In a city that rarely pauses to celebrate its own unti]]> In a city that rarely pauses to celebrate its own until they become impossible to ignore, Rishabh Jaiswal’s message landed with quiet force. The 25-year-old actor, currently navigating the next phase of his television career in Mumbai, reached out recently to local media with a simple request: don’t forget the ones who leave Banaras to chase something bigger.Born and raised in Varanasi, Rishabh studied at Dalimss Sunbeam Sigra. Those who knew him in school remember a boy who threw himself into cultural programmes and stage performances long before anyone outside the school gates had heard his name. After finishing school he enrolled at Banaras Hindu University for a commerce degree, but the pull of performance never really left. He spent time with the local theatre group Team Geshe Jampa, taking on roles that included the lead in a production called 'Mr Gyaso'. Those early stage experiences, he has said, taught him more about presence and timing than any formal acting class later could.Like many young people from smaller cities, Rishabh moved to Mumbai with more determination than contacts. He began with modelling and fashion content, appeared in a string of music videos, and then took the risk of reality television. In 2022 he entered 'Splitsvilla' Season 14. The stay was short, but the exposure mattered. The following year he found himself on 'Roadies', this time in Rhea Chakraborty’s gang. Rhea later spoke about him in interviews, recalling a good-looking, hungry youngster who wanted films and was unsure whether television was worth his time. She advised him to take whatever work came and let the performances do the talking. He listened.What followed was a steady climb through supporting roles. A brief appearance in 'Anupamaa' led to work in 'Kundali Bhagya'. Then came the role that gave him real visibility: Krish Bansal in 'Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai'. For more than two years Rishabh played the character through its lighter and darker turns, earning appreciation for the range he brought to a long-running daily soap. In April this year he walked away from the show. In interviews since, he has been measured about the decision. The character had given him a great deal, he said, but remaining only for security felt like standing still. He wanted the discomfort of new challenges.These days Rishabh is selective about what comes next. He has been linked with appearances around the comedy-cooking format 'Laughter Chefs', and continues to keep a visible presence on social media under the handle that carries his name. Yet in his note to Banaras media he returned to something more personal. He is still, he wrote, a boy from this city who studied at Dalimss Sunbeam School, worked his way into an industry that rarely looks this far inland, and hopes the place he comes from will notice when one of its own manages to stay standing.There is no dramatic overnight success story here. What exists instead is a familiar but still uncommon trajectory: a student from a Varanasi school who treated theatre as serious practice, treated rejection as information, and kept showing up in Mumbai long enough for the work to start speaking for itself. For a city that produces more talent than it often remembers to claim, Rishabh Jaiswal’s trajectory is worth recording while it is still unfolding.

By Sumit Arora

Varanasi | July 22, 2026

]]> July 22, 2026Samsung just pulled off something interesting today. At its Galaxy Unpacked event in London, the company didn’t just drop another Fold. It launched two very different versions of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series — one that looks familiar, and one that actually feels new.I’ve been following foldables for years now, and this is the first time Samsung has properly split the line. The regular Galaxy Z Fold 8 has gone wider and shorter. Think less tall book and more of a compact, almost passport-like shape when open. The cover screen is 5.5 inches, and the main display is a 7.6-inch panel with a 4:3 ratio that feels much more natural for videos, documents, and even gaming. At 201 grams, it’s also the lightest Fold Samsung has made so far.Then there’s the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. This one stays closer to the tall, traditional Fold design we’ve known. It gets the bigger 8-inch inner screen with higher resolution, a 200MP main camera, a proper telephoto lens, and a 5,000mAh battery. It’s the one for people who want the absolute top-end experience and don’t mind the extra weight (215 grams).Both phones run on the new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip and come with Samsung’s Flex Titanium display tech. The crease is clearly better managed this year — something I’ve been waiting to see properly sorted. Battery life looks improved too, especially on the Ultra.US pricing starts at $1,900 for the regular Fold 8 and $2,100 for the Ultra. Pre-orders are already live, with shipping expected around August 7-8. Indian prices haven’t been announced yet, but if past trends hold, the base Fold 8 should land somewhere in the ₹1.65–1.75 lakh range. We’ll know more in the next few days.What I like most is that Samsung finally acknowledged that not everyone wants the same Fold. The wider model feels more practical for daily use — reading, multitasking, watching content. The Ultra is for those who want the full camera and battery package. It’s a smart move, especially with competition heating up.For us here in Varanasi, devices like these still sit in the premium segment, but the wider form factor could actually make more sense for content creators, teachers, and students who juggle multiple apps. I’ll be waiting to get my hands on both once they reach India.For now, Samsung has given the foldable market a proper shake-up. Two distinct Folds instead of one compromised design. That’s progress.

