Page 6 - Festivals

Meesho records 40% increase in total orders during annual festival sales

SoftBank-backed e-commerce firm Meesho on Monday said that it has recorded a 40 per cent growth year-on-year in total orders during the latest annual festival sales. The e-commerce firm claims to have recorded 145 crore customer visits during the 10 days long 'Meesho Mega Blockbuster Sale 2024'. "During our Mega Blockbuster Sale this year, we achieved over 40 per cent growth in orders, surpassing industry expectations. With around 3 crore app downloads and a 45 per cent increase in new-to-e-commerce users, we are reinforcing our commitment to making e-commerce accessible and affordable for millions across the country," Milan Partani, General Manager, User Growth at Meesho said. Meesho's flagship sale held from September 27 to October 6, 2024. "The company witnessed an impressive increase in demand this year, with total orders rising over 40 per cent compared to last year," the statement said. The company said that it observed around 45 per cent of the total customer visits from ti

Free rice, sugar to be given via fair price shops in Pondy before Diwali

Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy announced here on Sunday that his government has decided to distribute 10 kg rice and 2 kg sugar, free of cost, through fair price shops to card holders before Diwali. Addressing media here, he said the decision to distribute free rice and sugar to all families covered under public distribution system in the Union Territory before Diwali was taken in keeping with the pleas from various quarters. The ration shops which have remained closed for some months now would be reopened to distribute rice and sugar. He said workers employed in fair price shops who remain unpaid for several months would be paid a month's salary when the shops reopen. The territorial government has finalized the tender for supply of rice and sugar. The CM noted that funds have been earmarked to procure the rice and sugar for the free distribution scheme. There are around three lakh families covered under public distribution system in the Union Territory.

UP govt cancels leaves of police personnel till Nov 8 ahead of festivals

Cleaning work of Ganga ghats in Varanasi continues ahead of the increased footfall expected during the upcoming festivals of Dussehra, Diwali, and Chhath Puja

Buying your dream home, gifting for festivals: Top personal finance stories

We report on how strategise for a pricey property market and what to give family and friends for Diwali

Festivals spark Rs 50,000 crore business surge, Delhi to see Rs 8,000 crore

With the resurgence of traditional goods and strong consumer sentiment, businesses are set to see a considerable boost this year

Navratri 2024: Step-by-step guidelines for Kalash Sthapana at home

Navratri is one of the most auspicious festivals celebrated across India. The festival lasts nine days with different forms of Goddess Durga worshipped each day

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

Will Diwali 2024 be celebrated on Oct 31 or Nov 1? Priests try to find out

Diwali 2024: With the festive season approaching, devotees have begun preparations for Diwali, which will begin on October 29. However, there is confusion about the exact date for Diwali pooja

Northeast Frontier Railway to run 26 special trains to tackle festive rush

The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) will run 26 special trains over the next two months to clear the festive rush, a statement said on Sunday. "NFR has proposed 26 special trains with 254 trips this year for the festive season," it said. These 13 pairs of special trains will facilitate smooth travel experience and accommodate extra passengers during the forthcoming festivals of Durga Puja, Diwali and Chhath Puja from October 1 to November 30, the statement added. In comparison to last year, NFR has almost doubled the number of special trains and trips during the festive period, it said. The special trains will cover important destinations like Amritsar, Bengaluru, Gorakhpur, Prayagraj, Kolkata, Anand Vihar and Shri Ganganagar, while also touching on other destinations. These trains will also boost connectivity within the zone during this period to areas such as Agartala, Naharlagun, Silchar, New Tinsukia, Dibrugarh and Katihar, the statement added.

How's the josh at e-com war rooms as Amazon, Flipkart sales go live?

