Mumbai: Actress Pooja Hedge has resumed shooting for the Salman Khan-starrer 'Kabhi Eid Kabhi Diwali' as she has come back from her trip from the 75th Cannes Film Festival. Pooja was in the middle of the film's first schedule when she was invited to represent India at the annual festival. With a commendable fan base across cinema of various languages, Pooja has sparked chemistry with the top stars of the industry right from NTR Jr, Mahesh Babu, Allu Arjun, Prabhas, Thalapathy Vijay, and Ram Charan.Details about her role and the film are still under wraps. 'Kabhi Eid Kabhi Diwali' is currently eyeing a year-end release. Pooja will also be seen in 'Cirkus' opposite Ranveer Singh and 'SSMB28' opposite Mahesh Babu.—IANS

Actress Pooja Hedge has resumed shooting for the Salman Khan-starrer 'Kabhi Eid Kabhi Diwali' as she has come back from her trip from the 75th Cannes Film Festival. Pooja was in the middle of the film's first schedule when she was invited to represent India at the annual festival.

Pooja Hedge resumes 'Kabhi Eid Kabhi Diwali' shoot post Cannes debut

Chennai: Is it going to be a sparkling bright or dark Diwali is the question that is being asked by the fireworks industry for the past couple of years.
With Diwali this year to be celebrated next month - and virtually without any curbs and the Covid pandemic wanes, the question gains more importance.
Production of fireworks in Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu's Virudhunagar district, is yet to pick up even as there is just a month to go for the festival of lights, industry officials said.
The Supreme Court had banned the use of barium in 2018 in making firecrackers and it was reconfirmed in 2021, putting the fireworks industry in Sivakasi - the firecrackers hub of the country with around three lakh workers directly employed in around 1,000 organised units there - in a tight spot, they said.
"The case is still pending in the Supreme Court. The court had earlier said the final hearing will be in June 2022. But that has not happened," Sivakasi Fireworks Manufacturers Association (SFMA) Vice President A. Murali told IANS.
"The ban of barium is baseless, imposed without any scientific study being conducted on the possible hazardous impact with regards to the pollution."
"We are being targeted because of the hue and cry of the environmentalists in the name of pollution, although other sectors as well are using barium in various production operations. I should say that we are the weaker opponent and are being made scapegoats," Murali contended. After the SC had reconfirmed the ban in 2021, many of the stakeholders have impleaded in the case seeking lifting of the ban.
Murali said, barium is one the main oxidisers for most of the fireworks and without it, the simple sparklers cannot be made.
"After the ban, my factories are running at 50 per cent capacity and reduced production by 50 to 60 per cent which obviously impacted the business. For instance, I have a group of companies which employs 450 to 500 workers and after the ban I could employ 200 people only," he said.
The production value of firecracker factories in Sivakasi is about Rs 2,500 crore and the retail sales value may be about Rs 6,000 crore.
For a long time, the fireworks industry has been a target in different forms.
First, the manufacturers were targeted for child labour and it was followed up with the noise pollution charge. With the noise pollution issue getting resolved with the laying down of the norms, the industry is being charged with polluting the air.
"The next charge may be that the brightness emitted by the firecrackers are injurious to the human eyes," claimed an industry player.
The industry players and common people are of the view that Diwali is being targeted by vested interests.
Manufacturers say that Sivakasi would have turned into a ghost city long back if firecrackers were the reason for air pollution in Delhi.
On an average, the industry players daily burst around Rs 1,00,000 worth of crackers for testing purposes, but people breathe good air and there are different kinds of birds in Sivakasi, industry officials had told IANS.
Sivakasi accounts for nearly 90 per cent of the country's firecracker production, and has 1,070 firecracker units located in and around the city.
About 300,000 workers are directly employed whereas another 500,000 workers are in the allied sectors.
"The automobile industry was given a long buffer time to shift over to the BS VI emission norms. But the fireworks industry was not given any norms or time to change over," a manufacturer had told IANS.
Industry officials have been questioning the efficacy of the formulation provided by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) to make green crackers.
As per Murali and other industry officials, the NEERI claims that using its formulation in firecracker manufacturing, the emission levels will go down by 30 per cent but this "is not scientific".—IANS

Is it going to be a sparkling bright or dark Diwali is the question that is being asked by the fireworks industry for the past couple of years.

