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The festival of Navratri is a sacred celebration observed with great enthusiasm in India. Navratri, which means ‘nine nights’ in Hindi, is one of the most important Hindu festivals. Although Navratri occurs four times a year, Chaitra Navratri and Sharadiya Navratri are celebrated with grandeur. Chaitra Navratri is dedicated to the nine forms of Goddess Durga, with each day devoted to a different manifestation of the Goddess. During this period, devotees of Goddess Durga observe a nine-day fast and follow a sattvik diet.

This year, Chaitra Navratri will begin on 30th March 2025 and end on 6th April 2025. The ninth day of Chaitra Navratri is known as Ram Navami, marking the birthday of Lord Rama. Hence, Chaitra Navratri’s Navami is also referred to as Ram Navratri.

As mentioned, the nine days of Navratri are dedicated to the nine incarnations of Goddess Durga. Many devotees observe fasts during this period, believing that worshipping with complete faith brings the special blessings of the Goddess.

Navratri is a widely celebrated festival, eagerly awaited by the Hindu community. The word “Navratri” means “nine nights,” which are dedicated to the nine forms of Goddess Durga. This festival is observed with great enthusiasm across India. In 2025, Chaitra Navratri will begin on 30th March and end on 6th April. The ninth day, Navami, is also celebrated as Ram Navami. During this time, devotees of Goddess Durga observe fasts with full devotion for all nine days, consuming only specific foods. Some people fast only on the first and last days but still follow a satvik (pure) diet throughout. During Navratri, grains, pulses, garlic, and onions are typically avoided.

Allowed foods during Navratri include sago, buckwheat, water chestnut flour, and dairy products. Additionally, people replace regular salt with rock salt (sendha namak) in their meals. When it comes to vegetables, potatoes are the most commonly consumed during Navratri, as they can be used to prepare various dishes. However, potatoes are not the only option!

Navratri is a Hindu festival dedicated to the worship of Goddess Durga’s nine divine forms. This year, the auspicious nine-day Navratri festivities will begin on 30 March and conclude on 7 April 2025. Many people observe fasting during Navratri, abstaining from non-vegetarian food, whole wheat rotis, rice, and dals, and consuming only vrat-friendly foods. Grocery stores-both offline and online-are well-stocked with fasting essentials ahead of the festival. However, ensuring that the ingredients you purchase are pure and unadulterated is crucial. Before you buy kuttu ka atta or sendha namak, here are some key tips to help you select high-quality products.

Chaitra Navratri began on 30 March and will continue until 6 April. This festival holds great significance in Hinduism. While Navratri is observed four times a year, Chaitra Navratri and Sharad Navratri are the most widely celebrated. Each of the nine days is dedicated to a different form of Goddess Durga, and devotees worship her with unwavering devotion. Many believe that fasting during Navratri brings blessings and fulfils wishes. The fast is traditionally broken with Kanjak Puja on Ashtami. However, this year, there is some confusion regarding the exact dates of Ashtami and Navami Puja. Here is everything you need to know.

The Ashtami Tithi begins on 4 April at 8:12 pm and ends on 5 April at 7:26 pm. Kanya Pujan can be performed on 5 April between 11:59 am and 12:49 pm.

Many people also observe Kanjak Puja on Navami, which falls on 6 April. This day is also celebrated as Ram Navami, making it another significant occasion for devotees.

Ashtami is one of the most important days of Navratri, as many devotees break their fast and offer bhog to Goddess Durga. On this day, homes are cleaned, temples are decorated, and special prasad is prepared as an offering to the goddess. Bhog is an essential part of the puja, and after making the offering, young girls who have not reached puberty are served food, as they are considered living embodiments of Goddess Durga. While each household has its own variations, bhog thali is always prepared without garlic and onion. Some traditional dishes are a must-have in this sacred meal.

Gabriel Shemirani blames his influencer mother’s belief in conspiracy theories about medicine for his sister’s death from cancer, after she rejected chemotherapy.

“She was being fed fake information,” the 24-year-old British student told AFP, saying their mother “was against her daughter seeking medical treatments that could have saved her”.

Gabriel’s mother, Kate Shemirani, is one of a growing cohort of health influencers on social media accused of advocating and selling unproven treatments. 

