No crackers for SRK's sake: Jasria

LUDHIANA: Meeting Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has changed 8-year-old Jasria Juneja. Though she is very fond of bursting crackers on Diwali, Jasria was convinced by SRK's message of celebrating it in a safe way, minus the crackers. So, she has resolved to go eco-friendly.

"When we wished Shah Rukh uncle a happy Diwali, he told us that when he was 15 years old he got burnt while bursting a cracker and still has the burn mark. He said, since then he has been extremely scared of crackers and wants everyone to celebrate the festival of lights in a safe way,'' said Jasria, a student of Sat Paul Mittal School. She added that since her mother's favourite actor has advised to stay away from crackers, she will celebrate Diwali in an eco-friendly way from this year on. "I am also requesting all my friends to say no to crackers,'' said Jasria.

Source: http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-10-21/ludhiana/30305998_1_crackers-eco-friendly-srk

Diwali Crackers in Trivandrum

Diwali Crackers in Trivandrum

Celebrate this Diwali with www.malapadakkam.com and get free home delivery.

* Super Box - Crackers
worth over Rs. 1000, 23 items, for just Rs. 600 only.
* Children Box - Crackers worth over Rs. 1000, 16 items, for just Rs. 300 only.
* Family Box - Crackers
worth Over Rs. 800, 20 items, for just Rs. 450 only.

Shop Details : Sneha Collections (Cracker Shop), Pazhavangadi

Diwali crackers prices skyrocket

Diwali crackers: Another major reason why Diwali doesn’t seem so noisy this year is because the crackers have become unaffordable. Crackers have witnessed a 30 to 40 per cent increase in prices this year.
Vendors say the increase in the cost of raw materials, a labour shortage due to the T bandhs and the rains last year have wreaked havoc on sales. “We haven’t got much orders too; sales have been very dry resulting in a heavy blow on our profits,” said Vikhyat Jonnada, a firecracker wholesaler, adding, “Adequate supply to other districts wasn’t possible due to shortage of transport vehicles and labour. The labour charges too have increased by 10 per cent.”

Prices compared to last year 2010 - 2011
1,000 wala garland Rs 300- Rs 375
Flower pot (giant) Rs190- Rs 250
Shots rocket Rs1,400- Rs1,800


source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com/tabloid/hyderabad/thanda-diwali-cracker-prices-skyrocket-221

Eco-friendly crackers to lure customers

LUCKNOW News: With Diwali extravaganza, shopkeepers have come up with firecrackers designed especially for children. The markets are flooded with variety of crackers like whistle sparklers, magic whip, ghost rocket, rainbow thunder that are grabbing the attention of kids. Because they are eco-friendly, they are high in demand.

Take for instance, the magic whip, which is a long red-coloured string which doesn't emit smoke. Neatly designed, the strip is priced at Rs 85 and has five prices. "It bursts 500 times continuously but is a better and cheaper version of the ordinary 'chatai','' said a wholeseller.

The 'whistling sparklers' only emit silver colours with no sound and smoke. Priced at Rs 85 for five pieces, the whistling sparklers are to impress kids who are too fond of it. The 'wheels' other than the usual round shaped, this year, has come in shape of a 'swastik'. When it is lighted, it will give a look of moving swastik. This unique cracker is also priced at Rs 85 for five pieces.

Besides, colorful fountains have also acquired the centre-stage. Available in the market at Rs 150 (for five pieces), triple coloured fountains is the highlight of the season. To impress the children, crackers have come in the name of IPL teams, like Chennai Super Kings, Deccan Chargers and others. The crackling bullet which costs Rs 30 is also high in demand. The colourful zig zag reaches the sky and produces multi-colours.

In the rockets, which the sellers say that is diminishing in demand, Ghost rocket is a novelty. Instead of a regular triangle top, this rocket has a face of ghost on it. Eco-friendly crackers shaped like 12-star is being preferred because of no smoke and sound. It can be lighted inside the bedrooms also. "The demand for eco-friendly crackers has increased. Nearly 40 percent crackers that we sold are eco-friendly,'' said Gulsher Azad, a wholeseller.

