Best printers for Home

Best Mixer Grinder

Best wired Earphones

Best 43 Inch TV in India

Best Wi Fi Routers

Best Home Theatre in India

Smart Watch under 5000

Best Laptops for Education

Best Laptop for Students

<ul><li>The ad film is conceptualised by Flying Mind Bangalore. </li><li>It features <keyword id="894013" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="swastika-dutta" source="Orion">Swastika Dutta</keyword>. </li></ul><keyword id="64373" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Shoppers-Stop" source="Orion">Shoppers Stop</keyword> rings in the festive season with a heartwarming and emotional story for Durgotsava. Shera Sajer Shera Stop is the story of homecoming, love, and hope. The film features distinguished Bengali actress Swastika Dutta and music by illustrious singer <keyword id="355913" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="anupam-roy" source="Orion">Anupam Roy</keyword>. <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> Every year, the homecoming of <keyword id="445934" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="maa-durga" source="Orion">Maa Durga</keyword> is eagerly awaited by all in West Bengal. The festival witnesses the entire family and neighborhood joining hands to celebrate and regale the arrival of Maa Durga with her children. This year, Shoppers Stop celebrates the homecoming of every woman #MaaAshcheAbar. The film reflects on the story of a father and daughter, and the father’s hope of celebrating the festival with his daughter by his side. The time a father spends with his daughter is priceless and as everyone moves on, all one can do is reminisce and hold on to that moment. In this film, the father ponders on the little things him, and his daughter would do together during the festival and radiantly smiles only to be woken up by a phone call from his daughter telling him she’s coming home.

Shoppers Stop launches an ad film for the homecoming of Maa Durga with Swastika Dutta

<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>House of Pataudi’, an ethnic wear brand, is co-owned by Myntra, <keyword id="333" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Saif-Ali-Khan">Saif Ali Khan</keyword> and Exceed Entertainment.</li><li>The film emphasizes the joy of celebrating festive traditions with loved ones and is set in the auspicious occasion of <keyword id="6357908" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="durga-puja">Durga Puja</keyword>. </li></ul>Ahead of the <keyword id="10055257" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="big-fashion-festival">Big Fashion Festival</keyword>, Myntra has released a campaign featuring brother-sister duo, Saif and <keyword id="6356056" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="soha-ali-khan">Soha Ali Khan</keyword> tugging at the heartstrings as they pay tribute to one of the most awaited festivals, Durga Pujo, an occasion to celebrate over a period of 5 days, with lip-smacking food and memorable moments with family. The brand film, a part of the campaign, aptly re-creates the present scenario, with countless families celebrating the festive season through video calls, thereby striking an emotional chord with the audience, while underscoring the value of the right attire to enhance any festive celebration and make moments special. The campaign is set to run from 3rd October, to 22nd October, with Myntra well poised to leverage its leadership position in the occasion-wear category among shoppers, ahead of the festive season. The protagonists in the ad-film, Saif and Soha, actively exemplify the richness of the House of Pataudi collection with their presence, embellished in grace and elegance. The film emphasizes the joy of celebrating festive traditions with loved ones and is set in the auspicious occasion of Durga Puja. It opens with Saif, who is on a video call with Soha, cooking the quintessential Bengali Bhoger Khichdi. Though satisfied with his meal, he cannot shake off the feeling of missing a key ingredient. The brother-sister duo debate over what it could be, before Saif reveals it by opening the Myntra app on his phone. Soha soon receives and then unwraps a Myntra box to get pleasantly surprised by a gorgeous ‘House of Pataudi’ dress. Realizing it was Saif who sent the gift, Soha is quick to show off her elegance in the ‘House of Pataudi’ Salwar. Saif, himself draped in a luxurious ‘House of Pataudi’ Kurta, was missing the ethnic touch that comes with such occasions during the festive season and the film closes out with the siblings sharing a light-hearted moment. A voiceover at the end encourages all viewers to try something new this Durga Puja <div type="Youtube" id="iaIgocW2nSM" title="Joy. Laughter. Delicious food. And festive style, with Myntra!" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/iaIgocW2nSM/mqdefault.jpg"></div> Speaking on the occasion, Harish Narayanan, Head of Marketing, Myntra, said, “Our Durga Pujo campaign will establish a deeper connection with the audience while emphasizing the role of Myntra in life’s special moments, specifically during this festive season. While social celebrations and gatherings may be rare, people in the country who have been in the confines of their homes are looking for basking in festive cheer and celebrating the festival in style, looking their best. As always, Saif brings a great degree of charm and depth to the ‘House of Pataudi’ brand, while Soha strongly complements that with her elegance and feminine touch.” Commenting on the brand campaign, Saif Ali Khan, said “I take great pride in elevating and upholding the rich and varied traditions of our great country and the Pataudi and Tagore heritage. Durga Puja and all other cultural aspects of Bengal always sing to my heart as it reminds me of family and tradition. Given any situation, people have to hold their families closer than ever, and I am certain our film will connect with people across India at a deeper level.” Speaking on the brand campaign, Afsar Zaidi- Founder and Enabler, Exceed Entertainment, said “With the Pujo film, Myntra through its House of Pataudi film, kickstarts the festive spirit in a year that has been so challenging. While this year, celebrations have taken a new form, family bond and togetherness have been redefined and that’s what the film continues to offer.” With the goal of reaching and engaging a wider audiences across India, the campaign will be run through a diversified media mix, which includes digital and social media channels, as well as running ads on TV ahead of the festive season. As a part of Myntra’s efforts to drive higher brand relevance with a diversified, market-contextual approach to its campaigns, this campaign will be run focusing on the East markets.

