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
9 Bliss at last! The magic is what yoga does internally! (7) ECSTASY Tail Acrostic
10 Chemical commonly transported on National Highway from Leh to Attari? (7) AMMONIA AMM{ON}{1A} Anno pending. NH from Leh to Attari is NH 3, NH 1A was from Uri to Jalandhar (Addendum - NH3 is Ammonia - See comments)
11 Monitor gossip about Republican leader (5) CHART {CHA{Re...n}T}
12 Secret demonstration could be given by this toad (9) INNERMOST {dEMONSTRatIoN}*
13 Clear about no insertion in charter (7) CLEANSE {C}{LEA{N}SE}
14 It augurs return of popular clown fish (4) OMEN <=
18 I may be a God trapped in a software application (6) IODINE {I{ODIN}E}
19 One about to leave studies for small parts in plays (6) SCENES SCiENcES
22 Reportedly transmitted a small amount of money (4) CENT (~sent)
23 Wall portion covering a hollow passage (7) PARAPET {PAR{A}{Pa...gE}T}
27 Fresh air! You and I must set off for this hot tourist destination (9) MAURITIUS {AIR+US+MUST}* (Correction (AIR+U+I+MUST)* - See comments)
29 This subject with bit of effort and energy can become agreeable (7) ALGEBRA {ALGEBRA+Ef...t+E = AGREEABLE}
30 Beetle’s capacity to carry (7) CARLOAD {CAR}{LOAD} Semi&lit
DOWN
1 Heave miserable chap having no work (5) RETCH wRETCH
2 Right-wing journalism misrepresented a faith (5) ISLAM {journALISM}*
3 Official policy for celebration on border (5,4) PARTY LINE {PARTY}{LINE}
4 Extremely coy, I can panic and start to look pessimistic (7) CYNICAL {CoY}{I+CAN}*{Look}
6 Clever gypsies returned quietly, unnoticed (5) SMART TRAMpS<=
7 One tips regularly (9) INFORMANT [CD]
8 Iran tests bombs, causes irritability (9) RATTINESS*
15 Tame filling for a pie (9) MINCEMEAT {TAME}* [RA]
16 Big red hun pillaged a highland town (9) EDINBURGH*
17 Henchman’s entry into Labour Party at last (9) ACCESSORY {ACCESS}{intO}{l...uR}{p..tY}
24 King is back with a degree! (5) SIMBA {IS<=}{MBA}
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26 He believes in rebirth, in duality (5) HINDU [T]
Reference List
About = C, No = N, Software application = IE(Internet Explorer), Work = W, Quietly = P
TalePiece
By Dr RKE
A few miles from Port Louis, MAURITIUS is an ashram named ECSTASY. People come from the Mauritian capital by the CARLOAD and even by CHARTered flights, to experience peace in the INNERMOST reaches of their minds, which the HINDU SWAMI is fabled to give through his group yoga session called Shanthi Kriya. The Swami sits on a raised podium in a pure white CASSOCK with a bright orange tilak on his forehead. The believers are sure he has a magnetic power in his eyes that CLEANSEs one’s soul. He has a curly mane of long brown hair (that makes him look like SIMBA, the Lion King), that his followers say is like the matted locks of Shiva himself but the CYNICAL ones say the colour is nothing divine- it is only the result of some AMMONIA hair dye. His past is shrouded in mystery- some say he received modern education in EDINBURGH but there are others who believe he got his powers from Shiva himself while roaming in the Himalayas as a YAHOO.
I am sure you will be surprised to see the SCENES in the ashram on the night of Shivarathree (as it is officially spelt in Mauritius). The whole place has been white-washed and VARNISHed in preparation for this big day. The crowd fills the prayer hall and spills over to the garden outside where CCTV’s beam the Linga Abhishekam done by the Swami all night. People are sitting on the PARAPET wall of the compound, eyes half-closed, swaying to the chant. They all have the prayer ACCESSORY, a japa mala specially crafted by the Swami (cost: 99 cents per bead), which you must buy from the shop near the front gate. I hear in these pandemic days, the rosary is coated in some IODINE solution! The Swami’s appeal cuts across PARTY LINES. Among the Swami’s followers are many people of alternate faiths like ISLAM and even followers of the VATICAN church.
There is no dearth of articles that appear in the local press, making a MINCEMEAT of the Swami and describing the dubious goings-on in the ASHRAM - details garnered from some inside INFORMANT- but the crowd only seems to swell every year. The Swami has the power to outSMART all his detractors, ward off all the ill OMEN and stay afloat. He has perfected the ALGEBRA needed to captivate the restless modern mind. The Swami’s followers claim that their previous RATTINESS is gone after they started practising Shanthi Kriya Yoga and are ready to say not just a big THANK YOU to the Swami, but actually enrich the coffers with handsome donations.
