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<ul><li>An image claiming to be of Diwali lights seen from space makes the rounds on social networks every year.</li><li>The image is in fact many images to show how population has grown in India from 1992 to 2003.</li><li>The only thing that's true is that it's an image of lights.</li></ul>Every year a colourful picture of India makes the rounds on Diwali. The only thing is people claim that it’s a picture of India taken from space on Diwali night. In reality, it’s a picture created by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (<a href="http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/dmsp/interest/india.html">NOAA</a>) to highlight the population growth in India — back in 2003. And, it’s not just one photo. It’s a many images stitched together with overlaid data. 
 
 
 <div type="image" title="fakeindia." msid="71779090" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Fake Diwali image&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>







 The one fact that’s accurate is that it’s a picture of lights. The white lights show where city were visible before 1992, blue lights for 1992, green lights for 1998 and red for 2003. Another picture that's commonly circulated, claiming to be of India on Diwali night, is an actual satellite image of India's night from an ordinary day. 
 
 <div type="image" title="india-2016_edited" msid="71779332" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Composite nighttime view of India and surrounding areas 2016 &amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>




 If you want to see a picture of India from space on Diwali night, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (<a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/79682/south-asian-night-lights">NASA</a>) has one from 2012 taken by the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on board the Suomi NPP satellite. 
	
 
 
 <div type="image" title="realindia." msid="71779109" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;India seen from space on Diwali in 2012&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>

It’s time India got over the fake Diwali picture

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>Snapdeal added 6 million new buyers on its platform during the pandemic.</li><li>Its recent 5-day sale kicked-off on October 16 and ended on October 20. </li><li>Rajnish Wahi, Senior Vice President, Snapdeal tells us some of the trends the platform saw during its pre-Diwali sale, its plan to go deeper into Bharat and USPs that helped it stand out in the clutter of online sales. </li></ul>Indian consumers have always been value-conscious, who take pride in their haggling skills and with the pandemic, buyers are expecting greater value for their spends. Therefore, e-commerce player Snapdeal’s sale, which took place between October 16 to 20, focused on offering ‘Kum Mein Dum Diwali,’ i.e., value deals for lesser money. According to Snapdeal, less than 5% percent of retail is online and during this on-going <keyword id="36208" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="festive-season">festive season</keyword>, the platform’s aim is to bring more users online and give them strong reasons to switch. Snapdeal observed that consumers weren’t willing to buy premium brands this year and wanted to access the online platforms in their regional language. So, as other e-commerce platforms offered premium brands at a discounted price, Snapdeal wanted to make online shopping more inclusive for buyers across India. It focused more on non-metro cities, which is a market with potential 400 million users and shipped orders to rural places like Palasner in Maharashtra, Abdasa in Gujarat, Kalsi in Uttarakhand, Chitkul in Himachal among many others. Ahead of the sale, Snapdeal added 1300 new pin codes to go deeper into Bharat, areas which were previously unserviceable or where users were compelled to travel to nearby towns to collect their orders. It also updated its user interface by adding eight languages including Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, Gujarati, Punjabi, and Marathi. As a result, 70% of its orders were received by sellers located beyond the top 5 metropolitan areas of the country and 90% of its orders were placed from non-metro cities. We caught up with Rajnish Wahi, Senior Vice President, Snapdeal to further understand some of trends that the platform saw during its sale. Excerpts: Q. The role of engagement and communication has never been more important, especially in today’s digital-first world. How are you making sure your communication during this year's sale is relevant to consumers? Snapdeal is sharply focused on catering to the value-conscious consumers, who see e-commerce as the connecting link between their aspirations, access and affordability. Our theme for this year’s festive sale - “Kum Mein Dum Diwali '' clearly communicates our core message - your shopping rupee has more value this year. As part of our sale preparations, we had conducted a survey of nearly 1.25 Lakh users and one of the key insights was user unwillingness to pay for brand premiums this year and instead focus on the functional value of their purchases. Based on these inputs, the festive assortment was expanded in a focused manner by on-boarding additional sellers for popular products like kitchen appliances, kitchenware, bed linen, apparel, footwear and fashion accessories like watches, wallets, etc. Shaping our sale offers around the clearly-stated expectations of our customers and conveying the same unambiguously through our festive promotions and digital marketing is the sum and substance of our festive communication. Q. This year is different. People have been observed to be judicious in spending. How has the consumer sentiment improved? While 2020 has been a volatile year, we see that there are many tailwinds that are propelling our business. The pandemic has resulted in redistribution of demand between offline and online channels, with online gaining share due to its inherent advantages of reach, convenience, large assortment and safety of buying from home. It has also accelerated the familiarity and acceptance of e-commerce amongst new buyers. With the pandemic, consumers have become more price conscious and are likely to opt for lesser-priced products, while not compromising on their quality expectations. Given all of this, we have seen two sets of buyers come on Snapdeal - one which is trading up to a better assortment and one that is trading down and opting for better functional value instead of big brands. In fact, we have added 6 million new buyers on our platform in the pandemic. We are witnessing the return of enthusiasm for festivities and it is also apparent that online channels will be a preferred medium for a larger number of buyers this year. But it will also be different this year, as more people will be price conscious and will look to spend on quality products that suit their price sensibilities. In a way, Snapdeal’s “Kum Me Dum” focus is about “offering more choices at price points better than last year”, especially for popular categories like home &amp; fashion, which has been made possible by year-long focus on expanding our value selection. Q. With the on-going festive season, many other platforms will have their Sales days too. How do you then cut the clutter and make sure you win consumers? How will you be different from the other players in the segment? Snapdeal is synonymous with value e-commerce. While others in the industry are now starting to build a value segment, we at Snapdeal have been focused on “only value” for the last three years. While other platforms are making efforts to sell branded items at discounted prices, these are still not affordable for a majority of the buyers in the country. On the other hand, we are focussed on bringing the depth and diversity of India's bazaars &amp; markets to the doorsteps of our users. On Snapdeal, buyers find endless varieties of regional and local brands that not only serve their needs, but also offer immense value at affordable prices. The result of our “Kum Mein Dum” Diwali sale bears testimony to this - more than 80% of Snapdeal’s Diwali shoppers chose to buy regional &amp; local brands on Snapdeal. The strong growth of lesser-known brands relative to national/international brands has been because of two key reasons: increased choice and a substantial price difference. Our value-focused positioning runs consistently through our selection and communication and is one the reasons why 90% of our orders flow from non-metros cities and towns across the country. Q. What are some of the other trends you are expecting to see this festive? Our first sales results are out and are reflective of how close the lives of users revolve around their homes. The sale in the home products category has grown by 30% over last year and has become the largest category on Snapdeal this year, overtaking the fashion category, which has traditionally been the top-performer at Snapdeal. The growth in the home category is propelled by popular products like kitchen appliances, kitchenware, bed &amp; bath,decor,cleaning equipment, lighting and comforters &amp; blankets etc. This growth in the fitness category reflects the extra time that people have on their hands and also underscores heightened awareness about personal health &amp; fitness. This category has grown by 45% over last year led by gym essentials like tummy trimmers, push-up bars, wrist supports, fitness gloves, hand grip strengtheners etc. Users buying sports equipment like badminton racquets &amp; cricket sets and weighing machines are also strong consumer trends. While the fashion category has also grown from previous years in terms of shipped units, the growth is less than other higher-performing categories. In the fashion category, there is an increased spending on kidswear in the festive season. . Among popular picks in Snapdeal’s Diwali sale are men’s &amp; women’s grooming products, nutritional supplements, religious items (prayer books, temples accessories etc). With the deterioration of air quality in North India, the sale of N95 masks, air-purifier filters, anti-pollution skincare items, skin moisturisers, lip balms has also increased. Snapdeal also witnessed an increase in gifting via e-commerce early in this festive season. The range of festivals starting with Karva Chauth and followed by Dhanteras, Diwali, Bhaiya Dooj and Chhath Puja have become important gifting occasions for users in various parts of the country. While in the previous years, shoppers used e-commerce channels to buy and ship to families &amp; friends in other cities, this year many shoppers in metro cities are also sending gifts to people living in the same cities. This year gift cards have also been hugely popular among people to send to their friends and family, with a 3X surge in orders as compared to the festive sale last year. These included gift cards of travel, entertainment, food and retail brands which were upto 30% off. Q. How are you working towards improving the overall consumer experience? E-Commerce in India has grown beyond the first 100 Mn largely urban, English-speaking users. A market of potentially 400 Mn users is now emerging across India’s smaller non-metro cities. This is a very diverse cohort in terms of languages spoken, literacy levels, frequency of online purchases and familiarity with technology. A large part of Snapdeal’s existing user base and new users come from this cohort and all our focus and efforts are on building the right experience that our users want. That means we work tirelessly to give them a wide array of products to choose from, and at just the right prices they are looking to spend. We also make it easy in many other ways for users to buy on Snapdeal. This includes providing interfaces on our app &amp; m-site in eight Indian languages, so that they can browse through products &amp; transact in a language of their choice. We also enable conversation with our customer service agents in multiple Indian languages. Transaction and promotional messages all are available in many Indian languages. Some other ways, in which we support our users to buy is by helping them make well-informed choices through short 10-second product videos which are far more captivating and help buyers to make decisions faster than static pictures of the products concerned, easy 7-days return, no questions asked refunds policy. We are the only platform that provides uninterrupted access to cash-on-delivery option even during the turbulent early days of pandemic lockdowns. Q. Which are your strongest markets currently? How are you planning to strengthen your presence in other markets? We have a strong pan India presence. During the current sale and consistent with Snapdeal’s positioning, more than 90% of Snapdeal’s orders were placed from non-metro cities. Populous cities like Nagpur, Vijayawada, Surat, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Visakhapatnam, Ranchi, Patna, Guwahati and others continued to drive orders on Snapdeal, but smaller cities like Sagar (Madhya Pradesh), Raniganj &amp; Durgapur (West Bengal), Patiala &amp; Gurdaspur (Punjab), Anand, Bharuch, Una, (Gujarat), Miryalaguda (Andhra Pradesh) and Bhimavaram (Telangana) also clock impressive order volumes. With our recent network expansion, Snapdeal has also shipped orders to rural places like Palasner in Maharashtra, Abdasa in Gujarat, Kalsi in Uttarakhand, Chitkul in Himachal amidst many others. Q. What are your current MAUs? More than 70 million users visit Snapdeal every month to browse and buy from our vast catalogue of 220 million plus listings. Q. What kind of target have you set for this year's sale? Do you anticipate people to buy more, considering a lot of people might have pushed buying things for the festive season? What kind of numbers do you aim to reach this year? Less than five percent of retail is online, which is an incredibly small penetration number. In our view, Diwali or not, our job to bring more buying options for our users doesn’t change. Diwali does serve as a milestone to accelerate some of our related initiatives or build virtual infrastructure to connect the dots between demand and supply in our country. This year, ahead of the festive season, we on-boarded additional sellers of popular products like kitchen appliances, kitchenware, bed linen, apparel, footwear and fashion accessories like watches, wallets, etc., as indicated by our users in a survey. In the run-up to Diwali, Snapdeal also on-boarded 5000 manufacturer-sellers who sell products like water purifiers, choppers &amp; blenders, steel &amp; copper utensils, crockery items, bedsheets, quilts, geysers, etc directly from their manufacturing units. This year, we knew more and more people would be buying online and ahead of the sale, and expanded our network to add 1300 new pin codes to go deeper into areas which were previously unserviceable or where users were compelled to travel to nearby towns to collect their orders, reaching out to 50 million additional users. Today, we are India's leading value-focused marketplace with more than 500,000 registered sellers and we cover 27000 + pin code areas across the length and breadth of the country.

