Page 9 - Diwali

Festivals in October 2024: Check out complete list of festivals this month

October 2024 is the month of festivals in India, featuring major Hindu celebrations like Navratri and Diwali. The festivities begin with Navratri and culminate in Diwali

Centre likely to announce 3-4% DA hike for employees ahead of Diwali

The potential increase in Dearness Allowance is expected to bring a financial boost to government employees

Diwali flight bookings soar by 85%, with Delhi, Kochi among top places

Popular travel destinations include major metros like New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and emerging hotspots like Guwahati and Patna

How insurance industry is adopting technology to assist customers

Artificial intelligence, data analytics help companies to improve claims processing, solve complaints

Light diyas, celebrate Ram temple consecration like Diwali: PM to officials

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday asked his Cabinet colleagues to celebrate the Ayodhya Ram temple consecration ceremony on January 22 like Diwali by lighting up diyas at their homes and also feed the poor, sources said. He made these remarks at the Union Cabinet meeting amid a nationwide religious fervour in the run-up to the ceremony which he will be attending. Cabinet ministers, sources said, have also been urged to visit the temple along with devotees from their respective states after January 22. With the exercise by Hindutva organisations to mobilise the masses ahead of the ceremony drawing positive response, the BJP-led NDA believes the event will add to the popular appeal for the temple and may help it in the Lok Sabha elections expected in April-May. The BJP has already mobilised its members across the country to facilitate people's visit to Ayodhya and stay in the holy town after the ceremony.

Delhi recorded the most polluted December in 2023 in the last five years

However, the government data showed that overall, 2023 had the best air quality since 2018, barring 2020 when the pollution was low owing to the country-wide lockdown

Celebrate Diwali in Mumbai on Jan 22 for Ram temple inauguration: CM to BMC

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday asked the Mumbai civic commissioner to put up decorative lights on temples and buildings here and "celebrate Diwali" on January 22, the day of consecration of Lord Ram temple in Ayodhya. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and more than 6,000 people are expected to attend the consecration ceremony at Ayodhya in UP. Speaking at a cleanliness drive in Mumbai, CM Shinde said, "The Ram temple will be inaugurated on January 22. I want to ask to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) commissioner to celebrate Diwali across Mumbai city. Let there be lots of decorative lightings on all the temples and buildings in Mumbai." The chief minister said the Ram temple was a dream of (Shiv Sena founder) late Balasaheb Thackeray and several devotees of Lord Ram. "Modiji made the dream (of building the Ram temple) into a reality. What PM Modi speaks, he ensures to make it a reality. Be it the Railways or

Diesel sales recover after Diwali drop but still lower than last year

India's diesel consumption in the first half of December recovered from the steep fall seen last month on transporters taking a Diwali break, but sales were still lower than last year, preliminary data of state-owned firms showed. Diesel consumption at 3.15 million tonne during December 1 to 15 was 0.7 per cent higher than 3.13 million tonne demand in the first half of November. The demand was 8.1 per cent lower than 3.43 million tonne consumption in December 1-15, 2022. Industry officials said the November dip in sales was largely on account of some truckers taking Diwali break to visit their homes. Diesel is India's most consumed fuel, accounting for almost 40 per cent of all petroleum product consumption. The transport sector accounts for 70 per cent of all diesel sales in the country. Petrol sales by three state-owned fuel retailers rose 0.7 per cent to 1.22 million tonne in the first fortnight of December on increased personal vehicle movement. Fuel consumption has been on a

Diesel sales drop 7.5% in November as truck drivers take Diwali break

India's diesel consumption slumped by 7.5 per cent in November on a fall in demand in the transportation sector where some took Diwali break, preliminary data of state-owned firms showed on Friday. Diesel consumption dropped to 6.78 million tonnes in November from 7.33 million tonnes a year back. Industry officials said this was largely because some truckers take Diwali break to visit their homes and the demand is largely going to come back this month. Diesel is India's most consumed fuel, accounting for almost 40 per cent of all petroleum product consumption. Transport sector accounts for 70 per cent of all diesel sales in the country. Petrol sales by three state-owned fuel retailers rose 7.5 per cent to 2.86 million tonnes on increased personal vehicle movement during the festive season. Fuel consumption has been on a see-saw over the last couple of months. Petrol demand had fallen 9 per cent year-on-year in the first half of October and diesel sales by 3.2 per cent but the sta