Sparkling Bright Or A Dark Diwali? Fireworks Industry In Suspense

New Delhi: The ongoing Diwali festival season is all set to bring cheers for the trading community of the country as it is expected that there will be fresh infusion of about Rs 2.5 lakh crore in the markets by way of shopping and sale of goods and usage of services, said the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT).
This substantial inflow of money is also expected to liberate the business community from financial crunch.
After two years, the festival of lights will be celebrated with no Covid restrictions which has prompted consumers to throng commercial markets in every city of the country for making purchases for Diwali.
CAIT said the hike in DA by the Centre of 4 per cent on October 8 and another announcement of the government about Productivity-Linked Bonus (PLB) equivalent to 78 days of wages to non gazetted railway employees for financial year 2021-22 is going to help the consumers in their spending during the festive season.
It will certainly trigger the market and the economy. These two decisions of the government will pump thousands of crores of rupees into the economy.
The increasing urbanisation will boost demand for vehicles &amp; real estate and will increase economic activity in urban areas. The bumper agriculture crop is expected to bring money in rural India and it is expected that much of the liquidity accrued to these sectors will in turn boost the festivity sales.
CAIT said that as per an estimate, the Diwali festivity business is expected to register a whopping turnover of more than Rs. 1.5 lakh crore and more than Rs 1 lakh crore is expected to be incurred on travel and other services.
As per a report released by FADA recently, overall retails of Automobiles increased by a massive 57 per cent during the period of Navratri.
All categories also showed extremely high growth with 2W, 3W, CV, PV and Tractors increasing by 52 per cent, 115 per cent, 48 per cent, 70 per cent and 58 per cent, respectively.
These figures show expected robust business during Diwali festivity. As per an estimate about 5 crore gifts from small to high range of all sorts of items are being exchanged during the festival period which does form a substantial contribution to the Diwali sales.
Such growth is attributed to the sale of Indian products having no influence of any Chinese product.
Indian traders and consumers are going to create a loss of about 60 thousand crores of rupees business to China which earlier China was exporting to India pertaining to Diwali sales.
The change in consumer behaviour for not opting for Chinese goods post Galwan incident has contributed a lot in sales promotion of Indian products, CAIT said.&nbsp;
—IANS

The ongoing Diwali festival season is all set to bring cheers for the trading community of the country as it is expected that there will be fresh infusion of about Rs 2.5 lakh crore in the markets by way of shopping and sale of goods and usage of services, said the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT).

 Bumper Diwali spending of Rs 2.5 lakh crore expected

Lucknow (The Hawk): The Uttar Pradesh government approved an increase in the dearness allowance and dearness relief for its employees and retirees from 34% to 38% starting on July 1. This was done in advance of Diwali.
The Chief Minister's office announced in a tweet on Monday at midnight that Yogi Adityanath, the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, had decided to raise the rate of dearness allowance and dearness relief from the current 34% to 38% starting on July 1, 2022, "keeping in mind the wider interest of the state employees and pensioners/family pensioners."
More information is awaited.
(Inputs from Agencies)

The Uttar Pradesh government approved an increase in the dearness allowance and dearness relief for its employees and retirees from 34% to 38% starting on July 1. This was done in advance of Diwali.

The UP government would increase employee deductions to 38% as of July 1, 2022

Chandigarh (The Hawk): Enactus team of Panjab University took the festive spirit of Diwali a step further by celebrating the festivities with the specially abled at Samarth, a residential home for these children in Sector-15, Chandigarh. The team has been celebrating the festival of lights with these children of lesser God since last many years as these special children are the driving force for the Enactus members providing them with immense courage and helping them understand that nothing in life is unachievable, informed Prof. Seema Kapoor, Faculty advisor of Enactus team.
The event was attended by around 110 people including specially abled, staff of Samarth and Enactus members. It started with a diya lighting ceremony with the lighting of 150 diyas for the specially abled children around the world to celebrate their courage, wisdom and above all the carpe-diem energy. The event was graced with some mesmerizing dance performances to enhance the festive spirit. It was immensely heart-warming to see the young souls dance and jump to the rhythm of songs, said Tushar Jhanwar, Gaurav Mishra and Ainesh, Vice Presidents of Enactus team. Marketing head, Aditya Kumar, talked about how these celebrations have been a source of happiness for all including potters who work in Maloya under project Dhra, whose creative hands brought to life these diyas and many other clay products. The event also marked the connection of our mother Earth to this festive season as these diyas made by the potter community symbolizes how the true spirit of Diwali lies with the connection to mother earth and how we should persevere to save the planet by celebrating Green Diwali, said project heads, Samarth and Mridul. Clay based products are an excellent alternative to reduce the plastic burden on our planet, averred technical head, Inayat.
Mrs. Puja, General Secretary of Samarth, appreciated the efforts made by the Enactus members towards the potter community and their dedication to treating specially abled at Samarth no less than their Enactus family for the past many years. She said the feeling of happiness can be seen on the faces of the children on seeing the Enactus members as they try to put their best efforts in making their Diwali celebrations special. With refreshments served afterwards, the event ended on a happy note.
Preet Kanwal, President of team expressed heartfelt gratitude to Prof. Jagtar Singh, Dean Student Welfare, PU and other higher authorities of PU for their constant and invaluable support to the team for carrying out such social outreach activities.

