BIZARRE: 3 - What They Never Told You

Why Keeping Cats Indoors in India Is Safer: Traffic, Disease and Injury Evidence

The Traffic Problem Is Worse Than You ThinkIndia does not have a reliable national database of pet road casualties, but veterinary clinic data from cities like Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Pune tells a consistent story: cats presenting with traumatic injuries, fractured pelvis, internal bleeding, crushed limbs, are overwhelmingly outdoor animals hit…

Times Life · Sep 9

How to Set Up an Eco-Friendly Clay Ganesh Idol at Home Without Skipping a Single Ritual

Start With the Right Clay Idol, and Know What You Are Actually BuyingNot every idol sold as "eco-friendly" qualifies. The standard to look for is natural clay, shaadu mati (the grey riverbed clay used by Pune's traditional sculptors) or red terracotta clay. Both dissolve cleanly in water. What does not…

Times Life · Sep 9

Why Dowry Never Left Urban India, It Just Changed Its Name to Wedding Gifts

The vocabulary changed. The transfer didn't.Your cousin's wedding last winter probably had a list. Not a written one, nothing so honest. A list that lived in phone calls between mothers, in the careful silences after someone mentioned what the groom's family "usually expects," in the way your mausi counted the…

Times Life · Sep 9

Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 Date: Sthapana Muhurat & Puja Vidhi

कर्पूरगौरं करुणावतारं संसारसारं भुजगेन्द्रहारम्। सदा वसन्तं हृदयारविन्दे भवं भवानीसहितं नमामि॥ The date for Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 falls on Monday, September 14. This is the day when the avatar of Lord Ganesha happens and he is prayed to prior to doing any work. Some rituals that take place in the period…

MyLifeXP · Sep 7

MPSC exam paper leak: Aspirants protest in Pune; NCP (SP), Cong leaders back agitation

MPSC aspirants marched in Pune demanding transparency and action against alleged paper leaks. They called for the resignation of the MPSC chairman and secretary. Protesters sought an inquiry into the Drug Inspector exam and evaluation errors. They also demanded a forensic audit of examinations and public disclosure of reports.

The Economic Times · Sep 7

Vande Bharat vs Flight on India's Busiest Corridors: The Real Door-to-Door Cost

Why the Ticket Price Is the Wrong Number to CompareA Delhi-Mumbai flight listed at ₹3,500 sounds like a clear win over a Vande Bharat fare of ₹1,600. It isn't, once you do the full accounting. The flight fare excludes the cab to IGI Terminal 2 from central Delhi (₹600 to…

Times Life · Sep 7

Inside Pen, Raigad: The Workshop Town That Moulds Mumbai's Ganpati Idols by Hand

The town before the season finds itPen does not announce itself. Arriving by road from Mumbai, about two hours through the Khopoli exit on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, then a state highway that narrows as it goes, you pass rice fields and small dhabas before the first workshop appears on your…

Times Life · Sep 7

Road Tripping With a Toddler in India: Route Choices, Break Timings and Packing That Prevents Meltdowns

Pick the Route Before You Pick the DestinationThe biggest mistake families make is choosing where to go and then figuring out how to get there with a toddler. Reverse that. The route is the decision.For children under three, cap driving time at four hours per day, split across two legs.…

Times Life · Sep 6

The Ashtavinayak Yatra: Why the Eight Ganesha Temples of Maharashtra Must Be Visited in Order

It begins at Morgaon, and that is not an accidentThe first temple of the Ashtavinayak circuit is Shri Mayureshwar at Morgaon, about 65 kilometres from Pune. Mayureshwar, Ganesha mounted on a peacock, is both the start and the end of the yatra. Every pilgrim returns here after visiting all eight…

Times Life · Sep 6

Singer Vishal Dadlani lives in a luxurious Pune farmhouse with scenic views, pool, music studio and Michael Jackson poster ‘almost the price of his house’

Director Farah Khan recently explored the stunning farmhouse of Vishal Dadlani located near Pune. This impressive white duplex is surrounded by vibrant greenery, a serene lake, and the breathtaking hills of Pune. Inside, the design harmoniously blends modernity with rustic charm, featuring expansive glass windows. Among its highlights is a…

The Economic Times · Sep 5