The Shiv Sena (UBT) has demanded the Bharat Ratna for Shiv Sena founder late Bal Thackeray, calling for the highest civilian honor to be bestowed upon the late leader on the occasion of his 99th birth anniversary. Party leader Sanjay Raut criticized the BJP-led government for awarding the Bharat Ratna to individuals he deemed undeserving and argued that Thackeray, who he described as the "sower of Hindutva seeds," deserves the honor. Raut also emphasized the significance of Thackeray's upcoming birth centenary, asserting that awarding him the Bharat Ratna before the centenary would also be an honor for Veer Savarkar.
Four cities in neighbouring Pakistan and one in China are among the world's top 20 polluted cities.
Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said due to COVID and related reasons use of firecrackers are being banned this time.
Five persons, including two children and a woman, were killed due to an explosion at a firecracker godown-cum-factory in Uttar Pradesh's Firozabad district that caused damage to nearby houses, a police official said on Tuesday.
According to the Indian Fireworks' Manufacturers' Association, the ban would wipe out sales of around Rs 600 crore during the upcoming Deepavali season.
While the BJP received the highest amount, securing Rs 1,685.63 crore, the Congress received Rs 828.36 crore, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rs 10.15 crore.
Bursting firecrackers is not a matter of religion, it affects people's lives, Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai said on Wednesday and urged the Opposition not to jeopardise the well-being of children and the elderly for political ambitions.
Tensions flared in Madhya Pradesh's Mhow town and Gandhinagar district of Gujarat amid celebrations of the Indian cricket team's victory in the ICC Champions Trophy, resulting in unrest and multiple arrests across the two states.
Skies over Delhi hung heavy with smoke and its air quality inched towards "severe" category on Diwali night as people burst firecrackers in a blatant disregard to the government's ban against it, imposed amid an increase in the contribution from farm fires.
At least 10 people died and nine others suffered serious injuries in a massive explosion that took place inside a house in Bhagalpur, Bihar, where the inhabitants were said to be involved in illegal firecracker business, an official said on Friday.
A 20-year-old man was stabbed to death after two groups clashed over the bursting of firecrackers in central Mumbai in the early hours of Friday, following which police arrested five persons, including a woman, an official said.
Air quality index (AQI) soared past 350 level in parts of Delhi on Thursday and experts cautioned that as weather turns colder it may breach the 400-mark ceiling and enter the 'severe' zone soon, notwithstanding the incidents of stubble burnings which have nosedived from 17,529 in 2020 to 4,262 this year.
COVID-19 cases have increased in Delhi due to the ongoing festival season and pollution, the chief minister said after the review meeting with the chief secretary, health department officials and district magistrates.
Keeping up his tradition of celebrating the festival with soldiers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Sir Creek near the Indo-Pak border in Gujarat's Kutch district and offered sweets to jawans.
Take cues from the actor who has a handy guidebook on how to look as dazzling as a firecracker this Diwali.
The map, above shows the number of firecracker deaths per 10 crore people and the 10 year change in firecracker deaths per 10 crore people.
'We were hoping for her victory and had planned celebrations bigger than Deepavali'
Haryana on Friday banned the sale and bursting of firecrackers across the state, said Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, adding that the notice will be issued on Saturday.
Going to bed without removing your makeup can clog your pores and make your complexion lacklustre, cautions Dr Trupti D Agarwal.
The SC said, "You must tell us some way of preventing unemployment also. We cannot have people unemployed and hungry. There are areas where firecrackers can be used."
Delhi's air quality plummeted to alarming levels on Tuesday after 24 days, with many areas witnessing a significant spike in pollution despite the strictest measures, including a ban on construction activities and the entry of trucks into the city, coming into force.
Should firecrackers be banned to prevent accidents?
Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) supremo Prem Singh Tamang on Monday took oath as the chief minister of the Himalayan state for the second consecutive term.
The mishap occurred around 12.30 pm on Saturday in the chemical mixing room of the firecracker-making unit in the village.
The Kerala High Court has ordered a further probe into an allegation that state Fisheries Minister Saji Cherian insulted the Constitution in a speech in July 2022. The court found that Cherian's words, including 'ideal Constitution to loot the people', and the use of certain Malayalam terms, could be interpreted as disrespectful to the Constitution. The court also criticized the initial investigation, finding it insufficient and biased, and directed the State Crime Branch to conduct the further probe.
The traders said that the recent SC order would cause huge losses to them.
More than 200 people were engaged in the work of manufacturing firecrackers at the unit located in the Bairagarh locality on Magardha Road, on the outskirts of Harda town, when they heard the first explosion at around 11 am on Tuesday.
With the real estate sector witnessing robust demand, realtors are doling out freebies and offering a slew of attractive schemes to lure potential customers this festival season. "Developers are providing Amazon vouchers that go up to Rs 1 lakh, iPads, and flexible payment plans that propel customer excitement," said Angad Bedi, managing director at real estate company BCD Group. Bedi said customers have a mindset to go for a change during the festival season, and developers see it as an opportunity to combine it with long-term and practical offers that drive buyers to close in on a deal during this period.
Three people, including two women, were killed and at least 15 others sustained injuries in a firecracker explosion in Vizianagaram district on Tuesday evening, that also led to the collapse of three thatched houses, said the police. The incident occurred between 5 pm and 5.30 pm, when firecrackers stored in a house in Paradi village of Bobbili mandal accidentally exploded when they were being transported, resulting in the instant death of two people.
Visiting Varanasi for Dev Deepavali should be on your bucket list.
Locals said there was a "chemical-like" smell at the site and thick white smoke everywhere as panic gripped the Paschim Vihar area after the blast happened near a CRPF school.
Leading Islamic seminary Darul Uloom Deoband has issued a fatwa against manufacturing and selling of firecrackers, saying it was against Sharia law.
Diwali, the festival of lights and prosperity, is a time to celebrate across India. But for Sivakasi, a town in southern Tamil Nadu, this festival is probably a little more special.
'It's not about winning a gold or silver, but about winning a medal, and he did his best.'
Call it the success of the anti-cracker campaign or the rising costs of the hawais, anars and atom bombs, there are few takers for them, claim the dealers who say the business has been down by over 40 per cent compared to last year.
Some experts opine that green crackers are yet not practical and question government's move to promote them.
Delhi BJP vice president Kapil Mishra hailed people for defying the cracker ban.
Dhanatrayodashi is called Dhanteras and its twinkling lights set the mood of India's greatest and most popular festival -- Diwali, the festival of lights.
'Time flies. A Day that changed the FACE of Indian Cricket forever. Old is Gold. 41 years - #TDTY #WorldChampions.'
© 2026 Rediff.com - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances