New Delhi:

A man in Delhi recently ordered chicken biryani through a food delivery app but found himself at the receiving end of a moral lecture, all served fresh by the delivery agent who told him: “Chicken and mutton only after Diwali.”  

Expecting biryani but getting life advice, a Reddit user recounted that the delivery agent, upon dutifully delivering the order, lingered to offer up not just the OTP, but also a serving of unrequested opinion. 

“What you are doing is not right,” the delivery agent allegedly said in Hindi. “Eat chicken and mutton only after Diwali and consume something clean till then.” 

Caught off-guard, the Reddit user claimed he simply froze with a guilty smile. “What could I even say? Why does he care anyway?” was his inward lament. 

The anecdote only gets juicier. After receiving the unsolicited advice, the Reddit user claimed the intervention left him wondering if his biryani might have had an unwelcome additional “ingredient” in it, courtesy of the aggrieved delivery man. 

“What should I do? I have his number and name, he knows my home, if I report him he might make a scene,” he wrote.

Weird shit happened today
byu/paisaagadimehngaghar indelhi

The man’s post quickly went viral on Reddit, receiving over 2,000 upvotes and triggering an online debate.

“Why is he rubbing his belief on you? Ask him not to deliver chicken then!” commented one user. 

“Man this was one of my biggest fears – this kind of moral policing,” wrote another. 

The man wrote in the comments that he took this matter up with the app’s customer support team. 

New Delhi:

The air quality in Delhi worsened this morning as people defied a ban on firecrackers during Diwali celebrations on Thursday.

The relentless bursting of firecrackers caused severe noise pollution and blanketed the national capital in dense smoke with residents flouting the restrictions till late at night.

#WATCH | Delhi skyline on #Diwali shows the city illuminated in colourful lights. pic.twitter.com/BRvtW3wsRz

— ANI (@ANI) October 31, 2024

According to the real-time data provided by the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), Delhi’s air quality index (AQI) soared to 359 at 6:30 am, which falls under the “very poor” category. The AQI on the morning of Diwali was at 328.

An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered good, 51 and 100 satisfactory, 101 and 200 moderate, 201 and 300 poor, 301 and 400 very poor, 401 and 450 severe, and above 450 severe-plus.

The AQI level in most of the 40 monitoring stations in the city remained in the “very poor” category with Anand Vihar and RK Puram reporting the worst air quality index of 395.

#WATCH | Delhi: A thin layer of smog engulfs the National Capital as the air quality continues to deteriorate.

As per the CPCB, the AQI of the area is 317, in the ‘very poor’ category.

(Visuals from India Gate) pic.twitter.com/nKvFMOPZrd

— ANI (@ANI) November 1, 2024

Burari Crossing (394), Sonia Vihar (392), Punjabi Bagh (391), North Campus (390), Bawana (388), Jahangirpuri (387), Rohini (385), Ashok Vihar (384), and Nehru Nagar (381) were some other places with the “very poor” air quality

The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, has said that the air quality in the national capital is likely to be in the “very poor” category (AQI 300 to 400) on Friday.

ALSO READ | Delhi Air Pollution, Ahead Of Winter, Raises Respiratory Illness By 15%

On Diwali eve, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai announced that 377 teams were formed to enforce the ban on firecrackers across the capital. A senior Delhi Police officer had said all deputy commissioners of police (DCPs) were asked to form dedicated teams to ensure that firecrackers are not burst in their respective districts.

Last year, the “festival of lights” was celebrated on November 12 and Delhi recorded its best air quality on Diwali day in eight years, with the average AQI at 218.

Stubble burning or farm fires in neighbouring Haryana and Punjab, especially during the post-harvest season of October and November, are also often blamed for the rise in pollution levels in Delhi.

ALSO READ | Smog Engulfs Delhi-NCR, Toxic Foam Blankets Yamuna River As Winter Approaches

The capital has been breathing hazardous air quality for the past few weeks, prompting authorities to impose stage two of the GRAP or the Graded Response Action Plan last week.

