News for 'Festivals of India'

As buyers await price cut in GST rejig, automakers report dip in dispatches

As buyers await price cut in GST rejig, automakers report dip in dispatches

Rediff.com1 Sep 2025

Leading automakers Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, Mahindra, and Tata Motors saw a dip in dispatches to dealers in August amid dip in demand with many prospective buyers postponing their buys anticipating a reduction in vehicle prices on account of the new GST framework. The country's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India reported an 8 per cent year-on-year dip in dispatches of passenger vehicles in the domestic market last month.

Stocks of domestic-facing firms lag despite tariff-related hedge calls

Stocks of domestic-facing firms lag despite tariff-related hedge calls

Rediff.com1 Sep 2025

To shield against US President Donald Trump's tariff shock, analysts have been advising investors to focus on stocks of domestic-oriented companies, rather than export-centric ones, to minimise potential losses.

2025, 'Best Year Ever At India Box Office'

2025, 'Best Year Ever At India Box Office'

Rediff.com21 Jul 2025

With 17 films crossing the Rs 100 crore mark in the first six months, this year relied less on big-ticket blockbusters.

Zubeen Garg's wife urges public to maintain peace, defends manager

Zubeen Garg's wife urges public to maintain peace, defends manager

Rediff.com20 Sep 2025

Garima Saikia Garg, wife of the late singer Zubeen Garg, appeals to the public to maintain peace and support the singer's manager, Siddhartha Sharma, following Zubeen's death in Singapore.

'This Shock May Trigger Suicides'

'This Shock May Trigger Suicides'

Rediff.com25 Sep 2025

'Marathwada is the suicide capital of Maharashtra.' 'To stop such man-made disasters, the government should immediately come up with a rightful package, not this charitable approach to compensation.'

From modest start to mass movement, RSS turns 100

From modest start to mass movement, RSS turns 100

Rediff.com1 Oct 2025

From a modest start with baithaks of a handful of swayamsevaks in a small town in Nagpur, the RSS, which completes 100 years of its foundation on Thursday, has come a long way to become the world's biggest voluntary organisation with a pan-India presence, shaping the country's political and social discourse.

Wadiyars, Shivakumar in war of words over Chamundi Hill ownership

Wadiyars, Shivakumar in war of words over Chamundi Hill ownership

Rediff.com28 Aug 2025

A controversy has erupted in Mysuru over the ownership of Chamundi Hill, home to the Chamundeshwari Temple, ahead of the Dasara festival. Pramoda Devi Wadiyar of the erstwhile Mysuru royal family criticized Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar's statement that the hill is not the property of Hindus alone, leading to a heated exchange and raising questions about the nature of the upcoming Dasara celebrations.

'Never thought students would be killed for raising their voice'

'Never thought students would be killed for raising their voice'

Rediff.com10 Sep 2025

Nepali students studying in India express anxiety and concern for their families back home amidst violent protests in Nepal, delaying travel plans and maintaining constant contact to ensure their safety.

Ganguly buys team in Indian Racing Festival

Ganguly buys team in Indian Racing Festival

Rediff.com11 Jul 2024

Akhilesh Reddy, Chairman and Managing Director of Racing Promotions Pvt Ltd (RPPL), welcomed Ganguly to the racing fold.

Valuation a key hurdle for auto stocks in short term

Valuation a key hurdle for auto stocks in short term

Rediff.com24 Sep 2025

Multiple tailwinds for the automobile sector, including a cut in goods and services tax (GST) rates, are keeping analysts bullish on auto stocks from a long-term perspective, even as they see the rally running its course in the near term.

Mohanlal, The Man Behind The Actor

Mohanlal, The Man Behind The Actor

Rediff.com29 Sep 2025

The cheeky young man who once gave me one-word answers grew into a philosophical, detached star yet remained simple and humble, never letting stardom steal his heart, notes Rediff's Shobha Warrier who first interviewed the Dadasaheb Phalke Award winner in 1987.

Homebound Review: Highly Recommended

Homebound Review: Highly Recommended

Rediff.com26 Sep 2025

In the slot of rural poor, there are those who struggle to pull themselves out of crumbling hovels, and there are the Jamtara-like bunch who turn to crime. Neeraj Ghaywan's Homebound is about the former, whose quest for respect and dignity is thwarted because they are underprivileged, notes Deepa Gahlot.

'People Know Gandhi As Villain Or Hero'

'People Know Gandhi As Villain Or Hero'

Rediff.com3 Oct 2025

'They are clueless about the man on the currency notes.' 'They have been fed with WhatsApp forwards, so either Gandhi is vilified or deified. There's nothing in between.'

Indian Growth Fuels Far-Right Rallies In Australia

Indian Growth Fuels Far-Right Rallies In Australia

Rediff.com1 Sep 2025

One flyer read: 'More Indians in 5 years, than Greeks and Italians in 100', adding, 'This isn't a slight cultural change, it's a replacement plain and simple'.