 Enactus team of Panjab University took the festive spirit of Diwali a step further by celebrating the festivities with the specially abled at Samarth, a residential home for these children in Sector-15, Chandigarh. 

  Light Is The Spirit Of Togetherness—Enactus Team Of PU Celebrates Diwali Festivities With Specially Abled At Samarth

Dineshpur (The Hawk): A fair was organized on the occasion of Diwali at Six Sigma Institute of Technology College. Udham Singh Nagar ADM Jai Prakash Singh inaugurated the fair by lighting the lamp and cutting the ribbon. Children put up different types of stalls in the school premises. During this, by doing street plays, people were made aware by explaining the importance of Deepawali to remove enough darkness in the society. The fair started with Saraswati Vandana, children sold a lot of items in costumes on top of the stalls put up in the fair. During this, as the chief guest, college manager Preet Grover gave detailed information about the various equipments made by the college like tractor bikes, irrigation tools etc. The Chief Guest said that such programs should be organized in the colleges, due to which the interest of the children towards creative activities increases. Along with the dishes, the exhibition of wood art, home science, science equipment and natural related painting exhibition, besides the stall of Bangla Jhalmudi and Rasgulla remained the center of attraction. On this occasion, ADM Jai Prakash Singh, KP Rathi, Chairman Rajesh Davar, Chairman Preet Grover, Managing Director Shiv Arora, Directory Seema Arora, Jyoti Grover, Lalit Singh Bisht, Ritu Davar, Vansh Davar, Dr. Abhijit Ojha, Anubhav Batala and dozens of others be present.

A fair was organized on the occasion of Diwali at Six Sigma Institute of Technology College. Udham Singh Nagar ADM Jai Prakash Singh inaugurated the fair by lighting the lamp and cutting the ribbon.

Diwali Fair Organized At Six Sigma Institute Of Technology College

Mumbai: Three union ministers -- Piyush Goyal, Narayan Rane and Ramdas Athawale presented appointment letters to various Central government jobs at separate functions held in Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur respectively, on Saturday.
The functions came shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi kick-started the recruitment drive for 10 lakh people in the next one year with the induction of 75,000 youth on the eve of Diwali.&nbsp;
The jobs are being given directly by 38 separate Central ministries/departments, or vide UPSC, Railway Recruitment Board and State Service Commissioners, with a simplified tech-enabled, speedy recruitment process.
Goyal, Rane and Athawale handed over the recruitment letters to hundreds of selected candidates in the Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard, Indian Posts, Indian Railways, Armed Forces Medical College, CISF, RCF, MDL, ITD, CBIC, ESIC, several public sector, regional and rural banks, IIT-Bombay, BSF and other organisations.
The three Central ministers urged the new recruits to work with dedication in their new assignments to ensure fulfilling the PM's dream of a developed India in the next 25 years.
The Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi allies Congress, Nationalist Congress Party and Shiv Sena (UBT) slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Central government's decision to "wake up after eight-and-half years" with an eye on the ensuing states elections and the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Congress Chief Spokesperson Atul Londhe said that the government is making big hue and cry over the 'job jamborees' held on Saturday when the fact is that the recruitment examinations and process for most of these posts were completed over two years ago but the candidates were not hired for making political gains later.
NCP's Chief Spokesperson Mahesh Tapase said that compared with the 2-crore jobs promised by Modi when he took power, what is actually being offered after over 8 years is a pittance, that too with political motives.
Terming it as "another big hoax and hogwash", SS (UBT)'s Spokesperson Kishore Tiwari said for giving just 75K appointment letters, Modi has taken eight-and-half years, that too before the elections in Gujarat, Haryana and other states.
"Where are vacancies in the State and Central government with automations or outsourcing or selling off valuable public sector assets? The PM's assurance of 2 crore jobs every year for his tenure of 10 years comes to 20 crore jobs. It will take a century to fulfil his promise at the current speed. The government is fooling the masses before the state and Lok Sabha polls," Tiwari added.
Londhe said that over 22-crore youth have registered for employment on the government's Shram portal of which only 700,000 have got jobs, while the CMIE has said more than 45 crore people have given up hopes for any job opportunities.
The Congress leader also targeted Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' statement promising to create 72,000 jobs in the state, and said the (state) government is not capable of even giving 72 jobs.
Today's 'Rozgar Mela' saw the participation of union and state ministers, elected leaders and other officials in different parts of India.&nbsp;
—IANS

