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Puri: With giant wooden chariots lined up along the Grand Road, Puri is all set to host the annual Rath Yatra Friday. As the pilgrim town braces for an influx of lakhs of devotees, the administration has stepped up security and logistics to ensure a smooth and safe celebration. "By the grace of Mahaprabhu (Lord Jagannath), we are fully prepared to conduct a smooth Rath Yatra Friday. We are getting complete support and cooperation from the servitors. All arrangements are in place to make the mega event successful," Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Chief Administrator Arabinda Padhee told reporters Thursday. After completion of all rituals, the pulling of chariots of the sibling deities -- Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath - will begin at 4pm. Lakhs of devotees from across the country and abroad are expected to participate in the event. About one lakh have reached Puri by Thursday evening, police sources said. Some of them had the opportunity to witness the 'Nabajouban Darshan" (youthful appearance) of the trinity. The deities appeared before the devotees after a fortnight. The public 'darshan' was stopped after the bathing ritual June 11. "The deities do not appear before devotees since it is believed they fall ill after the bathing ritual. They remain in quarantine at 'Anasar Ghar' (isolation room) for a fortnight before the Rath Yatra," said Bhaskar Mishra, a researcher in the Jagannath culture. Keeping in view the huge footfall, Odisha DGP YB Khurania said elaborate security arrangements have been made for the event. The town is heavily fortified with the deployment of approximately 10,000 security personnel, including eight companies of Central Armed Police Forces. Khurania said that for the first time, an Integrated Command and Control Centre has been opened in Puri to monitor the entire festival from close quarters. Over 275 AI-enabled CCTV cameras have been installed across Puri and on the roads to Konark, 35 km away and famous for the 13th-century Sun Temple, for surveillance. Besides, the DGP said that the National Security Guard (NSG) snipers will take positions on rooftops along Grand Road in front of the temple. Police drones, anti-sabotage teams, bomb squads, and dog squads are also deployed. The Marine Police, Coast Guard, and Indian Navy will secure the seafront, he said. Meanwhile, IMD in its evening bulletin forecast said thunderstorms with lightning with gusty surface wind speed reaching 30-40 kmph likely to occur in several districts, including Puri Friday. While the Indian Railways runs 365 trains to Puri, the Odisha government has engaged around 800 buses to transport devotees from different districts.
BJP member Manas Dutta blamed the previous BJD government and held it responsible for not extending their service agreement which ended in April, 2024. As hundreds of women working as support staff under the Mission Shakti department staged a demonstration outside the Assembly over different issues, the opposition BJD on Monday demanded immediate release of their salaries. While the agitating women were shouting slogans at the Mahatma Gandhi Road leading to the Assembly, the issue was raised in ...Read More >
PRAYAGRAJ, India (AP) -- Millions of Hindu devotees, mystics and holy men and women from all across India flocked to the northern city of Prayagraj on Monday to kickstart the Maha Kumbh festival, which is being touted as the world's largest religious gathering. Over about the next six weeks, Hindu pilgrims will gather at the confluence of three sacred rivers -- the Ganges, the Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati -- where they will take part in elaborate rituals, hoping to begin a journey to achieve Hindu philosophy's ultimate goal: the release from the cycle of rebirth. Here's what to know abo ...Read More >
Raipur: Five of 31 Maoists slain in Sunday's encounter with security forces in a forest falling under Indravati National Park in Bijapur district in south Bastar of Chhattisgarh have been identified, police said on Monday. West Bastar Division secretary Hunga Karma, who was in the rank of divisional committee (DVCM) member carrying a bounty of Rs eight lakh, was among the five slain Naxals who have been identified so far, police said. The other three deceased Naxals, who have been identified, were in the rank of commander in the Maoist cadre and carried a reward of Rs five lakh each. They a ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Strengthening its commitment to green logistics, Maruti Suzuki India Limited dispatched 5.18 lakh vehicles through Indian Railways in FY 2024-25, its highest-ever. The major advantage of railways is that it offers a low-emission and energy-efficient mode of transportation. Besides, it also helps to ease road congestion. Maruti Suzuki currently dispatches vehicles to more than 20 hubs using railways, from where over 600 cities across India are served. Port locations of Mundra and Pipavav, used by the Company for exports, are also served using railways. Hisashi Takeuchi, MD-CEO, M ...Read More >