The prices seemed to be high but the crackers are worth it. They have been designed taking the risk factor involved while burning it. And the branded ones are trustworthy. For example, the magic whip is so neatly covered with red paper and gives a long string where one needs to light. 'With long string, there is ample time for people to light it. This decreases the risk involved,'' said another shopkeeper.

However, the price of crackers this year has increased to 40-45 percent in comparison to last year. President, Lucknow Aatisbaji Vypyar Mandal, Akhilesh Gupta reasoned incessant rains in Sivakasi and MNREGA as prime reason for the high cost. This year, there were a lot of rains in Sivakasi which hampered the production. Moreover, the labour now doesn't look up to this work as he finds better money in MNREGA,'' said he. The cost of labour has also led to an increase in the cost of production. Giving an example of the price hike, he said, the 'lal pataka' which was till last year priced at Rs 20 is being sold at Rs 25 now. Similar hike is in other crackers too.


source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/10447984.cms

Green Diwali in clubs

PATNA: The awareness to celebrate Diwali in an eco-friendly way has caught up in city. Almost all city clubs this year have decided to celebrate this festival without jeopardizing the environment. Not only plans have been finalized to exclusively use eco-friendly crackers, but Diwali extravaganzas will cut on sounds too, to check noise pollution.

"We have cut down on crackers with sound and smoke. But as children can't be persuaded for the same, we have provided them eco-friendly firecrackers. The focus is on visual treat, rather than on high-decibel sound," said Manik Vedsen, secretary of the city's lone golf club.

New Patna Club is also preparing for a grand crackers show. It will be held on Monday. "We have brought designer, less smoky eco-friendly firecrackers worth Rs 75,000 from Kolkata and experts to burst them as well," said Rohit Singh, an official.

For over 1,500 guests, the club has planned three rounds of high-priced bumper housie; food and game stalls will also add to the merriment.

An eco-friendly crackers show will be organized at Bankipore Club on the eve of the festival of lights. "We have placed orders for exotic firecrackers. It will create a splendid show in the sky. Around 1000 members are likely to participate in the programme," Mahesh Agrawal, secretary of the club, told TOI.

"This time we will enjoy Diwali celebrations without pollution bogey. Over Rs 30,000 worth of firecrackers will be used," Agrawal added. The club, which will be exotically decorated, will also organize a bumper housie on October 25.

City's eating-joints are not to be left behind either. "At the revolving restaurant, Pind Balluchi's lounge & bar, complimentary welcome drinks will be offered to all lady drinkers. Cocktails like Daiquiri, Mojito, Pina Colada, Cosmopolitan etc will be offered," said Amar Kumar, manager of the restaurant chain.

Pind Balluchi will organize Punjabi food festival from November 7 to 20. It will also launch an open-air "Sunday Brunch" at the 16th floor of Biscomaun Tower soon. Currently, the lone revolving restaurant has around half-a-dozen bookings for Diwali parties. Diwali parties have also started at the other eating joints in the city.

City's another hotel Gargee Grand (GG) has for the first time brought Thai cuisines for Patnaites this Diwali. "Thai food festival has begun on Friday. We have brought Bangkok-trained chef for the purpose. Foodies can enjoy authentic Thai cuisines with a minimum price of Rs 550," said the hotel's general manager, Richard Pereira. He said all those visiting the hotel during Diwali will be given complimentary mocktails and desserts.

Amid exotic decoration, we will organize Awadhiyan, Punjabi, and Mexican food festivals in the days to come. Over 90% of our banquet capacity is booked for Diwali parties, which are generally organized by young Patnaites living outside who come home to spend holidays, he said.