She promotes alternative theories about Covid, vaccines and organ transplants, and has called chemotherapy “the poison path” and “mustard gas”.

Gabriel’s twin sister, Paloma fell ill in 2023 aged 22, shortly after graduating from university, and was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, a type of cancer which is in most cases “very treatable” according to the UK’s National Health Service.

But Gabriel told AFP his sister opted not to start chemotherapy treatment advised by an oncologist, influenced by her mother’s distrust of conventional medicine. “85 percent of people with my sister’s cancer… would have survived” with chemotherapy, said Gabriel.

A family was left devastated after a 12-year-old boy died, reportedly attempting a dangerous social media challenge known as the “scarf challenge”, a variation of TikTok’s deadly “blackout challenge”, Metro reported.

The boy named Sebastian hailed from Castleford, West Yorkshire. He was at home celebrating his younger brother’s First Holy Communion when he reportedly attempted the infamous challenge, which involves choking oneself to induce a brief euphoria, which can lead to brain damage or death.

The emergency services were called to the house at 6:06 pm (local time) on June 27, and despite immediate medical attention, he was pronounced dead at the hospital.

The West Yorkshire Police are investigating the circumstances of Sebastian’s death, but it is not being treated as suspicious.

The Mumbai civic body has scrapped a key tender to buy beach safety equipment from a Turkish company as the government continues to ramp up heat on Turkey for siding with Pakistan during Operation Sindoor.

The tender was floated last September to buy six robotic water rescue vehicles to assist lifeguards at various beaches in the coastal city, including Girgaum Chowpatty, Dadar Shivaji Park, Juhu, Versova, Aksa, and Gorai.

The vendor that had won the tender would have sourced the devices from Maren Robotics, a Turkish company.

The civic body is now looking for Indian alternatives. An officer at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation said, “BMC is exploring the possibility of having the products manufactured by India-based firms, which would be cost-effective and be a better solution considering the geopolitical sensitivities.”In a strong message a week later, New Delhi reminded Ankara that relations are built on the basis of sensitivities to each other’s concerns and that they must encourage Islamabad to address the problem of terrorism.

Turkey’s stand during the India-Pakistan conflict had also lowered their credibility among the Indian community, with calls of boycotting Turkish products echoing through the political and corporate corridors of the country.

The government had last month revoked the security clearance of Celebi, a Turkish firm that provided ground services at nine airports in the country, citing security reasons.

Weeks later, the civil aviation ministry gave a three-month deadline to budget carrier IndiGo to end its aircraft leasing agreement with Turkish Airlines, refusing to extend a permit for the agreement after May 31.

Online shopping platforms like Myntra and Ajio, too, removed popular Turkish brands from their platforms.The pressure heightened as smaller traders jumped on the bandwagon to boycott Turkish goods. In Delhi’s Azadpur mandi, the largest wholesale market in Asia for fruits and vegetables, traders decided last month to stop importing apples from Turkey.

Several top Indian universities, including the IITs, Jawaharlal Nehru University, and Jamia Millia Islamia, had also suspended their Turkish exchange programs.

At least seven people have been arrested for allegedly attacking Karnataka civic workers for removing an unauthorised birthday banner.

The fight began on June 5, when an official, Rangappa C Herkal, who worked at the Haveri City Municipal Council, removed the banner of the accused, Shantu, on the instructions of the municipal commissioner.

Another accused, Akshata KC, then allegedly abused Mr Rangappa over the phone.

Later that day, six accused reportedly entered the municipal office, carrying deadly weapons and assaulted the staff.

Two contract workers, Peerappa Shirabadagi and Kanthesh, sustained injuries after being struck with a scooter handle. The accused also allegedly abused them and issued death threats. Based on a complaint by Mr Shirabadagi, the police registered a case against the accused.

The fight then escalated on June 7 with around ten men, including Akshata KC, entering the bar with weapons and attacking another civic worker, Raju. 

In a video that has gone viral, they can be seen thrashing him on the head with a cricket bat and striking his face and head with beer bottles. The seven accused have been identified as Shantappa, Arjuna, Pratham, Fakkiresh Koravar, Mukesh, Prajwal and Ganesh.

