Lucknow, March 1: As Ramzan approaches, the streets around Akbari Gate in Nakhas, Lucknow, are abuzz with activity. The vibrant markets are filled with people eager to shop for the holy month, with excitement building for the upcoming celebrations.

For many, this is a time of joy, and the enthusiasm is evident as shoppers scour the stalls. Shopkeepers too are energised, witnessing the surge in footfall. Dates, chips, papads, and clothes are in demand, as preparations ramp up for the special occasion.

reporter spoke to several locals about the preparations taking place in the city.

Farah Khan shared, “It feels wonderful to get ready for Ramzan, picking up outfits, and gearing up to keep Roza. We’re in the midst of preparations, and we’re excited. After our shopping spree, we’ll focus on Eid celebrations, but for now, it’s all about Ramzan.”

Mohammad Urtusam said, “The excitement around Ramzan is palpable. Look at the crowd shopping around – everyone’s gearing up for this beautiful time of the year.”

Mohammad Siddiqui Khan expressed his joy, saying, “Ramzan, the month of blessings, has begun. I am overwhelmed with happiness. This is the month of Allah’s mercy, and I pray for forgiveness for all those who have passed. Right now, we’re stocking up on household essentials. The shops will quiet down for a few days, but In Sha Allah, once the moon is sighted, the shopping frenzy will pick up again. It’s truly a blessed month.”

Ubaid Ullah added, “The market is lively, and it will only get busier as the evening draws near. This is the month of Ramzan, and the energy only grows. People shop for the festival, for weddings – it’s a time of celebration. Ramzan starts tomorrow, In Sha Allah. There’s so much happiness in the air, and we thank Allah for giving us life to witness this blessed occasion. May we continue celebrating festivals like this for years to come.”

A local woman shared her thoughts, “This is a sacred time for all of us. We pray that everyone, regardless of their background, finds blessings in this month. While Ramzan is primarily a time for worship, we each prepare in our own way – through food, clothing, and other traditions.”

In India, moon-sighting committees will observe the skies at 6 pm on March 1. If the crescent moon is visible, Ramzan will begin on March 2. If not, the first day of fasting will be on March 3.

Mumbai: Amid heavy rainfall, the Mumbai Metro had an significant achievement. The Metro 2A and 7 Lines connecting Andheri to Dahisar surpassed highest daily ridership, reaching to 2,87,073 number of passengers the Maha Mumbai Metro Operations Corporation Limited (MMOCL) informed on Thursday.

“We are thrilled to share that Maha Mumbai Metro has proudly surpassed highest daily ridership, reaching an incredible 2,87,073 passengers on Mumbai Metro Line 2A & 7! Even amidst heavy rain, Maha Mumbai Metro remained your steadfast companion, ensuring seamless journeys for all.” the MMOCL posted on its official X handle.

MMOCL also said that it operated two extra services one each from Gundavali & Andheri West, whereas, Monorail operated six services to accommodate and effectively manage the surge in ridership.

However, the activist continue to highlight that the ridership of Mumbai Metro is at least 50 per cent less than planned and expected by the authorities.

In August this year, Mumbai’s first Metro line- the Ghatkopar-Andheri-Versova route achieved a record of carrying more thann 500,000 commuters in a single day. On August 13, 2024, Mumbai Metro One carried 500,385 commuters, surpassing the pre-covid ridership, the authorities informed.

“This is the first time ridership of Mumbai Metro One has crossed milestone figure of 500,000 without impact of external factors. There is only one occasion when ridership of Mumbai Metro One had crossed 5 lakh when BEST buses went on strike for 9 days (8 January to 16 January 2019)”, the Metro One had said in its press statement.

An influencer posed as a man begging in a Spiderman costume at Kalyan Junction. The incident was staged for a reel, which the influencer posted on Instagram sooner. It showed ‘Spiderman From Mumbai’ sitting outside the railway station and seeking money from passersby. The caption of the reel, read in a beggar tone’s, “Spider-Man ko dedo bhai koi.”

The video opened showing the man sitting below the stairs of the railway station. He was seen wearing a Spider-Man costume to capture the attention of train passengers towards him. he repeatedly extended his hand forward begging for some money while being seated at the railway premises.

It wasn’t a real case of someone begging by wearing the superhero costume, but an act performed by the Instagram-based content creator for the craze of reels. As he performed as a beggar there, many people looked at him and one of them also approached him with some money. The reel recorded people at the railway station witnessing the reel act. One of the persons there stepped into the video to offer a coin to the ‘Spider-Man’ beggar.

This video is now going viral on Instagram. It was uploaded on the online platform in August, however, it has reached netizens and caught their attention in the recent days. So far, the reel, which shows the influencer posing as a beggar dressed up in a superhero costume, has attracted 2.8 million views and more than one lakh likes. People reacted to the video and hilariously wrote, “Spider man no money at home.” “We got Spider-Man in kalyan before GTA,” they added.