Bollywood's biggest stars ignite the screen! From the dazzling premiere of [mention a recently released film or event] to the brewing controversies surrounding [mention a current entertainment scandal], India's entertainment scene is ablaze. This week saw [mention a significant entertainment event, e.g., a music launch, award ceremony, or box office milestone], further cementing India's position as a global entertainment powerhouse. The battle for box office supremacy heats up as [mention competing films or actors], while the digital realm witnesses the rise of [mention a trending OTT series or online sensation]. Beyond Bollywood, regional cinema continues to flourish, with [mention a noteworthy achievement in regional cinema]. From the vibrant world of music to the captivating realm of television, Abtak.com brings you the pulse of Indian entertainment. Dive in and stay updated on the latest news, reviews, and exclusive interviews—your ultimate destination for all things entertainment. Explore the captivating stories unfolding now!
Varanasi, Oct 16 (SocialNews.XYZ) In the holy city of Varanasi, idols of Lord Ganesh and Goddess Lakshmi are in high demand ahead of Diwali. What makes these idols special is that they are crafted from the sacred soil of the Ganga, enhancing their purity and religious significance. This year, the 'stick idols' are particularly popular, attracting customers with their unique craftsmanship and decorative appeal. The fame of these traditional and beautifully made idols has spread far beyond Uttar P
Robert Fleming, the chairman of the U.S. Olympic Ice Hockey committee for the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" gold medal-winning team at the Lake Placid Olympics, died on July 31. He was 97. Fleming was the chairman of the Olympic ice hockey committee for five Olympics, as well as serving as the vice president of USA Hockey from 1970-81. He was a director for USA Hockey for 33 years. He received the Lester Patrick Award twice -- once for his work with the 1980 team and once for individual outstanding ser ...Read More >
October 2025 is packed with major festivals like Dussehra, Diwali, Chath Puja and Durga Puja In this festive season, several states will observe many bank holidays during the month. In October 2025, there will be a national holiday when banks across all states will remain closed. Due to various local festivals, several bank branches will also remain closed in different states. While online banking services will remain available, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has listed specific days in October ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], September 29: This Diwali, OyeGifts, a leading name in the gifting industry, brings to you exceptional express Diwali hampers that are truly a celebration of tradition and that of thoughtful gifting. The inclusion of fresh flowers amidst gifts for the season of lights, is a careful blend of convention with that of modern elegance for the matter. The brand's new collection of Gift Hampers for the upcoming festival is to present an assortment of traditional sweets, colourful flow ...Read More >
Bengaluru Power Cuts: Citizens of Bengaluru brace yourself for long hours of power outages from June 29 and June 30. More than 100 areas will be impacted as BESCOM undertakes its quarterly maintenance work in various of its division. Bengaluru Power Outages June 29: According to the update by BESCOM on its X handler, there will be power outages in Kittaganahalli, Palasandra, Saptagiri, Maruthinagar, Sankapur, Raghavendra Nagar, Goolarivee, Baddihalli, Kesaramadu, C.M Badawan, Kalalli and SKS village on June 29 from 10 am to 5 pm. BESCOM's executive engineer has appealed to consumers to coop ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: The National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) has suggested prioritising women in allocation of deceased donor organs.In a letter to the states/UTs, the apex authority for regulating organ donations and transplants in the country, has said a provision should be made to mark additional points for women recipients of donor organs, to address gender disparity. Studies have shown that while women make up a large percentage of donors, they receive fewer organs than men. "Women are equally vulnerable when it comes to end-stage organ failure due to illness, and it is import ...Read More >
HYDERABAD: After four days of relentless downpours, Telangana is expected to have a brief respite on Monday, with no rainfall alerts issued. However, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) placed the state under a yellow alert for thunderstorms. IMD data showed that Papannapet in Medak district received the heaviest 24-hour rainfall at 10.6 cm, followed by Manoor in Sangareddy with 9.28 cm and Nallabelly in Warangal at 9.15 cm. The statewide average rainfall for the day stood at 7.3 mm, notably higher than the normal 4.3 mm. Warangal's Sangem recorded the day's highest maximum temperature ...Read More >