Why Snapdeal targeted non-metro cities and rural India during its pre-Diwali sale

<ul><li><keyword id="6357912" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="amitabh-bachchan">Amitabh Bachchan</keyword> was among the many twitter users who shared a fake picture of the 9 pm-9 minute on April 5. </li><li>Hundreds of twitter users claimed that this picture was shared by The National Aeronautics and Space Administration after 9pm. </li><li>NASA has not shared any satellite pictures yet. </li></ul>Soon after India came out to light diyas and candles to show solidarity on April 5, <keyword id="1467301" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="fake-pictures">fake pictures</keyword> of the 9 pm-9 minute event started doing the rounds on social media. Among the ones who shared it was Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan. <div type="twitter" handle="SrBachchan" handlename="Amitabh Bachchan" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1138177088136011776/Rnp146CU_normal.jpg" favoritecount="47026" retweetcount="4488" status="The World sees us .. we are ONE .. https://t.co/68k9NagfkI" createdat="1586110770000" id="1246865058690297856"></div> Hundreds of Twitter users claimed that this picture was shared by The National Aeronautics and Space Administration after 9pm on Sunday. However, that is false. NASA has not shared any satellite pictures yet. Moreover, it was not just one photo. There were many fake images. Some of these pictures are the same as those widely circulated on Diwali. While these images were shared by some international institutions but it is not related to with how India looked after millions of people came to their balconies with torches and candles. Here’s how it actually went: Many Bollywood stars including Amitabh Bachchan, Lata Mangeshkar, Rajinikanth and Akshay Kumar, lit candles and lamps on Sunday, responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal to show solidarity in the country's fight against coronavirus. <div type="twitter" handle="mangeshkarlata" handlename="Lata Mangeshkar" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/995562014/142_PHOTO_normal.jpg" favoritecount="21853" retweetcount="2144" status="नमस्कार. माननीय प्रधानमंत्री नरेन्द्रभाई मोदी जी के आवाहन पर आओ सब मिलकर दिया जलाए.. @narendramodi… https://t.co/a4BJpchn6N" createdat="1586101069000" id="1246824369269211136"></div> The prime minister on Friday, urged people to switch off lights at their homes and light lamps, candles or turn on mobile phone torches for nine minutes at 9 pm on April 5 as a gesture to "challenge the darkness spread by the corona crisis". <div type="twitter" handle="narendramodi" handlename="Narendra Modi" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1134082549041393672/QbihPzrL_normal.png" favoritecount="443634" retweetcount="103072" status="शुभं करोति कल्याणमारोग्यं धनसंपदा ।शत्रुबुद्धिविनाशाय दीपज्योतिर्नमोऽस्तुते ॥ https://t.co/4DeiMsCN11" createdat="1586102646000" id="1246830985288642560"></div> Bachchan, 77, shared pictures of him lighting a torch, mentioning a line from his father Harivansh Rai Bachchan's poem in the caption. <div type="twitter" handle="SrBachchan" handlename="Amitabh Bachchan" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1138177088136011776/Rnp146CU_normal.jpg" favoritecount="36226" retweetcount="2593" status="T 3492 -&quot; है अँधेरी रात पर दीवा जलाना कब माना है &quot; ... another epic poem of my Father .. and how visionary it has… https://t.co/Gk5xAF55fN" createdat="1586111359000" id="1246867528845942786"></div> Mangeshkar shared a photo of herself lighting a diya. Akshay Kumar posted a picture of him holding a candle. <div type="twitter" handle="rajinikanth" handlename="Rajinikanth" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/980000107415314432/pJ3ANCkn_normal.jpg" favoritecount="90933" retweetcount="15235" status="#StayHomeStaySafe #Solidarity #Unity #IndiaFightsCoronavirus 🙏🏻 https://t.co/4LSSsfpVFa" createdat="1586102354000" id="1246829761353023488"></div> Sharing a picture with his wife Latha, superstar Rajinikanth tweeted, "#StayHomeStaySafe #Solidarity #Unity #IndiaFightsCoronavirus." Actor couple Deepika-Ranveer shared a picture, where the "Gully Boy" star is holding a candle. "9pm9Minutes" the duo captioned the picture. <div type="INSTAGRAMURL" thumbUrl="https://scontent-del1-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/sh0.08/e35/s640x640/92076175_110370697116327_7898296167625571301_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-del1-1.cdninstagram.com&amp;_nc_cat=1&amp;_nc_ohc=WRs1icazGoIAX8zJhPQ&amp;oh=a6d9dd8cf47f2f1525f0e26277c0625c&amp;oe=5EB4C09D" caption="🪔 #9pm9minutes" user="ranveersingh" cmsId="1586147065417"><url><![CDATA[https://www.instagram.com/p/B-mwTjEh7Sf/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link]]></url><permalink><![CDATA[https://www.instagram.com/p/B-mwTjEh7Sf/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading]]></permalink><payload><![CDATA[]]></payload></div> Anil uploaded a video on the microblogging site and captioned it as: "All in this together." The clip showed his house, decked with lamps, with the "Malang" actor holding a candle and walking with prayer chants in the background. <div type="twitter" handle="AnilKapoor" handlename="Anil Kapoor" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1232951548071702530/m9Jn86lP_normal.jpg" favoritecount="30052" retweetcount="1901" status="All in this together 🙏🏻#9pm9minutes #IndiaFightsCorona #StayHomeStaySafe @PMOIndia @narendramodi https://t.co/3rxYXnU9iT" createdat="1586101895000" id="1246827834686898177"></div> Madhuri Dixit said people are united in order to fight this pandemic. <div type="twitter" handle="MadhuriDixit" handlename="Madhuri Dixit Nene" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1179629959293239296/AsPKmkVT_normal.jpg" favoritecount="1804" retweetcount="114" status="To my 87 year old mother in law, a prayer for all of us, last night. https://t.co/SlUQrrq2O7" createdat="1586144277000" id="1247005599092453376"></div>Aishwarya Rai Bachchan shared a family picture with lamps, sans caption on Instagram.Actor Alia Bhatt said light holds more depth than just "illuminating our lives" and in the current times, it signifies hope. <div type="INSTAGRAMURL" thumbUrl="https://scontent-del1-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/sh0.08/e35/s640x640/91630568_624789694918900_321510320577041291_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-del1-1.cdninstagram.com&amp;_nc_cat=1&amp;_nc_ohc=YQguRNqt7ygAX-TO2LO&amp;oh=6d9c98d261f5c9862e1e1750d9eb7af7&amp;oe=5EB44060" caption="When I was younger I would kiss my dad on his forehead before going off to school and after every kiss he would say “ Aaaaaah .. light aa gayi “ I might have not fully understood what it meant back then.. but because of his response I understood that light has wayyyyyy more depth than just illuminating our lives. Light means so much. It’s hope, beauty, strength.. today it was unity.. But no matter where we are and what we are going through we must always try and keep the light within us alive 🔥" user="aliaabhatt" cmsId="1586147110221"><url><![CDATA[https://www.instagram.com/p/B-mutXZl2Hs/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link]]></url><permalink><![CDATA[https://www.instagram.com/p/B-mutXZl2Hs/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading]]></permalink><payload><![CDATA[]]></payload></div> Actor Anushka Sharma shared a picture of her lighting a lamp, along with cricketer-husband Virat Kohli, and wrote how she has prayed every day since "the turn of the recent events across the world". <div type="INSTAGRAMURL" thumbUrl="https://scontent-del1-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/e35/s612x612/92456704_242493800176610_6373671446285841972_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-del1-1.cdninstagram.com&amp;_nc_cat=1&amp;_nc_ohc=W3AeTL5jQKEAX9-AkLB&amp;oh=295d3acab6f0198e3bb12c5a1a896a86&amp;oe=5EB4AFD5" caption="I light a diya everyday for many years now. And as I light the diya I seek guidance, asking for the darkness in me to be dispelled. For many days since the turn of the recent events across the world, I have prayed to God to end the suffering of so many who are losing their lives without their families beside them, for the less-fortunate and the needy whose lives have turned upside down completely, for all the healthcare professionals who are working tirelessly &amp; bravely to protect the lives of other beings, for those who are uncertain about their jobs and future. So tonight, I prayed extra for everyone and I lit diyas with the whole of India and we all prayed for each other. Prayers never go in vain. 🪔💜✨" user="anushkasharma" cmsId="1586147119826"><url><![CDATA[https://www.instagram.com/p/B-mvM4JpmRA/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link]]></url><permalink><![CDATA[https://www.instagram.com/p/B-mvM4JpmRA/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading]]></permalink><payload><![CDATA[]]></payload></div> Actor Vicky Kaushal shared a picture of candle diyas on Instagram Story and captioned it as "light and positivity to all!" <div type="INSTAGRAMURL" thumbUrl="https://scontent-del1-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/sh0.08/e35/p640x640/92480042_1091648844514674_1889855021892708647_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-del1-1.cdninstagram.com&amp;_nc_cat=1&amp;_nc_ohc=TdrXItxj7Y8AX_h8K_r&amp;oh=f71ab30d983123e61e094b193d9311e5&amp;oe=5EB5CB48" caption="To unity. To togetherness. To us! ✨🙏" user="vickykaushal09" cmsId="1586147127948"><url><![CDATA[https://www.instagram.com/p/B-mwHDGJv57/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link]]></url><permalink><![CDATA[https://www.instagram.com/p/B-mwHDGJv57/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading]]></permalink><payload><![CDATA[]]></payload></div> Filmmaker Karan Johar took to Instagram and shared a video, where his children, Ruhi and Yash, along with his mother Hiroo, lit candles and used flashlights.<div type="INSTAGRAMURL" thumbUrl="https://scontent-del1-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/sh0.08/e35/p640x640/91914888_270657117279276_5762300578742095232_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-del1-1.cdninstagram.com&amp;_nc_cat=1&amp;_nc_ohc=HGg_Th83FCgAX_Vctmr&amp;oh=2f63327039a6ecca6d09d6e6f31d5d49&amp;oe=5E8CCFC1" caption="Let there be light.....there is light at the end of this dark tunnel...." user="karanjohar" cmsId="1586147131838"><url><![CDATA[https://www.instagram.com/p/B-msqGFJLOv/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link]]></url><permalink><![CDATA[https://www.instagram.com/p/B-msqGFJLOv/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading]]></permalink><payload><![CDATA[]]></payload></div> Among those who also shared their pictures of lighting candles were Taapsee Pannu, Paresh Rawal, Randeep Hooda, Sunil Grover, Pawan Kalyan, Dulquer Salmaan, Nagarjuna, Janhvi Kapoor, among others. This was the second such mass activity undertaken by the citizens of the country after PM Modi''s March 22 Janata Curfew initiative, where people clapped and clangled utensils to express gratitude to those who have been providing essential services during this crisis. However, there were stars who also criticised the use of firecrackers during this exercise. "People are bursting crackers. Just FYI. The dogs are freaking out. Do people think it's Diwali? I'm so confused," tweeted Sonam Kapoor. Actor Adil Hussain also wondered why some people in south Delhi burst crackers. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/news/a-tiger-at-the-bronx-zoo-tested-positive-for-covid-19-after-coming-into-contact-with-an-asymptomatic-caretaker/articleshow/75000701.cms">A tiger at the Bronx Zoo tested positive for COVID-19 after coming into contact with an asymptomatic caretaker</a>