Saif Ali Khan's House of Pataudi and Myntra launch their Durga Pujo campaign

<ul><li>A lot of hopes rest on this year's <keyword id="36208" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="festive-season" source="Orion">festive season</keyword> for businesses across the country. With Covid numbers in control, it is expected that consumer sentiments will take a positive turn.</li><li>According to a recent report by <keyword id="6618217" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="admitad" source="Orion">Admitad</keyword>, the festive season is expected to reach Rs 7.9 billion, which will be a 3X growth over last year.</li><li>The report also states that consumers will prefer online shopping to offline shopping thereby increasing the hike in sales during the festival time.</li></ul>The 2020 festive season has clocked Rs 2.9 billion (GMV) sales for the online brands. This year it is expected to reach 7.9 billion INR and thus increase the growth by over 3X. Most likely, the maximum number of orders across the country will be coming through the categories of Electronics, Fashion, and Apparel, Baby products, Furniture and Homeware. The electronics category is expected to jump to a 41% rise making the category the most popular among the consumers during the festive season. Fashion and apparel are expected to touch the 33% rise in the market. As work from home continues to be a part of the system, Furniture and Homeware products are expected to grow about 11%. As per the analysis, consumers will be preferring online shopping to offline shopping thereby increasing the hike in sales during the festival time. As the covid-19 pandemic continues to improve, Indians are excited about the upcoming festival season sales and are surely planning to make a purchase during this time. As per our analysis, the growth during festive season sales 2021 is expected to grow by 14 % compared to last year. Speaking on the role of the festive season for online brands, <keyword id="6618219" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="neha-kulwal" source="Orion">Neha Kulwal</keyword>, Country Manager, Admitad Affiliate India added- “Brands have always looked up to festive season as their prime time to double the sales. An increasing number of brands are becoming more judicious about their marketing spends. Marketers are going beyond search and social media, and leveraging affiliate channels to reach their target audience. Over the years, we have witnessed brands using the Admitad Affiliate network to drive sales, generate revenues and this can play an even more significant role in the upcoming festive season as brands look to strengthen their online presence and drive growth.” Furthermore, we have also witnessed a fair growth in gifting products, Jewellery, and IT Softwares categories which open up new monetization opportunities for publishers during the festive sale. Since consumers spend a lot of time online, and internet usage can prove to be a big shot for brands targeting audiences on various platforms available like telegram, loyalty platforms, cashback and coupon websites which can be an effective source of driving traffic to the brand’s website and generate their revenue. Brands can find the pool of such traffic sources under the umbrella of affiliate marketing. With the festive season round the corner, brands are strateging their marketing plans and publishers are looking for an opportunity to monetize through various channels. On the whole, things are looking positive and this festive season can be one of the biggest among all festive seasons.

This year's festive sale in India expected to reach Rs 7.9 billion, a 3X growth over 2020: Report

<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>The suits maker wants to become a lifestyle experience company targeting 'newly grown ups'.</li><li>The investments are going into rebuilding the entire value chain and the biggest chunk of the money is being spent on technology and digital infrastructure.</li><li>The sale of land parcel in Thane will give the company additional muscle as it invests in trying to reinvent the brand and the company.</li></ul>Raymond has been popular for its suits for decades in India but it wants to be more than that starting next year. “So we want to evolve from a clothing company to a lifestyle experience company,” Chief Executive Officer Sanjay Behl told Business Insider in an exclusive interview. And that would mean remodelling the entire value chain from the supply to technology to the digital infrastructure. “We have partners like SAP, Microsoft, PwC, Accenture have come together to look at every single node of our value chain and make us future-ready, for Raymond 3.0,” Behl said. Most of its investments are going into technology as the company shifts its focus to a younger audience, which Behl likes to call the ‘newly grown ups’. “There are massive IT investments, running into multi-million dollar investments, which are happening currently in under-layering or re-architecting the IT infrastructure of the company.... Our point of sale of in each of these (outlets) is going to change. This is a partnership with Microsoft which again is going to consume multi million dollars,” he added. 
 <div type="javascript" title="Custom" contenttype="Image"><cdata><![CDATA[
<div class="flourish-embed" data-src="visualisation/757393"></div>
]]></cdata></div>



 In times of slowdown Earlier this year, Group Chairman <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/raymond-chairman-gautam-singhania-latest-interview-earnings-outlook/articleshow/68519775.cms">Gautam Singhania told Business Insider</a> that the company was likely to turn free cash flow in the financial year ending March 2019 itself. That didn’t happen. The slowdown in the economy and demand may have made matters worse in the months that followed for Raymond, which has a debt of about ₹2,300 crore on its books. Thankfully for the group, the much-awaited deal to sell a massive land parcel in Thane (nearMumbai has come through. On October 9, the company <a href="https://www.bseindia.com/corporates/anndet_new.aspx?newsid=b8f9b333-e7f1-4180-8af8-f47bca7e90b4">informed the stock exchanges</a> that the land has been agreed to be sold for ₹700 crore and will help improve cash flow amidst a broader slowdown in demand. Raymond makes nearly 60% of its revenue in the second half of the year thanks to a series of festivities and weddings across the country. However, this year’s festive season has been off to a sombre start. “There is a definite uptick though it was muted. This time, Onam has not been as.. because there were floods in Kerala and that impacted the sentiment to a very large extent. The Middle East has slowed down a lot versus a few years ago, and Kerala has a lot of Middle East economy that helps them spend. A combination of factors, we have seen a muted response during Onam. The early signs are looking good for <keyword id="6357908" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="durga-puja">Durga Puja</keyword>. Though it’s still not as bountiful as we expected,” he said. The interview with Behl took place on September 27. But Behl is confident of a high single-digit growth in topline and a double digit growth in bottomline. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 <div type="javascript" title="Custom" contenttype="Image"><cdata><![CDATA[
<div class="flourish-embed" data-src="visualisation/753797"></div>
]]></cdata></div>

















 The share price of Raymond had lost over a third of its market value since the start of this year. However, the announcement of the land sale has given a huge fillip to the street sentiment. The share price jumped over 8% after the statement sent to the exchanges. “The fundamentals have not changed and the stock market is a consequence of fundamentals eventually. It’s a bit of catch up that will have to be done and it will happen,” Behl had said before the announcement. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/raymond-chairman-gautam-singhania-latest-interview-earnings-outlook/articleshow/68519775.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Two revelations and a fiery defence from Raymond’s boss Gautam Singhania</a>

Raymond is spending millions on SAP, Microsoft, PwC, and Accenture to rewire the company

<ul><li>Mi India brightens the season with its unique festive campaign celebrating Diwali and Durga Puja.</li><li>Collaborates with musicians like <keyword id="3345" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Baba-Sehgal">Baba Sehgal</keyword> and Rupam Islam to create music as a part of festivities this year.</li></ul>Manu Kumar Jain is probably the coolest Managing Director we have seen. In Xiaomi’s latest Diwali campaign, the MD danced to the tune of Baba Sehgal. Celebrating the festive season this year, Mi India has announced a series of music videos for ‘Diwali with Mi’ and Durga Puja celebrations. For the festivities, the brand has partnered with leading digital celebrities such as Aparshakti Khurana, <keyword id="2012303" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Kenny-Sebastian">Kenny Sebastian</keyword>, Radhika Madan, Regina Cassandra, Namit Das, Angira Dhar &amp; Anindita Bose for their digital film. The brand has also partnered with musicians such as Baba Sehgal and Rupam Islam to launch new soundtracks imbibing the festive mood. These partnerships aim to bring out the quintessential spirit that brings everyone together despite the social distances this festive season. Commenting on the digital film campaign, Sumit Sonal, Marketing Lead, Mi India, said, “Festivities during this time of the year in India are celebrated with great pride and enthusiasm and we at Mi India are proud to be a part of the same celebration through our digital films and songs. These music videos and films are aligned to our thought of reviving the festive vibe and creating a unique experience for our users.” Speaking on the partnership, Sandeep KS, Associate Director, Marketing Lead Redmi India, said “Baba Sehgal emerged as one of the voices of the lockdown with his catchy &amp; super positive music. We wanted an unique way of product integration not losing out on the entertainment quotient, he collaborated beautifully. The outcome is there for everybody to see, listen &amp; enjoy. This #DiwaliWithMi campaign perfectly fits the festive shopping narrative &amp; is our way of asking our consumers to join in the celebration. Talking on the partnership, Baba Segal, Indian Composer &amp; Rapper added that, “I had an amazing time creating this Diwali track for Mi and am super glad that the song has already gone viral. The song has been shot like a music video and the brand integration has been done beautifully and I have seen people actually grooving to the beat and singing Diwali With Mi.” “Xiaomi leads innovation in the technology space and our campaigns for them have always pushed the boundaries around making technology truly relatable, fun and memorable for the Mi Fans. It's been a pretty straightforward brief for us in that sense, #BreakTheInternet. And we've been able to deliver this through our content for 2 consecutive years now. This could only happen when there's equal passion and excitement to do something different. Our work for #DiwaliWithMi 2020 with Baba Sehgal is a testament to that,” says the brand’s digital film agency, Sushant Vithaldas, Business Head, Schbang Bangalore. Diwali with Mi Ft Baba Sehgal: The music video features popular Indian rapper &amp; composer Baba Sehgal for #DiwaliWithMi campaign, that marks the beginning of the brand's festive season. The entertainment video features all the great offers on Mi and Redmi products that consumers can avail this Diwali. Iconic in his groovy self, Baba Sehgal is seen in his trademark avatar busting rhymes along ‘iss saal ka sabse bada sale and celebrating Diwali with Mi.The music video also hopes to elevate the fun and excitement around this season pushing Mi Fans to embrace their festive spirits. The rap creates a tune that is fun, catchy and also shares details of the various offers available on devices like the Redmi Note 9 Pro, Mi 10, Mi TV, Redmi 9A and Redmi Earbuds 2C. <div type="Youtube" id="kqIY9G036Eo" title="Iss Saal Ka Sabse Bada Sale! #DiwaliWithMi ft. Baba Sehgal" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/kqIY9G036Eo/mqdefault.jpg"></div> Mi India Brand Video: Mi India also released the Diwali brand video in partnership with dynamic bollywood celebrities host of young, digital-first influencers across the country aiming to reflect diversity of brands' audiences. Capturing the hearts of Mi Fans and consumers, the film depicts the resilient spirit of the celebration. The film ‘Diwali ko Happy banake rahenge’ brings light to the small moments that make Diwali special for everyone and how technology has eased the way to celebrate this festival with our loved ones even in these current times. <div type="Youtube" id="fEoy9YQYXK0" title="Diwali ko Happy banake rahenge | #DiwaliWithMi" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/fEoy9YQYXK0/mqdefault.jpg"></div> The biggest Rap Battle this year: Manu Jain v/s Baba Sehgal For the third piece of communication the brand organized a fun rap battle song between Manu Kumar Jain, Managing Director, Mi India and Baba Sehgal. The video hosts the entrepreneur legend and the rap legend battle showcasing the young, innovative and fun spirit that makes up Mi India. The duo highlighted Mi India's style of marketing through their rap by leveraging social media to the fullest even if the top boss has to crack a quirky rap number and dance it out. <div type="Youtube" id="h0RHhgAcVXM" title="Double Dhamaka ft. Baba, Manu-J, Lil Pataka &amp; Robomatic" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/h0RHhgAcVXM/mqdefault.jpg"></div> Durga Pooja with Rupam Islam Building on last year's successful reception, the brand collaborated once again this year with popular singer Rupam Islam in Kolkata to create 2020’s new ‘Amar Pujo’. Reinvigorating the festival spirit, the song celebrates unity and togetherness despite all the limitations &amp; restrictions this year. The launch of its sequel digital music video celebrates the essence of festivity and takes users back to the memory lane when they used to gather and celebrate puja with friends and families. It further gives hope for a new and better day by overcoming the current pandemic and reconnecting freely with their loved ones as they are all with each other in spirit. <div type="Youtube" id="F6agqOJ5gE0" title="Mi Amaar Pujo | Xiaomi West Bengal | Rupam Islam | Durga Pujo 2020" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/F6agqOJ5gE0/mqdefault.jpg"></div>

When Xiaomi's Managing Director Manu Kumar Jain danced, dabbed and rapped to the tune of Baba Sehgal

The year 2014 is just two days old, marking the beginning of yet another <keyword id="89477" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Gregorian-calendar">Gregorian calendar</keyword> year. But revellers who painted the town red and want more party time need not lose heart. Officially, the year has taken off on January 1, but the regional variants of the New Year’s Day still prevail in a country like India – home to a colourful mélange of cultures and traditions. So we are yet to experience a spate of <keyword id="471694" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="New-Year-festivities">New Year festivities</keyword>, celebrated from <keyword id="6354495" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="kashmir">Kashmir</keyword> to Kanyakumari, from the <keyword id="53478" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="North-East">north-east</keyword> to the western coast. 
 Interestingly, both the Gregorian calendar (introduced by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582) and the previous <keyword id="89476" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Julian-calendar">Julian calendar</keyword> (first implemented by Julius Caesar in 46 BC) kick off on the same day – January 1. The Romans originally dedicated the first day of the year to Janus, the god of gates, doors and beginnings, and January, the first month of the year, was named after him. Later on, most nations in Western Europe officially started the New Year from January 1. The UK was a late adopter, though, and observed New Year’s Day on <keyword id="47282" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="march">March</keyword> 25, popularly known as Lady Day since it celebrated Virgin Mary and the Feast of the Annunciation. This practice stayed in England up to 1752. 
 Closer home, we have many time-reckoning systems but the most significant among them is the <keyword id="1998432" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sakabda">Sakabda</keyword> or the <keyword id="1998433" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Saka-calendar">Saka calendar</keyword>. It was introduced in 78 AD, most probably by the Kushan ruler Kanishka, and was even used in other countries such as Kampuchea and Indonesia. Another one is the popular <keyword id="1998435" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bangabda">Bangabda</keyword> or the <keyword id="1282409" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bengali-calendar">Bengali Calendar</keyword>, a <keyword id="1998436" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Solar-calendar">solar calendar</keyword> started by Mughal emperor <keyword id="6363995" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Akbar">Akbar</keyword> in 1584 AD. Then there is the <keyword id="1998437" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Hijri-New-Year">Hijri New Year</keyword>, also known as the <keyword id="1926173" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Islamic-new-year">Islamic New Year</keyword>, which started in 610 AD when <keyword id="6358086" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Prophet-Muhammad">Prophet Muhammad</keyword> migrated from Mecca to <keyword id="89362" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Medina">Medina</keyword>. 
 With so many calendars around and so many regional New Year’s Days to celebrate, it’s time to soak in the traditional rituals once more, mostly observed during the months of <keyword id="368788" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Chaitra">Chaitra</keyword> and <keyword id="1998439" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Baishakh">Baishakh</keyword> (March-April). Here’s a quick look at the key events. 
 
 
 
<keyword id="4349969" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Navreh">Navreh</keyword> – Kashmir: Let us start with Navreh, the New Year’s Day in the <keyword id="911185" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Lunar-calendar">lunar calendar</keyword> and observed on the <keyword id="1998440" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Shukla-Pratipada">Shukla Pratipada</keyword> (first day of the waxing moon) in the month of Chaitra (March-April). It is the <keyword id="1998441" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Oldest-New-Year-celebration">oldest New Year celebration</keyword>, and finds mention in historical works such as Nilamat Purana, <keyword id="1998443" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kalhana">Kalhana</keyword>’s <keyword id="1998442" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rajtarangini">Rajtarangini</keyword> and Persian scholar <keyword id="1792427" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Al-Biruni">Al-Biruni</keyword>’s writing. Each household prepares the ‘<keyword id="1998444" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Holi-thali">holi thali</keyword>’ with great care, containing food, flower and other essentials, and it is viewed at the dawn of Navreh while family members pray for <keyword id="6383453" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Wealth">wealth</keyword>, knowledge and <keyword id="23119" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="good-luck">good luck</keyword>. From this day, <keyword id="1998445" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Nav-Durga-Puja">Nav Durga Puja</keyword> or <keyword id="31525" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Navratra">Navratra</keyword> also begins in Kashmir and continues for 9 days. 
 
<keyword id="1296432" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Chaitti">Chaitti</keyword> – <keyword id="6358126" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Himachal-Pradesh">Himachal Pradesh</keyword>: In this hill state, the New Year’s Day is celebrated on the first day of Chaitra according to the <keyword id="1998446" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Vikrami-calendar">Vikrami calendar</keyword> and festivals such as <keyword id="48284" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="navratri">Navratri</keyword> and <keyword id="1998448" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ralli-Puja">Ralli Puja</keyword> are held throughout the month in honour of Goddess Durga/Bhagwati. The month-long Ralli Puja ends in the marriage of Lord Shiva and the goddess as spinsters seek blessings of the divine duo for a spouse like Lord Shiva. 
 
<keyword id="42862" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ugadi">Ugadi</keyword> – <keyword id="37102" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Andhra-Pradesh">Andhra Pradesh</keyword> &amp; <keyword id="6354780" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="Karnataka">Karnataka</keyword>: It is celebrated on the same day as Navreh, in the month of Chaitra, and marks the beginning of the South Indian lunar year. People of these southern states believe that Lord Brahma began the creation of the universe on this auspicious day. Houses are decorated with mango leaves and <keyword id="202308" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rangoli">rangoli</keyword> designs; Panchanga or the <keyword id="1998452" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Religious-almanac">religious almanac</keyword> is recited and puja offerings are made for a prosperous New Year. Ugadi <keyword id="758269" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="pachadi">pachadi</keyword>, the traditional dish of six flavours made of <keyword id="6441002" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="neem">neem</keyword>, <keyword id="137842" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="jaggery">jaggery</keyword> &amp; banana, salt, green chilli/pepper, tamarind juice and unripe mango, is also relished on this occasion to acknowledge six different aspects of life. 
 
<keyword id="608876" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Gudhi-Padva">Gudhi Padva</keyword> – <keyword id="13126" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Maharashtra">Maharashtra</keyword> &amp; <keyword id="826" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Goa">Goa</keyword>: Observed on the same day as Navreh and Ugadi (Chaitra Shukla Pratipada), the New Year festivities in these states celebrate the bounty of Nature. Houses are decked up with rangoli and colourful gudhi – a bright-hued, embellished silk banner tied to a decorated <keyword id="1808323" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="bamboo-pole">bamboo pole</keyword> and an upside down brass/silver pot fitted on the top. A day after Gudhi Padva, <keyword id="127745" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Cheti-Chand">Cheti Chand</keyword> or the <keyword id="610532" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sindhi-New-Year">Sindhi New Year</keyword> is observed to celebrate the birth anniversary of <keyword id="1998458" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ishtadeva-Uderolal">Ishtadeva Uderolal</keyword> or <keyword id="987886" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Jhulelal">Jhulelal</keyword>, the patron saint of the Sindhis. Lord Varuna, the water god, is also worshipped on this day, followed by <keyword id="6771793" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="feasting">feasting</keyword> and <keyword id="240265" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="devotional-music">devotional music</keyword>. 
 
Varuda Pirappu/Puthandu – <keyword id="20154" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="tamil-nadu">Tamil Nadu</keyword>: Held in mid-April, the <keyword id="6407830" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Tamil-New-Year">Tamil New Year</keyword>’s Day is celebrated on the first day of Chithirai, which is the first month of the traditional <keyword id="525554" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Tamil-calendar">Tamil calendar</keyword>. Just like Navreh, the day begins with <keyword id="1998464" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Auspicious-sighting">auspicious sighting</keyword> or <keyword id="1009356" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="kanni">Kanni</keyword>, as people <keyword id="1873" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Worship">worship</keyword> <keyword id="13726" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="rice">rice</keyword> &amp; farm products, <keyword id="119992" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="precious-metals">precious metals</keyword> and <keyword id="1246513" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="new-clothes">new clothes</keyword>. Ritualistic patterns called kolams are drawn; traditional lamps or kuthu vilakkus are lighted and placed in the centre, and brass bowls known as niraikudums are filled with water to usher in <keyword id="73094" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="prosperity">prosperity</keyword> and <keyword id="800742" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="fulfillment">fulfillment</keyword>. It is followed by the <keyword id="1998469" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Almanac-worship">almanac worship</keyword> called <keyword id="1998471" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Panchanga-Puja">Panchanga Puja</keyword>. And the festive meal features pachadi, fruits and payasam or dessert. 
 
<keyword id="345699" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Vishu">Vishu</keyword> – <keyword id="28504" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kerala">Kerala</keyword>: Vishu is the <keyword id="1010370" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Malayalam-New-Year">Malayalam New Year</keyword>’s Day, observed in Kerala on the first day of the Malayalam month of Medam. As in other South Indian states, auspicious sighting and other rituals are observed as part of the celebration; <keyword id="51941" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="firecrackers">firecrackers</keyword> are burst and an elaborate <keyword id="1998461" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Festive-lunch">festive lunch</keyword> called <keyword id="1998473" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sadya">sadya</keyword> is served. 
 
 
 
<keyword id="1334751" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Poila-Baishakh">Poila Baishakh</keyword> – <keyword id="6357783" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="West-Bengal">West Bengal</keyword>: The Bengali New Year’s Day is celebrated in the month of Baishakh (mostly on <keyword id="6364510" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="april">April</keyword> 14). Also known as <keyword id="989326" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Naba-Barsha">Naba Barsha</keyword>, <keyword id="27928" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Lord-Ganesha">Lord Ganesha</keyword> and <keyword id="462664" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Goddess-Lakshmi">Goddess Lakshmi</keyword>, deities of wealth, are worshipped on this day while businesses open fresh ledgers known as <keyword id="1998474" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Haal-Khata">Haal Khata</keyword>. Feasting, festivities and <keyword id="6409104" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="cultural-programmes">cultural programmes</keyword> are the main attractions here. <keyword id="1998475" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Maithili-New-Year">Maithili New Year</keyword> <keyword id="1998426" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Juri-Sheetal">Juri Sheetal</keyword> is also celebrated on this day. 
 
<keyword id="1998425" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Maha-Vishuva-Sankranti">Maha Vishuva Sankranti</keyword> – <keyword id="6357961" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Odisha">Odisha</keyword>: In neighbouring Odisha, the New Year’s Day is also known as <keyword id="1998476" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Pana-Sankranit">Pana Sankranit</keyword> or <keyword id="1998424" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Jala-Sankranti">Jala Sankranti</keyword> or <keyword id="1998427" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Mesha-Sankranti">Mesha Sankranti</keyword> that marks the beginning of a year in the solar calendar. Traditionally held on the first day of Baishakh (mid-April), a sweet drink called <keyword id="1998477" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Pana">Pana</keyword> is made using fruits, card, milk, water and sugar/jaggery and bestowed as <keyword id="1998478" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Puja-offering">puja offering</keyword>. People also drink Pana and water is offered to all, even to birds and animals, for a month. Throughout this period, <keyword id="1998479" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Goddess-Hingula">Goddess Hingula</keyword> is worshipped for driving the evil away. Devotees often keep fast and perform penances as part of the rituals. 
 
Rongali/Bohag Bihu – <keyword id="6354915" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Assam">Assam</keyword>: Held in the month of Baishakh (mid-April), this weeklong colourful and vibrant festival not only marks the beginning of a year in the solar calendar, but also heralds the new agricultural season. As in all other states, pujas are offered to ensure a prosperous year ahead; <keyword id="974604" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="festive-food">festive food</keyword> such as pitha and laru is made and shared, and young people get together to choose their life partners. Fairs are held; games are played, and the traditional <keyword id="1998481" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bihu-songs">Bihu songs</keyword> &amp; dances make it the perfect season for jollity and merriment. 
 
<keyword id="1998480" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Cheiraoba">Cheiraoba</keyword> – <keyword id="6359754" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Manipur">Manipur</keyword>: Moving further north-east, one gets to celebrate the Manipuri New Year Sajibu Cheiraoba in the month of April. Puja offerings, delicious food and festivities mark this occasion as well. In addition, locals climb the nearest hill tops, thus aspiring to rise to great heights in real life. 
 
Baisakhi/Vaisakhi – <keyword id="6354953" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Punjab">Punjab</keyword>: Traditionally a <keyword id="404010" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="harvest-festival">harvest festival</keyword>, the <keyword id="1011009" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Punjabi-New-Year">Punjabi New Year</keyword>’s Day is held on April 13/14 (the first day of the second month of the year, according to the Nanakshahi Calendar). It is a significant day for the <keyword id="81001" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sikh-community">Sikh community</keyword> as well since they celebrate the day in honor of the 10th guru, <keyword id="138545" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Guru-Gobind-Singh">Guru Gobind Singh</keyword>, who did away with the <keyword id="6434481" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Caste-System">caste system</keyword>. Otherwise, fun, food and <keyword id="1998485" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Country-dances">country dances</keyword> like <keyword id="6920" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bhangra">Bhangra</keyword> and <keyword id="465865" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="giddha">Giddha</keyword>, keeping time with the beats of dhols and drums, mark this occasion. 
 
