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Karwa Chauth one of the most auspicious and celebrated festivals in northern India. It is observed by married women, who fast on the day and pray for their husbands’ long life and prosperity. Karwa Chauth is celebrated in the eight-month of the Hindu calendar. This year, it is being observed on 24 October. On this day, women fast from pre-dawn till moonrise. Women eat Sargi in the morning - a special thali meal prepared by mother-in-law for daughter-in-law. Sargi includes healthy food such as fruits and nuts. It also comprises traditional attires such as a lehenga or a saree along with jewelry. However, fasting on Karwa Chauth can be difficult for many as one has to abstain from drinking water. Hence it is important to watch what one eats when she breaks her fast. Consuming food that is rich in fats or sugar on an empty stomach can make the body feel uneasy and bloated. Here is a list of healthy food items that you can have while breaking the fast: Smoothies, juices, and water:  K

The festival of Karwa Chauth holds special importance among Hindu women as wives fast all day to pray for the well-being and long lives of their husbands. Also referred to as Karak Chaturthi, Karwa Chauth is marked every year in the Ashwin month (according to the Amavasyant calendar) and Kartik month (as per the Purnimanta calendar) on the Krishna Paksha Chaturthi Tithi (fourth day). This year, the festival will be celebrated on 24 October. Many unmarried women too fast on the day to be blessed with ideal life partner. Women, on Karak Chaturthi, also worship Maa Parvati to seek her blessings. On this day, women don't consume anything. They perform Karwa Puja in the evening and break the fast only after sighting the moon. Prayers are offered to the Moon god using Karwa or Karak, the earthen pot. Women who observe Karwa Chauth fast are said to be blessed with a happy married life. On the special occasion, here's a few messages and wishes to share with your loved one: Marria

Celebrating Karwa Chauth is an age-old ritual that stems from Indian mythological stories. The word karwa  means a ‘clay pot.’ And chauth  means the fourth day of Krishna Paksh  (waning moon phase) according to the Hindu calendar month of Karthik. Karwa Chauth 2021: Dates and Timings This year, Karwa Chauth will be celebrated on Sunday, 24th October 2021. The timings of the tithi begin from 3:01 pm on 24th October and will end at 5:43 am the following day. The auspicious Karwa Chauth katha pooja timing is from 6:09 pm to 7:24 pm this year. The stories behind the belief:  The Karwa Chauth story has more than one version based on different mythological beliefs. One of the most popular stories is that of princess Veervati and her seven brothers who loved her dearly. Once, the newly-wed princess was visiting her mother. She kept a fast for her husband’s long life and would not eat till the moon rose. However, as the night fell and the moon was nowhere to be seen, she couldn’t bear to

Petrol and diesel prices rose again for the fifth continuous day on Sunday scaling yet another record high across the country. In Delhi, petrol costs Rs 107.59 a litre, costlier by 35 paise while the rate of diesel was Rs 96.32 per litre, up 35 paise as well. In Mumbai, petrol can be bought at Rs 113.46 per litre, now priced higher by 34 paise and diesel costs Rs 104 for one litre, expensive by 38 paise. In Chennai, a litre of petrol is priced at Rs 104.52, which is costlier by 30 paise. On Sunday, the price of a litre of diesel was Rs 100.59 per litre, up 34 paise. Petrol in Kolkata costs Rs 108.11 per litre, expensive by 33 paise while diesel costs Rs 99.43 a litre, which is higher by 35 paise. While petrol can be bought at Rs 116.26 in Bhopal, up by 36 paise and diesel costs Rs 105.64 per litre, expensive by 37 paise. Petrol and diesel prices  are revised by the oil marketing companies including Bharat Petroleum, Indian Oil and Hindustan Petroleum. The new prices are implemente

Karwa Chauth is celebrated by married Hindu women who observe a Nirjala fast on the day for the long life and happiness of their husbands. The day is observed in Kartika, the eighth month of the Hindu calendar. This year, Karwa Chauth will be celebrated on Sunday, 24 October. Significance For married women, this is one of the most important festivals as it symbolises the trust and bond between a couple. On this day, married women worship Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, along with Kartikeya, Ganesha and Chandra Dev (Moon God). Fasting women believe that the Moon God will shower his blessings and grant health and longevity to their husbands. Nowadays, some men also fast for their wives. Some unmarried women also fast on this day for better marriage prospects or in order to get the desired groom. This festival is celebrated with pomp and joy in several parts of the country, especially in the northern states such as Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh. Karwa Chauth P