Amitabh Bachchan’s fake pic, Deepika Padukone’s Insta update and other ways in which Bollywood adhered to 9 min at 9pm

Arumugam Chinnaswamy set up his makeshift booth selling firecrackers in a Chennai neighbourhood a week ahead of <keyword id="188" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="20" keywordseo="Diwali">Diwali</keyword>, the Hindu festival of lights, with great expectations of doing a brisk trade. Yet a week later, he has been forced to pack up more than half his stock in the hope he’ll have better luck next year. “Four years ago, I sold firecrackers worth 800,000 rupees (US$11,288) on the eve of Diwali alone. This year, the sales have not even been a quarter of that,” said Chinnaswamy, 65, painting a grim picture that will be recognised by many in the Indian fireworks industry. <a href="https://hp.teads.com/?utm_source=inread&amp;utm_medium=credits&amp;utm_campaign=invented%20by%20teads" target="_blank"></a> Chinnaswamy buys his firecrackers in Sivakasi, an industrial town in the southern Indian state of <keyword id="20154" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="tamil-nadu">Tamil Nadu</keyword> that produces more than 90 per cent of the country’s fireworks. Sivakasi’s dry climate has helped to make it the firework capital of <a href="https://www.scmp.com/topics/india" class="link-text">India</a> and many production facilities in the town have been in the business for close to a century. For the most part, the industry has resisted mechanisation and still deals in handmade products. Its 1,100-plus manufacturing units provide jobs for 800,000 mostly uneducated workers and its diligent labour force have earned the town the nickname of ‘Little <keyword id="6355311" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="japan">Japan</keyword>’. But this reputation is under threat, struggling under the weight of an anti-pollution campaign, regulatory uncertainty and the arrival of cheap black-market Chinese imports. Irregular monsoons and a slowdown-induced cash crunch have not helped matters either. Industry figures estimate the Diwali sales of India’s 80 billion-rupee firecracker industry took a 30 per cent drop this year. A TOXIC PROBLEM With pollution in Indian cities among the worst in the world, the government has come under pressure to do something about the nation’s toxic air – a problem that becomes more acute during Diwali due to the toxic fumes emitted when celebratory fireworks are set off. This Diwali, for instance, many areas in New Delhi recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 999, the highest possible reading (the recommended limit is 60). That makes the fireworks industry seem like an easy target when it comes to meeting government air quality targets. Trouble began brewing in October last year when the Supreme Court banned the manufacture of traditional fireworks containing barium nitrate, a chief polluter. That decision put a rocket under the industry, as barium nitrate is cheap and is used in about 75 per cent of all firecrackers in India. Factories in Sivakasi responded with a four-month shutdown protest that decimated annual production levels by up to a third. Apparently realising it had overstepped the mark – and that enforcing the Supreme Court regulations would be next to impossible – the government stepped in to rescue the industry, offering its assistance in the manufacture of environment-friendly crackers containing fewer pollutants, but it was too little, too late. “The Supreme Court verdict was simply Delhi-centric with the vague idea of [cracking down on] urban pollution. It lacked any on-the-ground knowledge of the fireworks industry,” said Tamil Selvan, president of the Indian Fireworks Association, which represents more than 200 medium and large manufacturers. “Fireworks are low-hanging fruit for the anti-pollution drive as the industry is unorganised. Could the government or judiciary place a similar blanket ban on more pollution-causing industries like automobiles, plastics or tobacco?” asked Selvan. CHINESE COMPETITION The industry has also been hit by a flood of cheap Chinese firecrackers that are smuggled into the country on the black market. In September, the country’s federal anti-smuggling agency, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, cautioned various government departments that huge quantities of Chinese-produced firecrackers had reached Indian soil in the lead up to Diwali. But industry sources complain they have seen little action from the government to combat the problem. Legally, Indian manufacturers can neither import nor export firecrackers. The Indian firecracker industry is the second-largest in the world after <keyword id="1334" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="China">China</keyword>’s. Raja Chandrashekar, chief of the Federation of Tamil Nadu Fireworks Traders, a lobbying body, said low-end Indian-manufactured firecrackers such as roll caps and dot caps – popular among children – had struggled to compete with Chinese-made pop pops and throw bombs. “Despite our repeated complaints to government bodies, Chinese firecrackers find a way into India, particularly in the northern parts. This is severely affecting our business,” said Chandrashekar. While more Chinese fireworks might be entering India, the effect has been to undermine the industry, resulting in fewer sales overall. FIZZLING OUT? The Sivakasi fireworks industry faces other problems, too. Not least among these is the use of child labour, which had been rampant until a government crackdown a few years ago, and the practice of some factories to operate without proper licences and with questionable safety standards. But despite the darker aspects of the industry, its role goes beyond merely helping Diwali celebrations go with a bang every year. “The livelihoods of over five million people who are indirectly involved in the business, in areas such as trade and transport, depend on the survival of the industry,” said Chandrashekar. That survival looks increasingly in question. Dull sales of fireworks have been reported in major cities including New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad, though exact numbers can be hard to come by due to the unregulated nature of the industry and unreliable numbers shared by manufacturers. So great has the resultant outcry been that some cynics even wonder whether the industry is struggling as much as it claims or whether it is part of a ploy by manufacturers to gain more government concessions and avoid any further crackdown. “These firecracker manufacturers lie through their teeth about the Diwali sales for self-serving motives such as tax avoidance. The overall business is healthy,” said Vijay Kumar, editor of the Sivakasi-based monthly magazine Pyro India News. “Though there was a 30-40 per cent shortage in annual production, all the manufactured products have been sold this year. No large stockpile is left with any manufacturer.” Still, regardless of the manufacturers’ motives, the result of the industry’s struggles has been that street sellers like Chinnaswamy have fewer fireworks to sell – and they are struggling even to sell those. Chinnaswamy says people are confused about the government’s anti-pollution drive and about what firecrackers are now legal and this has discouraged them from buying. Despite the government’s effort to promote “green crackers” he says these are too hard to come by to be a ready solution, at least for this year. “There was no clarity on what type of firecrackers, whether green crackers or otherwise, can be set off and at what time of the day. Many consumers even asked me whether or not the conventional firecrackers are totally banned while there was much misinformation floating about on social media,” said Chinnaswamy. Shaking his head, all he can do is hope that next year his Diwali goes with more of a bang.

