Best printers for Home

Best Mixer Grinder

Best wired Earphones

Best 43 Inch TV in India

Best Wi Fi Routers

Best Home Theatre in India

Smart Watch under 5000

Best Laptops for Education

Best Laptop for Students

London [United Kingdom], October 30 (ANI): London Mayor <keyword id="6518726" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sadiq-khan" source="Orion">Sadiq Khan</keyword> organised the annual <keyword id="1872" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="diwali-celebration" source="Orion">Diwali celebration</keyword> at Trafalgar Square on Sunday. The free public event held from 1 pm to 7 pm (local time) featured Indian traditional dances, music, activities, and food from various parts of India that captured the festival's spirit. Attendees enjoyed performances by <keyword id="19314433" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="londons-hindu" source="Orion">London's Hindu</keyword>, Sikh and Jain communities, yoga workshops, puppet shows and more. Sadiq Khan hailed the event as embodying Diwali's symbolic victory of light over darkness. The landmark Diwali celebrations drew residents not only from London but also people and visitors of all backgrounds from various parts of the UK. A local resident named James, who is a teacher for the first time celebrated Diwali and called the experience "absolutely incredible." He called Diwali an amazing festival. "Its my first time at Diwali. Absolutely incredible experience. Everyone in London here has come together to celebrate this amazing festival. I love the dancing, but also the reenactments of the story of Ram and Sita, which I think teach us all from every background, every place, teach us something very important and very special. So really beautiful to experience this together as one global community," James told ANI. Artists performed dance on folk songs and Bollywood songs like 'Jai Ho' and 'Jo Hai Albela.' People who attended the Diwali celebration also enjoyed Indian food. Speaking to ANI, an Indian-origin girl said, "This is the first time, I am experiencing Diwali outside of India. So, it feels great and it feels like home away from home. And it is a very great experience to have here. And we are enjoying all of us getting to meet new people. And also I was craving Indian food and I finally got to eat here. And the festive atmosphere is like the perfect beginning for Diwali. So, yeah, this is very a good time." One Indian-origin boy who attended the Diwali celebration at Trafalgar Square said, "The Londoners who are not Indians, who are not Indian, it's lovely to see them celebrate what we consider like best festival of light for us. So it's been, like, amazing. I love the enthusiasm. Not just ours, but theirs as well. And we got to see the mayor speaking. He was an amazing guy." Speaking to ANI, a local resident named Vivian who attended the Diwali celebration said, "This is my first time here. This is my first Diwali at Trafalgar Square. I really enjoyed it. I love to dance and I came with my friend and we danced all the time. It (Diwali) is the festival of lights. The atmosphere here is wonderful and people are very friendly..." This year, Diwali will be celebrated on Sunday, November 12.

Namastey London: Mayor organises annual Diwali celebration at Trafalgar Square

Ahead of the festival of lights, the digital platforms are brimming with fresh exciting titles, that will keep you on the edge-of-your seat. From Ishaan Khatter-starrer '<keyword id="632110" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="Pippa" source="Orion">Pippa</keyword>', to inspiring tale '<keyword id="1968022" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="ghoomer" source="Orion">Ghoomer</keyword>' featuring Abhishek Bachchan, here is a list of five titles on various OTT platforms that have caught the attention of this week. <keyword id="9657892" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="valatty" source="Orion">Valatty</keyword> A tale of tails, 'Valatty' is a Malayalam adventure comedy drama written and directed by Devan Jayakumar. It stars the voices of Roshan Mathew, Raveena Ravi, Soubin Shahir, Sunny Wayne, Saiju Kurup, and Aju Varghese. The makers have used real dogs as actors without VFX in the movie. It will be streaming from November 7 on Disney+Hotstar in Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada. Vigilante The Korean series 'Vigilante' stars Nam Joo-hyuk, Yoo Ji-tae, Lee Joon-hyuk, and Kim So-jin. Based on the Naver webtoon of the same name by Kim Gyu-sam, it follows a model student from the police academy who protects the law during the day, but at night lives as a 'vigilante' and dispenses justice to criminals who evade the law. It will release on Disney+Hotstar on November 8. Pippa Ishaan Khatter-starrer war film 'Pippa' is a thrilling narrative of a landmark moment in history, the 'Battle of Garibpur', during the Indo-Pakistan war of 1971, that was pivotal in Bangladesh's struggle for independence. The film features Ishaan as the real-life war hero Captain Balram Singh Mehta along with Mrunal Thakur, Priyanshu Painyuli and Soni Razdan in pivotal roles. The movie is based on the book 'The Burning Chaffees' by Brigadier Balram Singh Mehta. The film is written by Menon, Tanmay Mohan, and Ravinder Randhawa. Produced by Ronnie Screwvala under the banner of RSVP and Siddharth Roy Kapur's Roy Kapur Films, and directed by Raja Krishna Menon, it will release on Prime Video on November 10. Ghoomer With an inspiring storyline, the movie features a stellar cast of Abhishek Bachchan, Shabana Azmi, Saiyami Kher, Angad Bedi and a special appearance by Amitabh Bachchan. Helmed by R Balki, Ghoomer is produced by Hope Film Makers and Saraswati Entertainment. It is an emotional story with multiple layers. In 'Ghoomer,' Saiyami plays Anina Dixit, a talented cricketer whose dreams are shattered by a tragic accident leading to the loss of her right arm. Paddy (played by Abhishek), a former test cricketer, becomes her coach and helps her become the first-ever one-armed spinner, propelling her to play for the Indian National Team. The coach gives her new hope, trains her with unconventional techniques and invents a Ghoomer bowling style to turn her fate around. 'Ghoomer' shows how people can win over tough times and get another shot at success beating all odds. It will release on Zee5 on November 10. Wynonna season 1 It follows the story of Wyatt Earp's great-great-granddaughter as she battles demons and other creatures. With her unique abilities and a posse of dysfunctional allies, she's the only one who can bring the paranormal to justice. The first season centres on Wynonna fighting the revenants who kidnapped her older sister Willa from their homestead when they were girls and the threat posed by Bobo Del Rey, the leader of the local revenants. It will be released in Hindi on MX Player on November 15.

