New York: Nearly 20 countries, including two UN Security Council permanent members France and Great Britain have joined hands to celebrate here the issuing of the Diwali postage stamp by the US. The event co-hosted by the Permanent Missions of Belarus and India to the UN office along with the Permanent Observer Mission of the State of Palestine would attend the "Diwali" stamp dedication ceremony at the Trusteeship Council Chamber of the United Nations in New York on December 5, according to a...Read More

Ahmedabad: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi spent Diwali with border jawans and local people in Himachal Pradesh. Gujarat Chief Minister spent Diwali with Border Security Force(BSF) jawans on Pakistan border close to Banaskantha district in North Gujarat. Gujarat CM was joined by MoS Shankarbhai Chaudhary. Presented here are the pictures:  Read More

Ahmedabad: It's the biggest festival of Gujarati people during the year. It's a new year day as per Gujarati Hindu Vikram Samvat calendar. While Vikram Samvat calendar is also used by people in several north Indian states, the Gujarati Vikram Samvat calendar is different from others. The new year in Gujarati calendar is celebrated a day after Diwali. One can see footfalls in temples 10-fold on new year day which is popularly called 'Bestu Varsh' in Gujarati. People clean their houses and d...Read More

Mumbai:To clear extra rush of passengers and for their convenience during Diwali, Western Railway (WR) will run special trains from Bandra Terminus here to Ahmedabad and Allahabad. Bandra-Ahmedabad weekly special train (train no.09029) will run on October 29, November 5, 12. It will depart from Bandra (T) at 12.20 midnight (on Saturdays) and reach Ahmedabad at 08.25 am on the same day, a press release from WR issued here said. In the return journey train no.09030 will leave from Ahmedaba...Read More

Ahmedabad: Pujya Shri Ravishankar Maharaj, a man who inaugurated Gujarat state in 1960 had penned down how Diwali was celebrated in rural Gujarat about 100 years ago. While several Diwali customs narrated by Maharaj are still in practice in Gujarat today, some others have discontinued. Following are the highlights of Pujya Shri Ravishankar Maharaj’s notes on the festival of Diwali: -There were four major festivals. While Raksha bandhan(Balev) was perceived as the festival of Brahmin an...Read More

Ahmedabad: 21-day long Diwali vacation is scheduled to begin this year on October 28. In many schools the vacation has been effective from today. The tradition of Diwali vacation in schools is mostly limited to Gujarat State. In other states there's Christian influence on school system and vacation is given during Christmas. With Diwali vacation, the first half of academic year which begins in mid of June is considered over. Post Diwali vacation the second half of academic year begins. ...Read More

Mumbai: Gems and jewellery retailers are expecting around 25 per cent growth in sales during Dhanteras, considered auspicious to buy precious metal, compared to last year due to good monsoon and pent up consumer demand, experts say. "Market sentiment is looking up and the prices have more or less stabilised. Moreover, good monsoon and pent up demand will boost sales. We expect around 20-25 per cent overall growth in sales this year," All India Gems and Jewellery Trade Federation (GJF) Chairma...Read More