Maharashtra's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has introduced a permanent, year-round food safety calendar to ensure public health during major festivals. This first-of-its-kind initiative categorises festivals into three levels and implements a four-stage inspection mechanism, focusing on preventing adulteration and unsafe food practices for high-demand products like sweets, dairy, and edible oils.
Qcom platforms are prioritising convenience, selection, AI-driven inventory planning and loyalty rewards over deep discounting.
Hundreds of Pune residents have protested against the use of loud music and DJ systems during the upcoming Ganesh festival, citing health issues and noise pollution. Ganesh Mandals, however, claim selective targeting and have pledged to follow guidelines to reduce noise.
Dahi Handi celebrations in Maharashtra turned tragic with two fatalities and over 130 'Govindas' injured. A seven-year-old boy died in Mumbai after a brick column collapsed, while a woman was crushed by an iron frame in Pune. Authorities are investigating the incidents, and political leaders have urged for safety during the festivities.
Mumbai Police have issued a prohibitory order banning weapons, explosives, and other harmful articles from August 29 to September 27, ahead of major festivals like Dahi Handi and Ganesh Chaturthi. The order aims to maintain public peace and safety, with specific exemptions for government personnel and security guards.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced that the 'Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan' annual sports festival will commence on September 5 in Bathinda, expecting around 10 lakh participants across 38 sports. The event, now in its fourth edition, aims to promote sports at block, district, and state levels, with competitions running until November 29.
India's passenger vehicle sales are estimated to have surged by approximately 35 per cent to about 4.5 lakh units in August, driven by strong performances from major automakers like Maruti Suzuki India, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles, and Mahindra & Mahindra, with the industry entering the festive season with optimism.
Indian passenger vehicle manufacturers are significantly increasing production and stocking dealerships in anticipation of strong festival season demand, with new launches planned and supply bottlenecks being addressed. However, the industry faces potential moderation in growth during the second half of FY27 due to a high base from last year's post-GST surge, commodity inflation, and elevated inventory levels.
A shooting incident at the annual Bite of Seattle Festival resulted in two fatalities and multiple injuries, including a 2-year-old child. Four victims were transported to Harborview Medical Centre with gunshot wounds, one in critical condition. Authorities have not yet identified a suspect or the cause of the shooting, which is one of at least 271 mass shootings in the US this year according to the Gun Violence Archive.
A visit to a chocolate festival is a journey purely fuelled by temptation
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.
Blind students at the Kamla Mehta Blind School in Dadar, north Mumbai, celebrated Janmashtami with a traditional Dahi Handi event.
Sadhguru's Isha Gramotsavam, a rural sports festival, is expanding its 18th edition into North India, covering 10 states and one Union Territory. This year's event will engage over 80,000 players from 40,000 villages in men's volleyball and women's throwball, offering a prize pool exceeding Rs 1 crore, with the aim of social transformation through sport.
A long-standing Janmashtami celebration in Kolkata's Mominpore, known for its syncretic culture with significant Muslim participation, is undergoing a major change. BJP leader Rakesh Singh has taken charge, forming an exclusively Hindu organising committee, sparking a debate about religious harmony, political influence, and the nature of shared festivals in the city.
India's eway bill generation reached 139.08 million in August, marking the third-highest monthly count on record and indicating sustained momentum in goods movement and formal economic activity, according to official data.
Vidyanand Bapat, a Pune-based activist advocating for a ban on high-decibel DJ systems and loudspeakers during festivals, was publicly assaulted by a man named Santosh Chavan while speaking to media persons.
Glimpses from Janmashtami celebrations taking shape across India before the festival.
The colourful food fight drew participants on August 26, while residents prepared homes ahead of the event.
Janmashtami is as much a feast for the eyes as it is a celebration of Lord Krishna.
Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions in India reached Rs 29.8 lakh crore in August, approaching record levels. Volume also hit a new high of 24.51 billion transactions, driven by festive activities like Raksha Bandhan. The digital payment system continues its rapid growth, expanding its global presence to 11 countries, with further growth anticipated during the upcoming festive season and new use cases like credit on UPI.
Mumbai's Koli (fisher) community marked the Narali Purnima festival with sea offerings, folk performances, boat rituals and traditional coconut games.
India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) recorded an unprecedented 24.51 billion transactions valued at Rs 29.8 lakh crore in August, largely propelled by the Raksha Bandhan festival. This surge marks a 22% annual increase in volume and 20% in value, highlighting the expanding reach and depth of the UPI ecosystem. Experts anticipate further growth during the upcoming festive season, while UPI's international acceptance now spans 11 countries.
Emerging as a prominent voice in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Steinem transformed the national discourse around gender equality, civil rights, and reproductive freedom. She first gained widespread media attention in 1963 with her investigative expos, "I Was a Playboy Bunny," which revealed the sexist and underpaid conditions faced by workers at Hugh Hefner's Playboy Club.
Kangana Ranaut has criticised Kriti Sanon's outfit choice in a recent Raksha Bandhan jewellery ad, calling it 'intentionally creepy'.
Sona Olickal's style feels like a sunny little wardrobe vacation. There's plenty of breezy femininity, playful prints and bohemian ease, but the Once More actress can just as easily switch into rich silks, statement jewellery or cool streetwear.
Five Raksha Bandhan ads that stayed with us long after the festival was over...
On Friday, Kashmiri Pandits participated in a colourful procession as part of Janmashtami celebrations in Srinagar, with tight security arrangements deployed along the route.
Jewellery brand GIVA has removed its Raksha Bandhan advertisement featuring Kriti Sanon following social media backlash over her attire.
Legendary actress Rekha was honoured with the Excellence in Cinema Award at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, where she emotionally reflected on her iconic role in Umrao Jaan during a special 45th anniversary screening.
From timeless classics to modern favourites, these 10 Malayalam songs capture the colour, warmth and togetherness of Onam like few others can.
Mumbaikars are set to face a significant financial burden as the prices of milk, CNG, and taxi-rickshaw fares have all seen a substantial increase from September 1, 2026, impacting household budgets ahead of the crucial festive season.
Bollywood stars take to social media to share heartwarming pictures and celebrate Raksha Bandhan with their beloved siblings.
Virat Kohli's sister, Bhawna shared a heartwarming post and a special message for her brothers on social media on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan on Friday.
Sanjay Sah, a 30-year-old employee, was rescued from a tunnel at the Trishuli 3A hydropower project in Nepal after nine days. He attributed his survival to chanting 'Hare Krishna' and was miraculously rescued on Krishna Janmashtami. Another worker, Kabir Maharjan, was also rescued but required further medical treatment. Sah, a foreman, stayed behind to ensure others' safety during the initial disaster.
Raksha Bandhan takes on a different character as you travel across India.
'The ethanol blended with petrol programme should not be halted or reconsidered.' 'India is not experiencing a structural sugar shortage, and the ethanol blending roadmap does not compete with food security or drive domestic price increases.'
Blind students at The Blind Relief Association in New Delhi showcased their creativity by making colorful rakhis ahead of Raksha Bandhan.
Indian Grandmaster Iniyan Pa has won the Masters category of the Global Chess Festival, dominating the tournament from start to finish. The 24-year-old national champion secured the title in his debut appearance, earning a prize purse of Rs 8 lakh. Nithin Babu and Madhvendra Pratap Sharma also triumphed in the Challenger and Junior Master categories, respectively, qualifying for next year's Masters event.
Two Kerala recipes to add to your Onam repast
Indian refiners are diverting 350,000 tonnes of sugar, originally slated for export, to the domestic market to ease a supply crunch and stabilise prices ahead of the festive season.