Three union ministers -- Piyush Goyal, Narayan Rane and Ramdas Athawale presented appointment letters to various Central government jobs at separate functions held in Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur respectively, on Saturday. The functions came shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi kick-started the recruitment drive for 10 lakh people in the next one year with the induction of 75,000 youth on the eve of Diwali.

Maha: On Diwali-eve, 800 youth get job letters; MVA slams BJP govt

Ghaziabad (The Hawk): Prominent musician Raj Mahajan celebrated his 45th Birthday on stage at Diwali Mela during performance. He performed various songs on stage. Singers Dheeraj Bhandari, Preet B and Harsha also performed on stage in Express Greens Society in Vaishali.
Ashwani Rajput (Vice President, Moxx Music Private Limited) and Raj Mahajan’s wife Deepti Mahajan planned a surprise along with co-performers and brought a cake on stage. EGAOA President Sunil Gupta also joined the cake cutting ceremony.
EGAOA President Sunil Gupta said, “We are working with full energy and we are committed to make this society an idle society for others. I am happy to be a part of Raj Mahajan’s celebration.”
The crowd and the residents of the society enjoyed the singing as well as performance of the co-singers and folk dance troupe. As reported, the event was a great success which created history at Express Greens Society. For your information, “Raj Mahajan name was rumored in headlines as was one of the most probable contestants in Bigg Boss 10”. He has been host of his nationally broadcasted TV Show “Music Masti with Raj Mahajan”. Raj Mahajan has also started a YouTube Channel where he uploads his vlogs.

Prominent musician Raj Mahajan celebrated his 45th Birthday on stage at Diwali Mela during performance. He performed various songs on stage. Singers Dheeraj Bhandari, Preet B and Harsha also performed on stage in Express Greens Society in Vaishali.

Raj Mahajan Celebrated His 45th Birthday On Stage At Diwali Mela During Singing Performance At Express Greens Society

Dehradun (The Hawk): In a recently held UPWWA Diwali Mela at Police Line Dehradun startups by wives of police personnel were appreciated by state Governor.&nbsp;
President UPWWA Mrs. Abha Pal said, "Three start ups by wives of police personnel were lauded by the governor of Uttarakhand Lt General. Gurmit Singh. Jyoti Gusain runs a beauty parlour and is training many young girls of police line in personal grooming under UPWWA. Sunita Devi sells home made pickles and Sunita Bhigana is running chow mein stall, selling mouth watering dishes. "
These start up ventures under UPWWA have kindled a spark in our police line and is a big success, said commandant 40 PAC Dadan Pal. "Every one wishes to start their own venture and earn some money and good will," He said.&nbsp;

In a recently held UPWWA Diwali Mela at Police Line Dehradun  startups by wives of police personnel were appreciated by state Governor. 

In A Recently Held UPWWA Diwali Mela At Police Line Dehradun

New Delhi (The Hawk): The President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu has sent greetings to her fellow citizens on the eve of Diwali.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
In a message, the President has said, “On the auspicious occasion of Diwali, I extend my warm greetings and best wishes to all the fellow citizens living in India and abroad.&nbsp;
Diwali is a festival of happiness and joy. On the day of Diwali, people worship Goddess Lakshmi in their homes and pray for everyone's happiness and prosperity. The festival of Diwali is also an occasion to further strengthen the spirit of mutual cooperation and harmony. The light of Diwali symbolizes the knowledge that dispels all the darkness of our inner and outer ignorance.&nbsp;
May energy &amp; light spread in our lives like a Diya. May the spirit of helping the underprivileged grow deep in the minds of people and let us all continue our tradition of 'Subh' and 'Labh'”.&nbsp;

The President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu has sent greetings to her fellow citizens on the eve of Diwali.        

President Of India’s Greetings On The Eve Of Diwali

Chandigarh (The Hawk): On the auspicious occasion of Diwali and Dhanteras, NSS Units of Panjab University and Boys Hostel 4 organized the "Festival of Smiles" event at Aashiana (Specialized Adoption Agency) and Snehalaya for Girls (Children's Home), Sector 15, Chandigarh to greet the children and to deliver the collection of books, stationery, fruits, sweets, bakery items etc. Dr. Shankar Sehgal ,Programme Officer from UIET and Dr. Naveen Kumar, warden, BH-4 shared the genesis and purpose of today’s visit among volunteers and encouraged them to participate for such selfless service with more enthusiasm.&nbsp;
NSS Team consisting of Dr. Shankar Sehgal (UIET), Dr. Naveen Kumar (UIAMS), Dr. Richa Sharma (USOL), and Dr. Anuj Kumar (DCSA) along with the student volunteers Shiva Goel, Arsh, Ganga Batra, and Tryammbak Kansal interacted with the children and wished them Happy Diwali greetings and encouraged them to follow the right path for the prosperity of the nation. Children also reciprocated the greetings and enjoyed as well as performed dance and songs. The event successfully captured the essence of Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas and allowed NSS volunteers to serve the society which goes by the motto of NSS i.e. Not Me But You.

On the auspicious occasion of Diwali and Dhanteras, NSS Units of Panjab University and Boys Hostel 4 organized the "Festival of Smiles" event at Aashiana (Specialized Adoption Agency) and Snehalaya for Girls (Children's Home), Sector 15, Chandigarh to greet the children and to deliver the collection of books, stationery, fruits, sweets, bakery items etc.

NSS Panjab University Celebrtaes Diwali

Dehradun: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday visited and interacted with orphans and poor children during a Diwali Milan program in Dehradun.
While speaking to the media, CM Dhami said, "I have come to meet these orphan children on the occasion of Diwali. The children are being nurtured well. I pray that they grow well in their lives and that we are able to help them in future. I wish them a happy Diwali. I am pleased to meet these children."
Earlier on Sunday, the Chief Minister along with soldiers participated in the Diwali Milan program in Dehradun.
"Diwali festival is festival of lights, happiness and prosperity. I congratulate everyone, I pray to Lord Ram and Maa Lakshmi for the blessings of Maa Lakshmi be to on everyone and our state to be included in the best state of India," said Dhami.
Diwali is a festival of lights and one of the major festivals celebrated all over India.
Diwali symbolizes the spiritual "victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance."
The festival of lights marks Lord Ram's return to Ayodhya after a 14-year exile.
People around the country celebrate the occasion in special ways, particularly by drawing rangolis, hosting Diwali parties at home, and cooking delectable foods and sweets.
Hindu mythology states that Lord Ram returned to Ayodhya on Diwali after slaying Ravana and spending 14 years in exile. People make wishes for health, wealth, and prosperity to the gods Lakshmi, Ganesh, and Kubera as part of the festival of lights. With Dhanteras or Dhan Trayodashi as the first day and Bhai Dooj as the last, Diwali festivities last for five days. Govatsa Dwadashi signifies the beginning of Diwali in Maharashtra one day earlier. The festivities began on October 21 in Maharashtra. Drik Panchang predicts that Diwali's five days began on October 22 and will end on October 25.
This festival is also widely associated with Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity. —ANI

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday visited and interacted with orphans and poor children during a Diwali Milan program in Dehradun.