With former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh announcing that he is set to float his own party and declaring that he is open to an alliance with the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP), the 2022 Assembly election in the state is likely to see new political dynamics. Meanwhile, BJP's age-old ally Shiromani Akali Dal has found a new partner this time. Aam Aadmi Party, which managed to win just 20 seats in the past elections, is striving hard to become a major player in the state. With these changing dynamics at play, here is a look at the major political players in Punjab. Aam Aadmi Party History : Formally launched on 26 November 2012, the Aam Aadmi Party made forays into Punjab politics in 2016 after trouncing the largest national players at that time -- Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress -- in Delhi Assembly Elections. In its electoral debut, the Aam Aadmi Party emerged as the second-largest party in the Delhi Legislative Assembly polls of 2013. It formed the government for 49 da

Diwali, one of the most-awaited festivals, is around the corner as it is celebrated just a few days after Dussehra. Every year, before the festival arrives, people clean their houses and shops to welcome happiness and prosperity with open arms. They believe it to be a symbolic gesture to remove trouble and darkness from their lives. Many families make the cleaning process an annual ritual while others find it quite hectic and tiring. This year too, as families begin to remove dust from every corner of the house, internet users have taken to social media and are sharing their ‘Diwali ki safai’ stories and memes. There are many who posted challenges that their moms place before them during these days ahead of the grand festival. Amid all the housework, social media users have given this mission a humorous twist as they clean their homes. Here are a few memes on how people are expressing their feelings about ‘Diwali ki safai’ on social media. Some called it a “season of exploitation”

The results of the JEE Advanced Architecture Aptitude Test (AAT) 2021 have been declared by the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur. Applicants, who had appeared for the exam, can now check and download their results by visiting the official website - jeeadv.ac.in. To access the scores, candidates have to use their registered number and password. The exam was held all over the country on 18 October. It was conducted in a single shift from 9 am to noon. Check steps to download JEE Advanced AAT 2021 result here: Step 1: Visit the official JEE Advanced website - jeeadv.ac.in Step 2: On the homepage, open the 'JEE Advanced AAT result 2021' link Step 3: As the new page opens, enter your application number and password to log in Step 4: After logging in, the AAT result will appear on the screen Step 5: Check the scores, verify all important details, and take a printout for future reference Direct link is here: https://cportal.jeeadv.ac.in/ Those applicants who have sec

The registration process for admissions to the Delhi University School of Open Learning (DU SOL) has begun. Admissions are open for undergraduate (UG) programmes for the year 2021-22 and candidates who wish to apply for DU SOL can visit the official website  http://sol.du.ac.in/ . Steps to apply for admission to DU SOL’s undergraduate courses : Step 1: Go to DU SOL's official website - http://sol.du.ac.in/ Step 2: Click on the ‘new user’ tab on the homepage Step 3: As the new page opens, fill the form with relevant details Step 4: Upload the required documents and submit the form Step 5: Save a copy of the DU SOL admission form for further use The last date to apply for admission to DU SOL’s UG courses is 15 December. Candidates need to register through a valid email ID and mobile number. Applicants will also have to upload a scanned copy of their passport size photograph, signature, and self attested copies of Class X and Class XII mark sheets. Applicants belonging to re

In a shocking case, a 50-year-old woman, who was trying to board a moving train in Mumbai slipped and fell between the train and the platform gap. Within a fraction of seconds, a Railway Protection Force (RPF) female constable who was standing near the platform benches, rushed to the woman’s rescue and pulled her out to safety. This incident happened at the Sandhurst Road railway station in Mumbai, where the busy local trains carry lakhs of passengers daily. Sadly, such incidents take place not just in Mumbai but across the country when people are in a hurry to catch the train. Taking to their social media handle, RPF shared the video where the elderly woman can be seen trying to board the train soon after it started moving. As soon as she tried to board the train, the woman slipped and fell close to slipping through the gap. Quick-thinking constable Sapna Golkar then rushed to the woman’s rescue and pulled her out on the platform in the nick of time. Tweeting the video, the RPF lau

Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu’s wife former MLA Navjot Kaur Sidhu on Saturday slammed former Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh for his links with Pakistani journalist Aroosa Alam. She claimed that not a single posting in the police department in Punjab happened without a “gift or payment” to Aroosa Alam, Captain’s long-time friend from across the border. Kaur said Alam had taken away all that money to Pakistan, and that Captain should also “go to Pakistan and enjoy his time there with her”, News 18 quoted her as saying. “We were never heeded because I never let my husband (Navjot Singh Sidhu) get close to Aroosa,” she added Her scathing attack against Captain comes a day after Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said a probe would be carried out to ascertain whether Alam has links with the Inter-Services Intelligence. Singh hit back at the Congress leader, saying Randhawa is now resorting to personal attacks. The deputy chief minister said it "

“Afghans are big dreamers. They are hardworking. One day, I will show the world that I am an Afghan woman who has recovered from difficulties. I will show the world that Afghan people are not worthless. They are not just refugees,” says 16-year-old Negor* who came to India from Kabul around three years back. Negor is among thousands of Afghans who took refuge in India in the past few years. As millions flee Afghanistan with the Taliban returning to power in pursuit of safety, girls Negor’s age are still trying to pick up the pieces and rebuild their lives in India. “In Kabul, I was in a school where I was learning photography... My school had a library. It seems like a dream now. It was really hard for me when I came to India. Every afternoon, I cried. I missed my friends, my relatives, and my father,” says Negor, who came to India with her three siblings. Her mother passed away a few years back, and her father has another family now. The stories of three teenage friends Negor, Riha

To prevent and control the COVID-19 spread, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has issued fresh guidelines for pilgrims visiting the famous Mata Vaishno Devi shrine. The state executive committee took up this decision during a review meeting regarding the current situation in the union territory. Post the meeting, the committee announced that pilgrims must carry a valid and verifiable RT-PCR or Rapid Antigen Test along with them while visiting the shrine. Also, the test should not be older than 72 hours. “Valid and verifiable RT-PCR/Rapid Antigen Test not older than 72 hours of arrival should be made mandatory. Only those pilgrims will be allowed to visit the shrine who do not show any COVID-19 related symptoms," the order stated . Further in the order, it is mentioned that there will be strict adherence to COVID-19 appropriate behaviour or SOPs which must be followed at all times. Reports also suggest that these revised guidelines have been issued after observing an uneven t

The Economist , a British weekly magazine, now depends on its American subscribers, having switched from backing the extinguished British Empire, to American supremacy. It has a combined print and digital subscription globally shy of 2 million. It also claims to reach 35 million via its social media platforms. While giving itself an unproven seventeen-fold reach, it had no difficulty in scoffing at the scale and reach of India’s digital revolution. It once praised Aadhaar, but that must have been a slip. Because it regularly slams the Modi administration under the present editor’s watch, citing the original sin of the 2002 post-Godhra Gujarat violence. This apparently gave it the temerity to exhort Indians not to elect the Hindu nationalist BJP, or failing that, Modi as Prime Minister. This is from a magazine representing a people that had its war-time Prime Minister Churchill murder over 4 million Indians in the man-made Bengal Famine of 1946. A Raj administration that shot unarmed

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who arrived in Srinagar on Saturday for his first visit to Jammu and Kashmir since Article 370 was revoked in August 2019, met the family of a police officer killed by terrorists earlier this year, and reviewed the security situation and steps taken to combat terrorism in Kashmir Valley. Shah reviewed the security scenario at a meeting held at the Raj Bhawan and attended by top civil administration officials, including Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, and senior security officials from the Army, CRPF, police and other agencies, officials said. #WATCH Union Home Minister Amit Shah chairs security review meeting during his three-day visit to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir pic.twitter.com/qtohyuXs2P — ANI (@ANI) October 23, 2021 The home minister was briefed about the steps taken to eliminate terrorism from Jammu and Kashmir and counter-infiltration measures taken by the forces, the officials said. Shah's visit to Kashmir comes in the

Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrived in Srinagar on Saturday for his first visit to Jammu and Kashmir since Article 370 was revoked in August 2019 and drove straight to meet the family of a police officer killed by terrorists earlier this year. Shah, who will also be visiting Jammu where he will address a public rally, also reviewed the security situation in the Valley during his three-day trip to the Union Territory and also flag off the inaugural Srinagar-Sharjah flight. #WATCH Union Home Minister Amit Shah chairs security review meeting during his three-day visit to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir pic.twitter.com/qtohyuXs2P — ANI (@ANI) October 23, 2021 He was received at the Srinagar airport by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and other senior officials of the Jammu and Kashmir administration, officials said. Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrives in Srinagar on a three-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir to review security situation in the Union Territory pic.twitter

