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<keyword id="6357908" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Durga-Puja" source="Orion">Durga Puja</keyword>, also known as Navaratri in some parts of India, is one of the most vibrant and widely celebrated festivals in the country. This grand celebration honors Goddess Durga, who represents the divine feminine power, and her victory over the demon, Mahishasura. Durga Puja is not just a religious festival; it's a cultural extravaganza that unites communities and showcases the rich tapestry of Indian traditions. In this article, we will explore the history and significance of Durga Puja and discover the top destinations to experience this magnificent festival across India. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="The Significance and History of Durga Puja" comment="subhead" text="The Significance and History of Durga Puja">The Significance and History of Durga Puja</cmsannotation> Durga Puja is celebrated during the Hindu month of Ashwin (usually in September or October), marking the victory of Goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura. The festival symbolizes the triumph of good over evil, light over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance. The celebration typically spans ten days, known as Navaratri, with the last four days being the most significant. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="How is Durga Puja Celebrated?" comment="subhead" text="How is Durga Puja Celebrated?">How is Durga Puja Celebrated?</cmsannotation> The grandeur of <keyword id="53423" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Durga-Puja-Celebrations" source="Orion">Durga Puja celebrations</keyword> is manifested through intricate rituals, artistic decorations, cultural performances, and delicious feasts. The centerpiece of the celebration is the creation of beautifully crafted clay idols of Goddess Durga, often portraying her slaying Mahishasura. These idols are meticulously handcrafted and painted, and the process often starts months in advance. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="The following are some common aspects of Durga Puja celebrations:" comment="subhead" text="The following are some common aspects of Durga Puja celebrations:">The following are some common aspects of Durga Puja celebrations:</cmsannotation> Pandals: Elaborately decorated temporary structures called "pandals" are erected to house the idols. These pandals often reflect a particular theme or artistic concept. Artistic Excellence: Skilled artisans and sculptors create breathtaking idols and artistic installations, setting new benchmarks for creativity each year. Religious Rituals: Priests conduct various rituals to invoke the goddess's presence and seek her blessings. Cultural Performances: Durga Puja is a showcase of Indian art and culture, with dance performances, music concerts, and drama often taking center stage. Food: Prasad (offerings to the deity) is distributed among devotees, and local delicacies are savored during the festival. Now, let's explore some of the top destinations in India to experience the grandeur of Durga Puja: <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Kolkata, West Bengal" comment="subhead" text="Kolkata, West Bengal"><keyword id="6354925" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Kolkata" source="Orion">Kolkata</keyword>, West Bengal</cmsannotation> Kolkata is renowned for its extravagant Durga Puja celebrations. The city comes alive with thousands of pandals, each trying to outdo the other in terms of creativity and grandeur. The tradition of "pandal hopping" is a cherished pastime for both locals and tourists. The idol at Kumartuli, the heart of idol-making in Kolkata, is particularly famous. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh" comment="subhead" text="Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh">Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh</cmsannotation> Varanasi, one of the holiest cities in India, celebrates Durga Puja with great devotion. The city's ghats are illuminated, and processions carrying the goddess's idol are a sight to behold. The immersion of the idols in the sacred Ganges River is a mesmerizing experience. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Delhi" comment="subhead" text="Delhi">Delhi</cmsannotation> The capital city of India sees a vibrant celebration of Durga Puja, with many pandals representing different states of India. The iconic Chittaranjan Park hosts some of the most elaborate and authentic celebrations outside West Bengal. It's a cultural feast for those in North India. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Mysuru, Karnataka" comment="subhead" text="Mysuru, Karnataka">Mysuru, Karnataka</cmsannotation> Mysuru is known for its traditional and regal Dussehra celebrations, which include the worship of Goddess Chamundeshwari. The entire city is adorned with lights and grand processions, including the majestic Mysore Palace procession, make this a unique Durga Puja experience. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Guwahati, Assam" comment="subhead" text="Guwahati, Assam">Guwahati, Assam</cmsannotation> In Assam, Durga Puja is celebrated with Bihu dance performances and traditional Assamese rituals. The Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati is a significant center for celebrations, attracting devotees from across the region. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Jamshedpur, Jharkhand" comment="subhead" text="Jamshedpur, Jharkhand">Jamshedpur, Jharkhand</cmsannotation> Jamshedpur, the steel city, celebrates Durga Puja with much fervor. The famous "Jubilee Park Durga Puja" is an attraction known for its stunning decorations and cultural performances. It's one of the most celebrated pujas in Eastern India. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Pune, Maharashtra" comment="subhead" text="Pune, Maharashtra">Pune, Maharashtra</cmsannotation> In Pune, Durga Puja is celebrated with a blend of Bengali and Maharashtrian traditions. The pujas here are known for their artistic expressions, and cultural programs showcase the diverse cultures of the region. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Kullu, Himachal Pradesh" comment="subhead" text="Kullu, Himachal Pradesh">Kullu, Himachal Pradesh</cmsannotation> Kullu Dussehra, as it's known, is celebrated with a week-long international festival featuring local deities, cultural programs, and processions. It's an excellent example of Durga Puja's diverse interpretations across India. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Chennai, Tamil Nadu" comment="subhead" text="Chennai, Tamil Nadu">Chennai, Tamil Nadu</cmsannotation> In Chennai, Durga Puja is celebrated with much gusto. The puja at the Dakshinamurthy Auditorium is known for its cultural diversity, with various cultural events and Bengali food stalls. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Patna, Bihar" comment="subhead" text="Patna, Bihar">Patna, Bihar</cmsannotation> Patna hosts an array of traditional and artistic Durga Pujas. The celebrations often include a grand immersion procession with drummers and dancers, providing a unique experience for all. Durga Puja, celebrated across India, is a testament to the country's cultural diversity and unity in the worship of the divine feminine power. Each region adds its own unique flavor to this grand festival, making it a beautiful mosaic of traditions, creativity, and devotion. Whether you visit Kolkata's extravagant pandals, witness the royal procession in Mysore, or experience the cultural diversity of Pune, Durga Puja is a festival that will leave you mesmerized and enriched. Note: The article is based on content generated by AI models like Bard and Chatgpt. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/travel/india/these-are-6-most-famous-and-historic-sweets-shops-in-kolkata/slidelist/101382986.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Kolkata's historic sweet shops that leave you craving for more</a>