New Delhi, December 13: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said the government is committed to providing every facility to the devotees visiting Prayagraj for Maha Kumbh. Ahead of his visit to Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, on Friday, PM Modi said that he will take stock of the works related to the Maha Kumbh and also inaugurate and launch multiple development projects. PM Modi Prayagraj Visit: Prime Minister Narendra Modi To Arrive in Prayagraj Today To Launch Development Projects Worth Around INR 5,500 Crore. "Along with making the Maha Kumbh of faith divine and grand, we are committed to providi ...Read More >
Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh) January 27 (ANI): Spiritual leader and orator Devkinandan Thakur on Monday said that the Sanatana Dharma Sansad, which he convenes at the ongoing Mahakumbh, is organised for safeguarding Sanatanis. Devkinandan Thakurji Maharaj, as he is popularly known, said that the Dharma Sansad has been called for a board that can bring all our puja, tradition, culture, and Gau mata together and protect them. Also Read | Mahakumbh 2025: After Taking Holy Dip, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Along With His Family, Performs 'Aarti' at Triveni Sangam. "This Sanatana Dharma Sansad is ...Read More >
Ranchi: The ongoing monsoon, marked by above average downpour this year so far, is giving tough time to idol makers in the state capital ahead of the upcoming Ganesh puja later this month. With few days left for the festival, idol makers are running against time to ensure their creations take shape to meet the deadline.With moisture refusing to let the clay or paint settle, artisans have now resorted to an unusual but effective solution: fire sprays to dry their creations."For the eight-foot heavy idols, a full gas cylinder is consumed just in the drying process. The time varies depending on t ...Read More >
KOCHI: Hardening its stance against the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) for sending gold-plated sheets of 'dwarapalaka idols' of the Sabarimala temple to Chennai for repair without following proper procedure, the Kerala High Court on Friday directed the TDB's chief vigilance and security officer (SP) to seize all the records related to the gold plating of the idols and other items since the date of original cladding. It also impleaded Unnikrishnan Potty of Bengaluru, who is sponsoring the repair, and Smart Creations of Chennai, which is undertaking it, in the case and asked the registry to is ...Read More >
Ali Fazal turned 39 years old on October 15 and celebrated his special day with his close ones. The actor is currently in Benares filming his upcoming film, Mirzapur: The Movie and celebrated his birthday on the set. Ali took to his Instagram and shared a series of pictures from his birthday celebration on social media. The actor, who reprises his role as the adored Guddu Bhaiya, delighted fans with a fun behind-the-scenes selfie that went viral. The selfie included a number of well-known faces ...Read More >
New Delhi, Oct 16 (SocialNews.XYZ) Indian experts on Thursday shared some professional tips to capture diyas and candles beautifully on the iPhone 17 series, without blowing out the highlights this Diwali. Photographer Bobby Roy said the Night Mode in iPhone 17 series is one of the best tools to achieve that. "With 48MP HEIF MAX, try to bring out the fine textures of lights, and festive decor by using the best quality that the iPhone 17 Pro/Pro Max provides. You can surely use the Portrait mode for that perfect for soft, cinematic moments and pooja portraits," he advised. Also, use the beau ...Read More >
Puri (Odisha), Feb 4 (PTI) Thousands of people took a holy dip at Chandrabhaga at Konark in Odisha's Puri district on the occasion of 'Magha Saptami' on Tuesday. Magha Saptami is observed as the birthday of the Sun God and is held on the seventh day of 'Magha' month of the Hindu calendar. People offer prayer to 'Tri Mahadev' after taking a dip at the confluence of Chandrabhaga River and the Bay of Bengal. Devotees also offer puja at 'Naba Graha' on the premises of the Sun temple at Konark. This year, the holy dip started at 4.37 am and the sadhus were given the first opportunity to take a d ...Read More >
Bengaluru, June 29 (PTI) Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Sunday said the government would respond in accordance with the law to the High Court notice regarding the proposed 'Cauvery Aarti' near the Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS) reservoir in Mandya district. The Karnataka High Court had issued the notice on Friday in response to a petition challenging the event, citing potential ecological and safety concerns. "Whatever it is, we will respond as per the law. No one will obstruct prayers. Some have concerns, and the government will do what's necessary to address them... we conduc ...Read More >
