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Soft and fluffy Malpua is a delightful treat enjoyed across India. This popular dessert is prepared on various special occasions and is especially famous in Odisha, West Bengal, and Nepal. Whether offered in worship or served during festivals, Malpua holds a special place in Indian households.

As Holi approaches, Indian homes are filled with the aroma of traditional sweet and savoury dishes, and Malpua is one of them. Unlike Gujiya or other sweets, Malpua has a distinct taste. Made with flour and dipped in sugar syrup, it is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. However, making this classic dessert perfectly requires some skill. If you want to prepare flawless Malpua for Holi this year, here are some useful tips for you.

In India, festivals are all about good vibes and even better food. With Holi around the corner, preparations are in full swing. And let us be honest – Holi is not complete without Gujiya. That crispy-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside bite of sweetness is what makes the festival even more special. But making Gujiya at home is not always smooth sailing. If the dough is off or the filling is not right, it can ruin the whole batch. Sometimes Gujiya turns out hard or even bursts while frying, and it usually comes down to a few simple mistakes. Here are the six most common ones to avoid if you want perfect Gujiya this Holi.

The crispiness of Gujiya depends on how well you knead the flour. If the dough is not mixed properly, the outer layer will not have that perfect crunch. Always add ghee or oil in proportion to the flour. The trick is to mix enough ghee or oil so that the flour holds its shape when pressed in your hand. If you skip this step or get the balance wrong, the Gujiya will turn out soft and lose that signature crispiness.

Holi 2025: Colour on hands, gulaal on cheeks and smiles on everyone’s faces — if you haven’t guessed already, we are talking about Holi. Youngsters sneakily splash water balloons at each other and load their water guns with bright pigments. Meanwhile, adults exchange warm hugs and stories over gujiyas and thandai. Holi is incomplete without delicious food. Dahi chaat is one of the lip-smacking treats that is savoured during this festival. There are many variations worth trying. Here are some tasty curd-based chaat recipes that you can prepare at home for a fun and flavourful celebration:

A street-food speciality, papdi chaat strikes the right balance between crispness and coolness. The chilled curd combined with papdis and an array of masalas and chutneys, can be the perfect Holi treat.

Samosa and chaat – can there be any other iconic snack combo? We think not. Imagine taking a scrumptious bite into the spice-infused mashed potato, drizzled with sweet curd.

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 court said the judiciary’s showing tolerance towards matters with anti-national overtones is leading to a rise in the number of such cases.

Denying bail to Siddique (62), Justice Siddhartha said, “The commission of such offences is becoming a routine affair in this country because the courts are liberal and tolerant towards such acts of people with an anti-national bent of mind. It is not a fit case for enlarging the applicant on bail at this stage.” 

“Clearly, the act of the applicant is disrespectful to the Constitution and its ideals and also, his act amounts to challenging the sovereignty of India and adversely affecting the unity and integrity of India by sharing an anti-social and anti-Indian post.

“The applicant is a senior citizen and his age shows that he was born in independent India. His irresponsible and anti-national conduct does not entitle him to seek protection of his right to liberty guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India,” the judge said.

However, while denying bail to the applicant, the court directed that the trial against him be concluded as expeditiously as possible.