CM Dhami Participates In Diwali Milan Programme With Orphans, Poor Children

Washington: White House on Monday hosted the biggest Diwali reception ever on Monday which also saw the presence of several Indian Americans from the Biden administration.
"We are honoured to host you. This is the first Diwali reception of this scale in the White House ever to be held. We have more Asian Americans than ever before in history and we want to thank you for making the Diwali celebration a joyous part of American culture," US President Joe Biden said during a reception to celebrate Diwali at the White House.
Wishing a happy Diwali to more than one billion Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and Buddhists celebrating this Festival of Lights in the United States, India, and around the world, Biden thanked the Asian American community in the US for making the Diwali celebration a joyous part of American culture. "As we host the official White House Diwali reception, we are honoured to light the diya surrounded by members of the most diverse Administration in American history--led by Vice President Kamala Harris, the first Black American and South Asian American to become Vice President."
Biden thanked for the optimism, courage, and empathy demonstrated by the incredible South Asian community all across America.
"Together, South Asian Americans reflect the soul of who we are as a nation, whether helping us emerge stronger from this pandemic, building an economy that works for everyone, or serving and protecting our communities and our country."
As the world celebrates this gathering of light, he said, "as this community has experienced too often--that there is always darkness lurking. American history has been a constant struggle between the American ideal that we are all created equal and the harsh reality that we have never fully lived up to it. By marking the victory of light over darkness, Diwali is a reminder that each of us has the power to bring light to the world, whether here in America or around the world." "With prayers, dances, fireworks, and sweets, Biden said may all who observe Diwali enjoy the chance to celebrate and connect, to feel the pride of the community, and to remember the power in the gathering of light."
Moreover, US vice-president Kamala Harris also delivered remarks from the White House on the occasion of Diwali celebrations. She said, "White House is the people's house and together our president and first lady have made this place where every American can celebrate their honour and tradition."
Tonight, Vice President Harris said, the Biden administration joins over 1 billion people around the world to light the 'Diya' and celebrate the fight for good over evil, knowledge over ignorance and light over darkness.
Moreover, First Lady Jill Biden praised the Asian American community in the US for "helping us light our way forward."
"With persistence, with faith, with love, I am grateful that today these diyas have guided you to this home. A home that belongs to all of you," the first lady said.
Diwali is an auspicious festival that symbolizes the triumph of good over evil. Spectacular lights, firecrackers, irresistible traditional sweets and exchanging gifts mark the festival.
While, the Hindus celebrate this festival to commemorate the homecoming of Lord Rama after 14 year-long years in exile and his victory over Ravana, for the people of Jain faith, this festival carries the essence of spiritual upliftment because it marks the achievement of Nirvana or Moksha by Mahavira, the last Tirthankara.
Diwali is popularly known as the "festival of lights" and is observed incessantly for five days that kicks off in late Ashwin and concludes in the early Kartika month according to the lunisolar Hindu calendar.
Each day of the festival is associated with six different principal stories. In North India, worshipping of Lord Ganesha and Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, is an important part of Diwali that signifies the welcoming of prosperity and wealth. —ANI

White House on Monday hosted the biggest Diwali reception ever on Monday which also saw the presence of several Indian Americans from the Biden administration.

White House Hosts Biggest Diwali Reception Ever

New Delhi (The Hawk): Less respiratory illnesses were reported in Delhi hospitals this year compared to last year, as the national capital experienced less air pollution after Diwali.
Additionally, fewer hospital reports of burn injuries than in 2021 were made.
However, doctors cautioned that it is still too early to draw firm conclusions about the prevalence of respiratory illnesses following Diwali because patients frequently visit hospitals only as their conditions deteriorate. "Compared to the previous few years, the air quality is better now. Despite an increase in respiratory cases over the last few days, there were still about 20% fewer cases than in the previous year "said Dr. Manoj Goel, Fortis Memorial Research Institute's director of pulmonology.

Less respiratory illnesses were reported in Delhi hospitals this year compared to last year, as the national capital experienced less air pollution after Diwali

Compared to last year, Delhi hospitals are seeing fewer cases of respiratory illnesses.

Ottawa: Police in the Canadian city of Mississauga said that between 400 and 500 people clashed on Diwali night, during which one side waved the Indian Tricolour while some others held Khalistani banners, media reports said.
In a tweet, the Peel Regional Police said officers received reports of a fight in the area of Goreway and Etude drives at around 9.41 p.m. on Monday, reports Global News.
The police said they received reports that the fight had broken out at a local parking lot, adding that paramedics assessed one male patient at the scene. In its latest update on Tuesday, the police said there was a "large gathering of people" who were "yelling" and "screaming", but there was "no large fight."
A video of the incident has gone viral on social media, according to the Mississauga-based online news outlet Insauga.
The footage shows two large crowds at a Diwali celebration separated by Peel Regional Police officers as fireworks can be heard in the background. Garbage from what appears to be used fireworks litters the ground where the stand-off took place, Insauga reported. —IANS

Police in the Canadian city of Mississauga said that between 400 and 500 people clashed on Diwali night, during which one side waved the Indian Tricolour while some others held Khalistani banners, media reports said.

