Every year, jewellery purchases across Asia soar in the run-up to Diwali, a holiday period when buying gold is considered auspicious.
In India, where the festival of lights is widely celebrated, employees often receive bonuses and special gifts, while sales of gold coins and bars surge ahead of Dhanteras, the first day of Diwali.
A predominantly Hindu festival, although Jains and Sikhs also celebrate, buying jewellery for Diwali is meant to appease Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity.
India is the world's second-largest gold consumer and demand usually strengthens towards the end of the year, which coincides with the traditional wedding season and major festivals including Diwali and Dusherra, according to the World Gold Council.
Symbolising the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness, Diwali usually falls in the early autumn, coinciding with the new moon, deemed the darkest night of the Hindu lunar calendar. This is why dates change every year.
This year, celebrations will begin on Friday with Dhanteras, with the "main Diwali" falling on the third day, on Sunday, an official holiday in many countries.
What is Dhanteras?
A combination of the words "dhan", which means wealth in Sanskrit, and "teras", which means 13, the day falls on the 13th day of the Hindu lunar calendar, marking the first day of the five-day Diwali festival. Hindus consider it an auspicious day to make new purchases, especially jewellery, as well as new utensils, appliances and even vehicles.
Homes are cleansed for the occasion and Dhanvantari, the god of health and Ayurveda, the ancient Indian system of medicine, is worshipped.
Lamps lit in homes are meant to welcome Lakshmi, and jewellery purchases are dedicated to the goddess, to usher in more wealth. Dhanteras is also associated with good luck and positivity.
Not only the bling
While sales of jewellery spike during Diwali, the week-long celebration is also traditionally considered the biggest shopping period of the year in India. And this year, much of the buying is happening online.
Online sales from Amazon, Flipkart and others reached 47 billion rupees ($565 million) last month, consulting firm RedSeer said in a report. Mobile phones, electronic goods and large appliances drove around 67 per cent of the sales, it added.
Digital transactions recorded by Unified Payments Interface also surged about 40 per cent last month from a year earlier.
On top of the festive period, consumption will likely also get a boost from the Cricket World Cup, being hosted in cities across India.
How to wish somebody on Dhanteras
While Diwali is a celebration of all things bright and new, it is also marked by prayers of hopes for a bright future.
Apart from the succinct "Happy Dhanteras" wishes and messages usually focus on new beginnings and blessings, with emphasis on wealth and prosperity, often summoning Lakshmi.
Variations include: "May goddess Lakshmi shower you [and your family] with blessings," as well as: "I hope this festival brings you more good fortune and prosperity."
If sending wishes to business associates or clients, wishing them "success" in their endeavour will bode well.
Or you can just say "Shubh Dhanteras", which literally translates to "Auspicious Dhanteras".
Key findings of Jenkins report
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- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
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- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
Day 1 results:
Open Men (bonus points in brackets)
New Zealand 125 (1) beat UAE 111 (3)
India 111 (4) beat Singapore 75 (0)
South Africa 66 (2) beat Sri Lanka 57 (2)
Australia 126 (4) beat Malaysia -16 (0)
Open Women
New Zealand 64 (2) beat South Africa 57 (2)
England 69 (3) beat UAE 63 (1)
Australia 124 (4) beat UAE 23 (0)
New Zealand 74 (2) beat England 55 (2)
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Brazil: Neymar (69'), Firmino (90' 3)
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Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
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- 30,000 square metres is its total area
- 17,000 square metres is the length of the stainless steel facade
- 14 kilometres is the length of LED lights used on the facade
- 1,024 individual pieces make up the exterior
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Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
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On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