<keyword id="585610" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bestu-Varas">Bestu Varas</keyword> – <keyword id="6354766" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Gujarat">Gujarat</keyword>: In certain parts of northern and western India, Diwali heralds the New Year and Gujarat is one of them. Bestu Varas is held a day after the Festival of Lights, in the month of <keyword id="6376330" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kartik">Kartik</keyword> (October-November) and houses are splendidly decked up with <keyword id="5823" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Flowers">flowers</keyword>, rangoli and torans (door hangings). Pujas are offered; New Year <keyword id="54214" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Fireworks">fireworks</keyword> are everywhere and gifts are generously exchanged. And one must not forget the festive food either, especially the delectable and traditional snacks of Gujarat such as <keyword id="107294" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="farsan">farsan</keyword>. 
 
Images: Wikipedia

New Year Festivities
Not Over Yet; Here Is How India
Celebrates

India continues to be thronged by foreign tourists every month. According to the latest statistics by the <keyword id="62889" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ministry-of-tourism">Ministry of Tourism</keyword>, India recorded 6.56 lakh foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) in October 2014 over 5.98 lakh and 5.56 lakh in October 2013 and October 2012 respectively. 
	 
	“There has been a growth of 9.6% in October 2014 over October 2013 as compared to a growth of 7.5% registered in October 2013 over October 2012,” stated a report by the ministry. 
	 The ministry also noted that nearly 58.35 lakh foreign tourists had arrived between January and October this year, registering a growth of 7.8% over the same period in 2013 (54.12 lakh <keyword id="6381659" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="fta">FTA</keyword>). 
	 
	Interestingly, while the US and UK continued to be one of the top source countries for India, some of some of the other countries that ranked high on the list include Bangladesh, Srilanka among other. “…The top 15 source countries was highest from Bangladesh (14.15%), followed by USA (12.55%), UK (10.95%), Sri Lanka (3.73%), Russia (3.64%), Canada (3.64%), Germany (3.57%), France (3.45%), Malaysia (3.09%), Japan (3.06%), Australia (3.05%), Malaysia (2.66%), China (2.23%), Pakistan (1.86%), Thailand (1.81%) and Nepal (1.79%),” stated the report. 
	 
	In terms of Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEEs) from tourism, India earned Rs 9,847 crore or $1.604 billion in the last month itself as compared to Rs 8,645 crore ($1.404 billion) in October 2013 and Rs 8,154 crore ($1.538 billion billion) in October 2012. 
	India recorded a growth of 13.9% in FEEs in rupee terms in October 2014 over October 2013, which had registered 6% growth over October 2012. While the growth rate in FEEs in US$ terms in October 2014 over October 2013 was growth of 14.2% against the negative growth of 8.7% in October 2013 over October 2012. 
	 
	 “The FEE from tourism in rupee terms during January-October 2014 were Rs 96,007 crore with a growth of 12.9%, as compared to the FEE of Rs 85,014 crore with a growth of 14.6% during January-October 2013 over the corresponding period of 2012. FEE from tourism in terms of $ during January- October 2014 were US$ 15.790 billion with a growth of 6.6%, as compared to $ 14.806 billion with a growth of 5.5% during January- October 2013 over the corresponding period of 2012”, noted the ministry in its report. 
	 Industry players have attributed the rising trend to the fact that foreign tourists prefer visiting the country especially in the month of October as the festive season has started. “There is often a surge in the FTAs during this time. Indian festivals are colourful, which is an important attraction. The month started with <keyword id="6357908" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Durga-puja">Durga Puja</keyword> followed by Dusherra, Onam and <keyword id="188" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="20" keywordseo="Diwali">Diwali</keyword>. It's been a month of festivals and tourists are intrigued by the culture,” said a tour operator who requested anonymity. 
	 
	However, he added that most of the FTA would not have converted into any monetary benefits especially for the hotel industry since a large portion of these FTAs include NRIs. “Indians living abroad often visit home during Diwali. They comprise a considerable chunk of the FTA recorded by the country”, the operator noted.