Indians, Khalistani Supporters Clash In Canadian City On Diwali Night

Lucknow (The Hawk): Due to the failure to provide the Diwali presents to the staff of 108 and 102 Emergency Medical Transport Services (East Uttar Pradesh) (ambulance services) despite receiving money in advance, two businesses have been charged with criminal breach of trust.
On Wednesday, Kamalakannan S., a senior official at GVK EMRI, filed a complaint that led to the case being opened at Ashiana police station.
The companies, HMF Industries Moradabad and Taj Traders Rakabganj, are accused of receiving cash for giving jackets to the staff members of the 108 ambulance services as Diwali gifts.
The goods had to be delivered to the department by October 15 in accordance with the contract.
The company had the amount cashed in the bank while keeping the department in the dark.
As many as 20,000 employees have been upset and disappointed by their actions for not receiving the Diwali gift, according to Kamalakannan.
(Inputs from Agencies)

Due to the failure to provide the Diwali presents to the staff of 108 and 102 Emergency Medical Transport Services (East Uttar Pradesh) (ambulance services) despite receiving money in advance, two businesses have been charged with criminal breach of trust.

2 UP firms fined for late Diwali gifts

London: Extending Diwali greetings to everyone, Britain's newly-appointed Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has vowed that he will do everything to build a Britain where children and grandchildren can light their diyas and look to the future with hope.
Sunak, 42, attended a Diwali reception at 10 Downing Street in London on Wednesday night, a day after making history by becoming Britain's first prime minister of Indian origin.
'Brilliant to drop into tonight's Diwali reception in No10. I will do everything I can in this job to build a Britain where our children and our grandchildren can light their Diyas and look to the future with hope,' he said in a tweet with a picture of himself attending the Diwali reception at his official residence.
Sunak, Britain's first Indian-origin prime minister, took office on Tuesday with a pledge to fix the 'mistakes' his predecessor Liz Truss made which left a blackhole in government finances and the markets in turmoil. He became the new UK prime minister after meeting King Charles III at Buckingham Palace.
Sunak on Tuesday unveiled his top team in place with key Cabinet appointments and decided to keep the new Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, in place for economic stability and brought back Indian-origin Suella Braverman as Home Secretary.
He has pledged to govern with 'integrity' and has tried to unite the Conservatives by including people from different wings of the party in his top team.
In his statement from 10 Downing Street, Sunak said that he has been elected for the mistakes of his predecessor.
"I want to pay tribute to my predecessor Liz Truss. She wasn't wrong to want to improve growth in this country. It is a noble aim and I admired her restlessness to create change but some mistakes were made, not born of bad intentions but mistakes nonetheless," he said. He said he will earn the trust of Britons and asserted that his government will have integrity, professionalism and accountability at every level.
"I stand here before you ready to lead our country into the future, to put your needs above politics, to reach out and build a government that represents the very best traditions of my party. Together we can achieve incredible things," he said.
Sunak, a former investment banker-turned-politician, is the youngest British prime minister in 210 years. He is also Britain's first Hindu prime minister.
Sunak's victory in the Tory leadership race came at the end of a dramatic few days in Westminster after Truss resigned last Thursday in the wake of a disastrous tax-cutting mini-budget and several policy U-turns. —ANI

Extending Diwali greetings to everyone, Britain's newly-appointed Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has vowed that he will do everything to build a Britain where children and grandchildren can light their diyas and look to the future with hope.