Diwali delights: 'Pippa', 'Ghoomer', 'Valatty' to sparkle on OTT

<ul><li>The E-Commerce Festive Season ‘22 report by <keyword id="3359665" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="redseer" source="Orion">Redseer</keyword> found that the online gross merchandise value (<keyword id="6399113" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="gmv" source="Orion">GMV</keyword>) grew 25% y-o-y during the festive month amounting to ₹76,000 crore. </li><li>About 64% of the transacting shoppers came from Tier 2+ cities. </li><li>Tier 2+ cities also contributed to more than half of the festive GMV. </li><li>E-grocery witnessed a 2x growth from last festive season. </li><li>Initially seeing a boost, mobile sales slowed down, while fashion, beauty and home appliances took the lead in sales. </li></ul>This festive season saw bumper sales online according to a Redseer report, which also said that about 64% of the transacting shoppers came from Tier 2+ cities. “Fashion leads category adoption in T2 cities, led by unbranded fashion, wherein one in every five orders had a kurti or saree in their cart. Within beauty, makeup was the most sought-after category with a lot of interest in looking and feeling good,” according to the E-Commerce Festive Season ‘22 report by Redseer Strategy Consultants. The report was measuring festival sales between September 22- October 23. It found that the online gross merchandise value (GMV) grew 25% y-o-y during the festive month amounting to ₹76,000 crore . And, Tier 2+ contributed to more than half of this GMV, at around 57%. “Democratisation of categories continued this year as well, with lower-order-value items growing faster than mobiles and electronics. While mobiles and electronics continue to dominate category share, home and kitchen, groceries and beauty personal care were the fastest growing categories. Grocery grew almost two times from the last festive season,” said <keyword id="210394" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="sanjay-kothari" source="Orion">Sanjay Kothari</keyword>, associate partner, Redseer Strategy Consultants. Gifting and product upgradation big purchase drivers As per the RedSeer report, sales went up both online and offline during the festival month. “Simultaneous growth of online and offline revalidates the domestic consumption story and indicates ample growth opportunities for both formats,” revealed Redseer. RedSeer also said that there was growing maturity in the online <keyword id="6354851" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="retail" source="Orion">retail</keyword> ecosystem. “Three in four sellers we surveyed reported at least 2X volume growth from BAU (business as usual) during sale days, with strong support from platforms in planning and executing the festive season well. This increase was more visible in lower ASP (average selling price) categories like fashion where 42% of the sellers reported a 3X to 5X growth from BAU,” said Kothari. While mobiles initially attracted flocks of customers – with over <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/ecommerce/news/flipkart-group-leads-e-commerce-festive-sales-meesho-is-second-largest-contributor-in-order-volume-redseer/articleshow/94701015.cms">56,000</a> selling per hour during the first week of the festive season sales – their overall growth slowed down. Fashion sales remained strong as ever - driven by the need to dress up for festivals. Long-tail categories or lower-order-value items grew much faster than mobiles and electronics. Within long-tail categories, grocery contributed to 34% of growth while home &amp; kitchen (21%) and beauty and personal care (14%) were the other frontrunners. E-grocery witnessed a 2x growth from last festive season, as per the report. In home furnishing and décor, cushion covers, showpiece and decor accents contributed most to the growth. “From our consumer surveys, gifting emerged as a strong reason for purchase across categories and consumers reported an increase in the overall satisfaction with online platforms,” the report said. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/even-a-single-attack-is-one-too-many-pm-modi-at-anti-terror-conference/articleshow/95597270.cms">'Even a single attack is one too many': PM Modi at anti-terror conference</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sports/news/fifa-world-cup-qatar-2022-top-young-players-to-watch-out/slidelist/95596704.cms">Top young players to watch for at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/sensex-makes-a-positive-opening-tracking-gains-in-the-asian-markets-paytm-lic-among-the-stocks-to-watch-out-for/articleshow/95593276.cms">Sensex makes a positive opening tracking gains in the Asian markets – Paytm, LIC among the stocks to watch out for</a>

One in every five online orders had a kurti or saree in their cart: RedSeer

In a show of solidarity with the <keyword id="15353419" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="deferred-action-legal-childhood-arrivals" source="Orion">Deferred Action Legal Childhood Arrivals</keyword> (DALCA) children who are facing extradition from the US, President <keyword id="99719" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="joe-biden" source="Orion">Joe Biden</keyword> has invited three young Indian Americans to his <keyword id="188" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="diwali" source="Orion">Diwali</keyword> reception. DALCA children are those who have aged out of their parent's visa or legal status and face extradition. There are over 200,000 such children in the US, majority of whom are Indian Americans. Thanking <keyword id="60973" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="biden" source="Orion">Biden</keyword> for the gesture, the three young Indian Americans said they were “delighted to join” the President and Vice President <keyword id="180909" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="kamala-harris" source="Orion">Kamala Harris</keyword> at the White House. “We were honoured to be with the President and Vice President among many Indian American leaders for this Diwali celebration. We hope that light will come for all of us by the end of the year through a solution to end aging-out for all children of long-term visa holders,” said Dip Patel, the founder of ‘Improve The Dream’ organisation which has been fighting on behalf of the children who have grown up in the US as child dependents of long-term visa holders, but face self-deportation after aging-out. Patel said about 200,000 young immigrants are in the US as dependents of their parents on temporary work visas because of the outdated laws of the country. He and two of his colleagues -- Pareen Mhatre and Athulya Rajakumar -- at ‘Improve the Dream’ were invited by Biden and First Lady Jill Biden to attend the Diwali reception at the White House on Monday. “Diwali has always been a cherished festival for me and my family. I am so honoured to be able to advocate on behalf of ‘Improve The Dream’ and help bring light to our cause. It was a surreal feeling meeting South Asian trailblazers at the White House to celebrate the festival of lights that is so close to our hearts,” Mhatre said. Echoing similar sentiments, Rajakumar said, “We feel honoured to have been recognised and invited by President Biden and his administration to this year’s magnificent Diwali celebration. Our presence here shows that the President and the administration have heard our stories and they care.” In his remarks at the Diwali function, President Biden thanked the community for making the celebration of Diwali such a joyous part of American culture. "As we — we see it across the country: opening homes and hearts and exchanging gifts and sweets, and hosting feasts and — for family and friends, organizing cultural programs that bring us together as a people," he said. "Through all that you contribute, as well beyond, in every part of American life, thank you. Thank you for reflecting the soul of who we are as a nation," the president said. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/international/news/meet-the-first-indian-first-lady-of-uk-akshata-murty/articleshow/95095250.cms">Meet the first Indian first lady of UK - Akshata Murty</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/indian-embassy-asks-citizens-to-leave-ukraine/articleshow/95090988.cms">Indian Embassy asks citizens to leave Ukraine</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/akshay-kumar-starrer-ram-setu-earns-rs-15-crore-on-opening-day/articleshow/95095433.cms">Akshay Kumar-starrer 'Ram Setu' earns Rs 15 crore on opening day</a>

Biden invites three Indian American children facing extradition to the White House Diwali reception

