Page 2 - Diwali

UK celebrates Diwali with hopes of a 'magic moment' for India FTA deal

The UK is very keen to clinch the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with India and is building towards that magic moment, Britain's minister in charge of the Indo-Pacific said during a special Diwali reception in London. Catherine West, parliamentary under-secretary of state in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), referenced the previous Conservative government's Diwali 2022 deadline to complete the FTA negotiations as she reiterated the recently elected Labour government's commitment to get the deal done. The FTA negotiations, which were paused for general elections in both countries, are aimed at significantly enhancing the estimated GBP 38.1 billion a year bilateral trading partnership. As the new government, we're still extremely keen to be getting on with our trade deal, which was meant to be signed a couple of Diwalis ago. But we don't mind, what's a Diwali between friends, said West, addressing the FCDO's gathering of parliamentarians, community leaders and ...

PM Modi celebrates Diwali with armed forces near Indo-Pak border in Kutch

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday celebrated Diwali with the personnel of the Border Security Force (BSF), Army, Navy and Air Force near the Indo-Pak border in Gujarat's Kutch district. Modi reached Lakki Nala in Sir Creek area after landing at Koteshwar in Kutch from Ekta Nagar, said a BSF official. "He celebrated Diwali by offering sweets to jawans," the official added. In a video shared by officials, Modi, wearing a BSF uniform, can be seen offering sweets to the personnel on board a patrol vessel. Earlier in the day, the prime minister paid floral tributes to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel at the Statue of Unity in Ekta Nagar on the birth anniversary of India's first Home Minister which is celebrated as National Unity Day.

Indian, Chinese troops exchange sweets at LAC border points on Diwali

Troops of India and China exchanged sweets at several border points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) on the occasion of Diwali on Thursday, Army sources said. The traditional practice was observed a day after both countries completed the disengagement at two friction points at Demchok and Depsang Plains in eastern Ladakh, bringing a fresh thaw in the Sino-Indian ties. "Sweets exchange between members of the troops of India and China took place at several border points along the LAC on the occasion of Diwali," an Army source told PTI. The exchange took place at five Border Personnel Meeting (BPM) points along the LAC, the sources added. On Wednesday, an Army source said that troops of both sides had completed the disengagement at the two friction points and patrolling would commence soon at these points. The verification process after the disengagement was in progress and patrolling modalities were to be decided between ground commanders, the source said then. "Talks will ..

First Diwali after Ayodhya temple Pran Pratishtha is special: CM Adityanath

While addressing a public gathering in Ayodhya the Chief Minister said that the Deepotsav celebration in the Ram temple on Wednesday was the best example of how a society together celebrate a festival

Diwali brings out shared values between India, America: Richard Verma

There is no better holiday than Diwali, the festival of lights, that brings out the shared values between India and the US, a top American diplomat has said. Speaking at a Diwali reception on Wednesday, Indian-American Richard Verma, the Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, said, I've spoken many times about the shared values between the United States and India and that's really what binds us together." "There is no better holiday, no better celebration than this one that really brings out the shared values between us, said Verma, the former US Ambassador to India. Hosted by the US India Strategic and Partnership Forum (USISPF) at the prestigious Kennedy Center, the reception was attended by senior government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, eminent Indian Americans and corporate executives. This festival of lights, our shared memories, our shared experiences and shared emotions... There is so much that connects our two populations. And it's more than

Delhi Police beefs up security, increases vigil against cracker bursting

Delhi Police keeps a strict vigil against the use of firecrackers in the city and has been on high alert following intelligence inputs. A total of 377 teams of Delhi Police and government officials have been deployed on ground to ensure blanket ban on sale and purchase of fire crackers in the city on Diwali. "Legal actions will be taken against those caught bursting crackers during the festival," a senior police officer told PTI. Police will also be deployed in civil dress seeing that the ban on crackers is followed. On October 14, the Delhi government imposed a ban on production, storage, sale and use of firecrackers across the city, effective till January 1. Meanwhile, the city has also been on a high alert since October 20 when a blast ripped through a wall of CRPF school in Rohini's Prashant Vihar area. The blast hurt no one but damaged hoardings of nearby shops and window panes of parked vehicles. Police will be deployed in markets which see considerable rush on Diwali such

Down to the wire: From mobiles to TVs, last-minute buys add spark to Diwali

Demand failed to pick up in the early part of the festival season because of widespread rain in several parts of the country besides the overall consumption slowdown

Record 2.5 million diyas set the tone for Ram temple's first Diwali

A million tourists expected to visit Ayodhya

Major domestic routes see up to 32% drop in spot airfares for Diwali travel

Travel associations observed that demand for flights on metro routes has eased this year compared to the previous surge, which largely met the pent-up post-pandemic travel appetite

Gold surges Rs 1,000 to breach Rs 82k mark as Diwali sparkles demand

Gold prices saw a steep surge of Rs 1,000 and breached the psychological Rs 82,000 per 10 grams-mark for the fist time in the national capital on Wednesday, amid robust buying by jewellers ahead of Diwali. According to the All India Sarafa Association, the yellow metal of 99.9 per cent purity soared by Rs 1,000 to hit a fresh peak of Rs 82,400 per 10 grams in Delhi. The precious metal of 99.5 per cent purity also climbed Rs 1,000 to hit an all-time high of Rs 82,000 per 10 grams in the local markets. In the previous session, gold of 99.9 per cent and 99.5 per cent purity had closed at Rs 81,400 and Rs 81,000 per 10 grams, respectively. Traders attributed the sharp jump in gold prices to massive buying by local jewellers in order to meet the rising demand during Diwali as well as firm global trend due to uncertain geopolitical situation ahead of the US presidential elections. At Rs 82,400 per 10 gram, gold price has recorded a 35 per cent surge since October 29 last year when it wa