MADURAI: Likening the custodial murder of Ajith Kumar in Tiruppuvanam to an 'organised crime by police where the state kills its own citizens,' Madras high court lambasted the Tamil Nadu police and said the action against the perpetrators should be more stringent than in normal murder cases.A division bench of Justice S M Subramaniam and Justice A D Maria Clete pointed to 44 external injuries on the person of Ajith Kumar and said no part of the body was spared by the delinquent cops. "Even an ordinary murderer would not have inflicted such kind of injuries," the bench said on Tuesday.The natur ...Read More >
Kochi, Sep 12 (PTI) The Kerala High Court on Friday ordered immediate seizure of the entire records related to the gold-plating of the 'Dwarapalaka' (guardian deity) idols in front of the Sabarimala sanctum sanctorum, saying there were a lot of "unanswered questions" regarding it. The direction by a bench of justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V and K V Jayakumar came during hearing of a plea initiated by the court on its own with regard to the removal of the gold-plated copper coverings of the 'Dwarapalaka' idols located on either side of the Sreekovil without prior intimation to the Special Commis ...Read More >
Agartala (Tripura) [India], September 14 (ANI): As the festive fervour builds, Agartala, the capital city of Tripura, is preparing for its most extravagant celebration of the year, Durga Puja, the state's biggest festival after West Bengal. The city transforms into a dazzling spectacle, illuminated like a galaxy with magnificent pandals ranging from fifty lakhs to crores, drawing lakhs of devotees and pilgrims from across the country. Also Read | Spycam Row: Ashok Gehlot Hits Out at Rajasthan Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani Over Installing Extra Cameras, Calls It a 'Crime'. With such massi ...Read More >
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released a comprehensive holiday calendar, urging citizens to plan their banking activities accordingly to avoid inconvenience. Major festivals such as Durga Puja, Dussehra, Diwali, Chhath Puja, Lakshmi Puja, Bhai Dooj, and Gandhi Jayanti contribute to the extended closures. In addition to these, the second and fourth Saturdays and Sundays further reduce working days for banks. 🏦 Key Dates to Note: * October 1: Dussehra, Ayudha Puja, Durga Puja (West Be ...Read More >
Bengaluru: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge was admitted to MS Ramaiah Hospital in Bengaluru after developing a fever late Tuesday night, sparking concern among party workers and political leaders across the country. Doctors at the hospital are closely monitoring his condition and have assured that there is no immediate cause for alarm. Kharge, 83, was reportedly brought to the renowned medical facility after he complained of persistent fever. A medical team quickly initiated a series of diagnostic tests to determine the cause. While his condition is said to be stable, doctors have kept ...Read More >
Bareilly (UP), Jul 17 (PTI) A teacher from Bahedi district, who went viral recently after reciting a poem mentioning Kanwar Yatra, approached the police on Thursday stating a threat to his life from anti-social elements. A case has been registered at Bahedi police station based on a complaint from Dr Rajneesh Kumar Gangwar, a teacher at MGM Inter College in the district. According to Circle Officer Arun Kumar Singh, Gangwar's complaint says that ever since his recitation of the poem 'Tum Kanwad Lene Mat Jana, Gyaan Ka Deepak Jalaana' (You don't go get Kavad, light the lamp of knowledge inste ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], September 29 (ANI): Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday said that the national capital will witness a grand Chhath Puja this year and arrangements will be done at banks on both sides of the Yamuna river. She said focus will be given on cleanliness of the ghats. "To ensure that the Chhath Puja festival is historic, this year, we will make a detailed plan and preparations for it. Arrangements for the Chhath puja will be done at banks on both sides of the river. Focus will be laid on cleanliness at the ghats. Delhi will witness a grand Chhath Puja this year." Prime Mi ...Read More >
Kanpur: With the auspicious month of Shrawan commencing on Friday and the first Shrawan Somwar (Monday) falling on July 14, all major Shiva temples in Kanpur have begun extensive preparations to ensure smooth observance of the rituals and effective crowd management. Temples are not only being decked with decorations but are also coordinating with district authorities to implement effective crowd control measures. Decorations are underway, and temple authorities are working in coordination with th ...Read More >
