Narendra Modi kept up his tradition of celebrating Diwali with the Indian armed forces.