Maharashtras Kolhati women preserve the States Tamasha folk tradition even as many face sexual exploitation, financial insecurity and social stigma, and their children are denied access to education and a chance to choose better future. Radheshyam Jadhav explores how community members and activists are working to break this intergenerational cycle of exploitation while preserving their cultural heritage
Soybean output may dip to 2%; MP, Rajasthan to cushion Maharashtra losses
India's soybean production is expected to decline marginally by 2.11 per cent to 107.93 lakh tonnes in the ongoing Kharif season despite drought-like conditions in several regions, the Soybean Processors Association of India (SOPA) has said. Higher output in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan will likely largely offset crop losses in Maharashtra, according to the association's first crop estimate report. The data was shared during the concluding session of SOPA's international soybean conference in Indore on Saturday. Soybean is a key oilseed crop that provides domestic cooking oil and a protein base for the livestock and poultry industries. Overall production is estimated to decline by 2.11 per cent from the previous season, the association said. It attributed the losses in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Telangana to prolonged dry spells and moisture deficiency during critical stages of crop growth. Soybean crops sown across a combined 7.02 lakh hectares in these three states were completel
Indias soybean output seen falling 2.1% to 107.93 lakh tonnes in Kharif 2026: Farmers' body
India's soybean production forecast indicates a slight decline to 107.93 lakh tonnes during the ongoing Kharif season. Drought-like conditions in Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Telangana are contributing to this reduction in output. However, increased production in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan is expected to compensate for these losses. The area cultivated with soybean increased by approximately 5 lakh hectares compared to the previous season.
Bihar: Two vendors detained after Made in Pakistan bedsheets found on sale
Police in Bihars Motihari have detained two travelling vendors for questioning after complaints about bedsheets labelled Made in Pakistan being sold locally. Investigators are examining the products origin and tracing a possible supply link to a textile trader, while the authenticity of the labels remains unverified
Delhi-Mumbai Expressway accident: Eight from Madhya Pradesh killed in Rajasthan
At least eight people from Madhya Pradeshs Betul district were killed and around nine injured after a tempo traveller fell into a 15-foot-deep drain on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway in Rajasthans Kota district around 6 am on Saturday. The group was travelling to Khatu Shyam Temple in Sikar
Giant pumpkins, paper planes and AI tigers: The internets strangest stories
From a 1,083 kg pumpkin winning Californias World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off to Idahos David Rush catching 20 paper planes with his mouth, unusual stories are making headlines. The roundup also features a viral sheep mascot, an unexpected lottery win and an AI-generated video of Donald Trump
An ode to fish and fisherfolk of Mumbai
The cause is dull and chemical. Rice balls, flour, flowers and ghee go into the water
Three children killed in Yemen airstrikes, Houthis blame Saudi Arabia
Houthi rebels have accused Saudi Arabia of carrying out airstrikes in Yemens Dhamar province that killed three children and injured more than a dozen people. The allegations come amid renewed fighting, as Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi pledged support for Saudi Arabia amid escalating Houthi attacks
Flamingo nests found in Sambhar Lake
More than 4,000 flamingo nests documented at Rajasthans Sambhar Lake have raised hopes that the wetland could become a significant breeding ground beyond Gujarats Rann of Kutch. Wildlife photographer Gaurav Dadhich recorded nests of Lesser and Greater Flamingos, along with evidence of successful breeding involving chicks
Gwalior: 13 killed, as truck rams devotees near Sheetlamata Mandir
At least 13 people were killed and nearly 40 injured after a truck loaded with paddy crashed into devotees waiting near Sheetlamata Mandir in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, around 1.30 am on Sunday. Police said the driver lost control of the vehicle, which stopped after hitting the temple wall
Kolkata stampede: 19 killed, 25 injured at Chorebagan Durga Puja pandal
At least 19 people died and 25 were injured in a stampede at the Chorebagan Durga Puja pandal in north Kolkata on Maha Saptami after a crowd surge amid rain. Authorities detained organisers and security guards and ordered a probe. PM Modi announced financial assistance for the victims
Nana Patekar: An Essayist of Characters
