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Kolkata: This year's Diwali market saw a huge demand for indigenous candles, diyas, and handmade clay diyas. Speaking to the buyers highlighted that the demand for Chinese items, which were so popular until last year, shifted to products prepared by local artisans.Several traders reported that even if they had stocks of Chinese lights and tea-lights, people opted for handmade local diyas. Sameer Sarkar, a seller at Janbazar, said, "I have Chinese diyas, earthen diyas, and colourful handmade diyas. Surprisingly, most of the buyers are searching for handmade diyas while the highly popular Chinese products are being kept aside as most of them refuse to buy them."Sheikh Sakil, another seller in Janbazar, who was selling such products for the last 25 years, said, "This year, the trend changed, with buyers inclined to buy only indigenous and handmade products. In the last few years, the demand for Chinese candles was quite high. So, we stocked these products, but suddenly the demand shifted to buying desi items that are flying off like hotcakes."A trader, Subhojit Maity, who was seen selling these items from a makeshift stall, said that people opted for Chinese items for the price only, but in terms of variety, desi diyas are a few steps ahead. "In terms of quality and innovation, the handmade diyas are a step forward. Chinese items burn out very quickly, but local diyas last much longer. These things have set a different trend this year, I think."Aramita Chouwdhury, a candle manufacturer, said, "I have been manufacturing these products for the last four years, and this year I saw unpredictable sales that I never expected. It was the most hectic since I entered this field. The demand for different forms of diyas and wax items is huge this time. Last year, the market was not so good, but this year's market indicates that people are shifting to local handmade products, at least during Diwali, which is an extremely positive approach towards local artisans."The same kind of feedback was received from the buyers while speaking with them. Parinidhi Dadlani and her mother, Mukta Dadlani, were spotted buying decorated colourful diyas. Mukta said, "We always prefer buying earthen diyas as we feel it's our duty to support local artisans and shop owners during the festive season, and we never bargain." Another buyer, Tapas Mallick, said, "We only buy traditional items during Diwali, even if the items are slightly costly."This time, there are a lot of city private schools like The Heritage and DPS Howrah that have sensitised their students to buy indigenous items from local shop owners to support them. Sunita Arora, the principal of DPS Howrah, said, "We issued an advisory just before closing for the Diwali break, where we told our children to buy local to support local artisans and shops from neighbourhood markets to bring joy to many hardworking families. At the same time, we asked them to choose handcrafted diyas and decorations from local sellers, not from online shopping."
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 >
Visakhapatnam: As Diwali approaches, the narrow lanes of Kummari Veedhi in Visakhapatnam's Akkayyapalem area come alive with traditional diya-making. Here, artisans, including 93-year-old Pardes from Srikakulam, continue the age-old craft despite declining sales caused by machine-made alternatives. Additionally, local NGOs are empowering especially abled individuals and children to join the festive production, creating new opportunities to continue the city's pottery heritage. "I am 93 and will be 94 this year. I make 100 to 150 diyas a day, working from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. My son helps me in t ...Read More >
Kolkata: Cracker violations have turned out to be a concern in various pockets of the city on Dhanteras (Saturday), barely two days ahead of Kali Puja and Diwali. These violations have been reported from Kasba, Dhakuria, Baguiati, New Town, Salt Lake, Phoolbagan and New Alipore. The seizures of illegal firecrackers had become more than double in the past 48 hours, police said on Saturday. The cops will intensify the crackdown on firecracker violators on the day of Diwali (Monday) by forming special teams to raid the city. "In case of use of banned crackers, we may not provide bail from police ...Read More >
Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh) [India], October 19 (ANI): On the eve of Diwali, the city of Ayodhya witnessed grand celebrations as a spectacular drone show illuminated the sky, adding a modern and artistic dimension to the traditional Deepotsav festivities. Organised at Ram Ki Paidi, located on the banks of the River Saryu in Ayodhya, as part of the vibrant Deepotsav celebrations, the drone show added a modern touch to the traditional festivities and mesmerised attendees with its synchronised displays. Also Read | Sunny Deol Turns 68: Suniel Shetty, Ameesha Patel and Others Wish 'Gadar' Actor on H ...Read More >
