19102025-LSTC-01.qxd 18-10-2025 21:56 Page 1 c m y b SOFIA RICHIE IS PREGNANT Model and social media personality Sofia Richie, who is the youngest daughter of the legendary singer Lionel Richie, is expecting her second baby with husband Elliot Grainge. Taking to Instagram, she posted a mirror selfie showing off her baby bump. TRIBUNE Parting ways Life Tom Cruise and Ana de Armas are reportedly parting ways after an eightmonth romance because they “weren’t able to figure it out as a couple.” CHANDIGARH | SUNDAY | 19 OCTOBER 2025 Entertainment & Promotional Features Lighting uplives D IWALI, the festival of lights, is more than just vibrant decorations, sweets and crackers—it’s a celebration of positivity, family and tradition. This year, we spoke to some popular actors to know how they celebrate Diwali, how their childhood memories shape their celebrations today, and what the festival truly means to them. From eco-conscious choices to preserving age-old rituals, each story reflects a unique way of keeping the light alive—both literally and metaphorically. my father and sisters, the delicious food cooked by my mother, and the Diwali sweets we couldn’t wait to eat. Helping my sisters with the rangoli, bursting crackers (sometimes even in letter boxes!) with my friends, and getting caught the next day—those are the kind of memories that still make me smile. Diwali has always been about joy and laughter. NIHARIKA CHOUKSEY Celebrities share their Diwali traditions HOME TRUTH: Rubina Dilaik “I have always been excited about Diwali. Cleaning the house, doing puja, lighting diyas, eating sweets and bursting crackers to end the night—the festival was all about this for me as a child. But as I grew up, I realised the festival has a much deeper meaning hidden in its name. It’s not just about lights; it’s about not letting your inner light dim, both literally and figuratively.” Back home in Himachal Pradesh, Diwali is a celebration of the harvest season, and the festivities are very different there. The air smells of pine because homes are cleaned and decorated with pine leaves and earthen lamps. Kitchens come alive with treats like sidu, mittha and bathu. Villages light up with deity processions, folk music and laughter echoing through the hills. As the festival of lights shines upon us, I hope it brings peace, joy and serenity into everyone’s lives. TRUE ESSENCE: Hansa Singh FOR POSITIVITY: Deepika Singh Diwali has become more of a social celebration here in Mumbai. I perform my puja and rituals at home, talk to my family after Lakshmi Puja, and then step out to celebrate with my social circle and friends at parties. When I think of my fondest childhood Diwali memory, I can’t recall one specific thing, but I do remember burning crackers late at night with my cousins and getting scolded by the elders! We cherish what we no longer have now, don’t we? For me, Diwali is not just the festival of lights; it’s a time to reflect and cleanse, not just our homes, but our minds and hearts, which means removing energy blockages, letting go of what no longer serves us, and creating space for positivity and prosperity. DIVING DEEP: Jigna Vora RANGOLI & CRACKERS: Ssudeep Sahir I have so many fond memories of Diwali from my childhood that it’s hard to pick just one. I remember that chaotic yet joyful hour before dusk—rushing to light all the crackers and diyas with Understanding menopause Menopause is a natural process signaling the end of menstruation in a woman. It usually occurs between the ages of 45 to 55 years. Although the cycles may become irregular but menopause is labeled only when menses do not occur for consecutive 12 cycles. Menopause is associate with decline in estrogens and progesterone the female hormones. Common symptoms besides irregular menses include hot flushes, night sweats, and mood changes, sleep disturbances etc. In long term, menopause can affect bone health, vaginal dryness etc. A healthy lifestyle which includes balanced diet, regular exercise, and taking treatment for any medical problems which may be detected at this age is very important to mitigate the effects of menopause. There is no need of any regular hormone replacement therapy but may be given in specific cases in whom it is required. Understanding menopause empowers women to navigate this transition with confidence and maintain overall well-being. DR. (MRS.) UMESH N. JINDAL Dr. (Mrs.) Umesh N. Jindal M.D. (Obstet & Gynae PGI, Chandigarh), Director Former Assistant Professor WHO/CCR, PGI, Chandigarh Former Fellow University of Washing- ton, Seattle & RSA kansas City, USA Member, American Society for Repro- ductive Medicine, FOGSI/ISAR/IMA/ISOPARB/IFS/ESHRE