By Harsh Mehra

Varanasi | ]]> Varanasi | 21 July 2026Religious TravelGarmin’s CIRQA is finally here. And for once, it feels like they were listening to people who actually train.I have been waiting for Garmin to do this properly for a long time.This morning the company finally launched the CIRQA, a completely screenless band that does only one thing: tracks recovery, sleep, and readiness without constantly demanding your attention. Price is $199.99 (about ₹16,700). American orders open on 24 July. Indian availability, going by Garmin India’s usual pace, should land somewhere between the last week of August and the first week of September.For runners and cyclists in places like Varanasi, this is more interesting than another new GPS watch.Most of us already wear a Forerunner or Fenix for outdoor sessions. The problem starts at night. You either sleep with the same heavy watch or you leave it on the charger and lose the recovery data. CIRQA is meant to solve exactly that. No screen, no notifications, just continuous heart rate, HRV, Body Battery, Training Readiness and sleep tracking. You wear it all day and all night, then put your proper watch on only when you head out for a run or ride.That matters more than it sounds. Training in Varanasi’s heat and humidity is already hard enough. Knowing whether your body is actually ready for a hard effort the next morning can save a lot of forced sessions and niggles. I have lost count of the number of times I have pushed a tempo run on low readiness and paid for it for the next four days.Garmin is also not forcing a subscription for the basic metrics. That is a big deal. Most of us already live inside Garmin Connect. Adding another monthly fee just to see Body Battery and Training Readiness would have been a non-starter for a large number of Indian athletes.Geographic ReferenceThe band itself looks simple — fabric strap, small sensor module, one button. Available in four colours and two sizes. Battery is claimed to last up to 10 days, which is more than enough if you charge it once a week like the rest of us.Will it replace a proper watch? Of course not. But as a second device that stays on your wrist when the GPS watch comes off, it makes sense. Especially for people who already own one Garmin and do not want to keep switching devices or paying for another ecosystem.Pricing in India is still unknown. If Garmin India keeps it under ₹20,000 after taxes, it will sell. If they push it closer to ₹23,000–24,000, many will wait or continue with what they have.For now, the launch is welcome. Garmin has finally made a product that acknowledges that recovery data is as important as training data, and that not every athlete wants another glowing screen on the wrist.I will be waiting to see how quickly the India team clears the regulatory formalities. The moment it lands, a few of us will be lining up.Geographic ReferenceHarsh Mehra is a Varanasi-based sports journalist who runs and cycles regularly.

Varanasi: Popular Bollywood actor Boman Irani, accompanied by his wife, recentl]]> Varanasi: Popular Bollywood actor Boman Irani, accompanied by his wife, recently visited Matin, one of Varanasi’s well-known destinations for traditional clothing and ethnic wear.The couple visited Matin’s newly opened branch near M Bazaar on Yamuna–Pili Kothi Road, where they explored the store’s latest collection of sarees, fabrics and traditional outfits. Boman Irani was seen interacting with the store representatives and taking a closer look at several pieces displayed at the outlet.The actor’s visit created excitement among the staff and visitors present at the store. Photographs from the visit show the couple browsing through the collections, while Boman Irani also posed for a picture during his time at the showroom.The new branch marks another chapter in Matin’s presence in Varanasi, offering customers a wider selection of traditional and contemporary ethnic wear in a modern retail setting.

