Poush Mela, celebrated during the harvest season, reflects Malda’s agrarian roots. Originating from ancient agricultural rituals, it marks gratitude for a successful harvest. The festival features folk music, traditional foods, and handicrafts. Historically, such fairs allowed rural communities to trade goods and celebrate collective prosperity. Even today, Poush Mela preserves the essence of village life and seasonal rhythms.
The Gambhira Festival is one of Malda’s most unique folk traditions. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, it dates back to medieval rural Bengal and was originally a ritualistic celebration during the Chaitra month. Over time, Gambhira evolved into a form of folk theatre. Performers wearing masks engage in dialogues that often address social, political, and moral issues. This transformation reflects how local traditions adapted to changing times while retaining their spiritual roots. It remains a powerful example of how festivals can serve as platforms for community expression.
Kali Puja, often coinciding with Diwali, holds deep spiritual importance in Malda. Goddess Kali, associated with power and transformation, has been worshipped in Bengal since ancient tantric traditions. The region’s historical connection with Shakti worship makes Kali Puja particularly significant. Diwali, the festival of lights, complements Kali Puja with its themes of prosperity and hope. Historically linked to agricultural cycles and trade, the lighting of lamps symbolizes the removal of darkness and ignorance. In Malda, homes, temples, and streets glow with diyas and decorations, creating a vibrant nighttime atmosphere.
Among all festivals, Durga Puja stands as the most celebrated and culturally defining event in Malda. Rooted in Hindu mythology, it commemorates the victory of Goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil. Historically, the festival gained prominence during the late medieval period under Bengal’s zamindars, who organized grand community worship. In Malda, Durga Puja evolved into a social and artistic spectacle. Intricately designed pandals (temporary temples), elaborate idols, and cultural programs reflect both tradition and modern creativity. The festival also strengthens community bonds, as people across religions participate in the celebrations.
Sharp gains were clocked in major US technology stocks on Wednesday, which soared up to 9% after President Donald Trump Declared a two-week ceasefire in Iran. The rally was driven by reduced risks of attacks on US data centres and GCC compute hubs located in the gulf and middle east region. Shares of Intel Corp. rose as much as nearly 9% to $57.38, while Meta Platforms Inc. rose 5% in early trade to $602.80, Microsoft Corp. also rose 2% to trade at $379.55. Besides these, all of the magnificent seven traded in the green over 2% higher. Google parent Alphabet Inc. had surged 4.05% higher to $317.57, while aI-linked bellwether chipmaker Nvidia rose over 3% after the market opened to trade at $183.75. The stocks later pared gains but remained in the green territory. As of 11 a.m., EST, Intel’s stock pared gains to trade 6.5% higher at $56.34, Alphabet traded 3.7% higher at $316.91, Meta Platforms was up 3.3% at $593.97, and Nvidia traded 1.77% higher at $181.25, and Microsoft traded 1.6% higher at $378.44.
Classic watches offer limited features. Smartwatches come with health tracking features. They also let users answer calls and respond to messages and emails. This change has been monumental and more visible, especially in the past two decades. Among other things, the way people use their watches has changed significantly. What was once a simple gizmo to check time has now evolved into a gadget that not only displays date and time, but can also track your health, your location, and can be used for calling and messaging people and even playing games. To put it simply, wrist watches have gone from being a simple tool to one of the smartest pieces of tech you own. This multi-faceted nature of smartwatches has made them extremely popular among buyers. It has also raised an important question among buyers: are smartwatches actually replacing classic watches? The answer isn’t as simple as it seems. It largely depends on how you plan to use your watch or smartwatch. Why are smartwatches gaining popularity? Smartwatches are gaining popularity among masses as they offer a slew of features that are not restricted to displaying date and time. Today, smartwatches can track your fitness, your heart rate, your water intake, and your step count. They can tell if you have been working non-stop without taking breaks. They can even take calls and let you check messages without ever touching your smartphones. What’s more? These features don’t cost a lot and can be easily accessed in smartwatches under ₹5,000.
The constant urge to check on your home when you are away is something you may relate to. Traditional CCTV setups don’t give you this option which is a big inconvenience for everyday use. Wi Fi security cameras is an answer to that, it offers way more options than traditional CCTV systems. It is easier to setup and requires least number of tools to set it up in your home. And the best part? You can check your home on your phone when away.
HDFC Bank has hired external law firms to review Atanu Chakraborty’s shock resignation. The lender’s shares have plunged 12% since his sudden departure. HDFC Bank Ltd. has appointed an external law firm to conduct a thorough review of Atanu Chakraborty’s shock exit as part-time chairman and Independent Director of the bank, the lender confirmed in an exchange filing on Tuesday. Chakraborty, who had joined HDFC Bank in 2021, had announced his resignation from HDFC Bank last week, as he pointed to ethical differences between him and how the bank operates, without providing further details. The nature and tone of Chakraborty sent ripples through the stock market, with HDFC Bank’s shares taking a sharp fall. Since his announcement, the lender’s shares have fallen almost 12% ahead of Tuesday’s market open.
The DUDP is located about 180 kilometres north west of Mumbai and about 80 km south of Pipavav, Gujarat. Oil and Natural Gas Corp. shares rose during early trade on Monday after it started commercial supply of gas from its offshore facility in Daman. The Daman Upside Development Project, developed with a capital expenditure of approximately $1 billion, commenced monetisation on Sunday by flowing gas from Platform B-12-24P to the Hazira Plant. The successful execution, completed in less than two years, underscores strong project management and innovative drilling techniques, setting the stage for phased production ramping, ONGC said in a stock exchange filing. The DUDP is located about 180 kilometres northwest of Mumbai and about 80 km south of Pipavav, Gujarat. The project went live with the commencement of production from its first well in August 2016. The new gas supply comes amid the disruption in imports from Persian Gulf producers since the outbreak of the Iran war a month ago. Tehran has allowed limited shipping through the narrow Strait of Hormuz.
Shares of the chip giant rose more than 10% over the past six sessions, their longest winning streak since October. After months of sluggish returns, Nvidia Corp.’s stock is rallying again and close to breaking out of its narrow trading range, which market technicians see as a bullish signal. Shares of the chip giant rose more than 10% over the past six sessions, their longest winning streak since October. This comes after substantial stretch of nothing, with the shares essentially flat from September 2025 through the end of last month. They closed trading Wednesday at $182, near the $185 level that technical traders are watching closely. Shares dipped 0.5% on Thursday. “If Nvidia sustains above $185, I would say the money is ready to run back in,” said Jonathan Krinsky, BTIG’s chief market technician. “The long-term trend remains positive.”