The explosive truth about the link between Chinese fireworks and India’s dim Diwali

<keyword id="31981" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Govardhan-Puja" source="Orion">Govardhan Puja</keyword> has its origins during the times of Sri Krishna, the eighth incarnation of <keyword id="177496" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Lord-Vishnu" source="Orion">Lord Vishnu</keyword>. Performing Govardhan puja is a part of family traditions in several parts of India. This puja is believed to bless the households with prosperity and abundance. Govardhan puja falls on the Pratipada day in the month of Kartik. Govardhan puja also marks the fourth day of <keyword id="3405" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Diwali-celebrations" source="Orion">Diwali celebrations</keyword>. Most times, this puja coincides with the Gujarati New Year. Here we learn how to do <keyword id="5905230" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Govardhan-Puja-at-Home" source="Orion">Govardhan Puja at home</keyword>. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="The origin of Govardhan Puja" comment="subhead" text="The origin of Govardhan Puja">The origin of Govardhan Puja</cmsannotation> As a child, Sri Krishna grew up in the household of the village chieftain Nanda and his wife Yashoda in Gokul, the famed Vraj Bumi. Rearing cows and making dairy products was the main occupation of the people in the village. Govardhan was a small hill located in the village. This tiny hill supported the village in several ways by supplying firewood, cow feeds and many others that the households required. In fact, the term Govardhan translates as (Go – Cow and Vardhan – Nourishment) nourishment to the cows. Sri Krishna initiated Govardhan Puja by enjoining the villagers to pay their respect and gratitude to the Govardhan hill once in a year. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Step By Step Procedure of Govardhan Puja" comment="subhead" text="Step By Step Procedure of Govardhan Puja">Step By Step Procedure of Govardhan Puja</cmsannotation> Install a picture of Govardhan hill on a pedestal. Alternatively, some households set up a hill like structure with clay or cow dung and decorate it in several ways to their heart’s content. Place an idol or picture of Lord Krishna next to the hill, decorate it too and start the puja. Light a lamp and incense sticks. Offer roli and rice to Krishna and Govardhan Hill. Offer sugarcane, curd, milk, batasha, laddoo and peda. Wave camphor in front of the puja altar and then say your prayers. After the puja, leave some batasha on the plate with some coins and give it to the needy. Ask some elderly person to read the story of Lakshmi. The attendees of the puja must listen to the story with devotion in rapt attention. At the end of the story session, the household presents the reader of the story with a silver coin, sweets and gifts. The group can circumambulate the hill, prostrate in front of the hill, receive sweets and Prasad and conclude the puja. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="The unique specialty of Govardhan Puja" comment="subhead" text="The unique specialty of Govardhan Puja">The unique specialty of Govardhan Puja</cmsannotation> Mythology says it was on the day of Govardhan Puja that Lord Krishna lifted the Govardhan hill with his little finger in order to provide a shelter for the villagers and cows during the torrential downpour that resulted from Indra’s (the king of gods) anger. The hill’s canopy saved the people from the flooding rains. Annakoot Utsav On the day of Govardhan Puja, Annakoot is the most popular event organized by people. As part of this ritual, people heap up a huge pile of food known as ‘Chappan Bhog’ and offer it to Lord Krishna. During the puja, the deities are given a holy bath and decorated gorgeously. At the end, the foods offered to Sri Krishna is distributed among the devotees who share them as Prasad during the feast that follows.

How to do Govardhan Puja at home?

<keyword id="188" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="20" keywordseo="Diwali">Diwali</keyword> is just round the corner and excitement for the festival of lights has started building in. Diwali melas, cards parties, shopping, colourful lights, etc are taking the festive fervour higher. 
 As India is excited for Diwali, Singapore also seems to be excited and is soaking itself in the Indian <keyword id="36208" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="festive-season">festive season</keyword>. Yes, this Diwali, Singaporeans are also going to celebrate the festival of lights in the same grandeur and enthusiasm and the preparations have already begun. 
 