Hyderabad: Gifting stores across the city have seen a sharp drop in corporate Diwali orders this year, with companies slashing budgets and scaling down on festive spending. Retailers report that while the season remains busy, the mood is far more restrained compared to previous years.Traditional favourites such as sweets, diyas, and dry fruits continue to find a place in corporate hampers, but in smaller quantities. Silver coins, once a Diwali staple in bulk orders, almost disappeared this year. "Silver coins and premium dry fruit assortments used to be the highlight of most corporate hampers. ...Read More >
New Delhi: Supreme Court's move to ease the ban on firecrackers is largely seen as a festive allowance, but some Delhiites are planning to illuminate homes and hearts, not skies. They plan to replace fireworks with earthen lamps, lanterns and shared meals at community gatherings.The shift from smoke to light, which reflects a growing awareness that Diwali joy needn't be at the cost of the city's air and its residents' health, is palpable in several neighbourhoods. Locals in Greater Kailash-II have embraced the idea of a quiet Diwali over the years. "We have got used to meeting at the park and ...Read More >
Jaisalmer (Rajasthan) [India], October 20 (ANI): The Border Security Force (BSF) personnel celebrated Diwali along the International Border in Jaisalmer on Monday by bursting crackers and lighting candles and earthen lamps. During the celebrations, Commandant Mukesh Panwar of the 122 Battalion said that they were observing the festival as a family. "We are celebrating Diwali along the international border with great fervour like a family," the BSF Commandant said. Speaking to ANI, Panwar also commented on ongoing Operation Sindoor, saying, "Operation Sindoor 2 is a distant thing because Op ...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 >
Bangalore Gold Rate Today: Shattering all hopes of retail jewellery buyers of some relief amid the ongoing Navratri festival, gold rates in Bangalore, and other Indian cities broke another record on Monday, September 29. The price of gold in Bangalore, aka Bengaluru, witnessed a sharp surge bringing 24 karat gold Rs 16,000 above the historic Rs 1 lakh mark. The gold price rally in Karnataka capital mirrored the surge in gold rate in India and across the world. The sharp rally in precious metal is on its path to beat the record-rally of 1979. Multiple factors like US Fed rate cut, trade becau ...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 >
CHENNAI: An explosion caused by illegally stored firecrackers ripped through a residential building in Pattabiram on Sunday, killing four people and sending waves of panic through the neighbourhood just ahead of Deepavali. The incident occurred at the residence of one Aarumugam on Vivasaya Street. Preliminary investigations suggest that Aarumugam's son Vijay (25) had been illegally manufacturing and storing a large cache of country-made firecrackers, which are used at temple festivals and funerals, at the property. "It is an unlicensed facility. The building, which was already weak, came dow ...Read More >
The Delhi Fire Services (DFS) has placed more than 320 fire tenders and over 2,000 personnel on alert across the city to respond to fire-related emergencies ahead of Diwali. The deployment will begin on October 19, a day before the festival, and continue till October 21. According to an internal DFS order issued Thursday, the department has identified 58 key locations across the city - including crowded markets, dense residential colonies, and stretches far from existing fire stations - for addi ...Read More >
New Delhi: For over a decade, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has transformed his Diwali celebration into a national ritual, choosing to celebrate the festival of lights with the nation's armed forces at its most challenging frontiers, plains or mountains. This unique tradition reached a new height this year as the Prime Minister spent the festival of lights with Navy personnel aboard the INS Vikrant, India's first indigenously-built aircraft carrier, off Goa and Karwar coasts on Monday. Addressing the sailors and officers on the deck of the formidable warship, PM Modi reaffirmed the core messag ...Read More >