Will Build A Britain Where Our Kids Can Light Diyas: Sunak

Gurugram: Three men have been arrested for bursting firecrackers in a moving car from a box kept on top of its boot at the posh DLF area, during Diwali celebrations on Monday, the police said.
Those arrested have been identified as Nakul (26), Jatin (27) and Krishna (22). The trio was arrested from the Sikenderpur area of Gurugram on Friday.
The police, in connection to the matter, have initiated a probe after a video went viral on Thursday on social media.
The police said that the video was shot on Diwali night (October 24) and uploaded on Instagram.
"The trio has confessed their crime. The video was recorded by Krishna who, in his BMW car, was following the Hyundai Verna car driven by Jatin. Jatin later posted the video on Instagram. Both the cars and one mobile phone used in carrying out the crime have been recovered from their possession. The case is under investigation," Preet Pal Sangwan, ACP (crime) said.
A case under various sections of the IPC was filed at the DLF phase-3 police station.&nbsp;
—IANS

Three men have been arrested for bursting firecrackers in a moving car from a box kept on top of its boot at the posh DLF area, during Diwali celebrations on Monday, the police said.

 Three held for bursting firecrackers in moving car

Surat / Dehradun: Govind Dholakia, Founder &amp; Chairman of Shree Ramkrishna Exports Pvt. Ltd (SRK), a global leader in the diamond industry recently organised a 14-day all-inclusive trip to Uttarakhand for nearly 1000 staff members and their families.
SRK Gange Express- an AC special train was booked to facilitate the tour to Rishikesh from Surat. The 5th 'SRK Family Tour' to Rishikesh commenced on the auspicious day of Dhanteras, 22nd of October.
Under the leadership of Govindkaka, SRK Exports organises the trip every alternate year during the Diwali season, as they believe in strengthening the bond among employees by travelling together.
Each morning started with a rejuvenating Yogasana session followed by a Ganga samuh snan (community bath) and recitation of verses from the holy book Shrimad Bhagavad Gita by Govindkaka.
In addition to soaking in the spiritual atmosphere of Rishikesh, there were a variety of team building activities that included adventure and cultural programmes from river rafting and sports tournaments to Patanjali ashram tour, blood donation camp, motivation seminars, Ganga aarti darshan and dandiya-raas. There were also 2 free days for the employees to sight see the town with their families.
"We plan these journeys so that our entire SRK family and their leader are aligned with the same sentiment and value system. The reason I recite the Bhagavad katha is to motivate everyone to do the same," said Govindkaka. Everyone is encouraged to actively participate in the Bhagavad Gita session by asking questions to Govindkaka and also recite the verses if they wish to. As a firm believer in the preservation of the environment and with the spirit of giving back to the nature, SRKians also organised the 5th Ganga Safayi Abhiyaan (Clean Ganga Campaign) on the ghats of the holy river.
"Govindkaka treats us like his own family members and travels with us. He also ensures that our family too is a part of the holiday which makes the whole experience very memorable," remarked an SRKian.
Founded by Shri Govind Dholakia aka Govindkaka SRK is one of the world's leading diamond crafting and exporting conglomerates. Valued at more than 1.8 billion USD, SRK employs over 6,000 people and has played a pivotal role in transforming India's contribution into the global economy over the last six decades.
A purpose driven organization committed to what it calls 'PURE' trust, transparency and tenacity, SRK is galvanizing the gems and jewelry industry to prioritize ESG compliance and shed light on the urgent and necessary acceleration efforts for a zero emissions India and beyond. SRK is recognized as the most compliant company in the industry with the highest number of ISO, System &amp; Process certifications.
Additionally, more than 4.5 per cent of SRK's profits are contributed to various CSR and community welfare initiatives. Rooted in Govindkaka's lifelong pursuit of equitable opportunity, upward mobility, and universal living standards, the pioneering diamond entity holds an unwavering dedication to ensuring sustainability and human welfare remain the cornerstones of its growing empire for good.

Govind Dholakia, Founder & Chairman of Shree Ramkrishna Exports Pvt. Ltd (SRK), a global leader in the diamond industry recently organised a 14-day all-inclusive trip to Uttarakhand for nearly 1000 staff members and their families.

Diamond Baron From Surat Takes Employees On Fifth Spiritual Trip During Diwali Vacation

Washington: Several communities across the United States have expressed their approval of a bill proposed in the United States Congress that would make Diwali, the Festival of Lights, a government holiday.
After introducing the bill on Friday in the House of Representatives, Congresswoman Grace Meng held a virtual news conference to explain its significance. "Diwali is one of the most important days of the year for billions of people across the globe," she said.
If Congress passes and the President signs the Diwali Day Act, the celebration of lights will become the 12th nationally designated holiday in the United States.—Inputs from Agencies

Several communities across the United States have expressed their approval of a bill proposed in the United States Congress that would make Diwali, the Festival of Lights, a government holiday.

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