At Hotel Maurya, Purple Lounge, and other joints, which are regularly frequented by patrons, the guests will be getting complimentary mocktails and Diwali gifts. "All those walking in will be given a bunch of home-made chocolates as gifts," Hotel Maurya GM BD Singh said.


source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/Green-Diwali-in-clubs/articleshow/10450075.cms

Ra.One gets a breather, but at considerable cost

MUMBAI: Just days before Ra.One's planned Diwali release, Shah Rukh Khan got a breather from the Bombay high court. On Friday, he and his company agreed to deposit Rs 1 crore to ensure the movie's release in theatres.

But in a setback to Khan, a division bench of chief justice Mohit Shah and justice Roshan Dalvi held that prima facie it was convinced that television writer Yash Patnaik had copyright over the concept on which Ra.One seemed to have been modelled on.

The court said it was inclined to grant an interim stay on the release of the movie in theatres, over satellite, video or DVD. At this point, Khan's lawyers agreed to deposit a demand draft of Rs 1 crore in court. The judges said that if the amount was not deposited by Saturday, its stay would come into force. "It is an unfortunate part of the film industry that people use concepts developed by others and then don't want to pay or give them credit," the judges remarked.

TV writer Patnaik had claimed that he had developed the concept of an Indian superhero, where the lead character is called 'One' and had registered it with the Film Writers Association in December 2006. He was in talks with Mushtaq Sheikh to develop the concept. A few months ago he found that Sheikh had been credited for writing the story and screenplay of Ra.One. The court held that it found substance in Patnaik's claim that "prima facie he had copyright in the concept embodied in the concept note, including materials, graphics, illustrations, drawings, monograms, and scenes and pictures of flying robots and gadgets."

Patnaik had said that his suspicions were confirmed when he saw Sheikh's name in the credits for the film and the promos of Ra.One where the lead character of the film "stands on a high-rise overlooking the cityscape with a waterbody in the foreground, which was the same as the end page in his concept note".

"The efforts put in by Patnaik, commencing from 2002, including the concept note, development of the concept and the storyline are sufficient to confer on him the copyright for the concept note, which prima facie appears to have been relied upon by (Khan and his company) for making the film," the judges said.

The court pointed out that Patnaik's allegations were not controverted by Khan, Red Chilli or Sheikh. Last week, a single judge bench of the high court had refused to stay the release of the film. The division bench said the interim stay should not have been declined by the court on the grounds that Patnaik had filed the case after a considerable delay.

Khan's lawyers had opposed the stay saying a considerable amount had been spent to distribute the movie-Eros International said it had bought its worldwide distribution rights for Rs 150 crore. The movie is set to hit the screens in Dubai on October 24, and in India, London and other parts of the world on October 26.

COURTING CONTROVERSY

* The Bombay high court in 2008 restrained film producer Rakesh Roshan from releasing Krazzy 4 with certain songs after jingle composer Ram Sampath claimed that they were plagiarized from tunes he had composed. Sampath and Roshan reached an out-of-court settlement to ensure the movie's release

* Farah Khan's debut film as director, Om Shanti Om, plunged into controversy after writer Ajay Monga alleged that it was based on a story written by him

* Madhur Bhandarkar's Jail got into copyright issues

* Ramgopal Varma's Rann got into legal trouble after a writer claimed that the film was based on her story

* Haji Mastan's children dragged Ekta Kapoor to court over Once Upon a Time in Mumbai, which was based on Mumbai's underworld, including Mastan

* Salman Khan's Dabangg got caught in litigation over the lyrics of the item number Munni Badnaam Hui

* Sanjay Dutt-starrer Kncok Out faced two rounds of litigation over copyright issues


Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/RaOne-gets-a-breather-but-at-considerable-cost/articleshow/10446460.cms

Diwali online shopping to touch Rs 5,000 cr?

Mumbai, Online demand during the upcoming festive season for products like mobile phones, e-tablets, consumer electronics, home appliances, home decor, furnishings, apparel and ornaments is likely to shoot up 300 per cent from last year to over Rs 5,000 crore as nearly 1.25 crore consumers are expected to place orders through internet, according to The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM).

