Month: October 2025

The Reliance Foundation Founder-Chairperson, Nita Ambani, celebrated Navratri at Radiance Dandiya with the renowned singer Falguni Pathak at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai.

From offering prayers to joining in the joy of garba, it was truly a night of festivity and devotion at the Jio World Convention Centre.

Nita Ambani addressed the crowd and said, “..When I was a young girl, I used to dance all nine nights of Navratri. It brings back so many beautiful, youthful memories. I have known Falguni (Pathak) for 25 years….”

Navratri, which means ‘nine nights’ in Sanskrit, is a Hindu festival celebrating Goddess Durga and her nine avatars, known collectively as Navdurga.

The Hindu festival of Durga Puja, also known as Durgotsava or Sharodotsava, is a yearly celebration that honours the Hindu goddess Durga and commemorates her victory over Mahishasur. Hindu mythology holds that the goddess comes to her earthly abode at this time to bless her devotees.

In 2025, Durga Puja begins on September 28 (Shashthi) and concludes on October 2 (Vijayadashami).Hindus observe four Navratris throughout the year, but only two- Chaitra Navratri and Shardiya Navratri — are widely celebrated, as they coincide with the changing of the seasons. In India, Navratri is celebrated in various forms and traditions.

Shardiya Navratri is a vibrant and sacred Hindu festival that spans nine nights, celebrating the divine feminine energy embodied by Goddess Durga. Observed in the lunar month of Ashwin, this festival is marked by fervent worship, elaborate rituals, and cultural performances. Each day is dedicated to a different form of the goddess, symbolising various aspects of strength, compassion, and wisdom.

Devotees engage in fasting, singing devotional songs, and participating in traditional dances, such as Garba and Dandiya, creating a joyful atmosphere. Navratri days hold great significance among Hindus, and these days are celebrated with great grandeur. (ANI)

Garima Saikia Garg, wife of late singer Zubeen Garg, on Thursday expressed confidence in the ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding her husband’s death, asserting her “full faith in the legal system”.

She appealed for patience with the legal process handling her husband’s case and said that the “investigation would reveal the truth” and those responsible would face justice.

Speaking to ANI, Garima said, “The investigation process is ongoing, and they are handling it in their own way. Therefore, we should not comment on it right now. I do not have much knowledge about it, so the law will take its own course. I have full faith that we will receive justice through our legal system, and the investigation will be conducted properly. We will soon learn what really happened that day and who is guilty of what we want to know. If anyone is responsible, they will be punished very soon.”

She further emphasised that the family is relying on the authorities to ensure a thorough and fair investigation and is confident that the truth will emerge.

Today marks the 13th day since the passing of the singer Zubeen Garg, who lost his life in Singapore following a scuba diving accident. His mortal remains were first flown to Delhi and later transported to Guwahati on September 21 by a commercial flight.

Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is personally overseeing the investigation into Zubeen Garg’s death, considering it a ‘national duty’ to bring justice to the iconic singer, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said.

In a press statement, BJP state spokesperson Kalyan Gogoi stated that Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is personally overseeing the investigation into Zubeen Garg’s case in accordance with the public’s expectations of justice.

“No one in Assam will be above the law. The guilty must not evade appropriate punishment, and until justice is served, neither the BJP government nor the BJP party will rest”, the party’s statement read.

The party also mentioned that the investigative process will be carried out with complete accuracy, integrity, and fairness, while also urging people to maintain trust in the law and proceed with confidence, while staying at a safe distance from any person or force that could interfere with the investigation.

The spokesperson expressed gratitude to the people of Assam for the faith and confidence they have shown in the Chief Minister.

A day earlier, Shyamkanu Mahanta, organiser of the North East Music Festival in Singapore, and Siddharth Sharma, manager of singer Zubeen Garg, were sent to 14 days’ police custody by the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) of Kamrup on Wednesday in connection with the death of the singer.

Meanwhile, Assamese actress Nishita Goswami and Zubeen Garg’s co-musician Shekhar Jyoti Goswami, on September 27, appeared before the Crime Investigation Department (CID) of Assam Police in connection with the probe into the death.

