News for 'Festival of India'

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.

The 4 Km Sari That's Fighting Marital Rape

The 4 Km Sari That's Fighting Marital Rape

Rediff.com30 Jan 2026

The Infinite Saree campaign is using India's most iconic garment to demand a law against marital rape in the country.

Indian Travel Gets Personal in 2026

Indian Travel Gets Personal in 2026

Rediff.com28 Jan 2026

Ultra-personalisation is the new standard for Indian tourists.

Sabarimala women's entry issue returns ahead of SC hearing

Sabarimala women's entry issue returns ahead of SC hearing

Rediff.com15 Feb 2026

The Sabarimala temple women's entry issue has resurfaced in Kerala, leading to a political debate between the ruling CPI(M) and the opposition Congress, as the Supreme Court is scheduled to consider review petitions related to its 2018 verdict.

Mitchell slams century as New Zealand down India to level series

Mitchell slams century as New Zealand down India to level series

Rediff.com14 Jan 2026

K L Rahul's unbeaten ton was eclipsed by Daryl Mitchell's splendid 131 not out as New Zealand levelled the three-match series 1-1 with a seven-wicket win in the second ODI.

Development dawns in Bastar as Maoist fear recedes: Prez Murmu

Development dawns in Bastar as Maoist fear recedes: Prez Murmu

Rediff.com7 Feb 2026

President Droupadi Murmu stated that government actions against Maoists have improved the atmosphere in Bastar, Chhattisgarh, leading to development. She encouraged those who have left violence to trust the Constitution.

Strong demand boosts January sales of automakers

Strong demand boosts January sales of automakers

Rediff.com2 Feb 2026

Leading automakers Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, and Hyundai Motor India posted higher sales in January riding on the growth momentum ushered in by the GST reforms in the festive period last year.

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.

Meet The Mardaani 3 Villain!

Meet The Mardaani 3 Villain!

Rediff.com14 Jan 2026

Mallika Prasad Sinha plays Amma with chilling precision and is perfectly cast for the part.

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.

Does Shazia Iqbal Find Dhurandhar 'Sinister'?

Does Shazia Iqbal Find Dhurandhar 'Sinister'?

Rediff.com3 Feb 2026

'It's not hidden, it's not unintentional -- inciting hate and violence is in the DNA of Dhurandhar.'

Realty developers see a cracker of sales in key cities this festival season

Realty developers see a cracker of sales in key cities this festival season

Rediff.com22 Oct 2025

India's housing market has remained resilient this festival season (Dussehra-Diwali period), despite global macroeconomic challenges, tech-sector layoffs, and affordability pressures, with developers reporting 10-25 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) rise in home sales across major cities.

Bangladesh to hold crucial general elections on Thursday

Bangladesh to hold crucial general elections on Thursday

Rediff.com11 Feb 2026

Bangladesh is set to hold parliamentary elections with unprecedented security measures in place, following a period of interim governance and political changes.

Non-metro push by qcom, ecom players may lift gig hirings

Non-metro push by qcom, ecom players may lift gig hirings

Rediff.com9 Feb 2026

Ecommerce (ecom) and quick commerce (qcom) platforms are expected to lead gig worker hiring in calendar year 2026 (CY26), adding nearly 1 million workers on the back of sustained demand for last-mile deliveries, higher order volumes, and continued expansion of dark stores into non-metropolitan cities, industry experts have said.

Smriti and Jemimah Spread Christmas Cheer

Smriti and Jemimah Spread Christmas Cheer

Rediff.com26 Dec 2025

Jemimah Rodrigues shared a photo of the pair wearing Santa hats and festive red and green outfits.

Luxury Cars, Bikes Rev Up For Festival Season

Luxury Cars, Bikes Rev Up For Festival Season

Rediff.com23 Sep 2025

Luxury carmakers are shifting into high gear with a mix of product launches, personalised experiences and lifestyle-led engagement.

SRK's In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones Goes To Berlin

SRK's In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones Goes To Berlin

Rediff.com16 Jan 2026

Arundhati Roy's 1989 film, In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones, which won two National Awards for Best Screenplay for Roy and Best Feature Film in English, is among the line-up of 10 films for the Berlinale Classics segment.

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.

8 Countries With The Most Public Holidays

8 Countries With The Most Public Holidays

Rediff.com9 Jan 2026

These nations officially top the list when it comes to maximum number of official days off.

Maharashtra Republic Day tableau wins top award

Maharashtra Republic Day tableau wins top award

Rediff.com29 Jan 2026

The Indian Navy has been recognized as the best marching contingent among the armed forces at the Republic Day Parade. Maharashtra won for states/UTs, and the Culture Ministry for ministries/departments.

India rings in 2026 with prayers, parties

India rings in 2026 with prayers, parties

Rediff.com1 Jan 2026

Indians across the country welcomed the New Year 2026 with celebrations, religious observances, and gatherings at tourist spots. The President, Vice President, and Prime Minister extended greetings for peace and prosperity.

Recipes: Coorg Payasam, Bamboo Shoot Fry

Recipes: Coorg Payasam, Bamboo Shoot Fry

Rediff.com4 Feb 2026

Kodava food or cooking from Kodagu/Coorg in Karnataka is unique for reflecting its forest ecology, martial culture and agriculture, starkly different from the typical rice-and-coconut heavy coastal cuisines of South India.