Srinagar: The Counter-Intelligence Kashmir (CIK) unit of Jammu and Kashmir Police is conducting searches at ten locations across four districts in the Valley. An official told news agency -- Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the raids are part of an ongoing investigation into a terror-crime case linked to a terrorist sleeper cell and recruitment module handled by Jaish commander Abdullah Ghazi from across the border. The searches are underway at one location in Pulwama, six in Ganderbal, one in Srinagar, and two in Budgam district -- (KNO) ...Read More >
Ranchi, Sep 13 (UNI) With Durga Puja festivities approaching, Ranchi district administration and police are on high alert to ensure peaceful and orderly celebrations. A meeting of the Central Peace Committee was held on Saturday chaired by Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Magistrate Manjunath Bhajantri and Senior Superintendent of Police Chandan Kumar Sinha. The meeting saw participation from various Puja committees, peace committee members, social organizations, and administrative officials. The primary objective of the meeting was to ensure Durga Puja is celebrated in a peaceful, organize ...Read More >
Mumbai, September 27: Banks will be closed for more than 15 days in October 2025 as the 10th month of the 25th year of the 21st century is packed with major festivals such as Dussehra, Diwali, Chath Puja and Durga Puja. During October, several states will observe bank holidays due to regional festivals in addition to national holidays. According to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), banks across the country will stay shut for a total of 15 days in October. The October bank holiday of 15 days excludes all Sunday holidays when banks remain closed for business. As per the RBI list, banks will stay ...Read More >
Cuttack: In the heart of Cuttack, Odisha's oldest cultural city, a centuries-old tradition continues to thrive. The Balu Bazar Puja Committee, one of the oldest Puja organizations in the city, has been celebrating Durga Puja for an astonishing 511 years. This year marks a significant milestone, as the Puja Committee continues to uphold the traditions and rituals that have been passed down through generations. A notable highlight of this puja is the deity's face, which has remained unchanged for the past 126 years. Additionally, the idols are adorned with organic colours derived from natural s ...Read More >
Lucknow: Adding a green touch to Diwali celebrations, the LMC will sell over 30,000 eco-friendly Gomai (cow dung) diyas and Ganesh-Lakshmi idols made from cow dung this festive season.The diyas, crafted at Kanha Upvan, will be available in packs of 4, 10, 20, and 300 from Oct 15. According to LMC's animal welfare officer Abhinav Verma: "The civic body aims to exceed last year's sale through its Kanji Houses located in Thakurganj, Rae Bareli Road (PGI campus), Sugamau Road (Jarhara, Indira Nagar), ...Read More >
Khandwa (MP), Jun 30 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday praised the 'Jal Ganga Samvardhan Abhiyan' in Madhya Pradesh and termed the works done under the water conservation campaign with people's participation as 'historic'. He emphasised on the need for water conservation, noting it will bring relief to farmers and also help in running industries. The three-month-long campaign has been an 'inspiring' effort towards creating awareness among people to make rivers clean, uninterrupted and perennial, he noted in a message sent to a programme organised in Khandwa district on the occasio ...Read More >
Haridwar: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has formally set the tone for the 2027 Kumbh Mela preparations in Haridwar, performing a symbolic Ganga pujan on Wednesday as part of the ongoing 'Nadi Mahotsav' or River Festival. A video of the ritual, in which the Chief Minister is seen offering water from a kalash to the sacred river, was shared on his official YouTube channel. Here are some visuals from the event: Focus on Kanwar Mela and Ground-Level Preparedness In Haridwar for a two-day visit, CM Dhami chaired a high-level review meeting on Thursday at the Fair Control Room ( ...Read More >
Lucknow: Umar Ansari, the younger son of gangster-turned-politician late Mukhtar Ansari, was arrested by Ghazipur police from Darul Shafa area of Lucknow late Sunday night.The arrest was made following the registration of a criminal case against him for forgery in Ghazipur. He was taken into custody and transported to Ghazipur for further proceedings.Umar Ansari was booked for allegedly attempting to fraudulently reclaim a property that had been confiscated under the Uttar Pradesh Gangsters and Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act. The property was earlier seized under Section 14(1) of the ...Read More >