Celebrating Durga puja across India: Top destinations for festive bliss

Not just fun and frolic, <keyword id="6357908" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="durga-puja" source="Orion">Durga Puja</keyword> in <keyword id="6357783" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="west-bengal" source="Orion">West Bengal</keyword> is a grand economic affair involving transactions of at least ₹40,000 crore, creating employment opportunities for around three lakh people, stakeholders said on Monday. With more than 40,000 community pujas across the state, including 3,000 in Kolkata, the festival creates a scurry of economic activities for three-four months every year, they said. "The grandeur around the festival involves transactions of not less than ₹40,000 crore and provides employment to at least two-three lakh people across the state as the activities for the festivities begin three-four months ahead," said <keyword id="62412" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="partho-ghosh" source="Orion">Partho Ghosh</keyword>, the chairman of Forum For Durgatsab (FFD), an umbrella organisation of 400 community pujas. The puja committees act as facilitators of micro-economy, said Ghosh, who has been associated with community puja for 52 years and is an organiser of <keyword id="15149364" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="shib-mandir-sarbajanin-durga-puja" source="Orion">Shib Mandir Sarbajanin Durga Puja</keyword> in south Kolkata. The five-day festival involves people from different sectors -- those building the pandals, making the idols, electricians, security guards, priests, dhakis, labourers associated with idol transportation, and those linked with the arrangement of 'bhog' and catering, he told PTI. "We undertake this monumental task for the sake of the general populace and to preserve our culture," Ghosh said. Not only the core <keyword id="6357958" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="durga" source="Orion">Durga</keyword> puja activities, but also fashion, textiles, footwear, cosmetics and retail sectors get a boost by the buying-spree of people, while literature and publishing, tour, travel, hotel and restaurant and film and entertainment businesses enjoy a sudden bump in sales during the five-day festival, FFD president <keyword id="1430415" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="kajal-sarkar" source="Orion">Kajal Sarkar</keyword> said. "Our guesstimation is that transactions around the festival could be up to ₹50,000 crore this year," he told PTI. "After two years of the pandemic, revellers, this time, have been taking to pandal hopping with renewed fervour, while the corporates are also liberal this time for sponsorship, and their spending is at least ₹500 crore. The enthusiasm among people around the festival is the unique selling proposition," said <keyword id="17459" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="sarkar" source="Orion">Sarkar</keyword>, who is involved with Bosepukur Sitala Mandir puja committee. They also see the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage tag accorded to Durga Puja as a "collective achievement" and hope that the recognition will help prosper the festival in the coming years. Amid the political slugfest over the ₹60,000 grant to each of 40,000 pujas by the "financially-crunched" West Bengal government, they believe that the aid is "helpful to baroari (community) pujas" to sustain the state's culture and traditions. Economist Debnarayan Sarkar said Durga Puja is a consumption-led activity and has a multiplier effect on the state's gross domestic product. "An Assocham study in 2013 showed the size of the Durga Puja industry was ₹25,000 crore and estimated that it was growing by around 35 per cent. If we consider this, the puja industry now should touch around ₹70,000 crore. We need a proper study to assess the value of the puja economy," he said. "Compared to the length and breadth of Durga Pujas, we are sure that its contribution to the state economy is either at par or bigger than the contribution of Rio de Janeiro carnival to the Brazilian city's economy, and the cherry blossom festival in Japan," Sarkar, a former professor at Presidency University, told PTI. The British Council conducted a study, mapping the creative economy around Durga Puja 2019, which showed that Durga Puja accounts for 2.58 per cent of the state GDP. "We commissioned the research for the West Bengal government that estimated the total value of creative industries around Durga Puja in the state in 2019 at around ₹33,000 crore (USD 4.5 billion). It established two things -- a baseline value for similar research in the future and a methodology for carrying out similar research for other festivals or indeed, the whole of creative economy of West Bengal, and in other states too," British Council, East and Northeast India, director Debanjan Chakrabarti said. After the pandemic, the speculation is that the size of the puja economy this year is "much more" than what the British Council estimated some years back, West Bengal's Industry Minister Shashi Panja told PTI. Asked about the puja economy estimation by the Forum For Durgatsab members, she said, "The economic assessment of the British Council is based on research. The basic fact is that so much employment is generated out of it and the festival involves an array of economic activities." The need for a subsequent, post-pandemic valuation of the state's festival economy was discussed at the second creative roundtable convened by West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation on September 23 in which the British Council was a partner along with FICCI and EY, Chakrabarti said. "We will be very happy to be part of any such subsequent research, here in West Bengal or other states in India. Research and insights of the creative economy are an important part of our work in arts and culture, and are a major strength of the UK which we want to share generously," he added. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/infosys-to-lead-it-sectors-q2-show-with-4-revenue-growth-says-jefferies/articleshow/94606976.cms">Infosys to lead IT sector’s Q2 show with 4% revenue growth, says Jefferies</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/markets-fall-in-early-trade-on-weak-global-trends-fii-outflows/articleshow/94612214.cms">Markets fall in early trade on weak global trends, FII outflows</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/iaf-to-induct-first-batch-of-indigenously-developed-light-combat-vehicles-on-monday/articleshow/94610398.cms">IAF to induct first batch of indigenously-developed light combat vehicles on Monday</a>

Durga Puja in WB is a grand economic activity - estimated to generate ₹40,000 crore transactions, 3 lakh jobs