The results for MAH CET BA/BSc, BEd (four-year integrated course), and MPEd courses have been declared by the Maharashtra Common Entrance Test (MHT CET) cell. Along with the results, individual scorecards have also been released. The scorecard will have the percentile score obtained by a candidate on it. Students can now view and download their individual scorecards by visiting the official website - https://cetcell.mahacet.org/ . Steps to download MAH CET scorecards: - Visit the official website, https://cetcell.mahacet.org/ - Click on the link that reads view scorecard of MAH-BA/BSc, BEd (four-year integrated Course) – CET 2021 - Enter your credentials such as application number and date of birth - Click on the ‘Login’ tab and view your scorecard. Save a copy for future requirement Direct link to view the scorecards: https://admitcardbuilder2.azurewebsites.net/scorecard/E2404K01446/ BA/BSc, Bed (four-year integrated course) result PDF: http://mum-ecos.enlightcloud.com:8080/v

Ecological disasters have become a regular phenomenon in the Himalayas, especially the state of Uttarakhand. The whole ecosystem in the region seems to be under great stress and is not working as efficiently as it used to work a few decades ago. This has led to unprecedented rains and flash floods in the region, especially in the last decade and a half. Coming to the recent rain fury in Uttarakhand, it has many similarities with the 2013 Kedarnath tragedy that shook the whole nation. Massive life and property losses have been reported, especially in the Kumaon region. About 55 people lost their lives and there are many who are still missing. Most rural roads and state highways remain closed. The rain broke a 100-odd-year-old record. There are many similarities between the 2013 flash floods that hit Kedarnath and the 2021 tragedy . One, both didn’t take place at the peak of the monsoon. The 2013 havoc happened in the month of June when the monsoon was yet to arrive. The current chaos

The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) has released the revised date sheets for Class 10 and Class 12 Semester 1 Examination. Candidates preparing for the exams can check the revised timetable by visiting the official website at https://www.cisce.org/ . As per the latest notice , the ICSE Class 10 exams will be conducted between 29 November and 16 December. While the ISC Class 12 examinations will be held from 22 November to 20 December. In the official statement, the board has informed that they have decided to postpone the exams due to ‘reasons beyond its control’. Below is the revised date sheet for Class 10: English Language - Paper I on 29 November Literature in English - Paper II on 30 November History and Civics - HCG Paper I on 2 December Hindi on 3 December Mathematics on 6 December Geography - HCG Paper II on 7 December Physics - Science Paper I on 9 December Chemistry - Science Paper II on 13 December Biology - Science Paper III on 15

The Defence Ministry has signed a Rs 423-crore contract with the United States for procurement of MK 54 torpedo to equip its P-81 maritime surveillance aircraft with anti-submarine capability. The Ministry of Defence signed the contract with the US government on Thursday, said officials. Here’s a better understanding of this weapon and how it will help the Indian Navy. MK 54 torpedo The MK 54 lightweight torpedo is a 12.75-inch (324 mm) anti-submarine warfare (ASW) torpedo used by the United States Navy. Co-developed by Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems, the MK 54 is designed to operate in shallow waters and in the presence of countermeasures, it can track, classify and attack underwater targets. The torpedo weighs around 608 pounds, while its warhead weighs around 96.8 pounds and is highly explosive. As per the US Director Operational Test and Evaluation, the primary use of this equipment is for offensive purposes when deployed by anti-submarine warfare aircraft and helicopte

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has announced new dates for the University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test (UGC NET) December 2020 and June 2021 cycle. Candidates had voiced their concerns regarding the postponement of the exam after which the agency has finally announced the new exam dates. According to the new schedule, the test will be conducted on 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30 November, and 1, 3, 4, and 5 December. Check official notification here . The detailed schedule and admit cards for the exam will soon be made available on NTA’s official portal. Candidates need to keep a check on the websites https://nta.ac.in/ and https://ift.tt/2OGIMss for updates regarding the hall tickets. UGC releases admit cards around 10 days before the exam date. Candidates facing any issues can also contact the NTA help desk at 011-40759000 or can write to  ugcnet@nta.ac.in . UGC NET is conducted twice a year, where one cycle is conducted in June and the second one is held in Dec