Nana Patekar died in the early hours of Thursday, 8 October 2026 of a cardiac arrest at his home in Goa. He was seventy-five. Four days earlier, at a function near Panaji, he had spoken of death without theatre. We all have to go someday. I dont know whether I will be here tomorrow But before the time comes we have to think am I able to do what I want to do? Have I made the effort? Then, The Indian Express reports, he danced with a troupe and told a fan who asked for a Krantiveer dialogue that none would leave his throat until he heard the jingling of money in his ears. Frank, funny, faintly dangerous, and honest about the clock: that was Nana to the last. I keep a short roll of honour among the worlds actors: Gregory Peck, Marlon Brando, Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Dilip Kumar, George C. Scott, Donald Sutherland, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Charles Chaplin, Alec Guinness, Jack Nicholson. Nana Patekar belongs on that roll, and not as a courtesy of nationality. He was an essayist of characters. Each of his men arrived as a thesis, made its case in a rasp or a silence, and left the audience altered. Look at the range. In Salaam Bombay! (1988) he was Baba, a drug dealer and pimp without a flicker of pity. In Parinda (1989) he was the crime lord Anna Seth, whose maniacal laugh won him his first National Award. In Krantiveer (1994) he turned anger into a public argument against corruption and won Best Actor. In Khamoshi: The Musical (1996) he played a deaf-mute father with no dialogue to lean on; the Express called it pure performance, the hallmark of a true actor. In Ab Tak Chhappan (2004) he was a police inspector so obsessed with cleaning up crime that all semblance of balance disappeared. In Natsamrat (2016) he became Ganpat Appa Belwalkar, the stage legend who neglected his family in his prime and found they had little time for him in old age. What I prize in the men on my roll is economy: a pause doing the work of a paragraph. Nana had it. His villains were never cartoons, and his heroes never forgot they were angry men. Honorary ranks are often treated as ornaments. Nana Patekars was not. He came to my Regiment first through a film. In Prahaar (1991), which he co-wrote, directed and starred in, he played Major Chavan of the Maratha Light Infantry, a hard taskmaster to his cadets. By several accounts he prepared by training with the Regiment for about three years. He joined the Territorial Army as an honorary Captain around 1990, and held his honorary commission, rising to Lieutenant Colonel, until 2013. Then came 1999. He asked to go to the front and was told that only the Defence Minister could permit it. So he telephoned George Fernandes, who agreed. He reached the Line of Control in August, weeks after the Kargil war was officially declared over, and did the unglamorous work: a base hospital, a quick-response team, patrols. He did not play at being a combatant. Kashmiri readers will know the places. By his own telling, his travels took in Dras, Leh, Kupwara, Baramulla and Sopore. I know that belt. Kupwara is my home district, and Baramulla is where I commanded my battalion on the Line of Control. When I reached Srinagar, my weight was 76 kg, he recalled. When I came back, my weight became 56 kg. In a recent interview he said of that time, simply: I felt happy. I could at least do this little bit for the country. That is how soldiers speak of service: without ornament. There is a coincidence I cannot leave alone. In 1978, the year I was commissioned into the 16th Battalion of the Maratha Light Infantry, Nana Patekar made his screen debut in Gaman . Two roads began that year, and they met in one Regiment. A regiment is a family of obligations. Whoever wears its uniform and means it, belongs to it. Nana meant it. He knew his own faults. I get violent, he told the Express in 2016. Thats the difference. I lost so many things because of that. Few public men name their flaw so plainly. In the same breath he said: Acting is not just a profession for me. This is how I breathe. His generosity was quieter than his temper. In 2015 he and Makarand Anaspure founded the NAAM Foundation to help drought-hit farmers and their families in Maharashtra. And when he learnt that the young shooter Anjali Bhagwat and two teammates were sharing one rifle and one kit for want of money, he stepped in. He is the first sponsor of my career, she says. To newcomers on the range he would say, on the spot: Take my ammunition and shoot. No glove? Here, take mine. Ill get a new one. I must also set down a private regret. I have created and written a screenplay of an eight-episode feature for Netflix that marries Dostoevskys quiet pathos to the reckonings of love in King Lear . Its lead is an ageing patriarch who reeks of lust and greed. My sponsors offered a distinguished shortlist of the countrys finest actors. I insisted on Nana Patekar. My reason was what I call the Al Pacino frequency: volatile, razor-edged, soul-piercing. Nana had an innate, unpredictable savagery. In Parinda it announced itself. In Apaharan , as the MLA and underworld don Tabrez Alam, it learned to wait. Even in The Vaccine War , in a very different part, he kept his power in reserve. With age the fire had hardened into something more dangerous: a quiet, sardonic, bone-chilling cruelty. I wanted that savagery of intent dripping from my patriarchs face and eyes before he spoke a word. I could not imagine another face carrying it. Every writer has a role written for one particular face. Mine was his. Now it is my loss, and a regret I will carry for life. He was cremated late on Thursday night at his farmhouse in Donje village, outside Pune, with full state honours and a 21-gun salute, before more than a thousand mourners. The salute fitted. He had worn two uniforms, the actors and the soldiers, and neither was a disguise. Rest well, Colonel. The Regiment remembers you. Bol Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj ki Jai. (The writer, a retired Colonel of the Maratha Light Infantry, is a strategic analyst and author.)