In Pics: A look at Durga Puja pandals from around the country

As fear of surge in COVID-19 numbers grows amid preparations for <keyword id="6357908" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="durga-puja">Durga puja</keyword>, several pandal committees have made arrangements for <keyword id="27904" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Virtual">virtual</keyword> 'darshan' this time, while barring the physical entry of visitors. There are, however, other puja associations that have argued that the festival is all about inclusiveness, and revellers cannot be stopped from visiting the marquees. They have given assurances that all necessary measures would be taken to manage crowds and ensure safety of one and all. At least two big-ticket pujas in the city -- Santosh Mitra Square and Debdaru Fatak -- have announced that outsiders won't be allowed this time, but insisted that people log on to their YouTube channels to catch a glimpse of the Durga idol, and the rituals. Sajal Ghosh, the secretary of Santosh Mitra Square, said, "Lakhs of people walk through narrow lanes to reach the puja pandal every year. This time, that cannot be allowed. People in our area will also be exposed to serious threats of COVID infection. That is why we have decided to put a blanket ban on the entry of visitors to our pandal." Another crowd-puller, Jodhpur Park Sarbojanin, has refrained from setting up a marquee this time. "Maa Durga's idol will be installed in a banquet hall that belongs to the puja committee. All events will be streamed live on giant screens across a stretch of one kilometre from the venue," Sumantra Roy, an officer-bearer of the association, said. Treading on a different path, some puja organisers have opened wide the doors of the marquees for the revellers, after putting in place strict safety measures to prevent the spread of the disease. Somnath Das, the secretary of Santoshpur Lake Pally, said, "We will not prohibit entry of visitors. Also, the pandal has been setup in a certain way so that people get to catch a glimpse of the idols from the adjacent road. Those willing to stay at home can click on augmentedpujo.com to enjoy virtual darshan." Echoing him, Partha Ghosh, an office-bearer of Shivmandir Puja committee, said disallowing people was not an option, as Durga puja was all about togetherness. "The whole purpose of community puja would get defeated if we stop the entry of visitors. That said, we will live stream all rituals on social media," he said. Another prominent puja in the city, Suruchi Sangha, is of the view that fewer revellers will go pandal-hopping this time, as local train services continue to remain suspended. "For the ones who won't be able to visit our pandal, we have made arrangements so that they can experience it all on their cell phones," Swarup Biswas of Suruchi Sangha said. Night-long pandal-hopping is set to begin in the city and elsewhere in the state from Monday, with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee recently announcing that people can start visiting marquees from 'Tritiya' - three days before the puja rituals begin -- to avoid crowding to an extent. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/yogi-adityanath-to-address-18-rallies-in-bihar/articleshow/78744786.cms">Yogi Adityanath to address 18 rallies in Bihar</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/atlassians-50mn-global-venture-fund-to-focus-on-indian-startups/articleshow/78744928.cms">Atlassian's $50mn global venture fund to focus on Indian startups</a>

Virtual pandal-hopping is the new normal this Durga puja

<ul><li>Durga Puja in <keyword id="6357783" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="west-bengal" source="Orion">West Bengal</keyword> is synonymous with fun, enthusiasm and power.</li><li>This year, brands celebrated <keyword id="445934" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="maa-durga" source="Orion">Maa Durga</keyword>’s power, resilience by paying a tribute to Indian women.</li><li>Here are a few campaigns that caught our attention.</li></ul><keyword id="48284" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="navratri" source="Orion">Navratri</keyword> and Durga Puja is one of India’s widely celebrated festivals, especially in West Bengal. Millions of people visit Kolkata every year to attend the four-day festival which celebrates the victory of good over evil. It is that time of the year when every part of West Bengal is decked up, consumers are filled with optimism and joy. Pandal hopping, gorging on foods, <keyword id="3105575" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="dhunuchi-naach" source="Orion">Dhunuchi Naach</keyword> (dance with the incense burner) are some of the inseparable moments associated with Durga Puja. This is when the entire local community and tourists come together and celebrate the festival with enthusiasm. Dussehra is followed by Kali Puja/Diwali/Laxmi Puja and Bhai Dooj. It is during Navratri and Diwali that consumers shop a lot and spruce up their houses to welcome Maa Durga. The purchase of household durables, cars, bikes, home renovations, capital expenditures in businesses also see a hike during this period. In keeping with the festive spirit, brands left no stone unturned to celebrate Maa Durga during the nine auspicious days of Navratri. Along with beautiful campaigns celebrating the goddess, we also came across a few brands that have come up with limited edition packaging to become a part of the festivities. Brands also use this opportunity to start a conversation around gender equality. They point out how the irony of celebrating <keyword id="87480" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="nari-shakti" source="Orion">Nari Shakti</keyword> and female power for the nine days of Navratri is very stark. As the country bids adieu to Maa Durga tomorrow, for this year, we take a look at how the festival was celebrated in the brandverse. Here are a few campaigns that stood out: Elegant Steel <div type="javascript" title="Instagram" contenttype="Video"><cdata><![CDATA[ ]]></cdata></div> Shoppers Stop <div type="Youtube" id="L_toOIXnuJI" title="Shera Sajer Shera Stop | Pujo 2021 | Shoppers Stop" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/L_toOIXnuJI/mqdefault.jpg"></div> ITC Aashirvaad <div type="Youtube" id="5lpFle-skcs" title="Eta Amar Maa" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/5lpFle-skcs/mqdefault.jpg"></div> Joy Personal care <div type="Youtube" id="Z-Ixcs4WkL8" title="Pujo 2021 - Joy Beautiful by Nature | Mimi Chakraborty | Joy Personal Care" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Z-Ixcs4WkL8/mqdefault.jpg"></div> Tata Tea Gold's new packaging <div type="Youtube" id="AjFo4axK7jg" title="Durga Pujo with Tata Tea Gold Special Edition Festive Packs" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/AjFo4axK7jg/mqdefault.jpg"></div> 7UP <div type="Youtube" id="owe2SzTk1c0" title="7UP and Fido is here with some fresh dhak beats!" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/owe2SzTk1c0/mqdefault.jpg"></div>