New Delhi:

President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah extended their greetings to the citizens on the occasion of Diwali on Thursday.

“On the auspicious occasion of Diwali, I extend my greetings and best wishes to all Indians living in India and abroad,” President Murmu said in a post on social media platform X.

In her message to the citizens, the President said: “Deepawali is a festival of happiness and joy. It is a celebration of the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. This festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm by various communities and classes in India and abroad. This festival spreads hope for a bright future.”

“On the auspicious occasion of Deepawali, we should resolve to enlighten our conscience and adopt good attitudes like love, compassion and social harmony. This festival is also an opportunity to help the deprived and the needy and share happiness with them. Let us take pride in the glorious culture of India by believing in goodness and take a pledge to build a healthy, prosperous and sensitive society and celebrate a pollution-free Deepawali,” she added.

Prime Minister Modi also took to X to extend his best wishes on Diwali. In a post, he said: “Many happy wishes to the countrymen on Deepawali. On this divine festival of lights, I wish everyone a healthy, happy and prosperous life. May everyone prosper with the blessings of Maa Lakshmi and Lord Shri Ganesha.”

Home Minister Shah also extended his greetings to the people. “Heartiest greetings to all countrymen on the festival of lights, Diwali. May this festival of lights bring new energy, health and prosperity in the lives of all of you,” he posted on X.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Delhi and neighbouring areas woke up to a thick layer of smog this morning, and the air quality index (AQI) remained in the “very poor” category despite various anti-pollution measures. According to the real-time data provided by the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), the AQI on the morning of Diwali was recorded at 328, which falls under the “very poor” category.

An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered good, 51 and 100 satisfactory, 101 and 200 moderate, 201 and 300 poor, 301 and 400 very poor, 401 and 450 severe, and above 450 severe-plus.

In Anand Vihar, which is one of the 40 monitoring stations in the national capital, the AQI level was recorded at 419 and remained in the “severe” category.

#WATCH | Delhi: A layer of smog engulfs the Anand Vihar area of the National Capital.

The Air Quality Index of Anand Vihar is 418 in the ‘Severe’ category as per the CPCB. pic.twitter.com/zcGVBOarZx

— ANI (@ANI) October 31, 2024

The air quality remained “very poor” in other areas like Alipur, \Ashok Vihar, Aya Nagar, Bawana, Burari, Dwarka, IGI Airport (T3), Jahangirpuri, Mundka, Narela, Okhla, Patparganj, Punjabi Bagh, Rohini, RK Puram, Rohini, Vivek Vihar, Shadipur, Sonia Vihar, and Wazirpur.

ALSO READ | Delhi Air Pollution, Ahead Of Winter, Raises Respiratory Illness By 15%

The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune said the air quality is likely to be in the “very poor” category on Thursday and Friday, but may also reach the severe category in case of additional emissions from firecrackers and stubble or waste fires.

Mahesh Palawat of Skymet Weather Services told the news agency PTI that on Diwali, pollution levels are likely to rise as winds have shifted from south-southeast to northwesterly, which may carry smoke from stubble burning into the city.

“If firecrackers are also burst, the altered wind direction could further trap pollutants, worsening the air quality,” he said.

Last year, the “festival of lights” was celebrated on November 12 and Delhi recorded its best air quality on Diwali day in eight years, with the average AQI at 218.

Stubble burning or farm fires in neighbouring Haryana and Punjab, especially during the post-harvest season of October and November, are also often blamed for the rise in pollution levels in Delhi.

Strict Measures In Delhi On Diwali

As many as 377 teams have been formed to enforce the ban on firecrackers across the national capital on Diwali, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai has said.

A senior Delhi Police officer has said all deputy commissioners of police (DCPs) have been asked to form dedicated teams to ensure that firecrackers are not burst in their respective districts.