In a first-of-its kind initiative, The Land Transport Authority in Singapore has launched Diwali-themed trains. 
 
The trains are decked up with colourful pictures, banners reading ‘Happy Deepawali’, elegant elements such as lotus and peacock, etc. 
 
You must see the Little India station, which is brightly lit, keeping Diwali theme in mind. The authority has decorated North East Line and Downtown Line platforms as well. 
 
Here’s what the trains and platforms look like 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Images: LTA Singapore Facebook page)

Singapore’s
Diwali-themed trains are nothing like you’ve seen before. Take a look

Here comes the first camera launch of the upcoming festive season. Diwali is the time when most will loosen their purse strings and buy digital gifts for the family. And the first one to jump into the pool to captivate consumers is <keyword id="114355" type="COMPANY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Nikon">Nikon</keyword>. The company has brought its FX-format, full-frame <keyword id="180940" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="DSLR">DSLR</keyword> called D610 that has slightly better specs than the previous-generation camera. It falls in the mid-segment of DSRL cameras and should be capable enough to take noise-free shots. 
 One of the key highlights of the camera is a 24.3 MP sensor, which can capture 6 shots per second. The ISO range of up to 6,400 is supported and is equipped with a 39 point auto-focus system. A 24-85 mm VR lens comes in the box that should be able to take crisp pictures under most conditions. To preview images, the camera has a 3.2 inch LCD at the back, which <keyword id="6356028" type="COMPANY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Sports">sports</keyword> an auto-brightness sensor. This sensor allows the camera to automatically adapt to the ambient light conditions and users will always see a vivid and clear image on the LCD. 
 Priced at Rs 1,57,000 (with kit), the D610 camera is the first in the line of launches about to come. We should see some more from <keyword id="37530" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Canon">Canon</keyword> and <keyword id="6358540" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Sony">Sony</keyword> in the coming weeks. And that should stir the otherwise slow DSLR camera market.

