No 14054, Monday 25 Dec 2023, Hypatia

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Artwork by Prasanna

Rangoli by Gowri

Solution to 8D 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.

Open for anyone to answer, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

1   Bird gasping's no good (6) PUFFIN PUFFINg

4   Messenger carrying a cake oddly in box (7) PACKAGE {P{A}{CaKe}AGE}

9   Taken by PM Modi entering European Union with the German backing (9) ENAMOURED {E{NAMO}U}{DER<=}

10 Jolly couple using drug for acting (5) MERRY M(-a+e)ERRY

11 Next race entertains more (5) EXTRA [T]

12 Auditor's cardinal rule (9) PRINCIPLE (~principal)

13 Approaches pet returning with spasms (7) TACTICS {CAT<=}{TICS}

15 Strategic move in match shortened slightly (6) GAMBIT {GAMe}{BIT}

17 Greek Church embracing trendy Dr. Seuss character (6) GRINCH {GR}{IN}{CH}

19 Pondered about lives wasted (7) MISUSED {M{IS}USED}

22 Identify partner (9) ASSOCIATE [DD]

24 Generate Braille removing the French sign (5) LIBRA BRAILle*

26 Regretted about stealing minute object (5) DEMUR {RU{M}ED<=}

27 Most of this lot ran amok in sports event (9) TRIATHLON {THIs+LOT+RAN}*

28 Record store with navy's symbol (7) EPSILON {EP}{SILO}{N}

29 Say, spring in step as shown regularly (6) SEASON {StEp+As+ShOwN}

DOWN

1   Gift here and now (7) PRESENT [DD]

2   Traces of fertilizers easily allow seeds to spread (5) FEAST Acrostic

3   One running saloon restricts it over quarantine (9) ISOLATION {1}{SALOON*} over {IT<=}

4   Promising to sacrifice bishop for pawn? That's sweet (7) PUDDING (-b+p)PUDDING

5   Entertainer and actor frequently join one boring host (5) COMIC {aCtOr}{M{1}C}

6   Declines Academy Awards (9) ATROPHIES {A}{TROPHIES}

7   Rarely seen fencing a palace in France (6) ELYSEE [T]

8   Suspends doctor providing copies (6)  ?R?P?S (Addendum - DRAPES {DR}{APES} - See comments)

14 Arrange charms over one's tree initially in festival (9) CHRISTMAS {CHR{I'S}{Tree}MAS*}

16 Film legend goes below the French plant for a traditional kiss (9) MISTLETOE {MIST}{TOE}<=>{LE}

18 Play there hiring a new console (7) HEARTEN {HE{A}RTE*}{N}

19 It covers nerves from setter's feelings essentially (6) MYELIN {MY}{feELINgs}

20 Persuaded Shaman in war dance to return inside (5,2) DRAWN IN [T<=]

21 Light from LED flickering under fire (6) CANDLE {LED}*<=>{CAN}

23 Pass around a rapper's first song (5) CAROL {C{A}{Ra...r}OL}

25 Brides embrace lasting love symbolized basically in rings (5) BELLS Acrostic

Reference List

Good = G, The in German = DER, Greek = GR, Church = CH, Trendy = IN, The in French = LE, Minute = M, Record = EP(Extended play), Navy = N, Bishop = B, Pawn = P, Host = MC, Acabemy = A, New = N, Fire = CAN