Navratri 2021: Here’s how brands celebrated the spirit of Navratri across India

<ul><li>With low spirits still looming around for many, people are unsure how to enjoy the Pujo celebrations or go pandal hopping this year.</li><li>Brands united to encourage people to come together while adhering to safety norms and paid a tribute to the positivity and strength of the human spirit as we all want to step out of dark times and emerge victorious and bright like Maa Durga.</li></ul>It’s that time of the year when West Bengal turns into one grand carnival, <keyword id="6357908" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="durga-puja">Durga Puja</keyword>, in normal times is as much about the fun and food as it is about the fervour of welcoming Durga into our homes and lives. Intricately woven into the cultural fabric of West Bengal, the festivities spread cheer across, turning its cities into a beautiful dreamland of joy and togetherness. While this year is different, brands haven't shied away from celebrating this grand festival. Along with beautiful campaigns celebrating the goddess, we also came across a few brands that have come up with limited edition packaging to become a part of the festivities. Here are a few campaigns and product and packaging innovations that stood out: Tata Tea Tanishq <div type="Youtube" id="tPec4SJPFBM" title="Tanishq presents Aparajita - Ekotai Shundor, Ekotai Shokti!" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/tPec4SJPFBM/mqdefault.jpg"></div> <keyword id="106317" type="DOMAIN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Asian-Paints">Asian Paints</keyword> <div type="Youtube" id="VuDs2-8VgkM" title="Asian Paints Sharad Shamman ‘Dugga Elo Ghawrey’" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VuDs2-8VgkM/mqdefault.jpg"></div> Joy Personal Care <div type="Youtube" id="xytF80lvSV8" title="Dugga Elo (দুগ্গা এল)| Priyanka Sarkar | Akriti Kakar | Ajay S | Baba Yadav | Joy Personal Care |SVF" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xytF80lvSV8/mqdefault.jpg"></div> Welspun <div type="Youtube" id="4J4ZbS3gbUk" title="Celebrate the Magic of Reversible | This Durga Puja #ChaloPaltai | Welspun 2in1 Reversible Bed sheet" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4J4ZbS3gbUk/mqdefault.jpg"></div> Shoppers Stop <div type="Youtube" id="tl9qEgRs4tY" title="Ami Alo | Pujo 2020" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/tl9qEgRs4tY/mqdefault.jpg"></div> Big FM <div type="Youtube" id="u_KnfZFZFgw" title="Big Mahalaya | Mahalaya ki nayi dhun | Swagatalakshmi | 92.7 Big FM | Durga Pujo" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/u_KnfZFZFgw/mqdefault.jpg"></div> <keyword id="874458" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Xiaomi">Xiaomi</keyword> <div type="Youtube" id="a6zcmYEmFWI" title="Ekdol Bondhu | Xiaomi | Rupam Islam | Pujo 2019" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/a6zcmYEmFWI/mqdefault.jpg"></div>