The CID, Assam, has registered a case (no 18/2025) under Section 61(2)/105/106(1) of BNS, 2023, in connection with the suspicious death. (ANI)

On the occasion of Vijaya Dashami, President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday praised the Indian armed forces for their role in combating terrorism and highlighted ‘Operation Sindoor’ as a triumph of humanity over terrorism, linking it to the victory of good over evil celebrated during the festival.

President Murmu attended the Vijaya Dashami festivities at the Ramlila organised by the Shri Dharmic Leela Committee today.

Addressing the gathering, President Murmu said, “Humankind thrives with the victory of good. When the demon of terrorism attacks humankind, it becomes essential to hunt it. Operation Sindoor by the Indian forces is a symbol of the victory of humanity over the Ravan of terrorism. For this, we bow before and thank every warrior protecting Bharat Mata.”

The ‘Vijyayadashmi’ or ‘Dussehra’, is celebrated to mark the triumph of good over evil. It is believed that Lord Rama killed Ravan on this day, and with this belief, the culture of burning the effigies of Ravan began. The ‘Vijayadashmi’ also marks the culmination of the nine-day-long Navratri festival.

It is observed on the tenth day of the month of Ashvin, the seventh in the Hindu Luni-Solar Calendar. The festival typically falls in the Gregorian calendar months of September and October. The festival also starts the preparations for Diwali, which is celebrated twenty days after Vijayadashami. Vijayadashmi is celebrated with huge fervour across the country.

Earlier today, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh performed ‘Shastra Puja’ at Sukna Cantonment in Darjeeling on the occasion of Vijaya Dashami, also known as Dussehra, and celebrated the festival with Army soldiers.

“In light of the present situation, the potential for any action from neighbouring countries cannot be dismissed, and the armed forces must ensure that they are fully prepared,” Rajnath Singh said. (ANI)

Bollywood actor Kajol participated with much enthusiasm in the ‘Sindoor Khela’ ceremony with her daughter Nysa, sister Tanisha and other family members at the North Bombay Sarbojanin Durga Puja.

The Durga Puja celebrations, which have been led by the actor’s family for several decades now, is set to culminate on Thursday with Vijayadashami.

In visuals from the pandal, Kajol could be seen taking part in the rituals, which includes applying ‘sindoor’ or vermillion to Goddess Durga and offering prayers before bidding farewell to the deity.

The actor looked beautiful in a traditional white-and-red saree as she joined the celebrations, while her daughter also performed the ritual.

Many other celebrities were also spotted taking part in the ‘Sindoor Khela’ ritual, including Rituparna Sengupta, Sumona Chakraborty, Khushi Dubey, and Anu Aggarwal.

Rituparna Sengupta and Kajol indulged in the celebrations, applying sindoor on each other other as a part of the tradition.

Kajol also posed for pictures with her daughter, Nysa and sister Tanisha.

Meanwhile, Rani Mukerji, who has constantly been a part of the Durga Puja festivities at the pandal from the first day, remained absent on the occasion of Vijayadashami.

Over the past several days, the families remained committed to their annual tradition, celebrating every day of the festival with utmost devotion. Many celebrities were seen gracing the pandal and seeking blessings.

Earlier this week, actor Ajay Devgn joined her wife Kajol and daughter Nysa at the pandal. Ajay opted for traditional wear, donning a green kurta.

He even posed for the fam-jam pictures with Kajol, Nysa, sister-in-law Tanisha, brother-in-law Ayan, and nephews Danish and Aaman Devgan.

Among others were Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Genelia Deshmukh, Twinkle Khanna, Anurag Basu, and Bipasha Basu.(ANI)

Railways has witnessed an encouraging response from both passengers and freight customers following the commissioning of the Bairabi – Sairang Railway line in Mizoram, and the commencement of freight operations from Molvom in Nagaland.

Within just a few weeks of operation, both passenger and freight services have shown remarkable results, reflecting the aspirations and confidence of the people in railways as a lifeline of growth and development.