Employers want business acumen, adaptability, beyond AI fluency
Maha chief electoral officer sets Oct 26 deadline to clear claims & objections
First FIR registered against Rapido for unauthorised bike taxi operations
Drought, water deficit fuel fresh push to halt Balkum data centre in Thane
Pune residents seek all-day water supply on Fridays, Saturdays after delayed restoration
Senior advocate Nikam appointed special public prosecutor in Ketan Agarwal murder case
Relief for cancer patients as PET-CT scan comes under state health cover
Lists of Maha electors with pending notices go online, Oct-end deadline to submit documents
Drought austerity? Rs50L Estimate For Repairs Of Doors & Windows At Guvs Bungalow
500 Domes, 24-Hr Water: Deekshabhoomi Gears Up To Welcome Lakhs Of Devotees
Medical Facilities And Emergency Response Teams Planned
Traders Flag Traffic Chaos, Demand Signals At Three Flyovers, DCP Inspects Congested Areas
Nagpurs 12 Peri-Urban Villages Get Water Supply Relief As MJP Approves Bulk Supply Model
Pune Cantt residents oppose draft bylaws, demand uniform FSI of 2
Gujarat woman raped over marriage promise
Focus on increasing med seats without diluting edu quality: Dr Abhijat Sheth
Traditional moiras and open kitchens redefine Durga Puja bhog
AI & Emerging Tech To Reshape Medicine, Healthcare: Fadnavis
BDS Student Who Went Missing After Spending 2.5L Scholarship Traced
Survival concerns cloud relocation of 150 trees from Patrakarnagar to ARAI tekdi
Impostor boss uses WhatsApp to steal 1.3 crore
13-year-old girl dies after mistaking bedbug insecticide for cough syrup
Maharashtra Govt Appeals To Employees To Donate One Days Salary
The circular said, The contribution will be calculated on the basis of basic pay and dearness allowance.
Kolhapur man cheats Pune publishers of 1.4cr by promising CSR projects
Student groups slam SPPU consultation on council elections, call it eyewash after short notice
HC: Cant Force Woman For Abortion Or Continue With Pregnancy Against Will
Traffic halted, shops shut after CNG cylinders leak on NH-53 near Nagpur
DRI nabs 19-year-old with amphetamine worth Rs1.5cr from bus
DRI nabs youth with amphetamine worth Rs1.5cr from bus
Couple killed, infant among 3 injured as car overturns
At least 17 dead, 25 injured in stampede at Kolkata Durga Puja pandal
The incident occurred at the Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal when people waiting outside rushed forward as it began to rain, causing some to fall on the road
FDA uncovers expired food resale; FIR filed against Reliance, Blinkit executives
Another woman files sexual assault complaint against Mumbai gym trainer; fourth case registered
Now, 35 challaned in south Mumbai drive against tax-evading luxury cars
Indian students protest against CEC in London; govt supporters rally
While the Stop Vote Chori protest cheered for activist Dhruv Rathee as the keynote speaker, chants of Modi, Modi rang out from a smaller group across the Gandhi statue, being kept apart by Metropolitan Police officers
Rs 10cr-plus Mumbai luxury apartments lead residential sales as real estate plateaus
Mumbai likely to see oversupply of residential real estate: Experts
FDA suspends licences of warehouses of Reliance Consumer, Reliance Retail, Blinkit, Zomato Hyperpure
Maharashtra FDA has taken action against five warehouses for selling expired food products worth over Rs 48 lakh. Inspections revealed serious hygiene issues, including rodent infestations and lack of proper documentation. Warehouses operated by Reliance, Zomato Hyperpure, and Blinkit were found violating safety protocols significantly. Two unlicensed establishments were also shut down for storing and selling expired products.