Nikon Introduces All-new DSLR In India Right Before The
Diwali Season

<keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="India" source="keywords">India</keyword> is a place full of colourful cultures, beautiful scenery, and interesting history. Whether you love adventure, learning about the past, or trying new foods, India has something for you. Here's a simple guide to some of the best things to do for tourists in this diverse and fascinating country. Get ready for an unforgettable journey! <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="1. Marvel at the Taj Mahal in Agra" comment="subhead" text="1. Marvel at the Taj Mahal in Agra">1. Marvel at the <keyword id="6355354" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Taj-Mahal" source="Orion">Taj Mahal</keyword> in Agra</cmsannotation> <div type="image" title="1" msid="109590129" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Taj Mahal&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>Think of visiting India without seeing the Taj Mahal like missing the best part of a movie! This amazing white palace was made by a king named Shah Jahan for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, who he loved very much. It's super famous and even on the list of the coolest places in the world! You've got to see it when the sun is coming up or going down - the way the marble shines is like something from a fairy tale! <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="2. Explore the Bustling Streets of Delhi" comment="subhead" text="2. Explore the Bustling Streets of Delhi">2. Explore the Bustling Streets of <keyword id="66" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Delhi" source="Orion">Delhi</keyword></cmsannotation> <div type="image" title="2" msid="109590159" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Chandini Chowk&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>Delhi is a top spot for shopping in India! It has something for everyone, from lively streets like Chandni Chowk to upscale places like Khan Market. In Old Delhi, you can enjoy delicious street food and bargain for treasures in bustling markets. Don't forget to explore New Delhi's majestic architecture, including iconic landmarks such as India Gate and the historic Red Fort. With its blend of old-world charm and modern amenities, Delhi offers an unforgettable shopping and sightseeing experience for visitors of all tastes. Read - <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/travel/india/10-best-markets-in-delhi-that-every-shopper-should-visit/slidelist/100970642.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">10 Best markets in Delhi</a> <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="3. Embark on a Wildlife Safari in Ranthambore National Park" comment="subhead" text="3. Embark on a Wildlife Safari in Ranthambore National Park">3. Embark on a Wildlife Safari in <keyword id="20454281" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ranthambore-National-Park" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Ranthambore National Park" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Ranthambore National Park">Ranthambore National Park</keyword></cmsannotation> <div type="image" title="3" msid="109590189" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Wildlife Safari in Ranthambore National Park&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>Whether you are a wildlife enthusiast or not Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan is a must. It's famous for Bengal tigers! Jump on a safari jeep to explore the park's wild beauty and spot these amazing animals in their home. You can also see other cool creatures like leopards, sloth bears, and crocodiles. It's like going on a real adventure into the jungle, where every turn brings a new surprise. Don't forget your camera – you'll want to capture the magic of seeing these majestic creatures up close! <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="4. Cruise the Backwaters of Kerala" comment="subhead" text="4. Cruise the Backwaters of Kerala">4. Cruise the Backwaters of <keyword id="19896018" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Kerala" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Kerala" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Kerala">Kerala</keyword> </cmsannotation> <div type="image" title="4" msid="109590208" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;kerala Backwaters&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>To feel the ultimate peace sail through Kerala's backwaters on a traditional houseboat. See stunning green views, coconut trees, and cute villages while eating yummy Kerala food made by chefs onboard. This calm trip shows you how people live in Kerala – relaxed and happy. It's like being in a quiet dream, surrounded by nature's beauty. Don't forget to take lots of pictures to remember this magical journey! <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="5. Witness the Sacred Rituals on the Ghats of Varanasi" comment="subhead" text="5. Witness the Sacred Rituals on the Ghats of Varanasi">5. Witness the Sacred Rituals on the Ghats of <keyword id="6357203" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="varanasi" source="Orion">Varanasi</keyword></cmsannotation> <div type="image" title="5" msid="109590226" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Ghat of Varanasi&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>Varanasi situated by the holy river Ganga, is one of India's oldest cities and a big spiritual center. Watch the beautiful Ganga Aarti ceremony at Dashashwamedh Ghat. Here, priests do special rituals with fire and incense while lots of people come to honor the river. It's a magical sight with lots of lights and prayers, making you feel peaceful and connected to something special. You'll see how important the Ganges River is to people and why Varanasi is such a special place in India. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="6. Trek in the Himalayas" comment="subhead" text="6. Trek in the Himalayas">6. Trek in the <keyword id="19953074" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Himalayas" source="keywords">Himalayas</keyword></cmsannotation> <div type="image" title="6" msid="109590259" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Trekking in Himalayas&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>India is a top destination for trekking, whether you're just starting out or a seasoned pro. The Indian Himalayas have tons of trails waiting for you to explore. Walk through the beautiful valleys of Himachal Pradesh or conquer the snowy mountains of Uttarakhand. It's like stepping into a postcard with stunning views at every turn. Whether you're a beginner or an expert, there's a trek for you in the majestic Himalayas of India. Read - <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/travel/india/webstories/try-these-10-beginner-treks-in-india/slidelist/103394068.