Amazon sees gold rush in festival season

Amazon sees gold rush in festival season

Rediff.com7 Oct 2024

Amazon India has witnessed an 84 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) increase in sales of hallmarked gold jewellery and posted a 5-fold spike in demand during the first two days of its ongoing Amazon Great Indian Festival (AGIF) sale event, which started on September 27. This demand is for brands such as Malabar Gold and Diamonds, PN Gadgil Jewellers, Joyalukkas, PC Chandra and KISNA, among others. According to current trends, customers buy fine jewellery starting at Rs 2,000 in the silver category and shell out up to Rs 40,000 for gold and diamond jewellery. In the last year, Amazon has seen more customers opt for 14 Karat purity.

GST 2.0: 2W sales to grow 5-6%, passenger vehicles by 2-3% in FY26

GST 2.0: 2W sales to grow 5-6%, passenger vehicles by 2-3% in FY26

Rediff.com5 Sep 2025

Two-wheeler sales volume is expected to grow 5-6 per cent this fiscal, while that of passenger vehicles to see a 2-3 per cent rise, following the GST rates rationalisation on automobiles, according to Crisil Ratings. The GST Council's decision to move to a two-rate structure of 5 per cent and 18 per cent, effective September 22, 2025, is a timely move that will revive demand for automobiles, Crisil Ratings said in a statement.

ABVP wrests key positions in DUSU polls, NSUI limited to one seat

ABVP wrests key positions in DUSU polls, NSUI limited to one seat

Rediff.com19 Sep 2025

The RSS-affiliated ABVP won the president's post and two other positions in the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) elections, restricting the NSUI to just one seat. The victory celebrations were muted due to court orders against disruptive festivities.

Festival demand boosts domestic sales of two-wheelers by up to 26%

Festival demand boosts domestic sales of two-wheelers by up to 26%

Rediff.com5 Nov 2024

Major two-wheeler manufacturers in India witnessed a double-digit increase in domestic sales in October, driven by the festival fervour.

Realty firms upbeat on reforms, expect better affordability, project viability

Realty firms upbeat on reforms, expect better affordability, project viability

Rediff.com5 Sep 2025

Real-estate firms have welcomed the Goods and Services Tax Council's reforms, expecting better affordability for buyers, spurring demand. The council has reduced the rate on cement from 28 per cent to 18 per cent, while the rate on sand lime bricks or stone inlay work and granite blocks has been cut to 5 per cent from 12 per cent.

GST cut: AC prices may go down by up to Rs 2,500

GST cut: AC prices may go down by up to Rs 2,500

Rediff.com18 Aug 2025

The appliance makers expect a good churn in the festive season, led by the government's proposal to reduce the GST slab on air-conditioners from the current 28 per cent to 18 per cent, which will reduce the price from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,500 depending on the models.

'Cinema's Greatest Challenge Is Reels'

'Cinema's Greatest Challenge Is Reels'

Rediff.com5 Aug 2025

'I don't know how long cinema will survive.'

RBI report confident of festival boost to economy

RBI report confident of festival boost to economy

Rediff.com22 Oct 2024

The Reserve Bank of India's (RBI's) State of the Economy report for October acknowledged a slowdown in some high-frequency indicators but expressed confidence in a recovery, aided by consumption demand during the festival season. "In India, aggregate demand is poised to shrug off the temporary slowdown in momentum in the second quarter of 2024-25 as festival demand picks up pace and consumer confidence improves," said the report released on Monday.

Credit cards get a festive boost, spending increases 25% in Sep

Credit cards get a festive boost, spending increases 25% in Sep

Rediff.com30 Oct 2024

Credit card spending in September recorded strong growth of 25 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y), marking the highest increase in six months. Even as many banks saw higher slippages during the July-September quarter of 2024-25, spending growth exceeded 20 per cent for the first time since February. According to the latest data released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), September spending reached Rs 1.76 trillion, compared to Rs 1.42 trillion in the same period a year ago. In August 2024, credit card spending was Rs 1.68 trillion.

Janhvi, Nitibha And The Magic Called India

Janhvi, Nitibha And The Magic Called India

Rediff.com1 Jun 2025

From gorgeous gowns to sleek suits, the stars at Cannes showed us Indian-designed outfits that were a unique expression of style and artistry.

Goa students paraded in underwear in '3rd Degree' competition

Goa students paraded in underwear in '3rd Degree' competition

Rediff.com11 Jul 2025

"During a competition called 'Third Degree', the jury asked the participants to strip to their underwear," a senior official said.

The Sweet Rise of Indian Chocolates

The Sweet Rise of Indian Chocolates

Rediff.com20 Aug 2025

India's craft chocolate makers are changing the market by using local cacao, creating bold new flavours, making chocolate both a luxury and a story.