The capital has been breathing hazardous air quality for the past few weeks, prompting authorities to impose stage two of the GRAP or the Graded Response Action Plan last week.

Under stage two, there will be restrictions on the use of coal and firewood as well as diesel generator sets in the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR).

ALSO READ | Smog Engulfs Delhi-NCR, Toxic Foam Blankets Yamuna River As Winter Approaches

Mechanical sweeping and water sprinkling on identified roads will also be carried out on a daily basis, and dust control measures will be enforced at construction and demolition sites.

Further, traffic personnel will be deployed at congestion points, vehicle parking fees will be increased to discourage private transport and additional bus and metro services will be started.

People have been advised to use public transport and minimize the use of personal vehicles. They also have been asked to regularly replace air filters at recommended intervals in their automobiles, and avoid dust-generating construction activities from October to January.

People in Delhi-NCR also have been told to avoid the open burning of solid waste and bio-mass.

New Delhi:

US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti has yet again surprised everyone with his dance performance during the Diwali celebrations at the US embassy in Delhi.

Mr Garcetti, who has shown his Bollywood dance skills in the past as well, today shook a leg to the popular song “Tauba Tauba” from Vicky Kaushal starrer “Bad Newz”.

In a video shared by the news agency ANI on X, the 53-year-old wore a brown kurta and a pair of shades while dancing to the hit song. 

#WATCH | US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti dances to the tune of the popular Hindi song ‘Tauba, Tauba’ during Diwali celebrations at the embassy in Delhi

(Video source: US Embassy) pic.twitter.com/MLdLd8IDrH

— ANI (@ANI) October 30, 2024

“Wow his dance skills are amazing,” a user said.

“Too good,” said another.

Earlier last year, Mr Garcetti danced to the hit song ‘Chaiyya Chaiyya’ during a Diwali celebration event at the US embassy.

The original song, which came out in 1998, featured Shah Rukh Khan and Malaika Arora grooving on a train. 

I applaud the jovial spirit of US Ambassador to India, Mr. @ericgarcetti, for showing delightful interest in Diwali celebrations. Let there be light and happiness in the relationship of US and India like this forever!@USAmbIndiapic.twitter.com/8COlQ5EGlQ

— Satnam Singh Sandhu (@satnamsandhuchd) November 10, 2023

Since being appointed last year, Eric Garcetti has wholeheartedly soaked in the Indian traditions and has celebrated various festivals.

Joe Biden Hosts Diwali Event At White House

US President Joe Biden on Monday also hosted a Diwali celebration at the White House. The event was reportedly attended by more than 600 eminent Indian Americans, including Congressmen, officials, and corporate executives, from across the country.

It was also joined by Indian-origin American astronaut Sunita Williams, who is currently stuck on the International Space Station.

Mr Garcetti called it a “beautiful” Diwali celebration.

“As we celebrate the journey of light, we also honor the invaluable contributions of Indian Americans who deepen the US-India bond. From New Delhi to DC, may the light of Diwali illuminate every corner of the world and spread the message of peace and prosperity,” he posted on X.

What a beautiful celebration of Diwali at the @WhiteHouse! As we celebrate the journey of light, we also honor the invaluable contributions of Indian Americans who deepen the #USIndia bond. From New Delhi to D.C., may the light of Diwali illuminate every corner of the world and… https://t.co/1CEjRwhptQ

— U.S. Ambassador Eric Garcetti (@USAmbIndia) October 30, 2024

Vice President Kamala Harris, who is of Indian origin, and First Lady Dr Jill Biden could not attend the event as they were on the campaign trail.

New Delhi:

US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti has yet again surprised everyone with his dance performance during the Diwali celebrations at the US embassy in Delhi.

Mr Garcetti, who has shown his Bollywood dance skills in the past as well, today shook a leg to the popular song “Tauba Tauba” from Vicky Kaushal starrer “Bad Newz”.

In a video shared by the news agency ANI on X, the 53-year-old wore a brown kurta and a pair of shades while dancing to the hit song. 