Since the launch of passenger train services from Sairang on September 13, 2025, the response from travellers has been overwhelming, with several trains recording well above full occupancy.

Train No. 20507 (Sairang – Anand Vihar Terminal, Delhi) Rajdhani Express registered an impressive 162.5 per cent occupancy, while its return service, Train No. 20508 (Anand Vihar Terminal, Delhi – Sairang) Rajdhani Express, recorded 158.3 per cent. The Guwahati-bound services too witnessed strong patronage, with Train No. 15609 (Guwahati – Sairang) Express achieving 100.1 per cent occupancy, including a fully booked sleeper class, and Train No. 15610 (Sairang – Guwahati) Express maintaining almost 100 per cent occupancy.

The newly introduced Kolkata services also drew excellent response–Train No. 13126 (Sairang – Kolkata) Express reported almost 100 per cent occupancy, while the return service, Train No. 13125 (Kolkata – Sairang) Express, recorded 144.8 per cent, with sleeper class occupancy around 144 per cent.

These trends clearly reflect the strong demand for direct and reliable rail connectivity to and from Mizoram.

On the freight front, a total of eight rakes were unloaded at Sairang station till 30th September, 2025. The first rake arrived on 14th September, carrying 21 wagons of cement from STAR Cement Siding, Tetelia near Guwahati. This was followed by three rakes of stone chips, one rake of automobiles, one rake of RMC, and one rake of sand from Bairabi.

The first parcel consignment from Sairang was also booked on 19th September, 2025, with Anthurium flowers transported to Anand Vihar Terminal through the parcel van of Train No. 20507 (Sairang – Anand Vihar Terminal, Delhi) Rajdhani Express.

Molvom station in Nagaland also marked its entry into freight operations during September 2025. The first-ever inward rake, consisting of 41 wagons of cement from Telangana, was successfully placed at Molvom on 24th September. This was followed by the first outward rake on 29th September, with 42 wagons of stone chips loaded from Molvom to Jirania.

The growing demand for both passenger and freight services showcases how railway connectivity is transforming lives in the Northeast. Beyond convenience, these new links promise economic growth, better market access for local products, and new opportunities for trade and employment. (ANI)

Blistering centuries from Vedant Trivedi and Vaibhav Suryavanshi, topped up by an eight-wicket match haul from D Deepesh, powered India Under-19 to an emphatic victory by an innings and 58 runs against Australia Under-19, taking a 1-0 lead in the two-game Youth Test series.

With a mountain to climb, Australia resumed their innings on 8/1 but succumbed under the pressure and packed their bags on 127. With a memorable outing, India registered the biggest win by any U19 team that has been recorded in Australia in the history of Youth Test.

India also holds the overall record, with the Piyush Chawla-led side notching a win by an innings and 240 runs in Peshawar. The Indian side included decorated stars, including Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ravindra Jadeja and Ishant Sharma.

Coming to the contest, right-arm quick Deepesh, son of former Tamil Nadu cricketer Vasudevan Devendran, spearheaded India’s pace attack, returning with figures of 5/45 in the first innings to force the hosts to bundle out on 243. Left-arm seamer Kishan Kumar gracefully played the supporting act and chipped in with a three-wicket haul.

As the Indian duo ran rampant in Brisbane, the hosts rued their decision to bat after winning the toss. Steven Hogan, who came out to bat at number three, was the lone fighter, engineering a counter-attacking 92 in 246 deliveries. His resistance act propelled Australia to 243.

In reply, the Indian Under-19 side went all guns blazing to fire their way to a daunting 428 in their first innings. Suryavanshi dictated the pace with an 86-ball 113, laced with nine fours and eight towering maximums. Gujarat’s Vedant Trivedi top-scored with a scorching 140(192) with 19 fours.

Khilan Patel, an all-rounder from Gujarat, struck a run-a-ball 49, courtesy of seven boundaries and two sixes, lifted India to 428. In the second innings, Kishan and Deepesh bowled in tandem and wrecked Australia Under-19’s top-order, leaving them threadbare at 24/3.

