Festivals

Turning Pongal Demand into Opportunity with Strategic Business Financing

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Festivals, wedding sales, GST rate cuts may have fuelled Q3 retail growth

Analysts at Elara Capital, in a note last week, said they expect the retail companies to deliver a revenue growth of 12 per cent year-on-year (YoY) in the quarter

Pongal a global festival, cherished by Tamil community world over: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said Pongal, which gave the message of maintaining harmonious balance with nature, has emerged as a global festival, cherished by Tamilians world over. Participating in Pongal celebrations at the residence of Union Minister L Murugan, the prime minister said this festival celebrates the hard work of the farmers and expresses gratitude to the land and the Sun. "The festival of Pongal reminds us that gratitude should go beyond mere words and become an integral part of our daily lives. When the Earth provides us with so much, it is our responsibility to cherish and protect it," Modi said at the celebrations that had Union Ministers, bureaucrats, and people from a cross-section of society in attendance. The prime minister said that around the world, the Tamil community and those who cherish Tamil culture celebrate Pongal with great enthusiasm, and he was proud to be among them. Modi said Tamil culture was one of the oldest living civilisations

Happy Makar Sankranti 2026 wishes, messages and greetings to share

Makar Sankranti marks the transition to longer, brighter days and celebrates the spirit of harvest and renewal. Here are heartfelt wishes and greetings to share with your loved ones this season

Makar Sankranti 2026 date: Is it on January 14 or January 15? Know more

India and Nepal celebrate Makar Sankranti, a Hindu holiday. The end of winter and the beginning of a new agricultural cycle are marked by this harvest festival. Here's all you need to know

Lohri 2026: Know the date, rituals and cultural importance of the festival

North India will observe Lohri 2026 on January 13 with traditional bonfire ceremonies. The celebration honours Punjabi cultural history and marks the end of winter by uniting communities

When faith turned to power: Dev Deepawali lights up UP's cultural pride

Once a quiet riverside ritual, Dev Deepawali has evolved into UP's largest soft-power spectacle - merging faith, art, enterprise into a global cultural brand that reflects state's growing confidence

India's festival spending jumps to $68 bn after GST cuts as demand rises

Spending between Sept 22 and Oct 21 - the period between the Hindu festivals of Navratri and Diwali - increased 8.5 per cent from the same time last year

Chhath Puja 2025: Delhi police issues traffic advisory for October 27-28

The Delhi Traffic Police has issued an advisory ahead of Chhath Puja, anticipating heavy traffic near major roads and ponds from the afternoon of October 27 to the morning of October 28

Chhath Puja gives message of unity, cooperation in society: President Murmu

President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday greeted citizens on Chhath Puja and said the festival gives the message of unity, cooperation and collective participation in the society. During Chhath Puja, devotees worship and offer 'arghya' to the Sun, she said in a message. "On this festival, we express our gratitude to nature. We worship the rivers and ponds, and pray for the well-being of our families. This festival also conveys a message of cleanliness and environment conservation," the President said. Chhath Puja also gives the message of unity, cooperation and collective participation in the society, Murmu said. "On this sacred occasion, I pray for happiness and prosperity of all citizens," she said, and extended wishes to all her fellow citizens. Chhath Puja, a four-day festival dedicated to the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya, is being celebrated and it will conclude on October 28.

PM Modi shares Chhath songs, extends greetings to devotees across India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday extended greetings on the occasion of Chhath, a four-day festival to worship the Sun god celebrated across the country, especially in Bihar, Jharkhand and eastern UP. "With the sacred ritual of 'Nahay-Khay', the four-day grand festival of Chhath begins today. I extend my heartfelt wishes to devotees across Bihar and the entire nation. My respect and salute to all those observing the fast," the prime minister said in a post on X. He also shared a song by noted singer Sharda Sinha, whose soulful renditions add to the festival fervour. Modi said he was in Begusarai on Friday, a place with which Sinha shared a soulful connection. "This magnificent festival of our culture symbolises simplicity and restraint, whose sanctity and adherence to rules are unparalleled. The sights at the Chhath ghats on this auspicious occasion inspire wonderful familial and social harmony. The ancient tradition of Chhath has had a profound impact on our society," Modi