Guwahati, Jun 5 (PTI) The Assam Congress on Thursday demanded a CBI inquiry into alleged illegal stone mining in Karbi Anglong district in violation of a Supreme Court order. Addressing a press conference here, former Rajya Sabha member Ripun Bora also alleged that Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council Chief Executive Member Tuliram Ronghang was allowing illegal activities in the district in nexus with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. "Large-scale illegal stone mining is taking place in the hills of Karbi Anglong in violation of the Supreme Court order. The SC had banned mining in and around K ...Read More >
Mumbai: The birth of three penguin chicks at Mumbai's Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan and Zoo has sparked an unexpected row not over their care, but their names. BJP functionary Nitin Bankar from the Byculla Assembly constituency has objected to the chicks being given English names, insisting they be named in Marathi instead. The BMC is expected to respond by June 10, after which Bankar will decide his next move. Speaking to The Free Press Journal, Bankar said, "When penguins were brought from abroad, we accepted that their names would be in English. But these chicks were born on the soil of M ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Assembly on Tuesday witnessed a noisy scene as Opposition BJD and Congress members held protests inside the House over alleged non-payment of salaries to around 60,000 women supporting staffers under the 'Mission Shakti' scheme. Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik accused the BJP government of "conspiring to stop" salaries of the 'Mission Shakti' staff. As soon as the Question Hour began, the BJD and Congress members trooped to the well of the House and demanded immediate release of salaries of around 60,000 women supporting staff working under the 'Mission Shakti' sch ...Read More >
Kanpur, January 27: Due to the massive influx of devotees for the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025, Varanasi's District Magistrate in Uttar Pradesh has announced that all schools in the district will be closed from Monday, January 27, 2025, to Wednesday, February 5, 2025. The decision is aimed at ensuring the safety of students and managing traffic congestion caused by the large number of pilgrims arriving in Varanasi for the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025. Despite the school closures, online classes will continue as usual to maintain the academic schedule, News18 reported. This directive applies to all CBSE, ICSE ...Read More >
New Delhi, May 19 (PTI) After a tepid start to 2025, the IPO market is getting back on track with six main-board companies, including Schloss Bangalore -- owner of luxury hotel chain The Leela, are set to float their initial share-sales this month to collectively mobilise over Rs 11,000 crore, investment banking sources said on Monday. Of the six firms, Borana Weaves and Belrise Industries will launch their IPOs this week. Borana Weaves will float its Rs 144-crore IPO on May 20, while Pune-based Belrise Industries' Rs 2,150-crore IPO will open on May 21. The remaining four companies -- Schl ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 26 (VOICE) India in 2024 saw a boom in employment rates, with women and youth leading the charge in workforce participation, according to a report.The report by Apna.co, a job and professional networking platform, showed women contributed an impressive 2.8 crore job applications -- 20 per cent higher than in 2023. Similarly, the youth posted a 27 per cent year-on-year increase in job applications. Women contributed an impressive 2.8 crore job applications out of a total of 7 crore, a 25 per cent year-on-year surge, in 2024. Flexible work opportunities, gender-focused initiativ ...Read More >
Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh) [India], June 5 (ANI): Pointing out the developmental works done by the Centre and his administration in Ayodhya, where Ram Janmabhoomi Temple is located, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday said that earlier bullets were fired on people coming to the city, but now people visiting the temple were welcomed with a shower of flowers. The Chief Minister was apparently referring to the police firing on karsevaks during the Ram Janmabhoomi protest in 1990. Also Read | World Environment Day 2025: Italian Deputy PM Antonio Tajani Lauds PM Narendra Modi's ...Read More >
New norms to avoid another Bengaluru stampede, said Home Minister G Parameshwara. Bengaluru: Karnataka government will formulate a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for mega events, meetings and celebrations aimed at preventing any untoward incidents, state Home Minister G Parameshwara said on Thursday. The initiative comes in the wake of the stampede near the Chinnaswamy Cricket Stadium here on Wednesday that claimed 11 lives. Speaking to reporters, Mr Parameshwara said that the governm ...Read More >