Amazon sets up over 20 war rooms compared to about 10 last year

Mumbai on high alert amid terror threats, security tightened at sites

Police have been instructed to conduct mock drills at public places and religious sites ahead of the festival season and Maharashtra Assembly polls

Ahead of festivals, police tighten security near religious sites in Mumbai

As part of their anti-terror preparedness ahead of the festival season, Mumbai police have stepped up security near religious sites and other crowded places across the city, an official said on Saturday. All senior police officials have been asked to pay special attention to security arrangements in their jurisdiction. Considering the upcoming festivals and elections, mock drills are being conducted, he said. Police on Friday conducted mock drills at places like Bhaucha Dhakka, Barkat Ali Road, Iskcon temple in Juhu, and Zaveri Bazar to check their security preparedness in the country's financial capital, which has experienced terror attacks in the past. All temples in the city have been asked to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities as a precautionary measure, the official said. In a routine preventive order on Friday, the Mumbai police said subversive or anti-social elements might seek hideouts in residential areas and there is every likelihood of breach of peace and .

Railways to run nearly 6K special trains this festive season: Vaishnaw

As the festive season approaches, Indian Railways has decided to run nearly 6,000 special trains to help more than one crore passengers get home for Durga Puja, Diwali and Chhath festivals. Besides, additional general coaches have been added to 108 trains and 12,500 coaches have been sanctioned to take care of the extra rush witnessed during festivals, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told a select group of journalists here. Several train routes, especially those destined for Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal witness heavy rush during Durga Puja, Diwali and Chhath festivals. Vaishnaw said a total of 5,975 special trains have been notified so far for this year's festival season, up from 4,429 last year. "This will facilitate more than one crore passengers to go home during this puja rush," he said. Durga Puja begins on October 9, Diwali will be celebrated on October 31 while Chhath Puja will take place on November 7 and 8 this year.

Jitiya Vrat 2024: Here's all you need to know about this auspicious day

Jitiya Vrat is observed every year on the Ashtami Tithi of Ashwin Krishna Paksha. On this day, mothers, especially from Bihar, Jharkhand and some parts of Uttar Pradesh, observe a stringent fast

Mahalaya 2024: Know its history, significance and when to celebrate

This year, the Mahalaya Amavasya falls on October 2, marking the ending of Pitru Paksha. On this day, people perform shraddh rituals and offer tarpan to ancestors for their blessings

Navratri 2024: Why is Navratri celebrated? Know its history, significance

Navratri is an auspicious Hindu festival where devotees worship Goddess Durga, marking the victory of good over evil. Know why this auspicious Hindu festival is celebrated

Shardiya Navratri 2024: Check date, time, history, significance and more

Hindus celebrate Shardiya Navratri for nine days to mark Goddess Durga's hard-fought battle over demon Mahishashura. This year, the festival will start on October 3 and end on October 11

Shradh 2024: From time, rituals to significance and more about Pitru Paksha

This year Purnima Shraddha 2024 falls from September 17. Shraddha, or Pitru Paksha, is marked over a period of sixteen days when auspicious rituals such as Pind Daan are performed

Pitru Paksha 2024: Know date and time of Shradh this year and more

In 2024, Pitru Paksha will start on Tuesday, September 17, and conclude on Wednesday, October 2, 2024. This is a very auspicious period in the Hindu calendar

Over 38,000 idols immersed in Mumbai on 5th day of Ganesh Chaturthi

More than 38,000 Ganesh idols have been immersed in Mumbai on the fifth day of the Ganpati festival, civic officials said on Thursday. No untoward incident was reported anywhere during the immersion, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said. The 10-day festival began with the Ganesh Chaturthi on September 7. Of the 38,717 idols immersed in the sea and artificial ponds in the city from Wednesday till 6 am on Thursday, 37,569 were from households and 1,095 belonged to sarvajanik mandals' (community groups), BMC officials said. During the 10-day Ganpati festival, devotees usually bid farewell to idols of the elephant-headed God after one-and-a-half days, five days and seven days. The final immersion process is held on the last day (Anant Chaturdashi). Of the Ganesh idols immersed on the fifth day, 14880, including 14,555 household idols and 338 public idols, were put in artificial ponds, set up to avoid pollution of natural water bodies. As many as 53 'Hartalika' idols were