No 13693, Monday 24 Oct 2022, Hypatia

Artwork by Prasanna

Rangoli by Gowri

HAPPY DIWALI TO ALL VISITORS

Solution to 26A 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   Goddess of wealth left most of Kashmir poor (7) LAKSHMI {L}{KASHMIr}*

5   By-product of pins (4-3) SPIN-OFF {PINS}* [RA]

9   Snake around grid's core instrument (7) MARIMBA {MA{gRId}MBA}

10 Distinctive style of trade structured by firm (3-4) ART-DECO {TRADE}*{CO}

11 Very hard to mingle with Asia's diverse religious cult (6) SHAIVA {V+H+ASIA}*

12 Where's our centre stocking supply? (8) RESOURCE [T]

14 Consume Soan papdi from start to finish (5) SPEND {Soan}{Pa..i}{END}

16 Festooned doors at the front forced cycles outside house, essentially (7,2) DRESSED UP {Do..s}{(-p)RESSED(+p)P} over {hoUse}

18 Space voyager from America flying to Saturn (9) ASTRONAUT {A}{TO+SATURN}*

19 Dislike dropping navy boot again (5) RESET RESEnT

20 Exotic batik wraps, with one string at the waist in Micronesian island (8) KIRIBATI {K{1}{stRIng}BATI*}

22 Say, laddu and Mysore Pak in small packet finally in vessel (6) SWEETS {S{WEE}{p...eT}S}

26 Removing records from stage to perform (7) E?A?I?G (Addendum - ERASING {ERA}{SING} - Se comments)

27 Reserved soldier (7) PRIVATE [DD}

28 Musicians impress in Gershwin's shows (7) SINGERS [T]

29 Saw entrance becoming bigger and bright (7) LIGHTED {(-s+l)LIGHTED}

DOWN

1   Diyas in many circles outside (5) LAMPS {LA{M}PS}

2   Regularly farmers ask about fate (5) KARMA {fArMeRs+AsK}<=

3   He moved freely around one old film archive (4,5) HOME VIDEO {HE+MOVED}* over {1} and {O}

4   Author's initially awed by cinema (4) IMAX {I'M}{Awed}{X}

5   Doctor attests about soldiers in reports (10) STATEMENTS {STATE{MEN}TS*}

6   Lead in iron oxidising over time (5) INTRO {IN{T}RON*}

7   Partly superimposed irrevocably around eclipses (9) OVERRIDES [T<=]

8   Fine cow picks up best Diwali cracker? (6,3) FLOWER POT {F}{LOWER}{TOP<=}

13 Gains from commercial vehicle supported by Tesla forever (10) ADVANTAGES {AD}{VAN}{T}{AGES}

14 Sticks with light champagnes? (9) SPARKLERS [DD]

15 Receive dubious internet article (9) ENTERTAIN {INTERNET+A}*

17 Extending rule well, per Spooner (9) SPRAWLING (~ law spring to sprawling)

21 Newly wed waits briefly to get registered (5) BRIDE {B{R}IDEs}

23 Specific claim (5) EXACT [DD]

24 Mount support in empty shed (5) STEED {Sh{TEE}eD}

25 Work on gangster's precious stone (4) OPAL {OP}{AL}

Reference List

Left = L, Firm = CO, Very = V, Hard = H, America = A, Navy = N, Vessel = SS, Many = M, Old = O, By = X, Time = T, Fine = F, Cow = LOWER, Commercial = AD, Tesla = T, Registered = R, Support = TEE, Gangster = AL(Capone)