Uber has launched India's first Shikara ride on Srinagar's Dal Lake, offering a unique and scenic experience. This new service allows passengers to enjoy the tranquil beauty of the lake while riding in a traditional Shikara boat. Booking is easy through the Uber app, with rides available daily from 10 AM to 6 PM. This initiative aims to boost tourism in the region while providing locals with a new way to experience the lake. With Uber's entry into the Shikara market, visitors can now enjoy a blend of modern convenience and traditional charm on Dal Lake. ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar, Dec 3 (PTI) President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday arrived in Odisha and unveiled a statue of Santali writer and educator Pandit Raghunath Murmu here. She also visited the Adim Owar Jarpa Jaher, a sacred place for Santals, in Bhubaneswar and offered prayers. The President was accorded a warm welcome at Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA), where she landed on a special aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) to commence her five-day visit to Odisha. She was received at the airport by Governor Raghubar Das, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and other dignitaries. People standi ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar: The state govt on Tuesday received investment intent worth Rs 4.5 lakh crore on the first day of Utkarsh Odisha-Make in Odisha Conclave 2025, and given the massive response the event has generated, chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi feels they could see proposals worth four times than the target of Rs 5 lakh crore that had been set in the run-up to the business summit. "The investment proposals are likely to take a big leap as the investors are highly encouraged by the PM's assurances," Majhi said on a day his govt received over 100 investment intents and signed 54 MoUs in various ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar: The dark dingy room of the jail in the city haunts Bhubanananda Tripathi even after 49 years and some months. The rattling noise of locks and bars, the unhygienic environs, the food that was bereft of taste and the scary nights came alive as Tripathi gets the news that the government of Odisha declares provision of pension to all those who had spent countless sleepless nights in prison during the Emergency in 1975. Tripathy is one of the 1200 brave souls from Odisha who were among 1.1 lakh arrested during Emergency and endured torture, humiliation and their crime was - demanding ...Read More >
New Delhi: After a tepid start to 2025, the IPO market is getting back on track with six main-board companies, including Schloss Bangalore -- owner of luxury hotel chain The Leela, are set to float their initial share-sales this month to collectively mobilise over Rs 11,000 crore, investment banking sources said on Monday. Of the six firms, Borana Weaves and Belrise Industries will launch their IPOs this week.Borana Weaves will float its Rs 144-crore IPO on May 20, while Pune-based Belrise Industries' Rs 2,150-crore IPO will open on May 21. The remaining four companies -- Schloss Bangalore L ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Police has revoked the suspension order of four out of five personnel, who faced disciplinary action in September last year in connection with the alleged torture of an army officer and "sexual assault" of his fiancée, an official notification said. The alleged incident had taken place on September 15, 2024, when the army officer and his fiancée went to Bharatpur police station here to complain of road rage. Bharatpur police station inspector-in-charge Dinakrushna Mishra, however, will continue to remain suspended, the order issued by DGP Y B Khurania on Monday night s ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar: Gundicha Temple, where the deities of Jagannath temple were born, is being prepared for a visual transformation through enhancement work before Rath Yatra on June 27."The beautification work includes stone-cladding of the outer boundary wall, landscaping and illumination arrangements to welcome the deities at their place of birth during Rath Yatra. The aesthetic transformation will give a visual delight to the deities and devotees," chief administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), Arabinda Kumar Padhee told TOI.The temple's exterior boundary wall, previously co ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha BJP government has renamed 21 schemes launched by the previous BJD regime, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi told the assembly Thursday. The BJP government took oath June 12 after defeating the 24-year-old Naveen Patnaik-led BJD government in the assembly elections. In a written reply to a query by BJD legislator Tusharkanti Behera, the Chief Minister said the state government has renamed 21 existing schemes and launched seven new ones. According to a statement, the BJP government has rebranded eight schemes that were named after the late Biju Patnaik, father of form ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar: In response to the ongoing supply issues with West Bengal, the Odisha government has announced an ambitious plan to cultivate potatoes on 15,023 hectares of land. Deputy Chief Minister KV Singh Deo outlined the initiative during a recent Assembly session, emphasizing the need to boost local production to mitigate the impact of the supply disruption. The Deputy CM highlighted that steps have been taken to increase potato production in key districts such as Cuttack, Kandhamal, Keonjhar, Sundargarh, and Koraput. These districts are known for their favorable conditions for tuber cul ...Read More >
