India, Aug. 24 -- As the festive season breaks upon us early this year, it almost feels like hurtling down a street without slowing to turn the customary bend.

The latter half of August usually proffers bit of a breather between the Independence Day-Janamashtami revelry and Ganesh Utsav ushering in Fall's festive calendar.

Rains go into retreat mode, the consumerist blitzkrieg of brand hopping brakes for a breather. But both are showing no signs this season of slipping into pause mode.

So significant is this slight August-end pause, post Saawan and before the bustle of Ganesh Utsav-Navratri bursts upon us.

Ah! but a festive season in a hurry heralds advanced flurry. The fast-forward festive calendar seems to be stealing that pregnant ...