<keyword id="4067" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Dhanteras" source="Orion">Dhanteras</keyword> is celebrated on the first day of the five day long <keyword id="451596" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Diwali-festival" source="Orion">Diwali festival</keyword>. The suffix ‘Teras’ in Hindi is synonymous with the word Trayodashi in Sanskrit which refers to the thirteenth day of the waning phase of the moon. The different rituals connected to Dhanteras aim at praying for the prosperity of the household and the health and long life of the husband. On the day of Dhanteras, many households perform Laxmi puja. Dhanteras sets the auspicious and celebrative mood for the <keyword id="3405" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Diwali-celebrations" source="Orion">Diwali celebrations</keyword>. Here is a highly interesting mythological story connected to Dhanteras. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="The mythology story behind Dhanteras" comment="subhead" text="The mythology story behind Dhanteras">The mythology <keyword id="8248231" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="story-behind-dhanteras" source="Orion">story behind Dhanteras</keyword></cmsannotation> Once upon a time, there was a king named Hima who ruled over his kingdom with justice and love as the two tools of his governance. He had a son and the astrologers predicted that his son would face the end of his life due to snake bite on his sixteenth year. A sense of deep anguish tormented King Hima’s heart and he searched for ways to save his son’s life. As per the advice of a renowned astrologer, he got his son married to a girl who had a lucky horoscope. The couple lived happily for a few years. The boy neared his sixteenth year and the king started worrying about the impending death of his son. The girl launches an adventure The astrological predictions said a snake would bite the boy when he stepped into his sixteenth year of life on the earth. On the eve of the boy’s sixteenth birthday, the girl hatched a clever plan to save the life of her husband. She gathered all her jewels and piled them up in front of the main door. She advised her husband not to sleep and she too stayed awake throughout the night. She sat near the entrance of the home guarding the main door. Lord Yama arrives story During the appointed hour of taking the boy’s life, Lord Yama, the god of death arrived in front of the house in the form of a serpent. The snake crawled its way to the main door of the house. When the snake was about to enter the door, the pile of ornaments stopped it on the way. The ornaments were so dazzling that the snake could not see anything around it clearly. Meanwhile, the girl kept singing melodious songs throughout the night. The songs were so alluring that the snake stayed at the doorstep enjoying the songs. The time to take the life of the boy elapsed and Lord Yama in the form of snake had to give up his mission. Thus the witty idea of the girl helped save the life of her husband. Dhanteras was born story This legend gave rise to the event of Dhanteras celebrated year on year on the same day of Krishna Paksha Trayodashi in the month of Kartika just before the Diwali festival. The popular belief among the Hindus has helped continue this holy tradition that says Dhanteras is the surest way to invite prosperity into the household and seek the long life of the husband.

Dhanteras 2023: what is the story behind Dhanteras

Diwali is celebrated as the festival heralding the victory of good over evil. Diwali is one notable festival that connects Indian together. In fact, along with the Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists too have their own versions of Diwali. Hence there is something unique and grand about this festival. Diwali is also known by some other names. There are some interesting legends associated with these different names of Diwali. Here are a few interesting names and stories connected to Diwali that you might not have known. Some known legends Diwali is celebrated as the day of victory of good over the evil. There are three popular stories associated with Diwali for the Hindus. Hindus celebrate Diwali as the day of Rama’s return to Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile in the forest and a triumphant victory over the demon king Ravana. In some parts of India, Diwali marks the start of Mahabharata war. Hence in some regions, the scenes of Mahabharata are enacted on this day. This day also marks the victory of Krishna and his consort Satyabhama over the demon Narakasur. Bhau Beej In Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra, Diwali is also known by the name Bhau Beej. In the northern parts of the nation, this version of Diwali is called by other names such as Bhai Tika, Bhathru Dwithiya, Bhai Dooj. A legend says that it was on this day that Yama, the god of death visited his sister Yamuna. Hence this day is also known by the name Yama Dwitiya. Yama is received on this day with some interesting offerings and pujas. Balipratipada During the incarnation of Vamana, the fourth descent of Vishnu on this earth, the Lord took the form of a small boy and subdued the demon Mahabali by asking for alms and measuring the three worlds by assuming a cosmic form. After this process of taking away the three worlds from the demon king, Mahabali was sent to the netherworlds on the day of Diwali known as Balipratipada. The day of Nirvana Jains celebrate Diwali in the name Dipalika or the splendor of lamps. It was on this day that Mahavir, the twenty fourth Tirtankar of Jainism attained Nirvana or Moksha in Pawanpuri of Bihar. In the text known as Harivamsha Purana written by Acharya Jinasena, he has mentioned that the Tirtankars decorated the Pavanagiri with lamps to celebrate the occasion. Swetambar Jains observe fasting for three days around this time. Congregational prayers and readings from Mahavira;s teachings are very popular on this day. For Jains, this day also marks the birth of a new year. Hence on this day, they greet others with the slogan ‘Nava Saal Mubarak’ which means Happy New Year. Diwali for the Sikhs Sikhs celebrate Diwali as Bandi Chhor Diwas meaning the day of liberation. It was on this day in 1619 that their sixth Guru Hargobind Singh was released from the prison of Jahangir. The festival that unites The most common theme of the different versions of Diwali is the triumph of good over evil. Hence Diwali is celebrated as the festival of lights by several communities in India. Lighting of lamps, feasts, prayers, pujas, charities, merriment and fireworks are some of the common characteristics of Diwali celebrations by the different communities.

Some lesser known facts about Diwali-- a festival that has many versions in  India