This year, Durga Puja campaigns are all about the celebration of resilience

<ul><li>While Durga Puja/Navratri is here, this year, the festivites are subdued.</li><li>Brands are therefore excercising caution in where and how much they spend in the next few days.</li><li>However, things are gradually improving and there are signs of recovery, experts tell us.</li></ul><keyword id="6357908" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="durga-puja">Durga Puja</keyword> or <keyword id="48284" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="navratri">Navratri</keyword> is one of the biggest festivals in India and every year the festival is marked by marketers pouring in big monies during the nine days of festivity. Actually the festival is so big in states like West Bengal that streets of cities like Kolkata usually become one big advertising canvas. However, things are different this year. With coronavirus still going nowhere, people are cautious. While every year, the streets become adorned by ads and hoardings from brands from all kinds of industries, because this is the best way to grab people’s attentions, this year, even during the festival, advertisers have been cautious. For the ad and marketing industry which saw a huge dip in investments during the first few months of the lockdown, a lot of hope had been resting on the festive season. However, this year there will hardly be a celebration. Just yesterday, the Calcutta High Court also directed all Durga puja pandals in the state to be turned into 'no-entry zones'. Many pandals in the city are barring physical entry of devotees and making the entire experience virtual. Even in other cities, people are planning to give the festivities a skip. Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his address to the nation advised people to exercise caution while going out during the festival. So what does this mean for advertisers? Will they get a bang out of their buck if they advertiser this year? Explaining how things are going to be different this year, <keyword id="3364704" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sujata-Dwibedy">Sujata Dwibedy</keyword>, Group Trading Director, Amplifi India, dentsu international said, “Durga Puja in the east and Navratri in the west, are two of the grandest of all festivals, The festival marks the start of the auspicious period. Dussehra is followed by Kali Puja/Diwali/Laxmi Puja and Bhai Dooj. People shop a lot. The purchase of household durables, cars, bikes, home renovations, capital expenditures in businesses are seen in this period. A lot of business-led decisions are also made around this time. However, this year would be different as people would not step out like before, but they would be hooked on to the media to get a glimpse of the Goddess. So, the media/channel who can give them the best experience would score over the others.” Every year, categories like FMCG, apparel, auto, e-commerce and consumer durables become the biggest spenders during the festive season. But have these brands come ahead and advertised this year? <keyword id="8330648" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sidharth-Parashar">Sidharth Parashar</keyword>, President – Investments and Pricing, GroupM India said, “With demand picking up in Aug-Sep, key categories like Ecommerce, FMCG, Telecom, Durables, Auto and certain segments within BFSI are expected see increased ad spends this festive season. FMCG saw recovery in Jul-Sep quarter, driven by essentials like health-hygiene products and immunity boosting food products. Brands in these categories coupled with discretionary like skin &amp; personal care products are likely to see an uptick in consumer spending and therefore in ad spending too. Consumer durables and Retail are expected to benefit from the govt.’s LTC cash voucher and festival advance schemes, which would lead to increased spending from government employees on products like apparels, laptops, smart phones, consumer durables, home appliances, fitness, jewellery, beauty &amp; personal care during this festive. For Ecommerce sector, RedSeer estimates this festive to surpass a GMV of U$D 7Bn. driven by a surge in shoppers from Tier-II towns, considerable discounts available and financing options being easily accessible to consumers. Large players like Amazon and Flipkart are scaling up their supply chain vendors, fulfillment centres and higher manpower for delivery, in order to meet surge in demand and are spending heavily on TV, digital &amp; Print.” While people might give pandal-hopping a skip this year, they have also started spending money. At this point, people are on the lookout for a change, for something positive and this has led to a visible shift in consumer sentiments in the past few months, Dwivedy added, “We are seeing that market sentiments have improved over the past few months. A surge in online purchases has been witnessed through the various platforms. Indian consumers have started embracing the new normal, and consumption of products is back. There are multiple new categories of products, new convenience food products, health, hygiene-related – all have been accepted and are being tried out. In the last few days, the malls have also opened with new offerings from the shops. Many are offering home delivery, video selections and are even ready to send people home with multiple samples for trials. Home delivery of groceries, foods and other products is preferred. Implying that the emotions have revived, the consumption has begun, however, the mode of consumption is new.” This positive sentiment has led to a month-on-month increase in spends since July across categories. “TV has been almost at the same levels as the previous year. Print, on the other hand, is kind of catching up but it will still take some more time in top metros. Nevertheless, Tier II towns are tracking better. Radio has also picked up. OOH and Cinema that have been worst hit this year should see some relief in this quarter,” she explained. While Television has steadily been seeing an increase in ad spends over the past few months, mediums like Radio and OOH that had suffered a lot during the lockdown are hoping to see some recovery. These are both mediums that see a lot of spends during the festive season in normal years. So how are things this year? Abraham Thomas, CEO, Reliance Broadcast Network Limited said, “The festive season is considered the 5th quarter in India, an auspicious time, for businesses across industries, that contributes 40-45% of sales. Marketers certainly leverage this opportunity with ad volumes showcasing a significant surge. Clearly the most trusted and credible media, this lockdown has helped radio being reimagined amongst the audiences with the overall listenership of medium growing by 30%. The surge in listenership across different TG’s have driven ad volumes across Males, Females, the young and older targeted brands. We have witnessed a rise of 24% in Ad Volumes in week 33 with consistent growth in Ad volume from Aug’20 where average Ad volume surged by 4.8 times as compared to April. With the staggered unlocking of the economy, Radio with its ‘mass local reach’, trusted influencers and digital amplification have witnessed a sharp recovery with certain categories booming more than the others.” However, things aren’t all that great in the outdoor medium and Noomi Mehta, Chairman &amp; MD, Selvel One paints a not-so-rosy picture. He said, “Right now we are at 50% in terms of business when compared to a normal year, and if you compare puja-to-puja, we would be at less than 40% this year. It is true that people are venturing out now and there is an opportunity for brands but they are very cautious.” Every year, especially during Navratri/Durga Puja, brands from segments like FMCG, consumer durables etc go all out and make a lot of noise. “But this year, only those forced to advertise are advertising. For instance, auto brands that are launching new offerings are advertising and currently they are out top advertisers. Every year, we see financial institutes, paint companies, e-commerce platforms and apparel brands also invest in festive but that hasn’t happened this year,” he shared. Despite the fact that brands are cautious in spending, data points towards many cities almost coming to a state of normalcy. Shared <keyword id="2406965" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Atul-Shrivastava">Atul Shrivastava</keyword>, CEO, <keyword id="2911687" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Laqshya-Media-Group">Laqshya Media Group</keyword>, “As far as traffic on the roads is concerned, per data generated through SHARP, Laqshya’s traffic metrics platform, traffic in Kolkata is currently 89-92% of normal times and it is increasing every day. Long traffic jams are also back. So, we see that situation is coming back to normal, aided by the festive season.” However, Shrivastava had something positive to share. He pointed towards signs of recovery, even in terms of ad spends. “Even in the current situation, we are seeing brands in the jewellery, textiles, retail, garments, footwear and the automobile sectors spending their pent-up OOH budgets. FMCG brands are also advertising in OOH media, especially for sanitizing products. OTT platforms and entertainment channels are also investing in OOH media to promote new shows and programs. Hence, even if we do not see 100% spend by clients as compared to last year, current spends are around 60-65%.” On what the rest of the year will look like, Arnab Samanta, Head of Marketing, Graphixstory said, “With the nation gradually ‘unlocking’ itself and with IPL happening around the festive season, the markets are much positive of a revival in the second half of the year. Brands will be spending 1.5 times digitally more than the usual plan of action. The advertising spend will be increased, thoughtful engaging ad campaigns and tech innovations like augmented reality will be introduced to create massive engagement with the target audience. The higher ad spends for various brands will be distributed on a different mix of categories and channels compared to last year, depending on consumer trends and shopping pattern. Digital businesses will now make the way for a sharper trajectory.” While things have still not picked up as much as the ad industry had hoped, the number of new coronavirus infections dropped below 50,000 for the first time in nearly three months in India yesterday. So here’s hoping that things will keep getting better gradually and we will have a better and safer Diwali, one that also brings relief to the industry.

Durga Puja and Navratri is finally here, but are advertisers excited?

<ul><li>Millions of people will hit <keyword id="6357908" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="durga-puja">Durga Puja</keyword> Pandals today to celebrate one of the world's biggest street festivals. </li><li>The Durga Puja festival, a 10-day long carnival is celebrated early October. </li><li>One of the artists crafted Durga idols made of 50 kg pure gold worth ₹500 million. </li><li>Here are some pictures of Durga Puja pandals across the country. </li></ul>Millions of people will hit Durga Puja Pandals today to celebrate one of the world's biggest street festivals. The Durga Puja festival, a 10-day long carnival is celebrated early October. According to Hindu mythology, it is believed that Goddess Durga comes down to Earth by her four children to visit her parents. She is also known to have slayed the demon Mahishashur, during the same period. Business Insider India picked up the top Durga puja pandals created across several states to celebrate the festival. This community festival is celebrated in the company of friends and family. They also relish foods at street stalls and and patiently stand in long queues to visit the statues of the Goddess. <div type="image" title="AF8F1DFB-59C2-48E7-B636-125B1C75F428" msid="71480280" hostid="261"></div>

 There are several puja committees which create pandals, or marquees, of all shapes and sizes. <div type="image" title="e3cdaf690671f9516b57061bfbd5b10a" msid="71480281" hostid="261"></div>
 One of the artists crafted Durga idols made of 50 kg pure gold worth ₹500 million. Artists also recreated India’s historic mission to the moon, Chandrayaan 2, at puja pandals in Nagpur and Varanasi. <div type="image" title="Nagpur: A replica of &amp;#39;Chandrayaan&amp;#39; made into a Durga Puja pandal during Navratri..." msid="71480273" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;A replica of &amp;#39;Chandrayaan&amp;#39; made into a Durga Puja pandal during Navratri Festival, in Nagpur.Photo) (&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>

