N0 14898, Monday 14 Sep 2026, KrisKross

GANESH CHATHURTHI GREETINGS

Artwork by Prasanna

Rangoli by Gowri

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

1   After retirement, I could be surrounded by busy, cross, mean folks (8) SCROOGES {EGO<=} in {CROSS}*

5   Blame one catching dogs right away (6) ?C?U?E (Addendum - ACCUSE {AC{CUrS}E} - See comments)

9   Entertain soldiers active in part of Greece (8) RECREATE {RE}{CRE{A}TE}

10 Breathe hot and strong (6) INHALE {IN}{HALE}

12 Young reporter going around on beat exposed very ruthless robber (9) BUCCANEER {CUB<=}{CANE}{vERy}

13 Expression of pain from New Agra hospital (5) AARGH {AGRA}*{H}

14 Most ethical housing - let it stand (4) STET ]T]

16 Thrashing out new IIT coaching (7) TUITION {OUT+N+IIT}*

19 In the end, consuming drug minimally (2,5) AT LEAST {AT L{E}AST}

21 What many eateries never update primarily? (4) MENU Acrostic &lit

24 Perhaps Jerry's inspiration to win Tom's heart (5) MOUSE {M{tOm}USE}

25 Cunning tailors basically amending rates of dresses (9) SARTORIAL {TAILORS+Am...g+Ra..s}*

27 Counter the Muslim pilgrim and the French prophet (6) ELIJAH {HAJI}{LE}<=

28 Play with liberal approach in the auditorium (8) LATITUDE {L}{(~attitude)ATITUDE)

29 Lakhs struggling to grasp old Sanskrit verse (6) SHLOKA {SHL{O}KA*}

30 KrisKross is enthralled by mysterious saints - they believe in spirits (8) ANIMISTS {AN{I'M}ISTS*}

DOWN

1   Copy boarded by extremely secretive writer (6) SCRIBE {S{CRIB}E}

2   Mythical bird about to crack a couple of eggs in a flamboyant style (6) ROCOCO {ROC}{O{C}O}

3   Turn a precious stone over in conclusion (5) OMEGA {A}{GEM}{O}<=

4   Request to come in, remove shoe, finally have food (7) ENTREAT {ENTeR}{EAT}

6   Government and WHO ultimately contain spreading disease (9) CONTAGION {G+whO+CONATIN}*

7   Brave lover, a bit upset, back to attack (8) UNAFRAID {FAN}{Up..t}<={RAID}

8   Treat this animal appallingly to get patent leather (8) ELEPHANT {ELEPHANT+TREAT}*=PATENT LEATHER [CA]

11 Bug in part of instrument (4) FRET [DD]

15 Name two forms of transport around Delaware (9) TRADEMARK {TRA{DE}M}{ARK}

17 Safe house initially missing a member? (8) HARMLESS {Ho..e}{ARMLESS}

18 Washed up mud essentially picked up by everyone with container (8) ALLUVIAL {mUd} in {ALL}{VIAL}

20 Difficult job to eat last bit of murukku, lacking a tooth (4) TUSK {T(-a+u)USK}

21 Plague is awful … starting to ravage millions … absolute ruin! (7) MURRAIN {Ra...e+M+A+RUIN}*

22 Kindles with tips on reading (6) PIQUES (~peaks)

23 Columns broken by large tools (6) PLIERS {P{L}IERS} I don't think PLIERS has a plural

26 Priest leaves stand in disgrace (5) ODIUM pODIUM

Reference List

Soldiers = RE(Royal Engineers), Active = A, Hot = IN, Hospital = H, New = N, Drug = E, The in French = LE, Liberal = L, Old = O, About = C, Over = O, Government = G, Millions = M, Absolute = A, Large = L, Priest = P