Maharashtra CM assures justice to slain Shiv Sena (UBT) functionarys family
Fake NIA officer dupes senior citizen of Rs 61 lakh in digital arrest case
FIRs registered against ticket checker, passenger for Kandivli station ruckus
Matheran mini train service delayed indefinitely
Congress plans to hold massive rally at Ramlila Maidan, Delhi Police issues NOC
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Rohit Rajbir Singh said the Congress had approached the police after obtaining confirmation from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) that the venue would be available during the period
Maha: Man detained for attempting to circulate fake Rs 500 notes at vegetable market
Digital Desk | Nashik, Oct 17 (IANS) Police detained a man for allegedly attempting to circulate counterfeit Rs 500 currency notes at a vegetable market near Kotamgaon Bridge in Yeola taluka of Maharashtra's Nashik district. A total of 58 suspected counterfeit notes have been seized, and an investigation is underway, said the police. The incident came to light after vegetable vendors at the local market became suspicious of a man allegedly trying to purchase vegetables using fake Rs 500 notes. According to preliminary information, the vendors noticed something unusual about the currency notes being handed over to them during transactions. Suspecting that the notes could be counterfeit, they alerted the police without delay. Acting on the complaint, police reached the spot and took the suspected person into custody for questioning. During the subsequent action, the police seized 58 suspected counterfeit currency notes of Rs 500 denomination. The seized notes are being examined to establish whether they are counterfeit and to determine their source. The incident has raised concerns among local traders and vegetable vendors, who fear that counterfeit currency could be circulated in the market through small cash transactions. The vendors have alleged that the person was attempting to pass off fake currency while purchasing vegetables. Their complaint prompted the police intervention, preventing the suspected notes from being circulated further. Police are now investigating whether the detained person was acting alone or was part of a larger network involved in the circulation of counterfeit currency. The investigators are also attempting to ascertain where the suspected notes were printed or obtained, how long they had allegedly been in circulation and whether similar incidents have been reported in nearby areas. Officials have not yet disclosed the identity of the detained person or confirmed the authenticity of all the seized notes. Further action will be taken based on the findings of the currency examination and the ongoing investigation, officials said.
Maharashtra CM Highlights Innovation in Higher Education at AIHER Graduation Ceremony
At the AIHER graduation, CM Fadnavis emphasized the need for innovation in higher education and medical research to tackle public health challenges. Maharashtra CM Highlights Innovation in Higher Education at AIHER Graduation Ceremony
NCP (Sharad Chandra Pawar) MP Supriya Sule on Saturday called the drought situation in Maharashtra very alarming, accusing the state government of not responding to the opposition's suggestions and of not keeping its promises to farmers, even as Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said Rs 5000 has been provided to drought-hit farmers as advance financial assistance. Speaking to reporters in Pune, Sule said party chief Sharad Pawar had already reached out to CM Fadnavis and do not wish to politicise the situation. The situation is very alarming. Sharad Pawar has written two letters to the Chief Minister with several suggestions. We do not want to politicise the drought. We are ready to work with the government, but there has been no response from its side, and no plan is being implemented, she said. She said the government had promised far more than Rs 5000, claiming that money due under other schemes had also not reached farmers. This government had promised farmers not
Maharashtra grants advance Rs 5,000 financial assistance to drought-hit farmers
Amid drought-like situation in Maharashtra, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced on Saturday that the state government has provided an advance financial assistance of
Lehra Do Tiranga march: CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke released on bail
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke was produced before a special executive magistrate at Mandir Marg police station in Delhi, where he was granted bail subject to certain conditions
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis receives a D.Litt at AIHER Wardha convocation; Dr Abhijat Sheth awarded a D.Sc as the university plans expansion and Seva-focused growth.
Reliance Consumer Director, Blinkit officials among 10 booked in expired-food probe
Maharashtra FDA seized 48.09 lakh worth of food stock and suspended five warehouse licences following an investigation into the alleged resale of expired and rejected products. The FIR names officials linked to Reliance Consumer, Reliance Retail, Blinkit and Hyperpure.