#WATCH | US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti dances to the tune of the popular Hindi song ‘Tauba, Tauba’ during Diwali celebrations at the embassy in Delhi

(Video source: US Embassy) pic.twitter.com/MLdLd8IDrH

— ANI (@ANI) October 30, 2024

“Wow his dance skills are amazing,” a user said.

“Too good,” said another.

Earlier last year, Mr Garcetti danced to the hit song ‘Chaiyya Chaiyya’ during a Diwali celebration event at the US embassy.

The original song, which came out in 1998, featured Shah Rukh Khan and Malaika Arora grooving on a train. 

I applaud the jovial spirit of US Ambassador to India, Mr. @ericgarcetti, for showing delightful interest in Diwali celebrations. Let there be light and happiness in the relationship of US and India like this forever!@USAmbIndiapic.twitter.com/8COlQ5EGlQ

— Satnam Singh Sandhu (@satnamsandhuchd) November 10, 2023

Since being appointed last year, Eric Garcetti has wholeheartedly soaked in the Indian traditions and has celebrated various festivals.

Joe Biden Hosts Diwali Event At White House

US President Joe Biden on Monday also hosted a Diwali celebration at the White House. The event was reportedly attended by more than 600 eminent Indian Americans, including Congressmen, officials, and corporate executives, from across the country.

It was also joined by Indian-origin American astronaut Sunita Williams, who is currently stuck on the International Space Station.

Mr Garcetti called it a “beautiful” Diwali celebration.

“As we celebrate the journey of light, we also honor the invaluable contributions of Indian Americans who deepen the US-India bond. From New Delhi to DC, may the light of Diwali illuminate every corner of the world and spread the message of peace and prosperity,” he posted on X.

What a beautiful celebration of Diwali at the @WhiteHouse! As we celebrate the journey of light, we also honor the invaluable contributions of Indian Americans who deepen the #USIndia bond. From New Delhi to D.C., may the light of Diwali illuminate every corner of the world and… https://t.co/1CEjRwhptQ

— U.S. Ambassador Eric Garcetti (@USAmbIndia) October 30, 2024

Vice President Kamala Harris, who is of Indian origin, and First Lady Dr Jill Biden could not attend the event as they were on the campaign trail.

One of the biggest festivals in India – Diwali – is around the corner, but one question has confused everyone, When is it? Some say it is on October 31, while some say it’s the next day, November 1. 

Diwali Puja is typically performed on the festival’s main day, which falls on the new moon day of the Hindu lunar month of Kartik. The Panchang, an ancient Hindu calendar, determines the auspicious timing

According to the Hindu calendar, Diwali is celebrated on Amavasya in the month of Kartik. This year, confusion has risen over the exact date of the celebration, as Amavasya falls on two consecutive days. Amavasya is expected to begin at 3:55 pm on October 31 and last until 6:15 pm on November 1.

Amavasya falling on Diwali is considered to be auspicious. Some experts say it will be celebrated on October 31, 2024, when the Amavasya night occurs. Meanwhile, a report on Business Standard said, Diwali will be celebrated on November 1 this year, according to more than 150 scholars. The decision was announced after a meeting in Indore, where hundreds of priests and experts had gathered to determine the most appropriate date for this year’s festivities.

The Amavasya Tithi for Diwali 2024 begins on October 31 at 3:52 P.M. and concludes on November 1 at 6:16 pm. People can celebrate the festival on both days and this year celebrations will last for six days. 

Key dates related to Diwali 2024:

October 29 – Dhanteras 
October 30 – Choti Diwali 
October 31/ November 1 – Diwali celebrations 
November 2 – Goverdhan Puja 
November 3 – Bhai Dooj

The Diwali pujanot only celebrates the return of Lord Rama from Lanka after defeating demon king Ravana (according to Ramayana) but is also a way to pray for prosperity, good luck, and good health all year long. The Diwali Puja begins with thorough cleaning and decorating of the house.