The figure has gone up by over 100% which was around 250% to Rs 2,000 crore in 2010 in which nearly 90-100 lakh consumers took part according to ASSOCHAM.

Commenting on the ASSOCHAM analysis, its secretary general, D S Rawat said that, the articles that are likely to be shopped intensively during Diwali would include electronic items, gift articles, idols of Gods and Goddesses, sweets, flowers, clothes & jewellery and diamonds due to discount range from 10-15% to 80-90% depending upon product vertical and other offers are lucky draws, free shipping, free gifts and gift vouchers.

Rawat further added that the expected growth during key festivals like Karva Chauth, Dhanteras, Diwali, the online shopping portals will go up by 30-35% this diwali. So, online shopping seen a phenomenal rise in the country and will continue to do so given the great potential and the huge segment of population which is still not net savvy.

The reasons for e-shoppers number multiplying are because of factors such as home delivery which saves time, secondly '24x7' hours shopping with ease and availability factors for product comparisons.

Gujarathis are taking lead in ordering their Diwali requirements of consumer durables product followed by Maharahtrian, Delhiites, Sindhi’s, Rajasthanis and Punjabi. The percentage of South Indians is equally strong.

Keeping this boom in mind a lot of online players have already announced exclusive Diwali deals and even exclusive Diwali shopping stores. Besides for rediff.com the other shopping sites like ebay, homeshop18, sify, indiaplaza and indiatimes have also opened shop for Diwali offers and are enticing online buyers with discounts.

These shopping portals are witnessing a large number of users buying gifts and products also for personal use. Cashing in on the growing number of online shoppers, portals like rediff and ebay are readying themselves for increased traffic, with a series of offerings to consumers.

As per ASSOCHAM estimates, for any shopping site, the sales are expected to go up by around 20-30% month on month during October.

Non-resident Indians (NRIs) are also shopping more online during the festive season. During Raksha Bandhan, online shopping by NRIs contribute to about 40-50% of total shopping, whereas during Diwali, it increases to 85%, adds the paper.

Rediff has announced a series of offerings for its consumers, which includes offering of special gift vouchers of Rs 1,500 with every purchase. The single portal has also seen an increase in the number of visitors each day from 1,00,000 to 1,50,000 during the festive season, which adds up to 7 million visitors a month.

Similarly, other portals are also introducing the ‘Get lucky’ offer, where consumers who shop on the portal will get a discount coupon of 10-50% on all their purchases.

The products that are sold most are in the tech and fashion category, which include mobile phones and accessories, MP3 players, digital cameras and jewellery, among others, said Mr. Rawat.

Online shopping boom is not restricted to metros alone. Lucknow ranks high, followed by Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Dehradun, Nasik, Trichy, adds the Assocham report.

Rawat also mentioned that “online shopping is definitely catching up. Emerging gifting trends also include imported wines and juices. Chocolates are picking up in a big way as a substitute to mithais. This trend extensively points towards luxury shopping, an emerging concept in the Indian market.”

Diwali also marks a time when online purchases of consumer durables, jewellery and gifts comes out of the shadows of online travel, which corners a lion's share of the country's e-commerce. "Majority of the Diwali shopping is consumer durables include electronics, mobile phones, accessories, jewellery and apparel during Dhanteras, when we see many big-ticket items being sold”.

These clearly show that online shopping has truly come of age and consumers are keen to shop on the net. Festival shopping is the prime time for multi-channel retailers to attract new shoppers.

Online retailers have seen growing consumer interest in buying Diwali gifts online. The growth in the last two years to be broad product selection and the ever-expanding range of unique and unusual gifts ideas as well as increased consumer confidence in shopping on interest.

This business module is cost effective, easily accessible and profitable in many functional areas. Consumers and retailers both desire safe, simple and comprehensive online shopping that will truly realize the range of power of the Internet.


source: http://www.indiablooms.com/LifestyleDetailsPage/lifestyleDetails191011b.php