Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the most important and highly celebrated festivals in India, which symbolizes the birth of Lord Ganesha-the elephant-headed god who is believed to dissolve obstacles and is considered a symbol of wisdom and prosperity. This festival literally has the highest dedication in states like Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh.
Approximately the puja lasts for about ten days. The puja begins with the establishment of beautifully crafted idols of Lord Ganesha in homes and in public areas. These idols are decorated with flowers and garbhades, together with colors of wonderfully designed fabrics, making them look very lovely and inviting. Within the decorations, people light their lamps and incense sticks, incarnating a feeling of sanctity & celebration.
In the course of the entire festival, daily rituals and prayers called aartis take effect. Devotees get together in faith to sing devotional songs and to chant mantras like "Ganpati Bappa Morya", which fill the air with a kind of faith and energy. These prayers continue being accompanied with the ringing of bells and clapping hands, strengthening by them a feeling of a common togetherness in which an obvious devotion has been modeled.
One of the specialities of Ganesh Chaturthi is that of preparing and offering modaks-these are sweet dumplings with rice flour or wheat flour with fillings of coconut and jaggery. They are the favourite sweets of Lord Ganesha and therefore an obligatory part of offerings made during the festival. A multitude of other traditional dishes also shares space with modaks.
It is celebrated every year to honour religious purposes; Ganesh Chaturthi is much about an artistic expression. Sculpturing abilities of the local artisans are portrayed with such exquisiteness in idols and decorations. Cultural events like music, dance, and even drama happen and bring together people in a way of celebration.
Devotees marked the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi Visarjan, bidding farewell to Ganpati Bappa and offering prayers for a peaceful, prosperous, and devoted festival. Dressed in traditional Indian attire for the final day of the celebrations, participants expressed hope for the deity's return the following year, invoking the customary festive chant requesting an early return. The bulletin concluded the festive coverage as part of News Without Annoyance, extending festive greetings and weekend wishes to viewers across the nation.
Tension erupted in Hyderabad after meat and bones were allegedly thrown from the seventh floor of an apartment during Ganesh immersion food preparations in the Madannapet area. Police promptly intervened, dispersed the crowd, and brought the situation under control. Three residents, identified as Imran Qureshi, Arshia Begum, and Sabina, have been detained in connection with the incident. Authorities have launched an investigation to ascertain their motives and have appealed to the public for peace, warning against rumor-mongering and the circulation of unverified claims on social media.
A Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration survey reveals markups of up to 2,854 per cent on medical and hospital consumables, prompting Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe to submit recommendations to the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority and the Department of Pharmaceuticals for trade margin rationalisation and stricter price monitoring. Experts and consumer rights advocates call for regulatory price caps on surgical items such as IV infusion sets, syringes, and catheters. The news report also features the Union Finance Ministry's clarification rejecting opposition claims of foreign pressure regarding a proposed 0.4 per cent Merchant Discount Rate on UPI transactions above 2,000 rupees, reaffirming the independence of India's digital payments framework. Additionally, the broadcast addresses discussions surrounding online trolling and body shaming targeting actor Katrina Kaif following a public appearance during Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations.
Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe addresses extreme pricing markups on hospital consumables, where procurement rates for items like IV sets, syringes, and catheters are inflated by up to 2,850 percent on patient bills.
Actor Katrina Kaif has faced a barrage of online comments regarding her appearance, weight, and visible changes following her public appearance with husband Vicky Kaushal at an Ambani Ganesh Chaturthi celebration. Fans quickly defended the actor, pointing out that she is forty and a new mother who does not need to adhere to arbitrary beauty standards. The report notes that several prominent women in the public eye, including Aishwarya Rai, Sonam Kapoor, Sonakshi Sinha, and Huma Qureshi, have repeatedly faced scrutiny, harsh critiques, and body policing over natural ageing, physical weight shifts, and postpartum body changes.
The Food and Drug Administration, led by Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, has launched a major food safety crackdown across Mumbai during Ganesh Chaturthi. Over 4,100 kilograms of sweets and 30 litres of milk have been seized during enforcement drives. The FDA also suspended the licences of four outlets, including Colaba's iconic Café Mondegar, after discovering critical safety breaches such as improper thawing, inadequate rapid cooling, sanitation issues, and failure to maintain mandatory hot and cold holding temperatures. Alongside enforcement, the FDA is conducting awareness workshops with mandals to ensure hygienic preparation and packaging of prasad and modaks distributed during festivities.
This special broadcast covers major developments in technology, crime investigations, and civic regulations. The report examines global debates on artificial intelligence safety following the resignation of Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon, who cited existential threats from unchecked development. Anthropic Chief Executive Dario Amodei outlined a three-step framework covering embedded reviewers, industry safety standards, and international coordination, alongside reactions from international leaders and industry executives Vineet Nayar and CP Gurnani regarding sovereign AI regulations and technological monopolies. In Gurugram, authorities investigate a hit-and-run incident after a woman biker named Sia was struck by a speeding vehicle amid family allegations of a deliberate collision. In Mumbai, the Central Bureau of Investigation registered a fresh FIR in the death case of celebrity manager Disha Salian following directions from the Bombay High Court. The broadcast also reviews civic concerns regarding high-decibel sound systems during Ganesh Utsav in Maharashtra with activist Vidyanand Bapat.