Foreign
Tourist Arrival In India Surges In October

<ul><li>Improved customer sentiment and competitive pricing are expected to play crucial roles in driving vehicle sales. </li><li>The two-wheeler segment has seen a demand boost, especially in rural areas, thanks to attractive promotions. </li><li>The <keyword id="762866" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="passenger-vehicle" source="Orion">passenger vehicle</keyword> (PV) category has enjoyed a resurgence with improved vehicle availability and the introduction of new models. </li></ul>As the festive season is upon us, there is a sense of eager anticipation and excitement that is sweeping through the automotive industry. In the two-wheeler (2W) segment, while the initial part of the month might be relatively quiet due to the observance of the Shraddh period, upcoming festivals like Durga Puja and Navratri are poised to inject a renewed energy into the sales environment, as per Vehicle Retail Data for Sep 2023 released by the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA). The uptick in demand is supported by improved customer sentiment and competitive pricing strategies, both of which are expected to play a crucial role in driving sales. Additionally, the introduction of new models into the market is set to further enhance the overall optimism. In the passenger vehicle (PV) sector, the market is also poised to witness a sales boost during the festive season. This is fueled by the launch of new products, improved availability of popular models, and the continued success of recently introduced vehicles. Similarly, in the <keyword id="47608" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="commercial-vehicle" source="Orion">commercial vehicle</keyword> (CV) sector, the conclusion of the monsoon season brings with it the prospect of a resurgence in infrastructure projects and the transportation of essential goods. This anticipated increase in demand is expected to strengthen the market. The availability of a wider range of vehicles and attractive financing options is likely to facilitate bulk purchases, adding to the positive outlook in this segment. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Growth recorded across segments" comment="Subhead" text="Growth recorded across segments">Growth recorded across segments</cmsannotation> Analysing the data when compared to the same period a year before, one sees broad-based growth across segments – In September, 2W sales increased by 22%, 3W surged by 49%, PV grew by 19%, and CV by 5%. Tractors sales, however, declined by -10%. Compared to pre-COVID benchmarks, the sector achieved a robust 14% increase, with the 2W category recording positive growth (2%) for the first time. Says Manish Raj Singhania, president, FADA, "September's Auto Retail celebrated a 20% year-on- year (Y-o-Y) leap, continuing the momentum from the previous month while marking a 3.5% month-on-month (M-o-M) increase, seamlessly transitioning into the festive period’s sweet spot set to unfold over the next 42 days.” <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Two wheeler sales hit record high" comment="Subhead" text="Two wheeler sales hit record high">Two wheeler sales hit record high</cmsannotation> Three-wheeler sales hit a new high in September, reaching 102,426 units, showing a 49% Y-o-Y and 3% M-o-M increase, surpassing the previous record set in August 2023 at 99,907 units. The two-wheeler (2W) sector saw a boost in demand as the festive season approached, thanks to new models and attractive promotions, especially in rural areas. This led to increased customer traffic and positive market sentiment, supported by better stock availability and the successful launch of entry-level products. The passenger vehicle (PV) category enjoyed a resurgence with improved vehicle availability and the introduction of new models. There was consistent demand for luxury cars and SUVs, supported by pending bookings and promising product launches, setting the stage for potential growth in the upcoming festive season. In September 2023, the commercial vehicle (CV) segment remained strong, driven by demand in coal, cement, and general market load sectors. The passenger carrier segment also experienced growth, attributed to government infrastructure investments and improved market sentiment post-COVID-19.

With monsoon worries gone, auto sector bets on stellar festive revival

The hospitals across West Bengal, both public and private, are overflowing with <keyword id="6360092" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="dengue" source="Orion">dengue</keyword> patients. According to an official in the state health department, 800-900 cases are being reported on an average daily. This could send West Bengal to the top of the list among the states in the country where dengue cases have been reported, in just over a month. According to the figures released by the National Center for Vector Borne Diseases Control (NVBDCP), West Bengal had reported only 239 cases till August 31. In the 40-odd days since, the number of cases in the state has surpassed 20,000, the state health department admits. Apart from Kolkata, most cases are from districts like North 24-Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly, Murshidabad, Siliguri and Darjeeling. "Lack of proper sanitation, clogged drainage systems, accumulation of rain water due to unplanned urbanisation are some of the reasons behind this spurt. There has certainly been some negligence on the part of civic bodies entrusted with monitoring the situation and combating the threat. Sufficient intervention was not carried out and efforts weren't made to prevent the accumulation of water near human settlements. The presence of cattle sheds, encroachments and the like in urban and semi-urban areas added to the mess," the official in the state health department said. There was hardly any activity by the civic bodies over the last fortnight due to Durga Puja celebrations across the state. State government offices -- including civic bodies -- have remained closed since October 1 and will open from Monday. Health officials hope that measures will be taken on a war-footing thereafter to prevent further spread as hospitals have started running out of space, despite opening temporary wards for the dengue patients. West Bengal's record hasn't been too good, so far as combating the disease is concerned. In 2015, it recorded fourth highest figures after Delhi, Punjab and Haryana. In 2016 and 2017, West Bengal was at the top of the list. No records were available for the next two years from the state. In 2020, West Bengal was again in second position after Punjab. Doctors say that more than the figures, people's suffering is what matters. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/gambian-cough-syrup-issue-384-people-arrested-after-462-samples-found-spurious/articleshow/94737827.cms" style="">Gambian cough syrup issue: 384 people arrested after 462 samples found spurious</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/india-reports-2756-fresh-covid-cases-21-deaths/articleshow/94737352.cms" style="">India reports 2,756 fresh Covid cases, 21 deaths</a>

You Searched For "durga puja ads" and got 11 results

Shoppers Stop launches an ad film for the homecoming of Maa Durga with Swastika Dutta

BI India Partner

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

BI India Partner

Saif Ali Khan's House of Pataudi and Myntra launch their Durga Pujo campaign

BI India Partner

This year's festive sale in India expected to reach Rs 7.9 billion, a 3X growth over 2020: Report

BI India Partner

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

Samarpita Banerjee

Raymond is spending millions on SAP, Microsoft, PwC, and Accenture to rewire the company

Sriram

Samarpita

When Xiaomi's Managing Director Manu Kumar Jain danced, dabbed and rapped to the tune of Baba Sehgal

BI India Partner

New Year Festivities Not Over Yet; Here Is How India Celebrates

Sanghamitra Mandal

Foreign Tourist Arrival In India Surges In October

Purba Das

With monsoon worries gone, auto sector bets on stellar festive revival

Dengue cases in Bengal shot up by 20,000 in a month

IANS

Popular Keywords

Buying Guides