Mumbai is abuzz with Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations as Ganesha idols arrive in homes and pandals across the city. The 11-day festival, marked by devotional chants, elaborate pujas, and vibrant decorations, culminates in grand immersions on Anant Chaturdashi. The city is adorned with lights, and markets are bustling, while authorities have deployed extensive security measures to ensure safe festivities, despite recent idol collapse incidents.
For World Cotton Day, we're looking at how celebrities are making cotton feel anything but basic, taking it from everyday kurtas and breezy dresses to playful co-ords, sharp tailoring and romantic silhouettes. These looks make even the most comfortable fabric feel fashion-forward.
Madhya Pradesh BJP MLA Usha Thakur has sparked controversy by claiming that 4.5 lakh girls elope with non-Hindu men during Garba celebrations annually, leading to demographic change. She advocated banning non-Hindus from Garba pandals, a stance supported by the VHP, which suggests Aadhaar checks to prevent "love jihad." The Congress has condemned her remarks, demanding an apology, and highlighted similar controversial statements from another BJP MLA.
Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated the BRICS Traditional and Indigenous Sports Demonstration Games 2026 in Ahmedabad, emphasising the role of traditional sports in reflecting cultural identity and fostering international cooperation. The one-day event, hosted by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, brought together delegations from BRICS and partner countries to showcase indigenous sporting practices like Mallakhamb, Yogasana, and Kalaripayattu from India, alongside Wushu from China and Sambo from Russia. Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi also highlighted India's rich sporting heritage and proposed initiatives for global promotion and preservation of traditional sports.
Thank you, Dear Readers, for sharing your pictures of Lord Ganesha.
A protest in Mumbai's Shivaji Park area, supporting the Cockroach Janta Party's stir against CEC Gyanesh Kumar, intensified on Sunday with the arrival of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray and MNS' Amit Thackeray. Police detained dozens of protesters, including social activist Anjali Damania, leading to further condemnation from the Thackeray cousins who criticised the police action and the BJP government.
The Gauhati High Court has granted bail to singer Amrit Prabha Mahanta, an accused in the Zubeen Garg death case, against a bond of Rs 50,000. Special Public Prosecutor Ziaul Kamar stated that the grounds for bail are not yet known, but the court deemed it a fit case. The prosecution, which presented arguments for several days, cannot challenge the order but will inform the government. Mahanta is currently lodged in Haflong jail, while other accused are in Tamulpur jail. The case involves the mysterious death of singer Zubeen Garg in Singapore last year, with conflicting findings from Singapore Police and Assam authorities, who maintain it was a murder.
Mahindra & Mahindra is contemplating another price increase across its SUV portfolio in response to recent commodity price surges, with a decision expected within the next two weeks, according to Nalinikanth Gollagunta, CEO Automotive Division, Mahindra Group.
Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem's new film Bunker received a remarkable 16-minute standing ovation at the Venice film festival, marking the longest applause for a premiere at this year's event.
In Rediff's series on modern marriages, Pratik, 36, tells Rediff's Divya Nair how the difficult decision to stay away from both sets of parents, among other things, helped strengthen their marriage.
'Earlier, Ganeshotsav was social. Now it is all about social media.'
Bollywood celebs Pooja Hegde, Rashmika Mandanna, Ananya Panday, Sharvari kickstart Ganesh Chaturthi festivities with much joy and devotion.
India's U15 men's football team has been drawn into Group K for the inaugural FIFA U15 World Cup & Festival Azerbaijan 2026. Coached by Bibiano Fernandes, the team will play five qualification matches in Baku against Bahrain, Cameroon, Grenada, Laos, and Senegal, starting October 24. The tournament features 191 national teams and an 8v8 format.
KL Rahul marked Ganesh Chaturthi with prayers and festive cheer at home, sharing a glimpse of the celebrations with his fans on Instagram.
Every home welcomes Ganpati in its own special way. Some idols are playful and mischievous, some look calm and peaceful, while others have a grand, regal presence.
ICC Anti-Corruption Unit chief Andrew Ephgrave has labelled legends leagues, featuring retired players, as a "real grey area" due to their unsanctioned nature and potential "reputational risk" to cricket. He highlighted concerns about corruption allegations, citing a Sri Lankan league incident, and stressed the importance of distinguishing these from official cricket structures. Ephgrave also noted an increase in players reporting corrupt approaches, attributing it to improved ACU engagement.
Bangladesh Captain Litton Das celebrated Ganesh Chaturthi with his wife and daughter.
Political leaders and dignitaries, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, joined devotees across the country in celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi with traditional fervour, offering prayers and seeking blessings.