10a nh3 is chemical formula of ammonia!
ReplyDeleteNice clue and solve!
Delete+2
Delete21d I thought was a straight clue Cassock being defined as "a black garment reaching down to the ankles; worn by priests"
ReplyDelete+1 I also don't see any cryptic in this.
DeleteIt's a CD .. habit = custom in surface and garment in WP
DeleteIt alludes to paedophilia accusations against priests which is a topical issue for quite some time.
Delete27a two aninda! One operation?
ReplyDelete"Set off", connector?
DeleteDon't think that works especially with "us" from you and I makes it slightly indirect in anagram fodder
DeleteNo US (u and I are seperate fodder). But doesn't U for you require an indicator!
Delete24d: Shouldn't King have a DBE( Definition by Example) indicator?
ReplyDeleteConsidering simba isn't either a def or real king, isn't the def incomplete?
DeleteThank you Vidwan for a sentimental grid. Thank you Colonel for putting up my little tales. Thank you all for reading and appreciating them
ReplyDelete????
DeleteI dont see any 'Little Stories'. No access to laptop/ desktop. I am not getting any of it on my phone.
15a for RA shouldn't the verb be past tense? Minced!
ReplyDeleteI think it's ok as a verbal anagrind.
DeleteNice clues for rattiness, Vatican etc.
ReplyDelete18A I think it should be "maybe" instead of "may be" for the definition
I was not convinced by Vidwan's yesterday's explanation of his CA style. I learned that, in clues of the format (A+B)* = (C+D)* the place holder "this" (if it is present) should be used for or along with definition. So 12A doesn't work for me.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteDemonstration could be a secret.!
I enjoyed this puzzle from Vidwan a lot. 2D is a quite innovative clue. The puzzle was a little but I think it is flawless.
ReplyDelete* was a little tough but ...
Delete7D.He tips regularly or One who tips regularly would have been a better wording?
ReplyDeleteSolution word for 12A?
ReplyDeleteChanged the colour, it's visible now
DeleteWas not at home so couldn't post the tale earlier
ReplyDeleteThank you Vidwan for your Thanks to CV. No e of us can forget him but still gkaf to see him come alive in a CW,where he will live for ever.
ReplyDelete+1
Delete+2
DeletePardon my typo- it should read 'good'.
DeleteOne should not seek rishi moolam (root/ source) nadhi (river) moolam and story moolam. If one is reminded of Shivaratri elsewhere, it is in their own thinking! I am referring to the Tale piece- Thank you Dr. and Col.
ReplyDelete🙏🙏
DeleteLeaving for Gandhinagar today. Next post from there
ReplyDeleteLiked varna for social division.
ReplyDeleteThank you Col. For all additions/amendments.
ReplyDelete25D YAHOO from HA YOO. (~you) Spooner : laughing = HA
ReplyDeletesoubding you = YOO
Swill become YAHOO
There was once a colossus called CV
ReplyDeleteA polymath like him is rare to see
Fondly remembered as Gridman
I’ll wager that he still can
Set grids in whichever heaven he be
Nice!
DeleteLately I found this blog
DeleteAnd continued to dog.
But for all of you-
Who deserve a big Thank You,
Cryptic CWs were a slog!
👋👋👋
Delete👏👏👏👏 Dr. RKE and Mr. Sridhar.
DeleteNice👏👏👏
DeleteLovely tribute to a legend in these parts. Wonder if there are some all time greatest clues of Gridman...
Delete27A MAURITIUS(AIR+US+MUST)
ReplyDeletePlease explain between 2 Is and 2 S
I think it's not US but U+I
ReplyDelete+1 Right doc.
DeleteNot necessarily U & I. You and I means us.
ReplyDeleteCol.'s anno is very clear. It is an anagram with fresh as indicator.
Thanx Paddy
DeleteNo paddy. Anno is not right. Dr is right (air+U+I+must)*. It's a confusion because of missing you to U indicator and the two aninds.
DeleteYes,I see it now.
ReplyDeleteNice crossword puzzle from Vidwan today. Liked the cluing for Innermost, Iodine,Mauritius, Algeabra,Islam and Vatican.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteToday's Grid shows CV sir's Remembrance. Exclusively done for CV sir's Tribute. letters highlighted in yellow as {RIP CV SIR & THANK YOU} Though he is not with us, we could see him in grids. GRID MAN.
ReplyDelete