The Sunday Crossword No 3280, Sunday 12 Nov 2023

HAPPY DIWALI

Rangoli by Gowri

ACROSS

1   Approach twice for censorious comment (4,4) COME COME {COME}{COME}

5   Custodian visibly pained twice in retreat (6) WARDER {RAW}<={RED}<=

9   Plaster moulded for stationery item (7) STAPLER*

10 No good tucking into antelope in part of kingdom (7) ENGLAND {E{NG}LAND}

11 Mistake, ignoring onset of extreme fear (5) ERROR tERROR

12 Spooner's rough method in which 'i's are dotted twice (5,4) MORSE CODE (~coarse mode to morse code)

13 Stroke family pet with ping-pong bat (5-6) DOGGY-PADDLE {DOGGY}{PADDLE}

17 Taking joint, he's addled, not entirely able to control matters ... (2,3,6) IN THE SADDLE [T]

20 ... gossip: fellow taking methamphetamine with little price to pay (4,5) DIRT CHEAP {DIRT}{CH{E}AP}

22 Live large with lustful revolutionary (5) DWELL {L}{LEWD}<=

23 We're told the writer observed ugly scene (7) EYESORE (~I saw)

24 Earl reports landholdings (7) ESTATES {E}{STATES}

25 Boxers' ultimate sporting prize: they're worn like belts (6) SASHES {b...rS}{ASHES}

26 Everyman, very behind, deserted and alone (8) ISOLATED {I}{SO LATE}{D}

DOWN

1   Ranks putting energy into throws (6) CASTES {CAST{E}S}

2   Insubstantial, somewhat irksome? Agreed (6) MEAGRE [T]

3   Poet seeing tip of esker between mountain pass and elevation (9) COLERIDGE {COL{Es..r}{RIDGE}

4   Madman eagerly represented Biblical figure (4,9) MARY MAGDALENE*

6   Take fish (5) ANGLE [DD]

7   Costly accessories suit (8) DIAMONDS [DD]

8   Scripture considered to have morally improved ... (8) REDEEMED {RE}{DEEMED}

10 ... lay readers opt out: they anticipate what's coming (5,8) EARLY ADOPTERS*

14 Reported dodgy act: no deal (9) ANECDOTAL*

15 Still cheats, first to last (8) WINDLESS (-s)WINDLES(+s)S

16 Like a damning review describing low-budget film? (8) STARLESS [C&DD]

18 Emulate a bird: leave in haste (4,2) BEAT IT {BE A TIT}

19 Sealed the deal; shut down the business (6) CLOSED [DD]

21 Cleaning home or running errand, primarily? (5) CHORE Acrostic &lit

Reference List

No good = NG, Methamphetamine = E, Large = L, Earl = E, Deserted = D, Energy = E, Scriptures = RE(Religious education)