 In Kolkata, around 3,000 community pujas and 5,000 family pujas are being held. Another 25,000 community pujas were organised by local clubs, non-government and social organizations. <div type="image" title="A5B87F24-3319-44AD-B15A-1D467DE69216" msid="71480282" hostid="261"></div>
 The puja festivities and prayers begin on the sixth day of the first quarter of the moon and end on Dashami or the 10th day, celebrated across the country as Dassehra. <div type="image" title="7E370E5F-8BF7-4926-A959-14F3DA6AC6F7" tempid="77742" msid="71480321" hostid="261"></div>

 The main fervor starts from the seventh (Saptami), eighth (Ashtami), and ninth (Navami) day when people start visiting the pandal for celebration. 
	<div type="image" title="Kolkata: A Durga Puja pandal themed on letter-box during the ongoing Durga Puja ..." msid="71480291" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;A Durga Puja pandal themed on letter-box during the ongoing Durga Puja festival, at Chetla Agrani, in Kolkata.Photo) (&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>

 The festival concludes the 10th day, called Vijayadashami. 
 <div type="image" title="F0921F65-4097-4C8C-9D8E-E2100B410DE9" tempid="77748" msid="71480322" hostid="261"></div>

See how artists blend faith with India's moon mission, obsession with gold, and much more during one of India's biggest religious festivals

<ul><li>The <keyword id="6921472" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="samaj-sebi-sangha">Samaj Sebi Sangha</keyword> came up with an innovative idea to devote their 73rd puja celebration to the blind by creating a <keyword id="6357958" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="durga">Durga</keyword> pandal with nails and threads. </li><li>The creators want people to enter the space and feel the texture of the sculpture. </li><li>The committee has also made sure that the visually impaired and pregnant women do not need a separate entry card for VIP entrance.</li></ul>Have you ever seen a sculpture made entirely of nails and that too with a purpose? <keyword id="6357908" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="durga-puja">Durga Puja</keyword> is one of the most widely celebrated Hindu festivals in India. And, during this year’s Durga Puja, one of the organising committees in <keyword id="6354925" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="kolkata">Kolkata</keyword>, the Samaj Sebi Sangha, decided to take things up a notch by <a href="https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/west-bengal/a-durga-puja-pandal-to-touch-for-the-visually-impaired/cid/1671368">constructing</a> a Durga idol so that even the visually impaired can experience the statue. Breaching the usual norms of a Durga Puja pandal - to not to touch the artefacts - Samaj Sebi committee has been motivating people to touch Durga’s face instead. It’s an initiative to promote inclusive celebration and they even devoted their 73rd puja to the sightless and the blind. The sculpture of Durga has been put together using 20,000 screws and 1,200 nails at the entrance of the pandal. Though not the whole Durga, the sculpture has the face and the eyes of the goddess. The committee has also carved out a wall display with different thread patterns to form words like ‘Ma’ and ‘Jai Maa Durga’. The visually impaired are also being provided with a puja itinerary with in-depth information about the details of festivals in <keyword id="6363733" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="BRAILLE">Braille</keyword>. In a conversation with Business Insider India, Chandan Basu from Samaj Sebi Sangha said, “We have created this pandal for the visually impaired people so that they can feel the Durga Puja. We also wanted to educate the general people to donate their eyes after death to give light to the visually impaired. Samaj sebi sangha always pass a social message every year.” Samaj Sebi also partnered with Voice of the world to help visually impaired children enjoy the festival. Moreover, it has set up an eye donation camp with M.P Birla <keyword id="6607668" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="eye-bank">Eye bank</keyword> near the pandal. According to Samaj Sebi, 85 people have already pledged to donate their eyes. And it’s not just about the visually impaired. The Samaj Sebi Sangha has provided wheelchair and stretcher facilities for the old as well as differently-abled people. The surprise doesn’t end here.The puja committee also encouraged visually impaired children to perform in the cultural evening conducted on 16th October 2016 at the puja premises. This isn’t the first time that the committee has been in the news for its innovative approach towards Durga Puja. Just last year their display garnered appreciation for being India’s longest ‘Alpona’, which is a type of graffiti made in India using rice flour paste. Here is a glimpse of the creative Durga Puja concept

Blind-friendly deity sculpture made from 1,200 nails and 20,000 screws helps the visually impaired ‘see’ Durga Puja

The deep depression formed over the <keyword id="55869" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="bay-of-bengal" source="Orion">Bay of Bengal</keyword> may intensify into a cyclone by Monday evening, the India Meteorological Department (<keyword id="6366970" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="imd" source="Orion">IMD</keyword>) said in a bulletin. The cyclonic storm, after its formation, will be called '<keyword id="17711790" type="General" weightage="70" keywordseo="Hamoon" source="Orion">Hamoon</keyword>', a name given by Iran. The system is currently located in west-central Bay of Bengal after moving northeastwards on Sunday night. It lies centred around 400 km from Odisha's <keyword id="49809" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="paradip" source="Orion">Paradip</keyword> and 550 km south-southwest of <keyword id="59861" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="digha" source="Orion">Digha</keyword> in West Bengal. "It is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm over the next 12 hours. It is very likely to move north-northeastwards and cross the Bangladesh coast between Khepupara and Chittagong around October 25 evening as a deep depression," the IMD's morning bulletin said. Meanwhile, the Odisha government has asked all the district collectors to remain prepared for any eventuality, and directed the administration to evacuate people from low-lying areas in the event of heavy rain. "The system (cyclone) will move in the sea around 200 km from Odisha coast," weather scientist U S Dash said, adding that under its influence, light to moderate rainfall is likely at a few places in coastal Odisha on Monday and at many places over the next two days. The weather department said that light to moderate rainfall would occur at a few places in northern and southern coastal districts, besides Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj and Dhenkanal. The fisheries and animal resources development department has advised fishermen not to venture into deep seas. In neighbouring West Bengal, the Met department forecast thunderstorms with lightning and moderate rainfall in parts of Purba Medinipur, Kolkata and South 24 Parganas districts. The IMD advised people to stay in safe places during the thunderstorms. Rainfall prediction on Nabami dampened festive spirit as revelers thronged various pandals on the penultimate day of Durga Puja celebrations. Keeping in view of the weather conditions, Durga Puja organisers are preparing for possible rain and wind during the festivities.

