No 13145, Thursday 14 Jan 2021, Gridman

HAPPY PONGAL

Solution to 25D has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered only by a non-regular / novice commenter, with proper annotation. Those who have answered earlier in the week, please give others a chance.

ACROSS

1   Party leader takes along different characters for Tamil festival (6) PONGAL {Pa..y}{ALONG*}

4   Endlessly bound with short headman! Here are super sizes! (6) JUMBOS {JUMp}{BOSs}

9   Plate for 1ac maybe (4) DISH [DD]

10 Honest, it is not within reach of the directors (5,5) ABOVE BOARD {ABOVE}{BOARD}

11 Document stripped afterwards? Feel embarrassed (6) WRITHE {WRIT}{tHEn}

12 Fine. Is French competitor run out? Let’s have celebration! (8) FESTIVAL {F}{EST}{rIVAL}

13 Notice! He has, and I have some small gums (9) ADHESIVES {AD}{HE'S}{I'VE}{S}

16 Starts to have any indulgence in this Tamil month when 1ac comes (4) THAI Acrostic

20 Setter goes to ship’s dining area (4) MESS {ME}{SS}

21 Suguna sends woman away with esoteric tropical crop very evident during 1ac (9) SUGARCANE {SUGuna}{ARCANE}

23 Somehow trim and cure plant tied to 1ac vessel... (8) TURMERIC*

27 Bubbling — how any 1ac pot should be (2,4) IN BOIL [DD]

29 Tall Ajit with every other hunk participating in 1ac sport... (10) JALLIKATTU {TALL+AJIT+hUnK}*

30 ... in which run of learner drivers may end in a tumble (4) ROLL {R}{O}{LL}

31 Are yet to get around where 1ac is likely to be available (6) EATERY*

32 One taking part in 29ac conducting parley (6) PLAYER*

DOWN

1   Former church official (5) PRIOR [DD]

2   Thorniest maybe, but ones unwilling to strike (2-7) NO-HITTERS*

3   A chartered accountant aimed to burst into the world of scholars (8) ACADEMIA {A}{CA}{AIMED*}

5   Any use showing discomfort? (6) UNEASY*

6   Brother to grab everything with setter on the first day of 1ac (5) BHOGI {B}{HOG}{I}

7   The Sun’s rays falling about you (5) SURYA {S{U}RYA*}

8   Hang around to see a female (4) LOAF {LO}{A}{F}

14 Mother’s crazy rise (3) DAM<=

15 He must be hiding the bird (3) EMU [T]

17 Cut fruit tree (9) HACKBERRY {HACK}{BERRY}

18 Hotel reportedly modern (3) INN (~in)

19 Customary dress you finally presented to almost everybody (8) HABITUAL {HABIT}{yoU}{ALl}

22 Agent, having no money, beginning to rue (6) BROKER {BROKE}{Rue}

24 Ask EU to put forth an edict (5) UKASE*

25 Fine Greek character at top labour court (5) M?L?T (Addendum - MULCT {MU}{La...r}{CT} - See comments)

26 Mention report of what was seen (4) CITE (~sight)

28 Lazy fellow I had left with hesitation (5) IDLER {I'D}{L}{ER}

Reference List

Fine = F, Is in French = EST, Run = R, Notice = AD, Small = S, Ship =SS, Of = O, Brother = B, Female = F, Court = CT, Left = L