<ul><li>The <keyword id="3711673" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="amazon-great-indian-festival" source="Orion">Amazon Great Indian Festival</keyword> sale will go live on September 23.</li><li>Amazon has revealed the <keyword id="842662" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="kickstarter" source="Orion">Kickstarter</keyword> deals ahead of the sale.</li><li>Here are some of the best offers on smartphones, laptops and audio accessories.</li></ul>Amazon is set to begin the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/ecommerce/news/amazon-great-indian-festival-sale-best-deals-and-offers/articleshow/94004700.cms">Great India Festival sale</a>, one of the company’s biggest annual sales, ahead of the festive season. While the sale is set to begin on September 23, the e-commerce giant has announced Kickstarter deals, allowing users to grab products at a discounted price ahead of the sale. The Great Indian Festival Kickstarter deals offer discounts across a wide range of products, including smartphones, laptops, TVs, home appliances and more. During the sale, you can also use your SBI debit and credit cards to avail an instant 10% discount. In this list, we look at some of the best deals on smartphones, laptops, true wireless earbuds and more. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G" comment="subhead" text="Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G">Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G</cmsannotation> <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="B08VB57558" comment="amazoncard" text="B08VB57558">B08VB57558</cmsannotation> The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G is a good option if you are looking for a reliable device at a premium. The smartphone has a powerful processor and a smooth user interface. It is a 5G-ready device and is currently available for ₹29,999. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Xiaomi 11T Pro 5G" comment="subhead" text="Xiaomi 11T Pro 5G">Xiaomi 11T Pro 5G</cmsannotation> <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="B09Q19F2F6" comment="amazoncard" text="B09Q19F2F6">B09Q19F2F6</cmsannotation> The Xiaomi 11T Pro 5G is a good option if you are a gamer looking for a powerful smartphone for your gaming sessions. It is equipped with the Snapdragon 888 chipset and features a 120Hz display with Dolby Vision support. It is currently available for ₹38,999, down from its original price of ₹54,999. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="iQOO 9 5G" comment="subhead" text="iQOO 9 5G">iQOO 9 5G</cmsannotation> <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="B07WGPKWC8" comment="amazoncard" text="B07WGPKWC8">B07WGPKWC8</cmsannotation> The iQOO 9 5G is equipped with a powerful Snapdragon 888+ chipset that offers excellent performance, making it a good option for gamers and heavy users. It features a large display and offers 120W fast charge support, allowing you to charge your device quickly. It is currently available for ₹36,990, down from its original price of ₹49,990. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="OnePlus 9 Pro 5G" comment="subhead" text="OnePlus 9 Pro 5G">OnePlus 9 Pro 5G</cmsannotation> <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="B089MS8SKL" comment="amazoncard" text="B089MS8SKL">B089MS8SKL</cmsannotation> The OnePlus 9 Pro is the flagship offering from the last year and is still a good option if you are looking for a reliable device with a good chipset a decent camera. It is currently available for ₹54,999, down from its original price of ₹69,999. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="LG Gram 16" comment="subhead" text="LG Gram 16">LG Gram 16</cmsannotation> <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="B09MHVQNBN" comment="amazoncard" text="B09MHVQNBN">B09MHVQNBN</cmsannotation> If you are in the market for a laptop, the LG Gram 16 is an option worth considering. It is a powerful device with an 11th gen Intel Core i5 chipset coupled with 8GB RAM and a 512GB SSD. The laptop is currently available for ₹74,990, down from its original price of ₹1,30,000. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Asus TUF Gaming F15" comment="subhead" text="Asus TUF Gaming F15">Asus TUF Gaming F15</cmsannotation> <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="B09RMTMBSM" comment="amazoncard" text="B09RMTMBSM">B09RMTMBSM</cmsannotation> The Asus TUF Gaming F15 is a good option if you are looking for a gaming laptop. It is equipped with the 10th gen Intel i5 chipset coupled with 8GB RAM and a 512GB SSD. The graphic duties are handled by the GTX 1650 graphics that can easily run many games. The laptop is currently available for ₹50,990, down from its original price of ₹74,990. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="MSI Modern 14" comment="subhead" text="MSI Modern 14">MSI Modern 14</cmsannotation> <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="B09QG5N7MB" comment="amazoncard" text="B09QG5N7MB">B09QG5N7MB</cmsannotation> The MSI Modern 14 offers decent specifications at an affordable price and comes with a lightweight design. The laptop is equipped with 11th gen Intel Core i5 chipset with 8GB RAM and a 512GB SSD. It is currently available for ₹43,990, down from its original price of ₹66,990. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Samsung Galaxy Buds Live" comment="subhead" text="Samsung Galaxy Buds Live">Samsung Galaxy Buds Live</cmsannotation> <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="B08FN6WGDQ" comment="amazoncard" text="B08FN6WGDQ">B08FN6WGDQ</cmsannotation> The Samsung Galaxy Buds Live are a good option if you want a truly wireless earbud that offers a good fit and audio quality. The earbuds have been developed in partnership with AKG and come with Bixby support. It is currently available for ₹4,790, down from its original price of ₹15,990. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Oppo Enco Air 2" comment="subhead" text="Oppo Enco Air 2">Oppo Enco Air 2</cmsannotation> <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="B0B1ZY3SF4" comment="amazoncard" text="B0B1ZY3SF4">B0B1ZY3SF4</cmsannotation> The Oppo Enco Air 2 is a good option if you are looking for an affordable true wireless earbud. It is equipped with a 13.4mm dynamic driver that delivers powerful bass. The earbuds weigh just 3.5 grams and come with a low-latency mode for gaming. It is currently available for ₹1,999, down from its original price of ₹3,999. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Zebronics Zeb-Blitz" comment="subhead" text="Zebronics Zeb-Blitz">Zebronics Zeb-Blitz</cmsannotation> <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="B09P1KK9K1" comment="amazoncard" text="B09P1KK9K1">B09P1KK9K1</cmsannotation> The Zebronics Zeb-Blitz is an on-ear headphone suitable for computers. It comes with a braided cable and a gold-plated USB. The headphones offer a 7.1 surround sound experience and 5 RGB modes. The headphone is currently available for ₹1,999, down from their original price of ₹5,999. We may earn a commission if you buy something using links in our stories. This helps support our journalism. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/ecommerce/news/amazon-great-indian-festival-sale-best-deals-and-offers/articleshow/94004700.cms">Amazon Great Indian Festival sale deals and offers</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/ecommerce/news/iphone-13-series-iphone-12-mini-and-iphone-11-to-get-huge-price-cut-on-flipkart-upcoming-sale/articleshow/94215527.cms">Flipkart's upcoming sale could be the best time to buy an iPhone – iPhone 13 series, iPhone 12 mini and more to get huge price cut</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/ecommerce/news/amazon-great-indian-festival-sale-things-to-do-before-the-sale-goes-live/articleshow/94157228.cms">Amazon Great Indian Festival Sale: Things to do before the sale goes live</a>

Best offers on smartphones, laptops, and more on the Amazon Great Indian Festival Kickstarter deals

A massive Diwali-Dussehra celebration festival showcasing the best of Indian culture, heritage, and values in an unparalleled manner has attracted a record-breaking crowd of more than 10,000 persons from all walks of life and ethnicities here in <keyword id="15710" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="texas" source="Orion">Texas</keyword>. The 11th Grand International Diwali-Dussehra Festival, depicting the "victory of good over evil", at Constellation Field in Sugar Land, a Greater <keyword id="100821" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="houston" source="Orion">Houston</keyword> suburb, was attended by several dignitaries, including US congressmen, judges, mayors, and commissioners on Saturday. Organised by the Shri Sita Ram Foundation (SSRF), a non-profit organisation, the epic celebration from 2012 onwards has grown tremendously over the years and continues to attract more attendees across Texas and other states every year. The foundation finds innovative and unique ways to share Indian Vedic culture and values. Last year it initiated efforts to highlight Diwali's message of "Good Over Evil" by involving consul generals of 15 countries in the Dussehra parade. This year, Texas Governor Greg Abbott sent in a video message, with Houston Mayor <keyword id="3691420" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="sylvester-turner" source="Orion">Sylvester Turner</keyword> being the Grand Marshal along with consul generals of several countries joining for the Dussehra parade. The football stadium was brilliantly transformed and decorated with millions of dazzling multi-coloured lights, lit-up main entrance gates, and colourful silk-draped vendor booths. The ceilings and walls of the concourse and field were decorated with traditional banners, flags, hangings, and pictures of several deities. The vendor booths did a brisk business in selling traditional Diwali items, including Diwali diyas, jewellery, fashion clothing, and toys. A "food bazaar" served vegetarian food from every part of <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword>. This festival had special attractions for children like henna booths, face painting, balloons, moonwalks, merry-go-rounds, a petting zoo, horse buggy rides, clowns, etc. Performances like folk dances, martial arts of India, and kids in costumes of the characters from the scriptures were presented on a two-tiered 60 ft. by 40 ft. stage, with professionally installed stage lights, special effects, and huge LED screens adding a wow factor for the audience. A 24-foot-tall figure of lord Hanuman and a 35-foot-tall figure of Lord Ram was installed next to the stage. A play in English depicting the life of lord Rama and his final battle to overcome evil kept the audience glued to their seats till the end, earning a standing ovation. Arun Verma, president of SSRF, said: "India is a country of festivals and Diwali being the biggest of all festivals, we try to introduce, educate, promote and showcase the rich vibrant culture and moral value to the Indian diaspora and all Americans, while celebrating the 'Victory of Good over Evil' and 'Universal Brotherhood'." "We bring the best of the best and do it on a grand scale. You name it, and we have it over here." The festival is "open to anybody" as it also includes aspects of American culture, according to Verma. "Our belief is that the entire world is one big family and we need to treat everybody like a brother and a sister. To demonstrate that, we have invited every one of them," he said. "Looking at the overwhelming response this year and the record crowd, we may have to take this festival to an even bigger location than this football field with the capacity of 10,000 spectators" as we had to stop people from entering after it crossed the maximum capacity due to city restraints, he told PTI. The Sugar Land festival, which Verma said is the biggest of its kind in Texas, combines the two Hindu holidays of Diwali and Dussehra. The festival featured a unique multi-coloured magnificent parade with 40 floats by local temples and community organisations representing scenes, stories, and characters from Indian scriptures. Mayor <keyword id="169084" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="turner" source="Orion">Turner</keyword>, who was the Grand Marshal, lead the parade alongside the Consul General of India in Houston, Aseem Mahajan, the Consulate General of France in Houston, Valerie Baraba, Indian American Fort Bend County Judge, K P George, as well as several representatives of the Texas Congressmen and other official dignitaries. The parade included representatives of the nearly 100 consul generals in Houston who represent several foreign countries. Valerie Baraban said in a tweet that she was "thrilled to participate in the Grand 11th International Diwali-Dussehra festival alongside Mayor Sylvester Turner, CG Mahajan, and other members of the consular corps. India is one of France's major partners in the Indo-pacific region". This year's festival also celebrated the 75th anniversary of India's independence "Amrit Mahotsav". Fifteen major freedom fighters such as Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, and Subhash Chander Bose were honoured by carrying 75 Indian flags during the parade. "The entire Houston Consular Corp. joined the celebrations in the true spirit of Vasudeva Kumtumbkam, thus treating the entire world as a big family. This was depicted in the parade by 100 volunteers carrying 100 national flags of the entire Houston Consular Corp," Verma said. As November elections are around the corner, a few political candidates like Beto O'Rourke, who is running for Texas Governor position, found the stage to greet Indian Americans. Wishing everyone Diwali, he said, adding that "we celebrate this festival of lights to push out darkness and celebrate the triumph of good over evil", with each of us having a chance to "make sure we are heard in this great democracy". The Ravan Dahan, the burning of a 25-foot-tall effigy of Ravan, Kumbhakaran, and Meghnath, was held amongst the loud sound of crackers and spectacular fireworks to celebrate the occasion of the "Victory of Good Over Evil". SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/pvr-reports-net-loss-of-71-23-crore-in-q2-attributes-it-to-bollywood-hollywood-flops/articleshow/94917917.cms">PVR reports net loss of ₹71.23 crore in Q2, attributes it to Bollywood, Hollywood flops</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/arunachal-pradeshs-eagle-sanctuary-has-woodpeckers-flycatchers-and-more-but-no-eagles/articleshow/94916258.cms">Arunachal Pradesh's eagle sanctuary has woodpeckers, flycatchers and more - but no eagles</a>