Congress slams BJP leaders over lavish Garba events as 305 talukas face drought
Maharashtra Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe alleged that BJP leaders had spent nearly Rs 100 crore on festival events. He questioned whether CM Fadnavis would seek the resignations of state BJP leaders over the alleged expenditure
Honey Singh apologises during Maharashtra Cyber questioning, explains absence after three summonses
Rapper Honey Singh apologised for using objectionable language while recording his statement with the Maharashtra Cyber police. A senior official from the Maharashtra Cyber cell stated that Honey Singh acknowledged his mistake during questioning. According to sources within the cyber police, he apologised for his error and assured them that it would not be repeated, specifically promising not to use objectionable content during his concerts.
Maharashtra drought: Sunetra Pawar orders for urgent relief measures
During a review meeting at the District Collector's Office, Sunetra Pawar, who is also Beed district guardian minister, asked officials to speed up crop damage assessments, ensure transparency in crop insurance claims and prioritise drinking water supplies
Maharashtra NEET UG 2026: Stray Vacancy Round 1 Choice Filling Ends Tomorrow
Maharashtra CET Cell has released the NEET UG 2026 stray vacancy seat matrix. Eligible candidates can submit fresh college preferences by October 18, with Round 1 results scheduled for October 19.
Latur declared water scarcity zone, borewell curbs imposed
Latur: The Latur administration has declared the district as a water scarcity zone for a period of one year and imposed restrictions on groundwater extraction and borewell digging under the Maharashtra Groundwater (Development and Management) Act 2009, an official said on Saturday, October 17. Lack of rain this monsoon has led to a decline of Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Expired food probe: Maharashtra suspends five Reliance, Eternal entities; Blinkit CEO named
Maharashtras food safety agency has intensified scrutiny of food disposal practices after finding alleged gaps in contractors handling of expired products.
Maharashtra's monsoon deficit raises concern as El Nio threatens warmer winter, rabi crops
Dharana Introduces a Reimagined Approach to Personalised Wellness and Wellbeing
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], October 17: Set within one of the world's 36 biodiversity hotspots in the Sahyadris, and a short drive from Mumbai and Pune, Dharana introduces a new approach to wellness, bringing together advanced science, Indian healing intelligence and the restorative power of nature. A new journey towards lasting wellbeing begins with a deeper understanding of the body, mind and their connection with nature. Moving beyond conventional wellness, Dharana seeks to understand what has shifted within the body and mind, why it has shifted, and create personalised pathways to restore health, vitality and balance in a way that lasts.
Maharashtra MLC polls: Uddhav Thackeray backs Sena (UBT) candidate in Amravati
In a statement, Thackeray highlighted Lahanes commitment to teachers demands, saying the candidate had pledged before a tehsildar that he would refuse to draw his salary as a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) until the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) was implemented for teachers
Air India extends suspension of Saudi Arabia flights until October 24
Air India and Air India Express have extended flight suspensions to Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam until October 24 amid security concerns. Eligible passengers can change travel dates once for free, rebook through alternative Gulf airports or seek full refunds for cancelled flights, subject to airline conditions
Saudi Arabia: Tanker struck by unknown projectile, crew evacuated
A tanker was hit by an unknown projectile about 68 nautical miles off Jubail, Saudi Arabia, prompting its crew to evacuate. All crew members were reported safe. A second ship was also attacked nearby, raising fresh concerns over maritime security and oil shipments amid the Middle East conflict
Second weekend of Navratra draws crowds to Puja pandals
Unbridled redevelopment in Mumbai will cause water, infra crisis, say urban experts
Maharashtra drought: Farmer sends money order of 5,000 to CM over paltry interim aid by govt.
I cultivated a soybean crop on 1.5 acres of my farm. I spent 25,000 and received a 60-kg yield. I could earn just 3,900. I borrowed 1,100 from my friend to send the money order, Mr. Shaikh told reporters outside Surdi post office.
Thane man dies after alleged threats over Rs 18,000 loan; moneylender booked
The Tilaknagar police registered an FIR against the accused, Abid Sayyed, 42, under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Maharashtra Money-Lending (Regulation) Act
Dadar gets its first brewery and taproom with Madwater at Ruby Tower
Step into the new on-site brewery that brews 15 beers, and a menu full of dependable bites
Delhi Police registers multiple FIRs over prohibitory order violations in CP
According to police, the FIRs were registered for violations of restrictions imposed under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). Police said announcements were made asking people to disperse, but crowds gathered around Connaught Place despite the restrictions