Despite her vast wealth, Ms Guo lives modestly, favouring free clothes, fast fashion, and the occasional designer dress.

Lucy Guo, the 30-year-old cofounder of Scale AI, recently dethroned Taylor Swift to become the world’s youngest self-made woman billionaire. According to Forbes, her net worth is estimated to be around $1.25 billion, thanks to her significant stake in Scale AI, which was valued at $25 billion in a recent tender offer. Despite her vast wealth, Ms Guo lives modestly, favouring free clothes, fast fashion, and the occasional designer dress. She’s also been spotted driving a Honda Civic and flying commercial.

“I don’t like wasting money,” the 30-year-old told Fortune. “In terms of like daily life, my assistant just drives me in a pretty old Honda Civic. I don’t care. Everything I wear is free or from Shein… Some of them aren’t going to be that great quality, but there’s always like two pieces or so that really work out, and I just wear them every day. I still literally buy buy-one-get-one-free on Uber Eats,” she added. 

Guo, now the founder of OnlyFans competitor Passes, also shared a quote that resonates with her approach: “Act broke, stay rich.” As one of the few female billionaires under 40, Ms Guo believes that flashy displays of wealth are often a sign of insecurity, typically seen in millionaires trying to prove their success. In contrast, she prefers a low-key lifestyle, dressing down and avoiding extravagant spending.

“Who you see typically wasting money on, designer clothes, a nice car, et cetera, they’re technically in the millionaire range. All their friends are multimillionaires or billionaires, and they feel a little bit insecure, so they feel the need to be flashy to show other people, ‘look, I’m successful. I’m not showing off to anyone, right?” she explained. 

Ms Guo reflected on her past, noting that many people go through a phase where they’re successful but still seeking validation. She believes that billionaires often dress casually because they’ve reached a point where they no longer need to prove themselves to others. They’re confident in their success and don’t feel the need to flaunt it. Guo feels she’s reached a similar stage, where she’s past the need for external validation. 

“And I think that’s kind of how I like feel, where I’m past that hump. I don’t really have to prove myself to anyone. No one’s going to look at me and point at me like, ‘Haha, she’s so broke’ when I’m pulling up in a Honda Civic because whatever, it doesn’t matter,” she added. As one of the few female billionaires under 40, Ms Guo believes that flashy displays of wealth are often a sign of insecurity, typically seen in millionaires trying to prove their success. In contrast, she prefers a low-key lifestyle, dressing down and avoiding extravagant spending.

“Who you see typically wasting money on, designer clothes, a nice car, et cetera, they’re technically in the millionaire range. All their friends are multimillionaires or billionaires, and they feel a little bit insecure, so they feel the need to be flashy to show other people, ‘look, I’m successful. I’m not showing off to anyone, right?” she explained. 

Ms Guo reflected on her past, noting that many people go through a phase where they’re successful but still seeking validation. She believes that billionaires often dress casually because they’ve reached a point where they no longer need to prove themselves to others. They’re confident in their success and don’t feel the need to flaunt it. Guo feels she’s reached a similar stage, where she’s past the need for external validation. 

“And I think that’s kind of how I like feel, where I’m past that hump. I don’t really have to prove myself to anyone. No one’s going to look at me and point at me like, ‘Haha, she’s so broke’ when I’m pulling up in a Honda Civic because whatever, it doesn’t matter,” she added. As one of the few female billionaires under 40, Ms Guo believes that flashy displays of wealth are often a sign of insecurity, typically seen in millionaires trying to prove their success. In contrast, she prefers a low-key lifestyle, dressing down and avoiding extravagant spending.

“Who you see typically wasting money on, designer clothes, a nice car, et cetera, they’re technically in the millionaire range. All their friends are multimillionaires or billionaires, and they feel a little bit insecure, so they feel the need to be flashy to show other people, ‘look, I’m successful. I’m not showing off to anyone, right?” she explained. 

Ms Guo reflected on her past, noting that many people go through a phase where they’re successful but still seeking validation. She believes that billionaires often dress casually because they’ve reached a point where they no longer need to prove themselves to others. They’re confident in their success and don’t feel the need to flaunt it. Guo feels she’s reached a similar stage, where she’s past the need for external validation. 