With veg food stalls and henna booths, Houston's Dusshera-Diwali festival attracts 10,000 people

<ul><li>Smartphone brand <keyword id="215177" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="vivo" source="Orion">vivo</keyword> has launched its <keyword id="188" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="diwali" source="Orion">Diwali</keyword> films featuring veteran <keyword id="42902" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="kanwaljit-singh" source="Orion">Kanwaljit Singh</keyword>.</li><li>In an exclusive chat with Ad &amp; Media Insider, <keyword id="6574292" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="nipun-marya" source="Orion">Nipun Marya</keyword>, Director Brand Strategy, vivo India, about the new campaign, the consumer sentiments during this year’s festive season, the brand's IPL experience this year, and more.</li></ul>The Diwali week is finally here and brands are doing all in their might to make the most of this festive season, by telling lots of beautiful stories. Last week, Vivo launched a heartwarming film, to celebrate the spirit of Diwali. Featuring actor Kanwaljit Singh, the film is aimed at encapsulating the role of smartphone photography in rekindling the joy of connection. At a time when there is a constant debate about the effectiveness of long-form ads with dwindling attention spans, this film has tried to tell an engaging story in around 5 minutes. The film has been conceptualized by <keyword id="3553893" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="dentsu-impact" source="Orion">Dentsu Impact</keyword>. Photographs play an important role in the narrative and Vivo has tried to show how We speak to Nipun Marya, Director Brand Strategy, vivo India, about the new campaign, the consumer sentiments during this year’s festive season, the brand's IPL experience this year, and more. Excerpts: Q) People often talk about the decreasing attention span of consumers and you have just released a 5-minute long film for Diwali. Tell us a bit about Vivo's new campaign. As a consumer-centric brand, vivo has always focused on establishing a strong connection with its audience through emotional storytelling. With the #JoyofHomecoming campaign, which features the veteran actor Kanwaljit Singh, we aim to remind everyone that the festival of lights is fondly celebrated, when the entire family gets together. The campaign encapsulates the role of smartphone photography in rekindling the joy of connection, and aims to bridge the emotional and physical distances between families and spread happiness. India is a collectivist society and all of us are deeply emotionally connected with our families and loved ones. We understand the importance of capturing those perfect moments with the help of photography and how it can be used to stimulate emotions. Delivering industry-leading camera technology, we want our consumers to enjoy this festival with their loved ones and capture every moment and emotion. Through this, we also intend to strengthen our bond with our consumers, which motivates in delivering what’s best for them. Q) What is the message you are trying to communicate? Mobile photography has always been the key focus for vivo. From delivering industry-leading technology to the best camera features, we make sure to spread joy to our consumers. We understand how technology plays a vital role in today’s fast-moving world and how important it is to help us stay connected with our loved ones. Pictures have a way of conveying the entire story. The purpose of this campaign is not to highlight a feature, rather to understand and establish the emotional connection behind the picture. At vivo, we understand that technology is an enabler for the joy in our lives and through this campaign we want to celebrate homecoming, as people will be able to visit their families by taking necessary precautions and celebrating this festival at home. Q) How has the festive season been so far this year? Are you witnessing a revival? Recovering from 2020, this year businesses across the globe are gradually coming back at their feet. We are definitely optimistic about the situation getting back to normal. As businesses are steadily opening up, we foresee a huge scope for engagement with the consumers and smartphone sales are proportionately expected to increase in the coming months. According to <a href="https://www.counterpointresearch.com/india-smartphone-market-q2-2021/">Counterpoint Research</a>, India’s smartphone shipments grew 82% YoY to reach over 33 million units in Q2 2021, and vivo captured a 15% share of the overall market. According to the latest report by Counterpoint, nearly $7.6 billion worth of smartphones is likely to be sold during the ongoing festive season in India. Hence, we are looking forward to the festive season. Despite the ongoing situation, we have managed to maintain steady growth in the Indian smartphone market. Our V-Series models (the V20 and V21 series) have performed exceptionally well, and since our entry in the premium segment with the X50 series last year followed by the launch of the X60 series early this year, our market share has become 3x in the above 30k segment. The growth numbers clearly indicate the consumers are out there, looking for feature-rich smartphones. As we are nearing the festive season, we have introduced the all new X70 Series Co-Engineered with ZEISS and the response so far has been tremendous. We expect that the premium segment will continue to grow in the future as consumers want to upgrade and they are willing to pay a premium for meaningful innovation. Therefore, the launch of the X70 series is vital ahead of the festive season. Q) How did your association with IPL work for you this year? The duration of <keyword id="3133036" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="vivo-ipl" source="Orion">Vivo IPL</keyword> holds special significance in our product launch and marketing calendars. It offers us a great opportunity to engage with our target audience across the country more effectively. Most of our significant announcements or product launches have been around IPL - be it the announcement of <keyword id="6354486" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="virat-kohli" source="Orion">Virat Kohli</keyword> as our brand ambassadors, the launch of our popular V-series, or the most recent launch of our X70 series. Cricket, as we know, is not just a sport in our country. It is a religion. People in the country are connected to the game. The Indian Premier League is a perfect blend of cricket and entertainment. It offers a brilliant opportunity to connect with our consumers more closely and effectively. Vivo IPL has played a vital role in catapulting vivo to being a leading smartphone brand in India. It has helped us tremendously in enhancing Brand Awareness and Brand Salience. Today, Vivo's brand awareness is 100% in the country. Furthermore, association with the league has also had positive impacts on our business results. Today, vivo is the leading smartphone player in the mainline retail market (Source: GFK). As a brand, our consumer-centricity focuses on youth, and vivo IPL helps us to connect with them. Q) How is Vivo as a brand pushing the threshold of technology and innovation in the smartphone segment? What more can we expect from the band in the coming months? At vivo, our acute focus is our consumers. As a consumer-centric brand, we have set high benchmarks in the industry by launching meaningful innovations for our consumers and have won the admiration of smartphone lovers with its technological prowess. From introducing the world's first 20MP moonlight selfie camera to launching its first smartphone with in-built Gimbal technology, vivo has always surprised the audience with its innovative products. The recently launched X70 series is a testament to the capabilities that vivo has as a premium smartphone brand. Similarly, the vivo V21 launched this year, was the thinnest smartphone in the category and was launched with the Industry first front OIS. We are manufacturing future-ready 5G phones that also provide the industry best camera innovation and design excellence. In the future, to meet the demands of our evolving consumers, we will continue to focus on game-changing innovations and customize enhancing smartphone user experience. Q) Where will your next phase of growth come from in India? We have always focused on providing innovative technology to our customers and helping spread joy in their lives. At vivo, this has been our vision for the last six years of spreading happiness among our Consumers, Partners, Employees, and Shareholders. With the same vision, we will continue to delight our customers by bringing splendid innovations in the future.

