It is Mumbai's favourite festival and is celebrated each year with fervour and frenzy. But when the city welcomes "Ganpati Bappa" this Friday, the celebrations will be low key. With a cap on the size of idols, ban on processions and restrictions on devotees visiting pandals, celebrations are toned down for the second year in a row. Festival budgets have shrunk and as a result, corporate sponsorships have dried out.
These measures are part of initiatives by these nations to attract Indian tourists, says Aneesh Phadnis.
India will extend the visa-on-arrival facility to all countries except eight with effect from September. The countries not covered under this single-entry e-visa facility, meant for purposes other than paid employment and education with a one-month time limit, are Pakistan, Sudan, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Sri Lanka and Somalia. The facility is currently available to 11 countries, including New Zealand, Singapore, Luxembourg, Japan and Finland.
'We have struggled to pay the rent, we have struggled to pay the electricity bill, we have struggled to send them to school, to buy books and uniforms but there was food on the table every day!'
A move to extend visas on arrival facility to 150 countries and make world heritage sites more tourist friendly has been welcomed.
I suggest we build a Vigyan Mandir (Temple of Science) with the ambience of a place of worship, so that it becomes a destination for pilgrims. We should embed on its walls bronze plaques describing each scientist mentioned here along with about a dozen of our ancient mathematicians, recommends Professor Kalyan Singhal, historian of science and technology.
Financial shares were among the top Sensex gainers along with auto and pharma shares.
Blame the voter, who invariably chooses the promise of hand-outs today in preference to a vague promise of, say, better schools tomorrow. Getting the Supreme Court to issue an edict, or Parliament to pass a law, is no solution, observes T N Ninan.
The United States and the United Kingdom, citing terrorism concerns, on Tuesday barred passengers on some international flights from mostly Muslim-majority countries, from carrying large electronic devices like cameras and laptops as cabin baggage.
Global cues lift Sensex 364 points; Nifty ends above 8,650.
The government will consider imposing stock holding limits on food items like pulses and cooking oils to check hoarding for containing price rise, Food Minister K V Thomas said.
Textile and telecom shares have gained ahead of the Cabinet meet later today which is likely to announce new measures for both the sectors.
'Anglo-Indians have played a significant role at the forefront, meeting every challenge to the security of the motherland.' A fascinating excerpt from Barry O'Brien's The Anglo-Indians: A Portrait of a Community.
Some banks might charge you a nominal amount of Rs 100-150 for issuing the card.
Ajit Mishra, vice president, Research, Religare Broking, answers your queries.
A comparison shows that for Delhi to Mumbai air travel, the lowest airfare price is in the range of Rs 2,755, while the surged price for second-AC comes at Rs 4,104, a 42 per cent increase from the current train fares
Travel companies and agencies are offering early bird discounts going up to 40 per cent. Priyadarshini Maji reports
The IIT-Madras alumnus, who moved to Canada for an MBA programme and settled there, is not new to investing in India.
A lowdown on what's happening in the Malayalam film industry.
With over 200 brands and websites as participants this year, the Google Online Shopping Festival is turning bigger.
They'll spice up your Instagram feeds with their lip-smacking food pics.
In an online chat with readers, chef Sanjeev Kapoor shares interesting anecdotes from his culinary journey.
Easter, the feast of reverence and symbolism, after the austere period of fasting, chimes with the mood of celebration and is all about good food.
A month ago, on March 25, Floyd Cardoz, chef extraordinaire, passed into the ages, a victim of coronavirus. Ranjita Ganesan remembers the culinary genius.
.jpg)
Markets ended tad lower with financials declining the most ahead of RBI policy review tomorrow.
'Bola nikal jao. Sala firing karte hai Russi.'
The Sensex ended lower on unfavourable cues.
Stay connected above and beyond what your work expects you to do.
At a time when many women were forbidden by their caste-conscious families from taking up acting assignments in an industry not deemed respectable, Phalke wanted to cast his wife as the female lead in Raja Harishchandra.
Anu Solanki 24, who went missing since December 24, is safe and is with a 23-year old man from California, Cook County, Illinois, Sheriff Thomas Dart announced on December 28.
Ajit Mishra, vice president, Research, Religare Broking, answers your queries.
Readers share their favourite food memories.
'Just the fact that people have mentioned it, it's already an honour, but it's not been something that I've been chasing in my life'
Is Lewis Hamilton sufficiently appreciated at home?
Organisers warn participants against eating out over COVID-19 risks.
Engineering student Hemanth Joseph, who bypassed Apple's activation lock, is now the poster boy for a young community of ethical hackers.
Aseem Chhabra lists his favourite Indian films of 2021.
Most tour operators offer accommodation to suit different budgets.
These trips can be as short as a month to 45 days.
Neeraj Chopra has set his eyes at achieving a distance of 90m consistently to enhance his chances of winning a medal at the Olympics.