Deep depression over Bay of Bengal may turn into cyclone by Monday evening: IMD

<ul><li>The 26-year old is a trained doctor by profession and actor by choice. </li><li><keyword id="2761252" type="General" weightage="90" keywordseo="trinetra" source="Orion">Trinetra</keyword> underwent a gender affirming surgery in the midst of her MBBS.</li><li>The journey through school and college was not easy either, especially since the bullying wasn't coming from fellow students alone. </li></ul> The second coming of <keyword id="36968" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="zoya-akhtar" source="Orion">Zoya Akhtar</keyword> and <keyword id="125922" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="reema-kagti" source="Orion">Reema Kagti</keyword>’s <keyword id="5690475" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="made-in-heaven" source="Orion">Made in Heaven</keyword> swerves from profane to the profound in a matter of seconds. While the lines – “Sometimes heaven does not ordain a companion for us. Some of us are meant to travel alone…” – may not be intended for <keyword id="7507179" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Trinetra-Haldar-Gummaraju" source="Orion">Trinetra Haldar Gummaraju</keyword>, who essays the role of a trans <keyword id="205921" type="General" weightage="40" keywordseo="wedding-planner" source="Orion">wedding planner</keyword> in the upcoming web series, they most certainly fit the bill. Trinetra, a trans actress, says she is alone but not lonely. Delve a little deeper into the life of this 26-year old queer woman and you see she’s a work in progress. A trained doctor by profession and actor by choice, 26-year old Trinetra underwent a gender affirming surgery in the midst of her MBBS and since then has been creating content on her social media channels for the queer community. While her journey has been eventful, no doubt, it has been a lonely one. At an age when most children are busy with toys, Trinetra was coming to terms with gender dysphoria or gender incongruence. By definition, gender dysphoria is nothing but a sense of unease a person experiences when their biological sex and their gender identity are not in sync. A transgender person is someone whose gender identity does not match with the sex assigned at birth. While there is a term to explain queer people today in medical parlance, but for the society at large, society continues to view them differently and often makes them the butt of jokes. Opening up to Business Insider in a no-holds-barred interview, Trinetra says: “I was the first born male child but I was never one of the boys. All the things that little boys are expected to do like sport and everything we associate traditionally with being masculine was not coming to me naturally at all. My father tried to masculinise me in as many ways as possible, which every Indian father would do. It took me many years to come to terms with the fact that I am not a boy and I don’t want to adopt that identity.” The journey through school and college was not easy either, especially since the bullying wasn't coming from fellow students alone. Her queerness earned her no brownie points with her teachers and professors either. It took her many years to come to terms with the fact that she was not a boy and neither did she want to adopt that identity. It came with a lot of bullying and ragging in college and rejection from teachers and professors, she says. And no, there is no recourse to bullying and ragging even today. She explains: “A child feels powerless in such situations. People in positions of power are role models.” So bitter is her experience as a trans woman that she does not even like mentioning the name she was born with – a name her parents chose for her at birth. As she explains, asking a trans person their name before their transition is disrespectful because it brings back memories of a traumatic past. She says the name a trans person is assigned at birth is a “deadname” and is typically associated with trauma and rejection. A similar incident was seen with Hollywood actor, Elliot Page, of Juno and Inception fame. The actor, who was assigned female at birth, and later publicly came out as a trans man, was trolled after coming out and spoke extensively about it. She is very vocal about her transness or queerness on her social media channels. She gives blow by blow details of her gender affirming surgery and how painful it was for her. The content she creates is both bold and perhaps designed to shock those with a weak stomach. She gives graphic details about the pain she experienced for months after the surgery. For someone as vocal as Trinetra is, she refuses to say a word about how her personal life has changed after her surgery. Call it the Bollywood effect, if you please. Ask her how her life has changed and she talks at length about the clothes that she can now wear freely and easily that she earlier could not. The joy of wearing a traditional red and white saree is evident in a 2018 video where she is offering sweets to Goddess Durga at a Puja Pandal in Kolkata. On how it is for a queer person to find a date, she says while she is on the dating scene and that she has had both good and bad experiences, she is happily single. “For the first time in my life I have a real sense of self worth after everything has been achieved. I do not think anything in my life is lacking because I have been able to give myself a lot more than any man has been able to…So I feel content and at peace by myself.” Gender affirming surgery may solve one part of the equation for transgender people, but it does not make it easy. Dating for transgender women is not particularly easy because transphobia shows up in the dating game as well. Typically, the dating pool will have heterosexual men and they are not open to the LGBTQ+ ( lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, asexual, and more) community as much. So the pool of available men for trans women continues to be other queer men. “It can be quite a task to navigate that and to have someone find out and reject you… or to come out to someone and they react with aggression and violence,” says Trinetra. Often, men would not be willing to take trans partners home and that can lead to a string of casual relationships. What is most sad is when Trinetra says that trans women are not only seen as inferior and that they are okay with the bare minimum. Indian society tends to beat it out of you, she says. For the longest time, even she was fine with people who saw her as a woman. It is no longer the case. She believes that she has achieved way too much to be reduced to someone’s attraction towards her. Every trans person reading this should believe that they are inherently enough and beautiful. “I am not seeking anything external. I am very content on my own. If someone’s energy matches mine then it is great.” There is too much emphasis on romantic connections, says this 26 year old.