Our new campaign aims at bridging the emotional and physical distances between families and spread happiness: Nipun Marya, vivo India

<ul><li><keyword id="3380874" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="amazon-prime-india" source="Orion">Amazon Prime India</keyword> urges viewers to spend time with their family and friends this festive season, because “Hum Toh Yahaan Kal Bhi Rehenge…Par Diwali Kal Nahi Aayegi.”</li><li><keyword id="475128" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="pankaj-tripathi" source="Orion">Pankaj Tripathi</keyword>, back as Mirzapur’s Kaleen Bhaiyya in one of the films and <keyword id="66183" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="maanvi-gagroo" source="Orion">Maanvi Gagroo</keyword> reprises her role as Siddhi from Four More Shots Please! in the second creative spot.</li></ul>Prime Video has launched a new campaign to celebrate the festive season, urging its customers and fans to reconnect with their loved ones. In a year that saw Prime Video become an integral part of customers’ lives as their preferred entertainment destination, the campaign urges users to press pause on the amazing world of Prime Video, and instead celebrate with their family and friends, following all necessary health and safety precautions. Led by two of Prime Video’s most beloved and iconic characters, Kaleen Bhaiyya (Mirzapur) and Siddhi (Four More Shots Please!), the campaign features two films that will run on digital platforms and TV. The films were conceptualized in-house and created by Big Momma Productions. In the last four years, Prime Video has become the default and trusted entertainment destination for customers across the country with a slate of acclaimed and popular movies and shows including the very successful Mirzapur, Paatal Lok, Four More Shots Please!, The Family Man, and many more. This campaign takes the role of a ‘trusted friend’ a step further, bringing in popular Amazon Original characters to deliver an emotional heart-touching message. “Over the last four years, we have had the amazing privilege of entertaining our customers with a slate of compelling Amazon Originals and movies across multiple languages. Especially over the last 18 months, as the country went into lockdowns, Prime Video has become the go-to entertainment destination for customers across the country and we are truly humbled by this.” said Sushant Sreeram, Director – Marketing, Amazon Prime Video, India. “At the same time, we want to encourage our customers to take a moment to reconnect and rediscover the joy of togetherness – in real life or virtually. With this campaign, we wanted to remind customers that Prime Video and the world of their favourite stories and characters are always going to be around, but they shouldn’t miss the beautiful opportunity to celebrate the festive season with their loved ones. And we couldn’t think of a better way to say this than have some of our iconic characters do it for us! We hope customers enjoy many joyous moments and create some amazing new memories this festive season and we can’t wait for them all to be back to their favourite world of Prime Video!” Pankaj Tripathi, back as Mirzapur’s Kaleen Bhaiyya in one of the films, said, “I am grateful to my fans who have showered me with so much love over the past few years. I am truly humbled by all the adoration I have received from them. However, this Diwali, I want to tell my fans that Kaleen Bhaiyya would love for them to spend time with their families. Diwali gives us the opportunity to connect with our loved ones and the time spent with them adds to the joy of the festival. Kaleen Bhaiyya and the many characters that you love, will be there on Prime Video tomorrow and every other day, but Diwali should be all about family and friends.” <div type="Youtube" id="_yAC0vHCVz4" title="Apno Wali Diwali With Amazon Prime Video | Kaleen Bhaiya" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_yAC0vHCVz4/mqdefault.jpg"></div> Maanvi Gagroo, who reprises her role as Siddhi from Four More Shots Please! in the second creative spot, said, “I have always believed in the power of friendship and feel that festivals come alive when we spend them with our friends, and of course, family. I was ecstatic to feature in the campaign because it delivers a poignant message. Over the last two years, all of us have realized the value of family and friends even more. And this festive season should give us an opportunity to thank them for being there for us – while being responsible and safe. As for your on-screen friends from Prime Video, we will, always be there for you!” <div type="Youtube" id="cORXxQsURyY" title="Apno Wali Diwali - Maanvi Gagroo | Amazon Prime Video" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/cORXxQsURyY/mqdefault.jpg"></div> Conceptualized in-house by the brand marketing team, the videos have been scripted and produced by Big Momma Productions. Sohini Dasgupta, Founder, Big Momma Productions has directed both the heart-warming films. Campaign Credits: <ul><li>Creative Agency: This was an in-house ideation, with support from Big Momma Productions</li><li>Script Writing: YA Writers Room by Big Momma Productions. Led by Shohini Dasgupta; writers – Nisha, Pallavi and Nikita</li><li>Production House: Big Momma Productions</li><li>Director: Shohini Dasgupta</li></ul>

Pankaj Tripathi and Maanvi Gagroo reprise their role as Kaleen Bhaiyya and Siddhi in Amazon Prime India's Diwali campaign