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.

India's Problem: Strong Power, Weak Resistance

India's Problem: Strong Power, Weak Resistance

Rediff.com3 Jan 2026

This new year will bring, once again, a repetition of both intent and apathy, expects Aakar Patel.

No Oscar Nomination For Homebound; Sinners Breaks Record

No Oscar Nomination For Homebound; Sinners Breaks Record

Rediff.com22 Jan 2026

Homebound missed an Oscar nomination; Sinners broke the record by getting the most nominations ever, at 16 counts.

Great Himalayan Dream: Can Nepal spark T20 World Cup magic?

Great Himalayan Dream: Can Nepal spark T20 World Cup magic?

Rediff.com3 Feb 2026

For a team that once struggled for basic infrastructure, the T20 World Cup is being viewed as a defining leap rather than just another appearance for Nepal.

Best 5G Mobile Phones Under Rs 10,000: 2026 Buyer's Guide

Best 5G Mobile Phones Under Rs 10,000: 2026 Buyer's Guide

Rediff.com7 Feb 2026

Aggressive pricing by brands have made the 5g mobile phone affordable; you can get good options around Rs 10,000.

Amazon, Flipkart showcase GST deals as festival shopping begins

Amazon, Flipkart showcase GST deals as festival shopping begins

Rediff.com23 Sep 2025

Amazon India unveiled a dedicated marketplace section highlighting products with reduced tax burdens as the goods and services tax (GST) restructuring took effect on September 22, positioning the ecommerce giant to capitalise on lower consumer prices across electronics, appliances, and other categories. Its rival Flipkart, too, has rolled out its own GST-focused storefront, the GST Bachat Utsav, aimed at helping shoppers maximise benefits from the new tax rates across multiple categories.

Modi, Merz set for Ahmedabad talks amid rising global tensions

Modi, Merz set for Ahmedabad talks amid rising global tensions

Rediff.com11 Jan 2026

In their talks, Modi and Merz are likely to deliberate on trade and investment ties as New Delhi is looking at deepening economic engagement with Europe against the backdrop of Washington's 50 percent tariff on Indian goods, people familiar with the matter said.

Gandhi Talks Review: Underwhelming

Gandhi Talks Review: Underwhelming

Rediff.com3 Feb 2026

The fact that a major studio put out a silent film starring some of the biggest names in the industry in these concerning times for the film business is the one big takeaway from Gandhi Talks, notes Arjun Menon.

Is Shashi Tharoor heading to CPM? Kerala MP says...

Is Shashi Tharoor heading to CPM? Kerala MP says...

Rediff.com26 Jan 2026

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has declined to comment on reports claiming he held discussions with CPI(M) members in Dubai. CPI(M) dismisses speculation about Tharoor joining, while Congress denies he is leaving.

Zubeen Garg's manager, festival organiser booked for murder

Zubeen Garg's manager, festival organiser booked for murder

Rediff.com2 Oct 2025

Assam Police have filed a murder charge against Zubeen Garg's manager and a festival organizer in connection with the singer's death in Singapore. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities seeking cooperation from Singaporean officials.

Industry confidence hits five-qtr high in Oct-Dec: CII survey

Industry confidence hits five-qtr high in Oct-Dec: CII survey

Rediff.com19 Jan 2026

Business confidence in India Inc rose to a five-quarter high in December quarter of FY26, amid further reform expectations and steady domestic demand, a survey by industry body Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) showed. The CII Business Confidence Index (BCI) rose for the third consecutive quarter to 66.5 in the December quarter from 66 in the preceding September quarter.

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.

Bangladesh gears up for polls amidst political turmoil

Bangladesh gears up for polls amidst political turmoil

Rediff.com31 Jan 2026

Bangladesh is preparing for elections and a referendum on reforms, but the absence of the Awami League and rising political tensions are raising concerns about the legitimacy and stability of the process.

FIR Filed Against Ranveer Singh For Insulting Chavundi Daiva

FIR Filed Against Ranveer Singh For Insulting Chavundi Daiva

Rediff.com29 Jan 2026

The complainant stated that Ranveer Singh, while present on stage and in the presence of the lead actor of Kantara: Chapter-1, allegedly performed acts that mocked and insulted the sacred Bhoota Kola tradition practiced in coastal Karnataka.

Riddhi, The Cutie To Watch Out For!

Riddhi, The Cutie To Watch Out For!

Rediff.com13 Jan 2026

With Raja Saab ready to introduce her to a wider audience, Riddhi Kumar is already turning heads for more than just her screen presence.

Diyas To Drones: How Festivals Are Being Redefined

Diyas To Drones: How Festivals Are Being Redefined

Rediff.com25 Sep 2025

From drone-lit skies and gemstone rangolis to fragrance journeys and theatrical thalis, India's new-age festive events blend heritage with high-tech spectacle to create memories that feel both intimate and unforgettable.

7 Goddess Saraswati Temples

7 Goddess Saraswati Temples

Rediff.com22 Jan 2026

Basant Panchami is dedicated to Devi Saraswati, the goddess of learning and an auspicious occasion to visit shrines in her honour.

Lights On Hills, Joy In Valleys: Meghalaya At Christmas

Lights On Hills, Joy In Valleys: Meghalaya At Christmas

Rediff.com29 Dec 2025

There aren't too many places in India happier than Meghalaya at Christmas.