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Best treks for beginners in India</a> <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="7. Indulge in Culinary Delights" comment="subhead" text="7. Indulge in Culinary Delights">7. Indulge in Culinary Delights</cmsannotation> <div type="image" title="7" msid="109590281" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Indian Cuisine&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>India is a paradise for food lovers, and if you love food, you'll love India! Trying the yummy and diverse dishes here is a must-do on your trip. From spicy curries to tasty biryanis, and from delicious street snacks to sweet desserts, there's a flavour for everyone to enjoy. Make sure to taste special dishes like butter chicken in Punjab, dosas in South India, and chaat in Mumbai. Every bite is like a little adventure for your taste buds, so don't miss out on this delicious experience while you're in India! <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="8. Immerse Yourself in Culture and Festivals" comment="subhead" text="8. Immerse Yourself in Culture and Festivals">8. Immerse Yourself in Culture and Festivals</cmsannotation> <div type="image" title="8" msid="109590300" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Diwali celebrations&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>India is a land of celebrations, with festivals happening all the time! Experience the magic of Diwali, known as the festival of lights, where streets sparkle with lamps and the sky lights up with fireworks. And don't miss out on the fun of Holi, the colourful festival celebrating spring! People throw colourful powders at each other, turning the streets into a rainbow of happiness. It's like being part of a big, joyful party where everyone is laughing and having a great time <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="9. Relax on the Beaches of Goa" comment="subhead" text="9. Relax on the Beaches of Goa">9. Relax on the Beaches of Goa</cmsannotation> <div type="image" title="9" msid="109590317" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Goa beach&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>Relax on the sunny beaches of Goa, one of India's best beach spots. Whether you want to dance all night in the fun beach clubs of North Goa or enjoy peace and quiet on the beautiful shores of South Goa, there's a beach for you. Try out water sports, eat yummy seafood, or just chill out in the tropical paradise. It's like being in a dreamy place where you can do whatever makes you happy, whether it's partying, exploring, or simply soaking up the sun! <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="10. Shop for Souvenirs in Jaipur's Bazaars" comment="subhead" text="10. Shop for Souvenirs in Jaipur's Bazaars">10. Shop for Souvenirs in Jaipur's Bazaars</cmsannotation> <div type="image" title="10" msid="109590340" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Jaipur market&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>End your Indian trip with a fun shopping spree in Jaipur, also known as the Pink City of Rajasthan. Explore lively markets like Johari Bazaar and Bapu Bazaar, filled with colourful clothes, beautiful jewellery, and special souvenirs handmade by local artists. Don't forget to bargain for good prices and bring home a piece of India's culture with you. It's like going on a treasure hunt where you can find unique items to remember your amazing time in Jaipur and all the adventures you had in India! From ancient monuments to scenic landscapes, India offers a myriad of experiences that will leave you enchanted and inspired. So pack your bags, embark on a journey of discovery, and let the magic of India unfold before your eyes. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Frequently asked questions" comment="subhead" text="Frequently asked questions">Frequently asked questions</cmsannotation> 1: What should I wear in India? India has diverse cultures and climates, so appropriate clothing depends on the region and season. In general, modest clothing is advisable, especially when visiting religious sites. Lightweight and breathable fabrics are ideal for India's hot and humid weather, while warmer layers may be needed in the cooler months or mountainous regions. 2: What are the visa requirements for visiting India? Most travellers to India need a visa, which can be obtained through an online application process or from an Indian embassy or consulate. There are different types of visas available depending on the purpose and duration of your visit. 3: What are the transportation options in India? A: India has a variety of transportation options, including trains, buses, taxis, auto-rickshaws, and domestic flights. Trains are a popular and economical way to travel between cities, with an extensive network covering most parts of the country. Buses are another common mode of transport, especially for shorter distances and rural areas. 4: What is the best time to visit India? The best time to visit India depends on the region and the activities you plan to do. Generally, the winter months (October to March) are the most pleasant for travelling, with cooler temperatures and minimal rainfall in most parts of the country. However, some regions like Rajasthan and the Himalayas can be visited year-round, while the summer months (April to June) are ideal for exploring hill stations and higher-altitude destinations. 5: What currency is used in India, and how can I access money? The currency used in India is the Indian Rupee (INR). You can exchange foreign currency at banks, exchange bureaus, and airports. ATMs are widely available in cities and towns, allowing you to withdraw cash using your debit or credit card. It's advisable to inform your bank of your travel plans to avoid any issues with using your cards abroad.

10 Best things to do in India for tourists

Govardhan Puja is an important event celebrated on the fourth day of the five day long Diwali festival. In 2019, Govardhan Puja falls on Monday, October 28. The line of events during the Diwali festival include Dhanteras, Chhoti Diwali, Diwali, Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj starting from Friday, October 25, 2019 and concluding on Tuesday, October 29, 2019. Govardhan Puja timing Govardhan Puja Muhurat on Monday, October 28, 2019 is from 3:36 pm to 5:51 pm with a duration of 2 hours 14 minutes. Origin of Govardhan Puja Govardhan Puja has its roots in the age of Dwapar during Krishnavatar. When little Krishna grew up in the village of Gokul, he initiated Govardhan Puja in order to pay tribute to the Govardhan hill, the small hillock of the village that provided nourishment to the cows of the village and some essentials for the village households. Govardhan Puja story During those days, the people in the village of Gokul performed elaborate pujas to please Indra, the king of gods. Krishna advised the villagers to worship the Govardhan hill instead of Indra as the hill was highly supporting their lives and provided nourishment to the cows. Seeing the villagers neglect him and worship the Govardhan hill, Indra got angry and showered torrential rains on the village of Gokul. Krishna saves the village The village folks and cattle could not bear the torrential downfall. In order to save them, Lord Krishna lifted the Govardhan hill and held it like an umbrella over all of them for a period of seven days. Indra realized he will never be able to win Krishna who was verily the avatar of Lord Vishnu finally got humbled and spared the village. Annakoot puja The villagers prepared elaborate foods consisting of about 56 items called as Chappan Bhog and offered to little Krishna who neither ate nor slept over the seven days while holding the hill to protect the villagers and cattle. This event gave rise to the ritual known as Annakoot puja which is performed on the day of Govardhan puja. People prepare a lot of dishes and worship Krishna on this day. Govardhan Puja procedure Perform Govardhan puja during the right Muhurat given above. Clean the household and install a picture of Govardhan hill. You can also make the image of Govardhan hill in clay or cow dung. Offer sugarcane, peda, badasha and others to the Govardhan hill to start the puja. Light the lamp and offer roli and tilak. Leave a silver coin in the plate. Let someone in the household read the story of Ma Lakshmi. Others must listen to the story with rapt attention. At the end of the story reading, the silver coin must be offered along with sweets and fruits to the person who read the story. Prayers are offered to the Govardhan hill and the offering done to Lord Krishna during the puja consists of 56 varieties of dishes specially prepared for the puja. To conclude the puja, say your prayers and do namaskar in front of the altar. Share the Prasad with the family members and invitees.