Registration of properties in Mumbai rises in Diwali month: Anarock

Registration of properties in Mumbai so far this month has crossed 12,500 units because of Dussehra and Diwali festivals, according to Anarock. On Wednesday, real estate consultant Anarock said that 12,513 properties were registered in Mumbai in October (till 30th) against 9,736 in November 2023. This is a 29 per cent jump this Diwali over last year, it added. Last year, Diwali was celebrated in the month of November. Anarock Chairman Anuj Puri said, "Considering that housing sales remained tepid in the third quarter of 2024 across Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) including Mumbai, the city's sales in just the first month of the festive quarter is notable." "A major reason for the rise in property registrations this October could also be that both Dussehra and Diwali are being celebrated in the same month," Puri said. Last year, Dussehra was in October and Diwali in November. "Both these festivals are considered the most auspicious for property buying and many buyers time their

Delighted by Thai PM's gesture of inaugurating Diwali festival: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said he is delighted by his Thailand counterpart Paetongtarn Shinawatra's gesture of inaugurating the 'Amazing Thailand Diwali Festival' and wished that the event deepens the cultural bonds between India and Thailand. "Delighted by PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra's gesture. My best wishes for the Amazing Thailand Diwali Festival. May it deepen the cultural bonds between India and Thailand," Modi said in a post on X. He was responding to a post on X by Indian Embassy in Thailand which said PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra inaugurated the Amazing Thailand Diwali Festival 2024 today in presence of Indian Ambassador to Thailand Nagesh Singh, former Thai PM Sretta Thavisin, Thai Minister of Tourism & Sports Sorawong Thienthong and Governor of Bangkok Chadchart Sittipunt at Pahurat, Little India, Bangkok. A cultural troupe from India ICCR presented a vibrant folk dance from Rajasthan at the event, the embassy said. The festival will continue till November 3

Delhi's air deteriorate on Diwali eve, pollution level likely to go up

Delhi's air quality slipped into the "very poor" category on the eve of Diwali, with pollution levels expected to go up on Thursday, even as authorities said strict action will be taken against those violating the firecracker ban. The city's 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 307 at 4 pm, up from 268 on Tuesday, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune said the air quality in the national capital is likely to be in the "very poor" category (AQI 300 to 400) on Thursday and Friday. The air quality may also reach the severe category on these two days in case of additional emissions from firecrackers and stubble or waste fires. According to the Decision Support System (DSS) for Air Quality Management, if stubble burning occurs at levels similar to the last five years, it could contribute 15-18 per cent to Delhi's pollution on these dates. This is exacerbated by winds from the northwest, which

Delhi Metro changes schedule for Diwali; last train to commence at 10 pm

To manage the expected increase in passengers during the festive period, the DMRC added 60 extra trips on Tuesday and Wednesday

Ayodhya's first Deepotsav at Ram Temple set to break Guinness World Record

PM Modi announced on Tuesday that this Diwali would be historic, as thousands of lamps will brighten the Ram Lalla temple, marking the first festival celebrated on the site in 500 years

Businesses expect strong sales as Diwali shoppers balance budget, big plans

The roads are jammed and shops chock-a-block as people make beelines for malls and markets to grab just the perfect gift to make the festival of lights a memorable affair for their loved ones. Dinner sets, beauty hampers, gourmet food baskets, electronic gadgets, and the ever reliable chocolates and mithai, the options are endless for the fervent Diwali shoppers but the task is to balance budgets with big expectations. Samriti Khanna, a homemaker in her 30s, knows it too well as she treads the fine line between temptation and staying within budget. "The temptation to give innovative and expensive gifts to your near and dear ones is always there but one can't go out of budget too. The key is in finding the right balance," Khanna told PTI. On her shopping list is an eclectic mix of home decor for friends, smartwatch for her husband, board games for children and home appliances for house helps. "Gifting during the Diwali festival comes with a huge responsibility. I guess zeroing in o

Kejriwal hails early Diwali pay for Delhi sanitation staff, first in 18 yrs

The AAP leader and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that earlier salaries would be withheld for seven to eight months

Diwali 2024: Are banks closed on October 31 or November 1 in your state?

The five-day festive season has started with Dhanteras and people are confused about bank holidays. Check out when your state is observing a bank holiday. Is it October 31 or November 1?

Indian railways announces 164 special trains, adding 7k festive journeys

"To ensure that passengers do not face any inconvenience at the railway stations, teams of officers have been deployed round the clock. Besides this, Railway Police Force, commercial and other

'When our Ram returns home', says PM claiming this yr's Diwali as historic

This Diwali will be historic as after a 500- year-wait thousands of lamps will be lit in the temple built on the birthplace of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya on the festival, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday. Modi said it would be a Diwali "when our Ram returns home" and this time the wait is over not after 14 years but after 500 years. The prime minister made the remarks after launching development projects worth nearly Rs 12,850 crore and extending his government's flagship health insurance scheme Ayushman Bharat to all senior citizens aged 70 years and above. An idol of Ram Lalla was consecrated at the Ayodhya temple in January this year, a landmark event led by Prime Minister Modi who had also given a clarion call to go beyond the grand temple's construction to build the foundation of a "strong, capable and divine" India of the next 1,000 years. Lakhs of people had watched the consecration ceremony on television in their homes and neighbourhood temples, savouring the historic