BIGGEST Real Estate Myth BUSTED!

BIGGEST Real Estate Myth BUSTED!

Rediff.com18 Sep 2025

Do home prices really never fall? Ramalingam Kalirajan begs to differ.

All Eyes On India For Miss World 2025

All Eyes On India For Miss World 2025

Rediff.com12 May 2025

Over the coming weeks, the contestants will explore Telangana's heritage, artistry and innovation through curated events, cultural showcases and purpose-led presentations. culminating in the Miss World grand finale on May 31 at the HITEX Exhibition Centre.

One Festival, Many Names: How Makar Sankranti Is Celebrated Across India

One Festival, Many Names: How Makar Sankranti Is Celebrated Across India

Rediff.com14 Jan 2025

The nation celebrates the beginning of longer days and shorter nights as the weather turns warmer.

Trump's Tariffs Bites Surat's Diamond Industry

Trump's Tariffs Bites Surat's Diamond Industry

Rediff.com25 Aug 2025

'We will be able to anticipate the full picture of the impact after August, which is also the time when demand for a year begins to peak ahead of the December holidays and Valentine's Day.'

Huma's Superhero Kashmir Connection

Huma's Superhero Kashmir Connection

Rediff.com25 Aug 2025

'Kashmir has so many stories, cultures, and folklore. It should be promoted. We should definitely have more stories out of Kashmir.'

Auto firms align dispatches with retail demand amid stock pileup

Auto firms align dispatches with retail demand amid stock pileup

Rediff.com4 Aug 2025

Manufacturers of passenger vehicles (PVs) in the first half of the calendar year (2025) reported a modest 0.5 per cent year-on-year increase in wholesale dispatches, while retail sales grew 2.5 per cent for the same period, reflecting a calibrated approach by automakers amid elevated dealership inventories and cautious consumer sentiment. According to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (Siam), dispatches rose marginally to 2.16 million units, up from 2.15 million units a year earlier.

US tariff shock to hit Bengal's labour-intensive industries

US tariff shock to hit Bengal's labour-intensive industries

Rediff.com27 Aug 2025

The additional 25 per cent tariff imposed by US President Donald Trump on India is set to deliver a major blow to West Bengal's export-driven economy, with the state's labour-intensive leather, engineering and marine sectors expecting losses ahead of the festive season, stakeholders said. The increased levies on Indian products for the country's purchases of Russian oil came into effect on Wednesday, bringing the total amount of tariff imposed on New Delhi to 50 per cent.

Rah, Rah, India Say Anuksha, Aishwarya, Sejal...

Rah, Rah, India Say Anuksha, Aishwarya, Sejal...

Rediff.com29 May 2025

International stars are increasingly turning to Indian designers to make a statement at international events.

'Markets Remain Far From 2024 Euphoria'

'Markets Remain Far From 2024 Euphoria'

Rediff.com5 Sep 2025

'A balanced portfolio mix of domestic and international equity, fixed income, and precious metals is recommended.'

9 IAF officers get Vir Chakra for Operation Sindoor

9 IAF officers get Vir Chakra for Operation Sindoor

Rediff.com14 Aug 2025

As festivities for Independence Day begin, the Centre on Thursday awarded Vir Chakra to nine Indian Air Force officers for their brave contributions in the service of the nation during Operation Sindoor.

Gold rally may pause as investors eye US Fed policy decision

Gold rally may pause as investors eye US Fed policy decision

Rediff.com14 Sep 2025

Gold prices are expected to maintain their upward momentum though some consolidation could set in ahead of the US Federal Reserve's policy decision on September 17, analysts said. Traders will focus on the trade inflation data to gauge the impact of tariffs, inflation numbers from major economies including UK and Euro zone, along with monetary policy meetings of Bank of England and Bank of Japan which will provide more guidance for bullion prices, they added.

Delhi police busts 'Khilafat' terror module linked to Pakistan

Delhi police busts 'Khilafat' terror module linked to Pakistan

Rediff.com12 Sep 2025

The Delhi police Special Cell has busted a terror module with links to Pakistan and arrested five suspected operatives after raids across multiple states, an official said on Thursday.

Whatever is made here, don't import: RSS chief Bhagwat

Whatever is made here, don't import: RSS chief Bhagwat

Rediff.com28 Aug 2025

'Whatever is necessary for life and is not made in your country, we will import it from outside.'

AC, TV makers upbeat about sales amid signs of GST cuts

AC, TV makers upbeat about sales amid signs of GST cuts

Rediff.com18 Aug 2025

Consumer durables makers are hopeful that the government's proposal to reduce goods and services tax (GST) on air conditioners and television panels above 32 inches to 18 per cent would help revive the sector.