Around 200 special trains to make 12,000 trips between Oct 1 and Nov 30

The Railway Ministry has released a list of 12,011 train trips scheduled between October 1 and November 30, 2025, suggesting that an average 196 special trains are operating daily from various destinations in the country to cater to the heavy festive rush. The highest number of special trains operated so far on a single day was around 280 on October 18, while the lowest was approximately 166 on October 8. Officials said that the ministry worked day and night for months with all the zones and divisions to identify and utilise all available coaches to ensure that passengers could reach their destinations in time to celebrate festivals. Almost all the coaches, including those sent for repair, were retrieved ensuring their fitness from all 70 railway divisions across the country to facilitate 12,011 trips based on passenger movements, a railway official said. However, a section of officials and railway activists claimed that the list includes not only some short-distance local trains b

Datanomics: Festivities choke Delhi's air despite fall in stubble burning

Historically, Delhi's air has turned hazardous near the Diwali week not just because of the burning of firecrackers, but also due to paddy stubble burning and rising vehicular emissions

Central Railway runs 705 festival trains, ferries over 1 mn passengers

The Central Railway has so far operated 705 special trains for Diwali and Chhath, carrying more than 10.6 lakh passengers, a senior official said on Tuesday. Speaking to the media, Central Railway General Manager Vijay Kumar said that the CR plans to operate as many as 1,998 Diwali and Chhath special trains out of the 12,011 special trains scheduled by zonal railways across the country between September 19 and November 30. Of the 1,998 trains, the highest number of special services are scheduled from Pune, followed by Mumbai, he said. "The festival special trains are expected to facilitate travel for more than 30 lakh passengers, offering convenient options to states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Madhya Pradesh," Kumar added. According to Central Railway, over 600 special trains have been notified from Mumbai alone. "More than 100 regular trains and 8 to 10 special trains are being operated from Mumbai daily, the official said. On Tuesday and the following three day

Diwali 2025: Festive season isn't kind to your skin. Here's how to fix it

Too many sweets, sleepless nights, smog, and heavy makeup can trigger festive breakouts. Dermatologists share how to calm your skin, restore its glow, and prevent post-Diwali damage

Why loneliness hits harder during Diwali, and how to cope with it

For singles, and those far from family, Diwali can feel isolating. Experts explain why festive joy often deepens the ache of solitude, and how to ease it

GST reforms drive record festive demand, says FM Nirmala Sitharaman

She said this marginal deviation was due to cases where input taxes remained higher than output rates, leading to small adjustments before products reach consumers

GST cuts boost spending; festive, wedding season sales to cross ₹7 trn

The Centre said that the timing of the GST cuts just before the festival and wedding season proved ideal, boosting consumer sentiment across sectors

How to enjoy Diwali drinks without damaging your liver or your waistline

Doctors warn that even small festive indulgences can strain your liver. Experts share science-backed tips to celebrate responsibly and stay healthy this Diwali

Kolkata metro to run special night services on Blue line for Kali Puja

Metro Railway Kolkata will run special night services on the Blue line on October 20 on the occasion of Kali Puja, an official statement said on Friday. While the last train will leave from Dakshineswar station for Sahid Khudiram at 10:51 pm instead of the normal 9:28 pm, the last train from Sahid Khudiram will depart at 11 pm for Dakshineswar instead of 9:33 pm, the Metro Railway said in a statement. On October 20, 144 services (72 services on UP and DN sections each) will be run along the Blue Line (Dakshineswar-Sahid Khudiram) corridor instead of 272 services on other Mondays, but the special services will be run at night to enable thousands of devotees to attend the puja rituals at the two heritage Kali temples at Kalighat and Dakshineswar.