<ul><li>While the first half of the year was so unusual and unprecedented that the ad industry took a nosedive to as low as -60%, research studies have shown that the consumer sentiment is picking up and so are ad spends. </li><li>Diwali has brought an opportunity for brands to reconnect with their consumers, woo them again and remind that we are all in this together. </li><li>And Indian brands have not disappointed. From Mondelez and BYJU’s to HP, brands have made beautiful advertisements as a tribute to the working class that continues to struggle. </li><li>We reached out to experts to discuss their favourite ads from this Diwali and some of the reasons that make them special. So, here is a listicle compiling the best ads of this year. </li></ul>Diyas and rangolis, food and family, gifts and greetings – this is what makes Diwali truly special. It is also an advertising carnival which brings up an opportunity for brands to reconnect with consumers as the market sentiment improves. Brands pour in big monies on traditional mediums to reach out to consumers at a larger scale. Every year, categories like FMCG, apparel, auto, e-commerce and consumer durables become the biggest spenders during Diwali. However, 2020 is unusual. Coronavirus still hasn’t left our country and people continue to be cautious about stepping out. So, this Diwali won’t be about bursting crackers on the street and meeting your family to exchange sweets. It will all be virtual, about being there for each other in tough times and celebrating small victories while maintaining a safe distance. So this year, brands have looked beyond family and home. After spending the first half of the year jobless, locked inside four walls, there are many who won’t get to celebrate the festival of light in its true spirit because they would be busy searching for small opportunities to support their family. The ironman, painter, watchman, delivery personnel and many other Indians will continue working, some bound by their circumstances and others by their duties. COVID’s economic disruption has adversely impacted the collective optimism for festivities. Yet, all it takes is the determined optimism of hope and celebration to cheer someone. Therefore, many brands decided to shine a spotlight on these heroes who go unnoticed. They urged consumers to support different sectors of our society who have been badly impacted by COVID-19. Common themes of togetherness, compassion, positivity, generosity, uplifting each other and supporting small businesses, emerged this year and took over the advertising canvas. Brands reminded their audience to help bring light and joy not just inside their homes but also outside their lives by sharing a little part of their happiness. After all, that's what festivals are all about. So like this unusual year, we decide to do something different. We reached out to experts to find out their favourite advertisements and the reasons why they loved them. Here is what they had to say about creativity this Diwali: Ronita Mitra, Founder and Chief Strategist, Brand Eagle Consulting: Most brands have been warm, telling stories of togetherness and bonding with family, friends and neighbours. In that sense, all brands are playing their role in uplifting the sentiments of consumers, encouraging them to enjoy the festive season once again. However the campaign that stands out for me is the Cadbury's campaign. The brand has weaved in "togetherness and inclusiveness" into the very heart of the campaign idea. and gone beyond merely producing an engaging ad with a well told, warm story. The Cadbury's brand has taken the idea of togetherness to a different level by involving and doing something meaningful for a segment of society that has been badly impacted by Covid - the local neighbourhood retailers. It has played the role of a truly responsible, inclusive brand that believes growth is sustainable when the eco system grows together. The idea entails high level execution effort in terms of integrating the gathering database with advanced technology to make the idea come alive in a real way for every consumer. The campaign is an inspiring coming together of idea, execution and technology at every stage from conceptualization to the hyper personalised media plan. <div type="Youtube" id="So16ZBPK6mo" title="This is not just a Cadbury ad" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/So16ZBPK6mo/mqdefault.jpg"></div> Roshan Abbas, Founder &amp; MD, Geometry Encompass: I just saw a lovely HP Print ad on DiwaliDilWali, it was beautiful and emotional. A follow up to their earlier campaign 2 years ago on supporting local sellers, it brings together the beauty of innovation, emotion and has a fabulous performance by Seema Pahwa. While everyone is harping on supporting small sellers the route and product integration is what makes this different. <div type="Youtube" id="2uA1r8gaRik" title="#YeDiwaliDilWali" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2uA1r8gaRik/mqdefault.jpg"></div> <keyword id="247533" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Karthik-Srinivasan">Karthik Srinivasan</keyword>, Social Media Expert and Independent Brand Consultant: I have seen a few Deepavali/Diwali ads and so far liked 2 of them more than the others. Both have the same theme, of not stopping the kind of work/purchases that we do during Deepavali because of the pandemic. Whether that sells consumerism or is coated as restarting the seller-buyer ecosystem is a different question. The first one is by Birla White, a brand that doesn't really have a say in Diwali, but brings itself very contextually and meaningfully into the Diwali discussion. This is by Autumn Grey. <div type="Youtube" id="FKnAmnyf_eo" title="Deewarein Sajengi Tabhi Toh Tyohaar Ki Rangat Badhegi" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FKnAmnyf_eo/mqdefault.jpg"></div> The second is a surprise since it is not from India! This ad is for the Malaysian bank, RHB that features Tamilians (Malaysian Tamils) and Tamil language, by FCB Kuala Lumpur. The theme is very similar to the Birla White story in that both use the father-daughter dynamics for emotional appeal. <div type="Youtube" id="gaUtaD-uzyg" title="RHB Deepavali 2020: Light In a Time of Darkness" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gaUtaD-uzyg/mqdefault.jpg"></div> Heeru Dingra, CEO, WATConsult: Out of all ads that seem to have gone live so far, Phillips’ Diwali campaign ‘Khushiyon Ki Ladi’, weaves a very beautiful and relevant story for the audience. Instead of approaching the festival directly, they took the viewers on a journey showcasing an interlinked chain of festivities, which surrounds all of us. With very relatable scenes like receiving a delivery, or purchasing sweets at a store, the video basically taught us the economy and dependency that businesses have on each other. With its smooth story narration and the ingrained feel good factor, the campaign did what it set out to do – make us associate Diwali with a feeling of community and interconnectivity. <div type="Youtube" id="GGd_g9MT0oY" title="Philips | #KhushiyonKiLadi" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/GGd_g9MT0oY/mqdefault.jpg"></div> Vishnu Srivastav, Vishnu Srivastav, Creative Head, DDB Mudra South: My favourite Diwali campaign this year is ‘Not Just a <keyword id="3275564" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Cadbury-Ad">Cadbury Ad</keyword>’ by Cadbury. A large brand using its large platform to help other businesses in need. What could capture the Diwali spirit and Cadbury’s ethos of spreading cheer better? It’s data driven advertising with a deeply human impact. Janhavi Iyer, Associate Director- Content Strategy, Gozoop: The Not Just a Cadbury Ad by Cadbury definitely caught my attention this year. Not only is it supported by the use of sound media technology with the pin-code based personalization but it also meets one of the most important criteria for a great ad and that is actionability. With Covid leaving small and local businesses suffering, Cadbury’s ad was not just on brand but its simple message of buying local capitalized on the predominant sentiment of the nation, at a time when it was needed most. This year, as I stepped outside to shop for Diwali, I went to all my local stores, a conscious action sparked by a simple and insightful campaign. I’d also give a shout out to Oppo’s Be The Light campaign. From a storytelling perspective, the short film struck all the right chords without pushing the product too much, making it a delight to watch. <div type="Youtube" id="KHxc8QkSwiQ" title="OPPO F17 Pro - #BeTheLight To Spread The Light | Diwali'20" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/KHxc8QkSwiQ/mqdefault.jpg"></div>

