Agra/ Mathura/ Vrindavan: The whole of Braj Mandal, comprising districts of Agra, Mathura and Firozabad is on a new high this festival season with markets flooded with newer products, the frenzy witnessed in some popular markets showed the buoyancy of mood and festival spending, despite shrinking family budgets.

Agra (India): The tallest gate in Agra is vying for attention, after the Mughals built majestic gates. The British built dozens of buildings across Agra, but the entrance gates were never made to look impressive.

Lucknow (India): Bhartiyam Science Society, Manoyog, Save Ganga and Save Heritage organized national conference on Ecological Sustainability and River Systems in Lucknow recently.

Agra (India): Students from more than a score countries and local academics demanded a new World body for Education, on the UN Foundation day celebrations, held at the Kendriya Hindi Sansthan.

Agra (India): Tourism industry in the Taj Mahal city of Agra fumed that it will be badly hit following advisory from five Western nations asking tourists to avoid India during the festive season.

Mathura/Agra: Thousands of brothers and sisters jointly took a holy dip in river Yamuna at Mathura's Vishram Ghat on Bhai Dooj.