New Delhi: The country's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki has announced the rollout of its first made-in-India electric vehicle - the e-Vitara SUV - in a major boost to the green segment from its upgraded Gujarat plant, which is now set to become one of the world's largest automotive manufacturing hubs with a projected annual capacity of one million units. Crucially, this facility will serve as Suzuki's global production base for electric vehicles (EVs), exporting to over 100 countries, including advanced markets in Japan and Europe, which is aligned with India's vision of becoming a global aut ...Read More >
Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], September 26 (ANI): Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in an awareness program organised in Patel Nagar, Dehradun, on Friday as part of the 'GST Bachat Utsav.' During the event, the Chief Minister interacted with traders and local residents to gather feedback on the benefits of the reduced GST rates. He stated that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a new era of economic reforms has commenced in the country, and the reduction in GST rates represents a historic step toward enhancing the quality of life for all sections ...Read More >
A prominent Indian tech firm has gone viral for its generous Diwali gift to employees. Videos from Info Edge employees have flooded Instagram over the last two days, showing the Diwali gifts they received from the company. Each Info Edge employee received a set of VIP suitcases, a box of snacks, and a diya from the tech firm. Dozens of videos showing the gifts have surfaced online, while hundreds of Instagram users have reported seeing these Reels while casually scrolling the photo and video sha ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], October 18 (ANI): The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Saturday announced revised train timings for Diwali, with early morning services on the eve of the festival and curtailed operations on the night of Diwali. As per the announcement, on the eve of Diwali, Sunday (October 19), metro services on the Pink, Magenta, and Grey lines will commence at 6 am instead of the usual 7 am, which is the standard start time for Sundays. The change has been implemented to accommodate the anticipated increase in passenger movement ahead of the festival. Also Read | Diwali 2025 Bank ...Read More >
Delhi/Hyderabad, Oct 19 (Maxim News): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday hit out at Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav for his remarks questioning the need to spend large sums on lighting diyas and candles during Diwali, calling his statement "shocking" and "insensitive" towards Hindu traditions. Here To Join Us On WhatsApp A controversy erupted after Yadav said on Saturday, "Throughout the world, cities become beautifully illuminated during Christmas, and this festive lighting can last for months. We should take inspiration from this. Why do we need to spend money on diyas an ...Read More >
New Delhi, Oct 17 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Delhi Assembly complex on Friday came alive with festive decorations and celebrations as Speaker Vijender Gupta extended Diwali wishes and urged people to celebrate the festival in an environment-friendly manner. Gupta said that Diwali is a festival that celebrates light, goodness, and new beginnings -- and it should also inspire responsibility towards our environment and society. He emphasised that while the city shines with festive lights, every citizen must ensure that the celebrations do not add to Delhi's pollution crisis. "This Diwali, let us ill ...Read More >
The BJP slammed Akhilesh Yadav for his remarks, saying that he has a "problem when Ayodhya is shining". ShowQuick Read Summary is AI-generated, newsroom-reviewed * Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav questioned government's spending on Diwali celebrations * Yadav suggested India should learn from global cities that illuminate for months during Christmas * BJP criticised Yadav, citing past violence against devotees under Samajwadi Party rule in UP Did our AI summary help? Let us know. Swi ...Read More >
Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh) [India], October 20 (ANI): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath attended the Deepotsav Milan in Ayodhya's Karsevakpuram, saying that over the past nine years, the celebration of Deepotsav has given Ayodhya a new global identity. He urged unity, vigilance against divisive elements, and shared his morning visit to a sanitation workers' colony, distributing sweets, reflecting the spirit of celebration and community. Addressing a public gathering, CM Yogi said, "Over the past nine years, the celebration of Deepotsav has given Ayodhya a new global identity. The lamp ...Read More >