The other wedding planner of Made in Heaven

The central government has asked Assam to be ready for the <keyword id="54639" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="vaccination">vaccination</keyword> against coronavirus from January next year, state Health Minister <keyword id="90408" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Himanta-Biswa-Sarma">Himanta Biswa Sarma</keyword> said on Tuesday. "The central government has informed us that frontline workers and people above 60 will be given priority in the vaccination programme. We have been asked to be ready from January to July for the vaccination," Sarma told the media. The Minister said that the Centre had held several consultations through videoconference with the state governments to undertake vaccination between January and July 2021. He said that the Centre is expecting COVID-19 <keyword id="24209" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="vaccine">vaccine</keyword> from six to seven sources and the vaccination will be carried out with a mix of vaccines instead of a single one. Sharing data, the Minister claimed that flattening of <keyword id="10100910" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="covid-19-pandemic-curve">COVID-19 pandemic curve</keyword> may have started in Assam. "The positivity rate has sharply come down to 1.4 per cent whereas the recovery rate has increased to 85 per cent. The COVID death rate has also dropped to 0.42 per cent. Assam has so far tested 40 lakh samples," he said. According to the Minister, of the 1,95,304 persons who tested corona positive in Assam, 1,66,036 recovered whereas 826 patients succumbed to the disease. Sarma also announced the standard protocol for the coming 5-day Durga Puja festival, with a ban on large gatherings, processions and assembly of not more than 50 persons in puja pandals and marquees. No cultural functions would be held and puja pandals will have to be open on all sides with different entry and exit gates. The Durga Puja organisers will have to ensure use of santisers and masks to prevent Covid-19 infections. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/policy/economy/news/gst-council-and-states-fail-to-reach-consensus-on-compensation-cess-no-dispute-we-may-have-differences-says-sitharaman/articleshow/78624857.cms">GST council and states fail to reach consensus on compensation cess — 'No dispute, we may have differences,' says Sitharaman</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/banking-stocks-like-sbi-hdfc-axis-icici-and-other-share-price-in-the-stock-market-ahead-of-the-moratorium-verdict/articleshow/78633357.cms">SBI, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank and other bank stocks tread caution as they wait with bated breath for Supreme Court verdict on moratorium</a>

Assam asked to be ready in January for corona vaccination, says Health Minister

<ul><li>The Karnataka government is the latest to ban firecrackers ahead of <keyword id="188" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="20" keywordseo="Diwali">Diwali</keyword>. </li><li>Various state governments have taken this decision as the country continues to battle with the COVID-19 crisis and the increase in air pollution from bursting crackers can take a toll on COVID-19 patients. </li><li>Here are all the states that have banned <keyword id="54214" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="20" keywordseo="Fireworks">fireworks</keyword> so far in India.</li></ul>The Karnataka government is the latest to ban firecrackers ahead of Diwali. Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa said that the decision had been taken keeping in mind the spread of COVID-19 in the state. Karnataka has seen 11312 deaths in the state due to coronavirus. “We discussed this and are taking the decision to ban fireworks this Diwali. It has been discussed and an order is being issued. This is because of COVID-19," media outlets quoted <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/karnataka-bans-firecrackers-during-diwali-chief-minister-bs-yediyurappa-cites-covid-2321553">Yediyurappa.</a> Karnataka is the latest in the long list of states to ban firecrackers. State governments have taken this decision as the country continues to battle with the COVID-19 crisis and the increase in air pollution from bursting crackers can take a toll on COVID-19 patients. Here are all the states that have banned fireworks so far. Rajasthan The state of Rajasthan was the first to implement the ban on firecrackers as the Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot took to Twitter to announce the decision on November 2. <div type="twitter" handle="ashokgehlot51" handlename="Ashok Gehlot" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1605821408/CM_Photo_normal.jpg" favoritecount="7110" retweetcount="1104" status="State govt has taken the decision to ban the sale and bursting of firecrackers in order to protect health of… https://t.co/EJZoXAWGQM" createdat="1604293758000" id="1323130038867259394"></div> Odisha Odisha was the next state to announce a complete ban on the sale of firecrackers between November 10-30. The Odisha government had said that anyone breaking the ban will be punishable under Disaster Management Act, 2005. Delhi As every year, Delhi’s struggle with the air pollution crisis worsens, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced a ban on firecrackers on November 5. Along with the toxic haze that has covered the city due to stubble burning in neighbouring states, India’s national capital is also struggling with the third wave of coronavirus and the use of firecrackers and its toxic smoke would have only worsened the situation. Sikkim The northeastern state of Sikkim too had banned firecrackers under the Disaster Management Act, 2005. West Bengal On November 5, the Calcutta High Court banned the sale and use of firecrackers in Kali Puja and Diwali. Additionally, the top court also said 'no entry' to pandals will also be in effect during Kali Puja, just as it did during the Durga Puja celebrations in the state. Maharashtra In Maharashtra, the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation has announced that firecrackers will be banned from public places. Maharashtra continues to be the worst-hit state from the coronavirus pandemic. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/whatsapp-pay-upi-rolls-out-while-google-pay-phonepe-have-already-got-the-first-sting-with-the-npci-cap/articleshow/79075049.cms">WhatsApp Pay UPI is now live while Google Pay, PhonePe have already got the first sting</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/space/news/isros-eos-01-satellite-launches-tomorrow-and-is-capable-of-military-surveillance-amid-india-china-border-tension/articleshow/79078095.cms">India's re-named earth observation satellite to launch tomorrow — and it's capable of military surveillance</a>

You Searched For "Durga Puja pandals" and got 13 results

Celebrating Durga puja across India: Top destinations for festive bliss

Shagun

Ayush

Durga Puja in WB is a grand economic activity - estimated to generate ₹40,000 crore transactions, 3 lakh jobs

PTI

In Pics: A look at Durga Puja pandals from around the country

BI India Bureau

Virtual pandal-hopping is the new normal this Durga puja

PTI

Navratri 2021: Here’s how brands celebrated the spirit of Navratri across India

BI India Partner

This year, Durga Puja campaigns are all about the celebration of resilience

BI India Partner

Durga Puja and Navratri is finally here, but are advertisers excited?

Samarpita Banerjee

See how artists blend faith with India's moon mission, obsession with gold, and much more during one of India's biggest religious festivals

BI India Bureau

Blind-friendly deity sculpture made from 1,200 nails and 20,000 screws helps the visually impaired ‘see’ Durga Puja

BI India Bureau

Deep depression over Bay of Bengal may turn into cyclone by Monday evening: IMD

PTI

The other wedding planner of Made in Heaven

Malini Bhupta

Assam asked to be ready in January for corona vaccination, says Health Minister

IANS

Karnataka is the latest to join the long list of Indian states banning firecrackers before Diwali

BI India Bureau

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