Ganesh Utsav celebrations are underway across Maharashtra, marking the state's biggest festival with widespread enthusiasm. Devotees offer prayers to Lord Ganesha, seeking the removal of obstacles along with wishes for peace and prosperity. The traditional offering of modak sweets accompanies festive gatherings. High-profile visitors, including the United States Ambassador to India, alongside several celebrities, were seen offering prayers at the famous Lalbaugcha Raja idol in Mumbai. The visual broadcast highlights the grand festive spirit and cultural reverence observed by devotees throughout Mumbai.
In this India Today Programme Video, anchor Akshita Nandagopal brings you the biggest political and national flashpoints — from the row over Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay's UK visit and the DMK's reported 2029 third-front plans to the Mysuru Ganesh Chaturthi procession controversy, the attack on a Kargil war veteran in Gurugram, and the Indian women's cricket team's boycott of the Asia Cup trophy ceremony in Dubai.
Actor Salman Khan arrived in style at brother Sohail's home for Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations. Salman's new look has left fans impressed.
A political controversy has emerged over Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay's official visit to the United Kingdom, where he attended the Silverstone Le Mans Cup alongside actor Ajith Kumar and announced plans related to motorsport infrastructure in the state. Opposition leaders raised questions regarding the schedule, transparency, and nature of the overseas tour, while state officials and TVK representatives pointed to newly signed Memorandums of Understanding in London with entities such as Sigma Technology Group to establish Global Capability Centres. The broadcast also features panel discussions on the political meeting between DMK MP Kanimozhi and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray in Mumbai, alongside updates on a communal dispute during Ganesh Chaturthi in Mysuru, police action in a Gurugram assault case involving a Kargil war veteran, and developments from the Women's Asia Cup.
During Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations in Tamil Nadu, creative idols at RK Nagar in Kodungaiyur have integrated themes honouring actor and political leader Vijay. The installation showcases three distinct Ganesha statues tracing his journey. The first statue depicts Vijay from his popular movie 'Ghilli' as a kabaddi player. The second statue portrays his transition into a political leader, showing him on the campaign trail in a white shirt, khaki trousers, and a TVK shawl. The third idol depicts him as Chief Minister with his iconic hand gesture, wearing a black coat, white shirt, and a Louis Vuitton belt.
In an exclusive interview, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner of Maharashtra, Tukaram Munde, addressed the regulatory action taken against restaurants operating within the ISKCON complex in Juhu, Mumbai, as well as railway catering vendors. Responding to public reactions regarding the suspension of licenses, Munde maintained that the department operates without bias toward any religion, culture, or institution, stating, "The issue here is food safety and standards, nothing less, nothing more." He clarified that FDA actions are based entirely on compliance with food safety legislation established since 2011. Munde detailed a comprehensive four-stage standing operating procedure implemented across the year to inspect raw materials, vendor kitchens, and food quality during festivals. Highlighting the department's enforcement over the past 100 days, he noted that over 12,000 food inspections and 2,300 drug sector visits were conducted, issuing thousands of improvement notices and suspending hundreds of non-compliant licenses to foster a culture of compliance and safeguard public health.
In a political debate on India Today anchored by Preeti, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate and political analyst Rajat Sethi clashed over the recent surge in domestic sugar prices during the festive season. Rajat Sethi argued that the price hike is primarily driven by reduced sugarcane output following excessive rainfall in key producing states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Gujarat, alongside global supply shortages and speculative hoarding. He defended the government's ethanol blending program as a crucial buffer against international fuel supply risks. Countering his claims, Supriya Shrinate attributed the crisis to 'gross mismanagement' and a lack of central accountability. She highlighted that sugar prices rose by forty percent over three months and criticized the government for continuing exports despite low reserves. Shrinate further questioned the delayed policy response, noting that importing raw sugar at the peak of festivities like Raksha Bandhan and Diwali is a knee-jerk reaction that takes months to yield refined sugar.
A tragic incident occurred in Mumbai's Bhuleshwar area during a Ganesh arrival procession when a 22-foot Ganesh idol fell onto the crowd, resulting in two deaths and leaving five others injured. The deceased were declared brought dead upon arrival, while the five injured individuals, including two minors aged five and seven, were admitted to GT Hospital and JJ Hospital for medical care. An inquiry has been initiated to determine the cause of the collapse. Preliminary details suggest that the structure fell after its frame gave way during the procession, rather than due to road potholes.
Tamil Nadu Leader of the Opposition Udayanidhi Stalin was released on station bail in Sengipatti, Thanjavur.
Are Indians the only ones making a ruckus during festivals abroad—or do we just get shamed for celebrating our own traditions?
Salman Khan visited the Bandra West Public Ganeshotsav Mandal organised by BJP leader Ashish Shelar on Monday. The Bollywood superstar, who is currently seen as a host on Bigg Boss 19, sought Bappa's blessings. He will be seen in Battle of Galwan next.
Ranbir Kapoor and his mother Neetu Kapoor bid farewell to Lord Ganesha, performing aarti together followed by the traditional immersion of the idol in a Ganpati Visarjan ceremony, surrounded by devotees.
The big talking point of this episode of News Today is the escalating tariff war following the United States' imposition of 50 percent tariffs on India.