Fireworks on D-Street: Four IPOs to raise over Rs 6,600 crore this week

Busiest week for IPOs this year; Tata Tech to be largest offering of the lot

Airlines overcome pre-Diwali blues with jump in traffic, shows data

The previous peak was on April 30, with 456,082 domestic air passengers traveling in India

Weddings blitz opens up a $51 billion business opportunity for India

Despite inflation hitting the less well off particularly hard this year, the season's first weeks are expected to see good business

Festive boom: Mumbai property sales between Navratri and Diwali up 30%

The daily average registration rate in Mumbai climbed 26% during the October 15 and November 15 period to 407 units from 322 units last year

Delhi continues to breathe poisonous air, AQI in several parts 'severe'

Delhi air pollution: Doctors say breathing in the polluted air of Delhi is equivalent to the harmful effects of smoking approximately ten cigarettes a day

BJP giving 'absurd' justifications for cracker bursting during Diwali: Min

Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Tuesday said people associated with the BJP are offering "absurd" justifications for supporting firecracker bursting during Diwali, which resulted in a sharp spike in pollution levels in the national capital. Rai also emphasised that the Delhi government plans to bolster its water sprinkling efforts by deploying additional water sprinklers and anti-smog guns in areas recording hazardous pollution levels. "The BJP alleges that the AAP government in Delhi failed to curb firecracker bursting. However, it's the BJP-controlled police in Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh that failed to prevent firecracker burning during Diwali, not the Delhi government," Rai told PTI. "When questioned about firecracker bursting, a BJP leader attributed it to the unused environmental cess in Delhi. Is this the reason for instigating people to burn firecrackers?" Rai questioned. "Another BJP leader, when questioned about the fireworks on the day after Diwali, claimed peopl

Pollution spikes in 9 of 11 state capitals post-Diwali, highest in Delhi

The highest spike (recorded at 15-minute intervals) was seen in the national capital Delhi. It was at 999.5 ug/m3 at Pusa on November 13 at 1:30 am

Delhi records best Diwali AQI in 8 yrs, pollution may rise due to crackers

Delhi recorded its best air quality on Diwali day in eight years on Sunday, though pollution levels may rise due to burning of firecrackers and low night temperatures. Delhiites experienced clear skies and abundant sunshine and the city's 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 218 at 4 pm, the best in at least three weeks. Delhi recorded an AQI of 312 on Diwali last year, 382 in 2021, 414 in 2020, 337 in 2019, 281 in 2018, 319 in 2017 and 431 in 2016, according to Central Pollution Control Board data. An AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', 401 and 450 'severe' and above 450 'severe plus'. Saturday's 24-hour average AQI stood at 220, the lowest for the day before Diwali in eight years. Delhi's air quality improved sharply just ahead of Diwali this year. The improvement can be attributed to intermittent rainfall on Friday and wind speeds favourable for the dispersion o

India safe as long as its brave soldiers guard at border: PM Modi in Lepcha

India is fast emerging as a big global player in the defence sector and the capabilities of its security forces are constantly rising, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday. Addressing soldiers here after celebrating Diwali with security personnel stationed near the border, Modi said the circumstances of the world are such that the expectations from India are constantly rising. "At such an important time, it is necessary that India's borders are protected and there is an environment of peace in the country and you have a big role in this," Modi, dressed in Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) fatigues, said. "India is protected till the time my bravehearts are standing on the borders like the Himalayas," the prime minister said. "After Independence, these bravehearts (Army personnel) fought so many wars and won the country's heart... Our jawans have snatched victory in the face of challenges," he said. "It is said that 'parv' is where the 'parivaar' is. On festivals, being away

Tax mop-up to digital infra, many positives to cheer up Diwali

The tax collections, and even the non-tax revenues are quite strong, giving the central and state governments more money to spend on infrastructure and social sector projects

7 TN villages celebrate silent Diwali to conserve birds in nearby sanctuary

As the boom of firecrackers filled the air across the country celebrating Deepavali with gusto, seven villages in Erode district of Tamil Nadu decided to mark the festival with just lights, and no sound, in a gesture considerate of the winged inhabitants of the bird sanctuary nearby. The villages are located around Vadamugam Vellode, 10 kilometres from Erode where the bird sanctuary is situated. Thousands of local bird species and migratory birds from other regions visit the sanctuary between October and January to lay eggs and hatch them. As Diwali usually falls in the month of October or November, the more than 900 families living around the bird sanctuary took the decision to save the birds and not scare them off by bursting crackers. They have been following this conservation approach for the past 22 years. The villagers said that during Deepavali (Diwali), they buy their children new clothes and allow them to only burn sparklers, and not burst crackers. This year as well, th