Captain Will Malajczuk attempted to keep his side alive with a sturdy 22(49), but Khilan ran through the middle order with his three-fer to take India Under-19 close to victory. Aryan Sharma fighting 43(44) at number nine brought the deficit down, but Deepes scythed the last two out of three scalps to bamboozle the hosts on a paltry 127 in 49.3 overs. With India ahead in the red-ball clash, both sides will now face off in the last game of the tour on October 7. (ANI)

Tensions between the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) escalated further after PPP leaders asked Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to “rethink her tone” in the row over water rights and flood relief, Dawn reported.

The remarks followed Maryam Nawaz’s sharp comments directed at PPP over the Indus River water dispute and flood compensation, which triggered a boycott by PPP lawmakers from the National Assembly and Senate.

According to Dawn, senior leaders from both parties, including Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Law Minister Azam Nazir, Senator Rana Sanaullah and PPP’s Navid Qamar and Ijaz Jakhrani, held a meeting at the NA Speaker’s office, where it was decided to take up the issue with PML-N President Nawaz Sharif and CM Maryam Nawaz.

At a press conference, PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira criticised the Punjab CM’s remarks, warning her not to stoke division.

“Differences should be kept within limits. You (Maryam Nawaz) are a woman and our sister, and our leader (Benazir Bhutto) too was a woman. Reconsider your tone. What do you want to achieve by playing narrow nationalism… Do you want the rest to leave Punjab, and their rights to be ended?” he said, as quoted by Dawn.

Flanked by Usman Malik, Chaudhry Aslam Gill and Faisal Mir, Kaira said, “This country does not belong to any one person; it belongs to all of us. You (Maryam Nawaz) are not just a CM, you are also the daughter of Nawaz Sharif and the niece of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. If you say that you will not allow anyone to speak, this approach is not appropriate in any way. Reconsider this attitude.”

He also accused the Punjab CM of threatening behaviour when legitimate criticism was raised.

“Where something is wrong, we will point it out and we will protest. But when we give opinions or criticism, you start threatening. The question concerns flood management, but the response is to target the Sindh government,” he said.

On relief mechanisms, Kaira defended the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP).

“It…provides immediate relief, and this was done before as well. If you don’t want to use BISP, fine; but in terms of transparency, BISP stands first, which is why the IMF itself directed that Rs200bn be added to it in this year’s budget. Our objections concern the relief mechanism,” he added.

Responding to Maryam Nawaz’s canal project remarks, he stressed that water distribution was already governed by a constitutional framework.

“There already existed a formula for water distribution, and the matter must be decided in the Council of Common Interests by the federal and provincial governments together. The PPP has been unfairly blamed regarding canals,” he said, as reported by Dawn.

PPP South Punjab President Makhdoom Ahmad Mahmood also attacked the Punjab government, accusing it of abandoning flood victims in the Seraiki belt.

“Even in the past, there have been worse floods, yet never before were the people abandoned in such a helpless state,” he said, alleging that the Punjab government’s response was “choreographed.”

In response, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari dismissed PPP’s criticism, saying the party was holding repeated press conferences while insisting it was not politicising the plight of flood victims.

“Such statements make no difference, and PPP cannot stand on its own feet this way,” she said.

Bokhari argued that PPP’s remarks were aimed at collectively targeting Punjab.

“Personal attacks will naturally invite a response. You may use BISP in Sindh; we have no objection,” she added, according to Dawn. (ANI)

India has granted permission for Sikh Jathas (groups of pilgrims) to travel to Pakistan to participate in the upcoming celebrations of Prakash Purab, the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism, sources said.

The pilgrimage will be undertaken under the framework of the 1974 bilateral protocol on visits to religious shrines.

Sources, however, clarified that “some selected groups will be permitted as per the recommendation by the state government.”

“The state government concerned will recommend to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Acting on MEA’s inputs, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will give further clearance for the visit, to jathas,” said the sources, requesting anonymity.

The move is significant as the Indian government, earlier this month, had barred Sikh pilgrims (jathas) from visiting Pakistan for Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s Parkash Purab celebrations in November 2025 due to prevailing security concerns and recent tensions between the two countries.

