No 14151, Wednesday 17 Apr 2024, Vidwan

Rangoli by Gowri

Artwork by Prasanna

Solution to 5A 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

5   Bully her about naked actor (6) ?E?T?R (Addendum - HECTOR {HE{aCTOr} - See comments)

7   Very popular curry – old and essentially Goan! (8) VINDALOO {V}{IN}{OLD+gOAn}* &lit

9   We are so excited about opening of ports and naval strength (3,5) SEA POWER {WE+ARE+SO}* over {Po..s}

10 Accepted amount of popular view (6) INTAKE {IN}{TAKE}

11 Piano's no good! Can't record sadly! (7,5) CONCERT GRAND  {NG+CANT+RECORD}*

13 It's old, weathered and dull (6) STOLID*

15 Size of old portable shelter (6) EXTENT {EX}{TENT}

18 Basically kids involved in 'terror' tactic, wanting piece of chocolate, perhaps (5,2,5) TRICK OR TREAT {Kids} in {TERROR+TACTIc}* &lit

21 Shared during festival, autumn retreats (6) MUTUAL [T<=]

22 Conflict, contest involving some unspecified doctrine (8) MISMATCH {M{ISM}ATCH}

23 I turn one around for a quantum entity (8) NEUTRINO*

24 Poor, quiet and weird? Yes! (6) SHODDY {SH}{ODD}{Y}

DOWN

1   Unusual like a loose clay pit (8) ATYPICAL {A}{CLAY+PIT}*

2   One making sketches for storage (6) DRAWER [DD]

3   Picture pronounced covetousness and a guru (8) ENVISAGE {(~envy)ENVI}{SAGE}

4   Unkempt like Mathew and Theodore (6) MATTED {MAT}{TED}

6   The toy, one occasionally modified for a canine (3,5) EYE TOOTH {THE+TOY+OnE}*

7   Amazon starts to vandalise indiscriminately and runs back (6) VIRAGO {Va...e}{In...y}{R}{AGO}

8   Like a particular tree? Ya! Ok! Maybe! (4) OAKY*

12 Increased and hence excited (8) ENHANCED*

14 What is seen on parade ground, little thing that crushes (8) DRILLBIT {DRILL}{BIT}

16 Bitumen and piece of cloth on a European herb (8) TARRAGON {TAR}{RAG}{ON}

17 Standing posture of top Korean leader, bold and basically overconfident (6) AKIMBO {A}{KIM}{B}{Ov...t} 

18 Firm model, out of practice (6) TRUSTY {T}{RUSTY}

19 Weather is boring! Sleep! (6) RESIST {RES{IS}T}

20 Festival hosted by many ulemas (4) YULE [T]

Reference List

Very = V, Popular = IN, No good = NG, Unspecified doctrine = ISM, Quiet = SH, Yes = Y, Bold = B, Runs =R, Model = T