Thank you, Dear Readers, for sharing your pictures of Lord Ganesha.
The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games concluded with a spectacular closing ceremony featuring a dazzling light and musical show, celebrating Japan's culture and hospitality. The event saw over 350 records broken, including 50 world records, and marked the official handover to Doha for the 2030 Games. India finished fourth in the medal tally with 85 medals.
'You have to set new boundaries with your parents. This will be uncomfortable but necessary in the long run,' counsels rediffGURU Anu Krishna, a mind coach and co-founder of Unfear Changemakers.
Celebrate Amitabh Bachchan's 84th birthday with a look back at his most iconic and electrifying dance numbers.
India's Asian Games gold medalists in kabaddi and shooting received a grand welcome at the IGI Airport.
Bandhani has been around for generations but the girlies are giving it a very different life now with exotic blouses, pre-draped saris, lehenga-sari hybrids and unexpected colour combinations.
Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee indicated her potential participation in a protest at Jantar Mantar on October 10, demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. She strongly criticised the BJP and the Election Commission over alleged electoral malpractices and "SIR anomalies" in Bengal. Banerjee also expressed solidarity with Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra regarding their treatment during recent protests and plans to approach President Droupadi Murmu.
Amruta Fadnavis, wife of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, has stated that festivals like Navratri are inclusive and there is nothing wrong with Muslim individuals attending the celebrations, despite the Vishva Hindu Parishad's call to bar Muslims from such events and BJP leader Nitesh Rane's support for the ban.
Mahindra has launched the Thar OG, an upgraded version of its popular SUV, built on a new M Glyde 4G platform with advanced features like Frequency Dependent Damping and Electric Power Steering, while retaining an accessible starting price of 10.32 Lakh.
From lifelong traditions to four generations celebrating together, these Ganeshotsav moments capture the joy of welcoming Bappa home.
'Very few people are fortunate to make such a quick and quiet exit from the world. He would have been miserable in a hospital.'
'People started fearing Nana Patekar's frankness. Kuchh bhi bol sakta hai yeh. He once pointed to a major respected politician's belly and asked 'Kya hai yeh?''
Nikhil Rasal from Satara and Adarsh Mitra Mandal of Gharat Aali, Alibag, have used their Ganpati decorations to highlight the work and public service associated with Tukaram Mundhe, commissioner of food and drug administration turning the festival into a platform for social awareness.
India's T20 World Cup winning captain Suryakumar Yadav, known as 'SKY', celebrated Ganesh Chaturthi with his wife Devisha and baby girl Riddhima, sharing a heartwarming post on social media.
Indian cricketers Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, and Cheteshwar Pujara took to social media to extend their warm wishes to fans on the auspicious occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi, sharing messages of peace, health, and prosperity.
Overcrowding and jostling preceded the electrocution tragedy near a Ganapati pandal in Kalachowki neighbourhood in Mumbai's Lalbaug area early Sunday, which claimed the lives of an eight-year-old girl and a woman, eyewitnesses and locals claimed.
Thank you, Dear Readers, for sharing your pictures of Lord Ganesha.
The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) has announced that Muslims will be barred from participating in 'garba' and 'dandiya' events during the upcoming Navratri festival in Maharashtra. The organisation has also issued guidelines for organisers, including checking Aadhaar cards and applying 'tilak' to verify Hindu identity, citing the religious nature of the festival.
The Retailers Association of India (RAI) has voiced concerns that the government's new 0.4 per cent Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI transactions above Rs 2,000 could reverse the progress of digital payment adoption among small retailers. This fee, effective October 15, places the burden on merchants operating on thin margins, potentially pushing them back to cash transactions and undermining the government's formalisation agenda, especially ahead of the festive season.
In Pune, 31 prominent Ganapati mandals celebrated a "DJ-free" Dahi Handi, advocating for traditional instruments over high-decibel sound systems for upcoming festivals like Ganeshotsav. This initiative, led by Punit Balan, aims to preserve Maharashtra's cultural heritage and reduce noise pollution, gaining support from around 200 mandals and the Chief Minister.
'Ma would fiddle with the radio's knob until the static gave way to music; then, the voice would come on. I would be half-asleep still, understanding little of the Sanskrit words I heard but the words in chants, interspersed with songs, cast a spell. I still remember the goosebumps I felt as the epic tale of Goddess Durga's birth and battles unfolded,' says Radha Roy Biswas.
Two separate incidents of Ganesh idols falling during processions were reported in Palghar and Thane districts. In Nalasopara, a Ganesh idol fell due to heavy rain and wind but remained intact with no injuries. In Bhayander, a youth was injured and an idol was damaged when it tipped over during its arrival procession.