As per the decision, Sikh devotees from India will cross over to Pakistan through the Attari-Wagah border and visit prominent gurdwaras associated with Guru Nanak Dev, including Nankana Sahib, his birthplace, and Gurdwara Darbar Sahib at Kartarpur. The groups will be facilitated by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) in coordination with the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) of Pakistan.

Every year, thousands of Sikh pilgrims travel across the border to mark key religious occasions such as Prakash Purab, Baisakhi, and Martyrdom Day of Guru Arjan Dev Ji. The arrangement is part of the longstanding 1974 India-Pakistan agreement, which allows limited pilgrimages despite tense bilateral relations.

In recent years, the Kartarpur Corridor, which opened in 2019 to facilitate visa-free travel of Sikh pilgrims to the Kartarpur Sahib shrine, has become a key channel of religious exchange. However, larger jathas continue to travel under the traditional protocol arrangement.

Security and logistical measures for the upcoming pilgrimage are learnt to be closely coordinated by both the India and Pakistan governments to ensure the smooth movement of devotees. (ANI)

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday conducted Shastra Pooja at the Bhuj Military Base on the occasion of Vijayadashami. Chief General Upendra Dwivedi and Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth, Commander of the Southern Army, were also present on the occasion.

The L-70 Air Defence (AD) gun, which had been instrumental in Operation Sindoor, was also specially presented to the Defence Minister during the ceremony.

During Operation Sindoor, the L-70 Air Defence Gun demonstrated exceptional effectiveness. The gun, which could shoot 300 rounds per minute and engage targets up to 3,500 meters away, was crucial in shooting the Pakistani Drones.

Mentioning Operation Sindoor’s success, Rajnath Singh said, “whether it is terrorism or any other kind of problem, today we have the capability to deal with and defeat it. During Operation Sindoor, Pakistan made a failed attempt to breach India’s defence system from Leh to this area of Sir Creek. India’s armed forces completely exposed the Pakistani air defence system and sent a message to the world that India’s armed forces can inflict heavy damage on Pakistan whenever, wherever, and however they wish.”

The Defence Minister was addressing the soldiers before the Shastra Pooja at the Bhuj Military base. He also said that, “when we worship a weapon, we also pledge to use this power only to protect dharma and justice. Lord Rama demonstrated this resolve in his life. When he fought against Ravana, for him, that war was not merely a means to victory, but a means to establish dharma.”

“Even when the Mahabharata war was fought under the guidance of Lord Krishna, its objective was not to ensure victory for the Pandavas, but rather to establish Dharma. The worship of weapons symbolises that India not only worships weapons, but also knows how to use them when the time comes,” said the Defence Minister. (ANI)

The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty between Russia and Iran has officially come into effect, Russia’s Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday, according to the country’s state media.

The coming into force of the agreement “marks an important milestone in the history of Russian-Iranian interstate relations that have reached a new level of broad strategic partnership,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement as per TASS.

The treaty was signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Moscow on January 17, 2025 and became effective today on October 2.

The document sets key benchmarks “for priority spheres of bilateral cooperation in the long term,” the ministry continued.

It envisages efforts to strengthen cooperation in the international arena amid the evolving multipolar world order, including close coordination at major multilateral associations, and joint efforts toward consolidating stability and security in the region and countering common challenges and threats,” Russia’s MFA said according to TASS.

The treaty covers areas from trade and military cooperation to science, culture and education, is expected to remain in force for 20 years

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Moscow has viewed Iran as a key strategic partner.

Meanwhile, Iranian state media has reported that Russia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzia, in a detailed letter addressed to the UN chief and the Security Council’s president, has rejected the restoration of sanctions against Iran under the so-called snapback mechanism, stressing that the return of the measures lacks any legal basis.

The September 29 dated letter came after the UN Security Council voted three days earlier to reimpose sanctions against Iran, which had been terminated under the 2015 nuclear deal between the Islamic Republic and world powers including Britain, France, and Germany, collectively known as the E3, as per IRNA news agency. (ANI)