Experts share their favourite Diwali campaigns from 2020

<ul><li>Facebook's short film showcases the power of connections and people coming together to help, support and celebrate with each other.</li><li>It conceputalised by <keyword id="2805309" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Taproot-Dentsu">Taproot Dentsu</keyword>.</li></ul>Facebook today launched a short film underscoring the power of connections, and its brand belief that people can do ‘More Together’ than alone. The film's plot is centered around the spirit of resilience of 28 year old Pooja and how she helps sustain as many households as possible through the hardships of the pandemic via her dairy venture. The decision to hire more personnel, even when business is low, comes at a great personal cost. However, the way the plot unfolds, it showcases the limitless possibilities when people come together. <div type="Youtube" id="GXaeeqfHNHQ" title="Facebook | More Together - Pooja Didi" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/GXaeeqfHNHQ/mqdefault.jpg"></div> Speaking about the film, <keyword id="257099" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Avinash-Pant">Avinash Pant</keyword>, Director-Marketing, Facebook India, said, “The film is a homage to the insurmountable spirit of the people and the good they can enable by coming together. It draws inspiration from the stories of resilience and hardships people overcame by helping one another over the last few months. Through the film our aim is to showcase the journey India has taken over the last several months to emerge stronger together.” Facebook collaborated with Amit Sharma, renowned ad filmmaker and director of the National Award winning film Badhai Ho and Taproot Dentsu to help bring this story alive while capturing the essence of people coming together on the platform. Talking about the film Neeraj Kanitkar, Senior Creative Director, Taproot Dentsu said, “For Diwali – the festival of prosperity, in the kind of year that is 2020, we wanted to tell a story that captured the very essence of what so many amongst us have been doing. Which is, they’ve been coming together and selflessly going the extra mile to be there for others. The film is both inspired by and is a tribute to all those who’ve harnessed the power of Facebook to amplify the good that’s within us all for the greater good. Affirming the Indian truism that prosperity too grows only when shared with others. We knew we had something potentially special, when people were tearing up during the script narrations. Amit Sharma, of course, took the script to a whole new level. Over the four days of the shoot in Amritsar, he sprinkled his magic dust on all aspects of the story. Adding delightful dimensions and textures to the story, the characters and the performances.”

Facebook's Diwali ad is an ode to the selfless spirit of humanity

Following the rollout of link stickers, Facebook-owned <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/how-to-add-links-to-instagram-stories-with-link-sticker/articleshow/87327625.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Instagram</a> is introducing a new sticker called "Add Yours". According to Engadget, the company describes it as a way to create public threads in Stories. It also notes that it is the first time <keyword id="819905" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="instagram" source="Orion">Instagram</keyword> has added a way for people to publicly participate in the format. Effectively, the sticker acts as both a prompt for other people to upload their own Stories and a way for them to discover new people to follow. That's because when you tap on the sticker the interface will display everyone who has contributed to the thread and you can view their Stories from there, the report said. The tool could help Instagram boost engagement at a time when it's reportedly losing users, especially younger ones, to competing platforms like TikTok. Since 2018, Instagram has spent millions advertising to teens in an effort to attract them to the platform. This week, it also launched three new stickers to encourage its users to connect with their friends and family for Diwali. Whenever the people will post stories using the stickers, these will also be visible to their followers in a Diwali special multi-author story. These stickers are a part of Instagram's global campaign for Diwali called #ShareYourLight. They have been created in collaboration with a Bengaluru-based illustrator, muralist and pattern designer, Neethi.

Instagram now lets you create public threads in Stories

New Delhi, Rajshree Saraf, 24, recently shifted to New York to pursue her dream of becoming a creative technologist. She has never been away from home, not even once. This year, due to international travel limitations and the alarming rise in the Covid-19 cases, she will spend her <keyword id="188" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="20" keywordseo="Diwali">Diwali</keyword> away from her family and friends in Kolkata. "My friends have a ritual to organise a cards party every Diwali and we spend hours playing games, drinking and chatting. Thanks to <keyword id="790242" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="WhatsApp">WhatsApp</keyword> video calls, this Diwali will be no different for me. In fact, I am also planning to create some personalised Diwali stickers on WhatsApp that I can share with my friends," Saraf told IANS. The story of working professionals Bani Singh, 29 and Abir Kapur, also 29, who just tied the knot is similar. Abir works in financial services in Hong Kong and came to Delhi for his wedding, just before Diwali. With Bani still figuring her citizenship situation amid Abir's work commitments, the newly-weds' first Diwali will be on WhatsApp. "It is our first Diwali together and we haven't stopped discussing our virtual plans. Abir created a WhatsApp group in which we post pictures, videos and send voice notes to each other so that we feel connected and together on our first Diwali as a couple," they informed. For 400 million users in India, WhatsApp video calls are the easiest medium to connect to their loved ones in the festive season especially in the social distancing days. Family group video calls are also growing as WhatsApp has doubled the number of participants in a video or voice call from four to eight people at a time on its platform. People on average are spending over 15 billion minutes talking each day on WhatsApp calls. Captain Pankaj Bahukhandi, 57, serves as a Master Mariner for a shipping company. Being away for the latter part of the year, he will not be able to spend Diwali with his family in Dehradun. "Like every other time, we will speak on WhatsApp calls and share pictures, videos and voice notes on our family WhatsApp group so that I feel emotionally connected with my family amid the festivities," he said. "One app that we are the most comfortable using is WhatsApp. It is so easy to make calls and send pictures. We also put WhatsApp status for our grandkids on their birthdays," added Rajdeep Tewari and Sandhya Tewari, grandparents to four children, who are working professionals in different countries in the world.

You Searched For "Diwali Stories" and got 14 results

Namastey London: Mayor organises annual Diwali celebration at Trafalgar Square

ANI

Diwali delights: 'Pippa', 'Ghoomer', 'Valatty' to sparkle on OTT

IANS

One in every five online orders had a kurti or saree in their cart: RedSeer

Eetika Kapoor

Biden invites three Indian American children facing extradition to the White House Diwali reception

PTI

Dhanteras 2023: what is the story behind Dhanteras

BI India Bureau

Some lesser known facts about Diwali-- a festival that has many versions in India

BI India Bureau

Best offers on smartphones, laptops, and more on the Amazon Great Indian Festival Kickstarter deals

Sourabh Jain

With veg food stalls and henna booths, Houston's Dusshera-Diwali festival attracts 10,000 people

PTI

Our new campaign aims at bridging the emotional and physical distances between families and spread happiness: Nipun Marya, vivo India

Samarpita Banerjee

Pankaj Tripathi and Maanvi Gagroo reprise their role as Kaleen Bhaiyya and Siddhi in Amazon Prime India's Diwali campaign

BI India Partner

Experts share their favourite Diwali campaigns from 2020

Karuna Sharma

Facebook's Diwali ad is an ode to the selfless spirit of humanity

BI India Partner

Instagram now lets you create public threads in Stories

IANS

How whatsApp video calls are connecting Indians this Diwali

BI India Bureau

Popular Keywords

Buying Guides