“And I think that’s kind of how I like feel, where I’m past that hump. I don’t really have to prove myself to anyone. No one’s going to look at me and point at me like, ‘Haha, she’s so broke’ when I’m pulling up in a Honda Civic because whatever, it doesn’t matter,” she added. As one of the few female billionaires under 40, Ms Guo believes that flashy displays of wealth are often a sign of insecurity, typically seen in millionaires trying to prove their success. In contrast, she prefers a low-key lifestyle, dressing down and avoiding extravagant spending.

“Who you see typically wasting money on, designer clothes, a nice car, et cetera, they’re technically in the millionaire range. All their friends are multimillionaires or billionaires, and they feel a little bit insecure, so they feel the need to be flashy to show other people, ‘look, I’m successful. I’m not showing off to anyone, right?” she explained. 

Ms Guo reflected on her past, noting that many people go through a phase where they’re successful but still seeking validation. She believes that billionaires often dress casually because they’ve reached a point where they no longer need to prove themselves to others. They’re confident in their success and don’t feel the need to flaunt it. Guo feels she’s reached a similar stage, where she’s past the need for external validation. 

“And I think that’s kind of how I like feel, where I’m past that hump. I don’t really have to prove myself to anyone. No one’s going to look at me and point at me like, ‘Haha, she’s so broke’ when I’m pulling up in a Honda Civic because whatever, it doesn’t matter,” she added. 

A Reddit user recounted his “worst travel experience”, sharing how an AC coach on the Patalkot Express turned into a makeshift wedding venue. According to the post, a large family allegedly took over the space, transforming it into a noisy celebration complete with mehendi, tambola, bhajans, and a massive food spread. The impromptu party reportedly left other passengers surprised and possibly a bit bewildered.

The user described the family as visibly wealthy, with at least 25-30 members, including 8-9 children, dressed to the nines and acting as if they were on their way to a wedding. They occupied three adjacent coupes, with the user’s reserved seats in the middle. Initially, they were manageable, but soon chaos erupted. A girl started applying mehndi, kids ran wildly up and down the aisles, screaming, and then a massive food spread emerged from two giant cardboard boxes. The family indulged in a variety of snacks and drinks, including cold drinks, thandai, fruits, dhokla, cake, theplas, chips, sev, and ice cream.There were at least 25–30 people in this group, with 8–9 kids. Looked like they were off to attend a wedding — decked up, hyped up, and turned the coach into a full-on baraat. Now here’s the thing — they weren’t your average noisy train passengers. This was a wealthy Sindhi family, not just upper-middle class — they were truly affluent. Travelling AC, gold chains flashing, branded everything. Their seats were spread across 3 adjacent coupes — ours was in the middle,” the user explained.The situation escalated after lunch, with the family pulling out a speaker to play tambola, complete with a caller announcing numbers like at a wedding. The user complained to Rail Madad, and officials intervened at one station, asking the group to keep the noise down. However, instead of complying, the family became even louder, singing bhajans, playing cards, and taunting the user for complaining, saying “Aur karo complaint!” (Make another complaint!).

“I swear, this was the worst travel experience of my life. And I’ve travelled unreserved in a sleeper during college days — that felt more peaceful than this nonsense in AC. Educated, well-dressed, rich — but absolutely zero class or civic sense. Padhe likhe gawar in the truest sense. I used to defend Indian travellers abroad, saying, “We’re not all like that,” the user concluded. 

The post sparked widespread sympathy for the user, with many criticising the family’s entitled and rude behaviour. Some users noted that such incidents highlight a broader issue of civic sense and discipline in society. 

One user wrote, “There seems to be a trend. When in numbers ( mob), us indians ( especially educated ones ) are the worst. Saw this just minutes before this post. DISGUSTING BEHAVIOUR for cheap publicity.”

Another commented, “Unfortunately, there are people who would still defend this behaviour. A few months back, there was a post in which indians were playing Punjabi songs on a German bus, dancing and singing along while it was moving on the road. There were locals in the video who were quiet and didn’t complain about it. people in the comment section couldn’t realise how messed up and annoying that is, having to shove your culture down someone else’s throat just because they aren’t revolting against you. indians do have a civic sense and discipline problem.”

A third user added, “Third class etiquette in first class travel.”