Member, Fertility Preservation Society of India Disclaimer: The views/suggestion/opinions expressed in the article are the sole responsibility of the experts. RUBINA DILAIK HANSA SINGH Jigna Vora Mohak Matkar WARMTH & LOVE: Niharika Chouksey Simple Diwali for B’town celebs As Diwali approaches, B-town celebs are all busy preparing to celebrate the festival of lights with their loved ones. Veteran actress Neena Gupta shared her ‘special plans’ for the occasion. She said this year’s celebration will be different and more ‘peaceful’. Neena said, “I am celebrating Diwali in a very special way because I am going to my home in Mukteshwar in the hills. There will be a small gathering. We’ll eat, drink and enjoy together.” Meanwhile, Govinda’s wife, Sunita Ahuja, shared that their family will be celebrating Diwali at home in a simple manner. They will light lamps and pray to Goddess Lakshmi, but avoid bursting crackers because of her love for animals. “We’ll light lamps at home and worship Goddess Lakshmi. We’ll celebrate happily with family. We won’t light fireworks because I love dogs,” she said. Her daughter, Tina Ahuja, said that the Ahujas always begin the festival by worshipping Goddess Lakshmi. — ANI I start the day by taking my parents’ blessings, slipping into new clothes, and then diving straight into all the delicious food, that’s when all my diet plans go out the window. I love decorating the house with fairy lights and diyas and spending the evening bursting a few crackers with family and friends. This festival fills my heart with warmth and excitement. SWEET HEAVENS: Mohak Matkar I love the energy, the lights, and the sense of togetherness it brings. My favourite part of the festival is decorating the house with diyas and rangoli, dressing up in traditional outfits, and of course, indulging in all the delicious sweets! HT: Harleen Reikhi SPARE A THOUG n’t right for the environis crackers e festive I feel burning ers to keep th of ht a few sparkl . When I think ent. I just lig m ing nature e without harm es and gurspirit aliv siting templ , I remember vi murmura, light my childhood of sweets and plates full my famdwaras with celebrating with ossroads, and special, and I ing diyas at cr e Diwali truly aoments mad e, balancing tr ily. Those m e rituals. For m t. Times have y to follow thes still tr importan ival ernity is very lebrate the fest dition with mod people now ce d, and many change agram.” ctures on Inst just to post pi TRUE SPIRIT: Shubhangi Atre For me, Diwali is all about warmth, family and rituals. I clean the house and perform puja. Every year, I also buy something meaningful—this time, I’ve decided on a silver glass, as it’s believed to be good for health.Festivals are about devotion, love and celebrating together. Even though times have changed, I try to keep the true spirit of Diwali alive in my own way. ‘Qubool hai x3’ Zaira Wasim, the actor who left the film industry more than six years ago, shared the happy news of her wedding with her fans on Friday night. Zaira took to Instagram to post two pictures from her wedding day, but did not reveal the name or face of her husband. For her big day, Zaira chose a bright red wedding outfit with golden embroidery. The photos showed the couple signing the nikaah papers and posing with their backs to the camera. Along with the pictures, she wrote a short caption that read, “Qubool Hai x3.” Zaira made her Bollywood debut in 2016 with Dangal, where she played the younger version of wrestler Geeta Phogat. The film, which also starred Aamir Khan, was a massive hit, and her performance won her the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress. She later starred in Secret Superstar (2017), a musical drama about a teenage girl chasing her dreams of becoming a singer. The film also featured Aamir Khan and was praised for its story and performances. Zaira’s last film was The Sky Is Pink in 2019, alongside Priyanka Chopra and Farhan Akhtar. — ANI Dangal girl Zaira Wasim gets married c m y b Neena Gupta, Govinda and Sunita Ahuja Vishal Mishra excited about his India tour Singer Vishal Mishra, best known for crooning soulful tracks such as Kaise Hua and Pehle Bhi Main, is all set to embark on a pan-India tour. An initiative by Laqshya Media Group, the first leg of the Pagalpan Tour will kick off this year on November 22 in Gurugram (Delhi NCR), with subsequent performances scheduled in Pune on November 29 and Hyderabad on December 20. The excitement will continue into 2026 with concerts in Ahmedabad on January 10, Bengaluru on January 17, Kolkata on February 21 and Mumbai on February 28. Additional cities will be announced in due course for the second leg of the tour. — ANI