NEW DELHI (AP) - Millions of Indians celebrated Diwali on Monday as lamps illuminated homes and streets across the country to mark the Hindu festival symbolizing the victory of light over darkness. Diwali, derived from the word "Deepavali," meaning "a row of lights," is typically celebrated by socializing and exchanging gifts. The dates of the festival are based on the Hindu lunar calendar, typically falling in late October or early November. Shoppers crowded markets to buy flowers, lanterns and candles. The celebrations were most visible in Ayodhya city in Uttar Pradesh state. Hindus belie ...Read More >
Mumbai : Tesla's long awaited India debut finally took place with chief minister Devendra Fadnavis inaugurating its showroom in Mumbai on Tuesday. The Elon Musk-led car maker unveiled its Model Y compact all-electric SUV at its 'Experience Centre' in Bandra-Kurla Complex with the CM describing it as the "right city and the right state" for the launch."Mumbai stands for innovation and sustainability. In 2015, when I went to the US, I had my first ride in a Tesla, and then I thought we need such a vehicle for mobility in India. But it took 10 years for it to come to India. But we are very happy ...Read More >
Mysuru: Additional deputy commissioner P Shivaraju urged devotees to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi in an eco-friendly and harmonious way.Presiding over a meeting on the Ganesha festival held at the deputy commissioner's office, he highlighted the importance of using eco-friendly clay Ganesh idols to avoid environmental harm. He warned that idols made of plaster of paris (PoP) and painted with colours release toxic chemicals into waterbodies like lakes, wells, and streams when immersed, which is harm ...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 >
The villagers in Sammoo, about 25 km from the district headquarters, at the most are allowed to light diyas, but there is a tacit understanding against the bursting of crackers and indulge in extravagance. Any deviation from the norm forbodes a disaster, locals say. According to the villagers, a few hundred years ago, a pregnant woman was preparing for Diwali when the body of her husband, a soldier in the local king's army, was brought home. Disraught, the woman threw herself into the man's crem ...Read More >
Anticipations for this festive season's trade have skyrocketed, expected to surpass five lakh crore rupees, as brick-and-mortar markets thrive like never before. This Diwali embodies a heartfelt Swadeshi celebration, where the virtues of Indian craftsmanship take center stage. Inspired by Prime Minister Modi's push for local product patronage and favorable GST changes, domestic trade is flourishing. New Delhi: The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) on Sunday stated that trade during the f ...Read More >
Dhanteras trade in India is expected to surge past Rs 1 lakh crore. Gold and silver sales alone could reach over Rs 60,000 crore nationwide. Consumers bought gold, silver, utensils, electronics, and vehicles. Delhi's bullion markets saw a 25 percent rise in sales compared to last year. Reductions in GST rates and the 'Swadeshi Aapnao' campaign boosted festive trade. The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has estimated that trade across India on the occasion of Dhanteras is expected to cro ...Read More >
Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh) [India], October 20 (ANI): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited Ayodhya on Monday to extend Diwali greetings to residents, distributing sweets on behalf of the state government. He further highlighted the city's commitment to cleanliness and unity during the Festival of Lights. Addressing the public, CM Yogi said, "On the occasion of Diwali, I have come here to wish all the sisters and brothers a Happy Diwali and to distribute sweets to them on behalf of the state government. I am very impressed that your neighbourhood is so clean. The Prime Minister ha ...Read More >
New Delhi, October 20: Apple CEO Tim Cook on Monday extended Diwali greetings to millions of people celebrating the festival of lights across the world, along with sharing am image taken by an Indian photographer with the new iPhone 17 Pro Max. Cook posted a 'stunning' Diwali picture clicked by Mumbai-based photographer Apeksha Makar on X social media platform. "Wishing a joyful and healthy Diwali to all celebrating around the world! Thanks to Apeksha Maker for sharing this stunning photo taken on iPhone 17 Pro Max," he wrote. Diwali 2025: Sundar Pichai Wishes on Joyful Festival, Shares Barfi ...Read More >