Govardhan puja time, date, all schedule you need to know

<ul><li>Over the years, jingles have proven to be effective for brands in helping them differentiate themselves and create a unique identity.</li><li>However, we haven’t heard too many jingles lately. Much to our delight, a Genie has finally heard our prayers and granted our wish.</li><li>There’s a new jingle in town that the internet is humming to. It is <keyword id="9167642" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="swiggy-genie" source="Orion">Swiggy Genie</keyword>’s ‘<keyword id="12405659" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="genie-dekh-lega" source="Orion">Genie Dekh Lega</keyword>.’</li></ul>Remember those old, golden days when you would actually turn on your television’s volume during a commercial break to hear ‘Washing Powder Nirma’ or Badshah Masala’s jingle and your whole family would join in and hum along? Be it Lijjat Papad from the 90s or Idea’s Hunny Bunny from the early 2000s, jingles hold a special place in our hearts. They are still fresh in our memories like they were launched yesterday. Over the years, jingles have played a critical role in building a brand’s identity -- helping them stand apart from the crowd because jingles stick and leave a long-lasting impression on consumers’ minds. However, lately, we haven’t been hearing too many jingles in India. Granting our wish to revisit these old days, <keyword id="6358977" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="swiggy" source="Orion">Swiggy</keyword> Genie has come up with the new earworm, a jingle called ‘Genie dekh lega.’ <div type="javascript" title="Instagram" contenttype="Video"><cdata><![CDATA[ ]]></cdata></div> Conceptualised by Schbang, Swiggy has launched a new campaign that aims to position it as a brand that comes to its consumer’s rescue even at the eleventh hour. With a catchy jingle that will make a home in your mind, Swiggy reminds the audience that no matter how small the item is -- be it a lehenga or a charger or sending a Diwali gift to your loved ones -- it will deliver it to you or for you. Commenting on the release of the film, Rishabh Pande, Creative Lead at Schbang said, “When you land a brief from Swiggy India, you need to tell yourself as a creative to take the excitement down a notch and channel that energy to create work that takes creativity up a notch. This film isn’t memorable because it chose to explore humour, like all Swiggy ads, but because it chose to explore and own a category unlike any Swiggy ad we’ve seen before. That’s where the idea of this ear-worm was born and boy does it deliver.” Sneha John, Director, Marketing at Swiggy said, “Festivals like Diwali see a lot of consumers using Genie to run last minute errands for the home or to send sweets and homemade treats to family and friends. With this film, we want to showcase Genie as an always dependable service that comes to your aid for last minute Diwali shopping and party needs.” According to the Oxford Dictionary, a Genie is a spirit of Arabian folklore, as depicted traditionally imprisoned within a bottle or oil lamp, and capable of granting wishes when summoned. Swiggy has been focusing on establishing its delivery associates as superhumans of sorts, a genie, to be precise. It grants your wishes anytime you summon it and deliver to you in a jiffy -- as if appearing from thin air. Before the ‘Genie Dekh Lega’ advertisement, Swiggy ran a campaign called ‘Swiggy Genie’s got your back.’ It shows how Swiggy can share the load if you have got a lot on your plate and pick up your grocery for you. <div type="Youtube" id="Rqjyt2iTlMI" title="Tired of being a running Ranjith? Swiggy Genie's got your back!" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Rqjyt2iTlMI/mqdefault.jpg"></div> <div type="Youtube" id="8gEcscom18s" title="On the go all day? Swiggy Genie is here to help." thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/8gEcscom18s/mqdefault.jpg"></div> When the Indian Government announced the country's first lockdown last year in March 2020 and said that only essential service providers were allowed to function, Swiggy came up with the idea of launching Swiggy Genie. Whether it was flu medicine or healthy food, Genie has been helping end-users to make instant deliveries from one point to another. Client: Swiggy India Agency: Schbang Production House: Schbang Motion Pictures Head, Schbang Motion Pictures: Abhimanyu Balasubramanyam Director: Nilay Singh Cinematographer: Jay Charola Executive Producer: Raashi Priya Nahata Associate Producer: Rahul Rohra Music Composer - Kanishk Seth Chief Assistant Director: Sohil Kohli Line Producer - Durgesh Dadhich (OMG Productions) Production Manager - Lalit Sippy DA - Gaurav Ahuja 2nd AD: Rishabh Sharma Art Director: Prince and Team Costume Stylist: Vidhi Gurnani Hair and Makeup - Priti Pannu Vice President- Isha Amin Group Solutions Manager - Sanjana Jaikishin Rohera Creative Director - Aditya Mehendale Group Creative Manager- Tanaiya Saigal Creative Lead - Rishabh Pande Sr. Creative Strategist- Pearl Alex Account Lead- Mehernaz Mistry Sr. Solutions Strategist - Janya Sindhu Business Development Manager- Radhika Raheja Sr. BD Executive- Jinita Shah Creative Strategist- Simran Kumar, Rebecca D'silva Cast - Manoj Mathew, Shruti Puranic, Usha Palan, Vallabh Gada, Myra Shah Support Cast- Deven Patel, Devendra Ahirwal, Nihal Nischal, Gaurav Ahuja, Rishabh Pande, Rishabh Sharma, Prakhar Casting Director- Shubham Tiwari and Team Offline Editor - Vishnu Prasad Designer - Ayushi Bhawsar and Abhishek Shigwan Animation- Nitin Malekar Colourist- Christian Leivia Online- After Studio Sound Mix and Master - Kardam 1st AC- Kshitij Singh Gaffer- Rajesh Singh Focus Puller- Chandan Yadav Camera Equipment - Uni10 Media Works Pvt Ltd Light Equipment - Light World Storyboard - Akhilesh Catering - Nathmauli Spot Team - Noor Alam Sheikh and team Accounts - Suryakant Bondre, Prathamesh Patkar and Kailas Salunke Location- SS bunglow Location manager- Laxman Rathore and team Office Boy - Vaibhav Kamble

There’s a new jingle in town as Swiggy uses the power of music to connect with its audience and establish itself as a last-minute Genie coming to your rescue

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