No 13741, Tuesday 20 Dec 2022, Afterdark

Margazhi Day 5 Rangoli by Gowri

Solution to 13D 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   Yells 'Silence, you are instructed to immerse in books' (6) SHOUTS {SH}{O{U}T'S}

4   Job, etc are designed to be the target (6) OBJECT*

8   The french standby in advance at places of worship (7) TEMPLES {LES}<=>{TEMP}

9   Destroyed old wall? No, it's on the contrary (7) DAMAGED {AGED}<=>{DAM}

11 Concepts in release of charged particles (10) INVENTIONS {IN}{VENT}{IONS}

12 Provincial workers leave plants... (4) PEAS PEASants

13 ... to take tea reportedly involving 12 to get something to brush with (5) PASTE {PAS{T}E*}

14 Bolted quick, objective is to steal ecstasy (8) FASTENED {FAST}{EN{E}D}

16 Are daughters taking a break or engaged? (8) ARRESTED {AR{REST}E}{D}

18 In Qatar, absolutely you can see them (5) ARABS [T] &lit

20 Swift resolution dismissing woman, it conforms (4) FITS SwIFT*

21 Once, fencer fought in Congress (10) CONFERENCE*

23 Changed a key, made a mistake losing rupees (7) ALTERED {ALT}{ERrED}

24 Directed leader to step down, rejigged and improvised (7) RECITED dIRECTED*

25 Governing body had perhaps a Bengali leading (6) SENATE {ATE}<=>{SEN}

26 Makes a mess on road, naive and stupid primarily (6) STRAWS {ST}{RAW}{St...d}

DOWN

1   We are expelled from a cowboy film. That's tyrannical (5) STERN weSTERN

2   Quash media work and turn it around (7) OPPRESS {PRESS}<=>{OP}

3   Right, have people in dry environs for therapy (9) TREATMENT {T{R}{EAT}{MEN}T}

5   Support guards have audacity (5) BRASS {BRA}{SS}

6   Model is an old flame; rich (7) EXAMPLE {EX}{AMPLE}

7   Generates another way for youngsters (9) TEENAGERS*

10 Sure that friend will quit drugs for one (9) CONFIDENT CONFID(-a+e)ENT

13 Dad's right about buying Independent. Yes, and Times for a year for pieces (9) P?R?I?L?S (Addendum - PARTICLES {PA}{RT}{I}{C}{(-y+l)LES})  Don't know how Times = L?

15 Say, UP people take time to report (9) STATEMENT {STATE}{MEN}{T} 

17 Oriental uncle finally boating (7) EASTERN {u..lE}{ASTERN}

19 Crime organisation infiltrates help group in a country (7) AMERICA {A{CRIME*}A}

21 Crown for Charles first? Take a break (5) CREST {Ch...s}{REST}

22 Sides about to get raided in the front from three directions (5) CREWS {C}{Ra...d}{E}{W}{S}

Reference List

Silence = SH, Book = OT, The in French = LES, Ecstasy = E, Daughter = D, Woman = W, Key = ALT, Rupees = R, A Bengali = SEN, Work = OP, Right = R, Dry = TT, Support = BRA, Guards = SS, Old flame = EX, Drugs = E, Independent = I, Year = Y, Time = T, Help group = AA{Alcoholics Anonymous), About = C