The Hindu Cryptic on Sunday No 81, Sunday 08 Nov 2026, Gussalufz

HAPPY DIWALI

Rangoli by Gowri

Three answers per commenter till 4 PM (Annotations Compulsory)

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(20+22)/2=4?

Thanks for the response, here's the regular blog.

ACROSS

1   Special fast bowler holds a humanities degree, that's key (5-3) SPACE-BAR {S}{PACE{BA}R}

6   Passage of life? Yes, tragicomically whimsical to the limit (6) FEYEST [T]

9   Can Jack have husband instead of wife? (4) JOHN {J}{O(-w+h)HN}

10 GPS icon was incorrectly placed in cutting-edge devices (6,4) COPING SAWS*

11 USA sent force regularly, after revolution in upland in Canada (6) COTEAU {UsA+sEnT+fOrCe}

12 Debt overwhelming? Ready with bankruptcy? What, too chicken? (1,4,3) I DARE YOU {I{READY*}OU}

13 Star in show is fabulously hot, I'll bet — inspiring chappie, essentially (3,3,4) TOP THE BILL {HOT+ILL+BET}* over {chaPpie}

15 Trick guy in third place, doing a 180? (4) DUPE DU(-d+p)PE

17 Saccharin oddly omitted in ingredient from Brazil (4) ACAI sAcChArIn

18 Stylish, strong male (not European) at sea, afloat, having taken uniform off (10) FLAMBOYANT {F}{MALe+}*{BuOYANT}

20 Rhythmic sound from disturbance in Bermuda Triangle's western edge (8) DRUMBEAT {BERMUDA+Tr...e}*

22 What a healthier plate might have, for example? (6) LESSON {LESS ON} [C&DD]

24 View from two perspectives of Gita — simple, uninhibited (5,5) SPLIT IMAGE*

26 Space-dweller does not have a legal claim on property (4) LIEN aLIEN

27 Well, son, call after parking (6) SPRING {S} and {RING}<=>{P}

28 University is boring — travelling on to gig, unreserved (8) OUTGOING {U} in {ON+TO+GOG}*

DOWN

2   Reduced price, including going off to zoo exhibits of earliest life forms (9) PROTOZOIC {PRICe}* over {TO+ZOO}*

3   Once a perishing craft (5) CANOE*

4   For second-rate, revolting service, employ ... (7) BECAUSE {B}{{ACE<=}{USE}

5   ... vet demoted four times as punishment? (3) RAP {VutsR+EdcbA+TsrqP}

6   Forget about crazy man's admiring letters (3,4) FAN MAIL {FA{MAN*}IL}

7   Very recently, dearest, roughly within two years (9) YESTERDAY {Y}{DEAREST*}{Y}

8   Took responsibility for the quoted opening of Jabberwocky, over and over (3,2) SAW TO {T'WAS<=}{O}

12 Counterfeit in ATM? It must be rigged (7) IMITANT*

14 Short bits of unimportant details about, um, religious instruction for some Roman officials (9) TRIUMVIRI {TRI{UM}VIa}{RI}

16 Step in to be analysed internally for potentially flatulent American food item (5,4) PINTO BEAN [T]

18 Sense of escape on vacation embodied by casual affair (7) FEELING {F{Es..pE}LING}

19 Most audacious, most appropriate bottles — vintage! (7) BOLDEST {B{OLD}EST}

21 Grips cups without protective sleeves to cut paper (3,2) RIP UP {gRIPs}{cUPs}

23 Attack universal voting selectively (5) SALVO [T]

25 Use the toilet behind one's back (3) AGO {GO}<=>{A}

Reference List

Special = S, Jack = J, Husband = H, Wife = W, Debt = IOU, Strong = F, Uniform = U, Son = S, Parking = P, University = U, Second-rate = B, Year = Y, Over = O, Religious Instruction = RI

No 14943, Saturday 07 November 2026, Saral

 ACROSS
7 Will unwrapped hoarding roughly (6) ORDAIN {hOARDINg}*
8 Extremely nice craftwork on large excellent band (8) NECKLACE {NicE}{CraftworK}{L}{ACE}

9 Flier skiing casually around fellow leading that woman (10) KINGFISHER {SKIING*} around F+HER

10 Press withdrawing some section originally (4) IRON [T<]
11 Double dealing in gamble with king on ace against amateur in retreat (8) BETRAYAL {BET}{R}{A}{LAY<}
12 Colour of stylish work outfit principally (6) INDIGO {IN}{DIG}{Outfit}
13 Very similar building opposite with a primarily aesthetic natural design (3,4,2,1,3) TWO PEAS IN A POD {OPPOSITE+W+A+Aesthetic Natural Design}*
16 Cleric from Italy entering book store (6) BISHOP {B}{I}{SHOP}
18 Perfect small round instrument next to sailor (8) ABSOLUTE {S}{O}{LUTE}<=>{AB}
21 Partly cook ravioli vegetable (4) OKRA [T]

22 Exceptional and fantastic rugs in spas (10) SURPASSING*
23 Asked enrolled nurse about splitting money (8) ENQUIRED {EN}{QUI{RE}D}
24 At work ordering donut at the end of day (2,4) ON DUTY {DONUT*}{daY}

DOWN
1 Line cutting two diamonds that produces smoky effect (3,3) DRY ICE {D}{RY}{ICE}
2 Jumper damaging organ during tree climbing (8) KANGAROO {ORGAN*} in {OAK<}

3 Hatred and wickedness killing men (6) ENMITY {ENorMITY}
4 Stinger spreading poison finally toxic vapour (8) SCORPION {POISON+toxiC+vapouR}*

5 Joined everyone with papers outside office at last (6) ALLIED {ALL}{I{officE}D}
6 Bill preparing food essentially egg for Arnab, say (3,2,3) ACT OF GOD {ACT}{FOOD+eGg}*
8 Hero sold brand actively without restrictions (2,5,6) NO HOLDS BARRED*
13 Sets bar with layers having one cake regularly (8) THICKENS {T}{H{I}{CaKe}ENS}
14 Former model bored by old city promotion (8) EXPOSURE {EX}{POS{UR}E}
15 Friend with fresh ideas for defence (8) PALISADE {PAL}{IDEAS*}

17 Not starting shiatsu, relaxing in interval (6) HIATUS {sHIATSU*}
19 Follow husband in blue with old wife (6) SHADOW {S{H}AD}{O}{W}
20 Rules of European occupying temporary shelters (6) TENETS {TEN{E}TS}

REFERENCE LIST

Large=L, Fellow=F, King=R(Rex), Ace=A, With=W, Italy=I, Book=B, Small=S, Round=0=O, Sailor=AB, Enrolled Nurse=EN, About=Re, Diamond=D, Men=OR(Other Ranks), Papers=ID, Bar=T, Husband=H, Old=O, Wife=W, European=E.