By Pooja Kapoor

Dalimss News

For most ]]> For most people in Varanasi, fitness does not happen in perfect conditions. It happens between school runs, office calls, traffic near Lanka, crowded evenings, humid mornings and the occasional guilt after a heavy Banarasi breakfast. That is why a wearable like the Fitbit Air feels interesting. It is not trying to be a big smartwatch. It is small, screenless, light and almost invisible on the wrist.I used the Fitbit Air through two very different Varanasi fitness situations: a strength session at Bob’s Gym ( a local gym in Varanasi) and a morning run inside BHU, Banaras Hindu University. One is indoor, loud, sweaty and fast-paced. The other is open, green, calm and full of old Banaras charm. Together, they gave me a clear idea of who this device is really for.The first thing you notice about the Fitbit Air is how little you notice it. There is no screen demanding your attention, no constant buzzing, no temptation to check messages between sets. At Bob’s Gym, that actually felt like a relief. While moving between machines, dumbbells and a short cardio warm-up, the band stayed comfortable and did not get in the way. For people who dislike bulky smartwatches during workouts, this is a big plus.The Air tracks the basics that most regular fitness users care about: heart rate, activity, sleep, resting heart rate, HRV and overall wellness trends. Google officially positions it as a screenless health tracker that works with the Google Health app and offers up to a week of battery life.During my gym session, the best part was comfort. While doing shoulder presses, treadmill walking and cable exercises, I did not have to adjust it again and again. It feels more like a simple band than a gadget. That matters because many people buy fitness trackers with excitement and then stop wearing them after a week because they feel irritating, bulky or too “techy”.The Fitbit Air is clearly made for consistency. It wants you to wear it all day, sleep with it at night and slowly understand your body better. In a city like Varanasi, where the weather can be sticky and routines are rarely perfect, a device has to be comfortable first. On that front, Fitbit Air does very well.The BHU morning run was the more revealing test. Anyone who has run inside BHU knows the feeling: wide roads, old trees, students cycling past, morning walkers moving in groups and that quiet energy which is difficult to find in most parts of the city. The Fitbit Air felt ideal for this setting because it did not distract me. There was no screen to keep checking. I could simply run.But this is also where its biggest limitation appears. Fitbit Air does not have built-in GPS. For accurate outdoor distance and pace, you need to carry your phone with you, because the band depends on the connected phone for location-based tracking.For casual runners, that may be fine. Most people running in BHU already carry their phone for music, calls or safety. But serious runners who want exact pace, route maps, lap splits and training-level data may find the Air too basic. A Garmin, Apple Watch or proper running watch will still be better for that audience.Where Fitbit Air feels stronger is in the way it looks at health beyond one workout. It is not just about how many calories you burned today. It is more about whether you slept properly, whether your recovery looks normal, whether your resting heart rate is improving and whether your routine is becoming more active over time.That approach suits a lot of people in Varanasi. Not everyone is training for a marathon. Many simply want to lose weight, become more active, sleep better and stop ignoring their health. For that kind of user, the Fitbit Air makes sense.The Google Health app is both useful and slightly busy. It gives you a lot of information, but it may take some time for a new user to understand where everything is. Google has also moved Fitbit deeper into the Google Health ecosystem, including AI-based coaching and personalised insights.Some people will like this. Some will miss the older, simpler Fitbit feel. Personally, I liked the direction but felt the app should become cleaner. Health data should not feel like a maze. If a user opens the app after a workout at Gym or a walk in Ravindrapuri area of Varanasi, the important numbers should be easy to see in one glance.Sleep tracking is one of the biggest reasons to consider the Fitbit Air. Because it is light and screenless, it is much easier to sleep with than a large smartwatch. Many people remove their watch at night because it feels uncomfortable. With the Air, that problem is reduced. For anyone trying to understand poor sleep, late nights, stress or recovery, this can be genuinely useful.Battery life is another strong point. Google claims up to a week of battery life, and that is exactly the kind of feature Indian users appreciate. Nobody wants another device that needs charging every night.The design is simple and understated. It will not look odd with gym clothes, daily wear or even a casual office outfit. For women who do not want a large smartwatch on the wrist all day, the Air’s minimal look may be one of its strongest selling points. It does not scream “fitness device”. It quietly sits there and does its job.However, it is not perfect. The lack of screen means you cannot quickly check your stats during a run unless you open the phone. The lack of built-in GPS means outdoor runners must carry their phone. The app still needs refinement. And if you are someone who likes detailed running metrics, maps, advanced sports modes and live feedback on the wrist, this is not the right device.But if your fitness life is more realistic — a morning BHU run, an evening gym session, daily steps, sleep tracking, weight-loss goals and basic wellness monitoring — the Fitbit Air is a strong option. It is not trying to replace a sports watch. It is trying to become a health companion that you actually keep wearing.After using it in Varanasi , India , my feeling is simple: Fitbit Air is best for people who want fitness tracking without the drama of a smartwatch. It is light, comfortable, simple and focused. It works especially well for those who want to build better habits rather than chase professional-level sports data.For Gym workouts, it is comfortable and practical. For BHU morning runs, it is peaceful and distraction-free, as long as you carry your phone. For sleep and daily health trends, it feels genuinely useful.Verdict: Fitbit Air is a good choice for casual fitness users, walkers, gym-goers and people who want a screenless health tracker. Serious runners should look elsewhere, but for everyday Varanasi fitness life, this tiny band makes a lot of sense.