The total CISF manpower sanctioned for providing a counter-terrorist cover to the two upcoming airports is 2,870. The Union government has sanctioned a combined strength of more than 2,800 CISF personnel to guard two soon-to-be operational international airports in Noida and in Maharashtra's Navi Mumbai, official sources said Thursday. Sources told PTI that the ministry of home affairs (MHA), under whose command the CISF works, had sanctioned 1,840 posts for the Navi Mumbai airport and 1,030 th ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar: Outgoing Governor Raghubar Das said Odisha's success in advancing on the path of development while preserving its traditions is truly inspiring. "Odisha has achieved recognition for its rich culture and glorious tradition. The enthusiasm and unparalleled hospitality of the people of Odisha has left a deep impression on my heart. Odisha's success in moving ahead on the path of development while adhering to its tradition is truly inspiring," said Das. He further stated that after spending more than 13 months in Odisha, he is leaving with a deep sense of gratitude and respect for t ...Read More >
Ayodhya: A youth has been arrested from the Ram Janmabhoomi area in Ayodhya. The youth had installed a hidden camera in the glasses he was wearing, through which he used to click photos in the Ram temple premises. The accused youth is a resident of Vadodara. The police are arresting him and interrogating him. The youth had installed a camera in his glasses. Through this, he clicked photos in the Ram temple premises. A security guard present at the scene became suspicious and checked the glasses. During the check, a hidden camera was found in the glasses. The arrested youth is being interroga ...Read More >
Gurgaon: As the Union Budget 2025-26 approaches, affordable housing remains a critical expectation for the real estate sector. Once a flourishing segment, affordable housing -- homes priced under Rs 40 lakh -- faced a sharp downturn in recent years. According to industry data, the share of affordable housing in total sales dropped to 18% in 2024 from 38% in 2019. Similarly, its share in the total housing supply across the top seven cities declined from nearly 40% in 2019 to just 16% in 2024. This steep fall highlights the urgent need for interventions to revive the segment, which struggled ...Read More >
Nagpur: The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) Nagpur to host Jagannath Rath Yatra on June 28 starting at 12 noon from Poddareshwar Ram Mandir (Mayo Hospital Square). The procession will pass through key locations, concluding at the ISKCON Temple. A preparatory meeting for the yatra was held at ISKCON Nagpur. The meeting discussed event layout, service distribution, city route planning, promotion, and security arrangements. Senior devotees, including Brajenra Tanay Prabhu and Venu Gopal Prabhu, were present. ISKCON Nagpur invites all devotees and the general public to par ...Read More >
Why Is Indian Railways Called Indian Railways, Not Indian Railway? UPSC-Level Question Solved Gujarat batter Urvil Patel, who went unsold in the recently concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 Mega Auction, has continued his red-hot form in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy by hitting two record-breaking T20 centuries in the space of three games. The 26-year-old Patel on November 27, smashed the fastest T20 century by an Indian batter. He slammed a century off just 28 deliveries against Tripura, eventually finishing with a score of 113 not out off 35 deliveries, with the help of seven ...Read More >
Puri: Many travelers passing through Odisha wish to have a darshan of Lord Jagannath but are often unable to do so due to time constraints and other commitments. Hence, if 'Abadha' the holy offering of Srimandira would be made available at the major Railway Stations in Odisha, these devotees can still partake in the spiritual experience and take the holy offerings to their homes. Keeping this idea in mind Puri MP Sambit Patra put a proposal in the Parliament recently. He wanted the Union Railway Minister to check feasibility of the proposal by talking to the temple authorities and priests. A ...Read More >
New Delhi: A wedding in Bengaluru took an unexpected turn when the groom, reportedly under the influence of alcohol, along with his friends, caused chaos during the ceremony. A viral video circulating online shows the bride's mother cancelling the wedding in front of shocked relatives after the groom misbehaved and threw the aarti thali while the religious rituals were being performed. In the video, the bride's mother can be heard expressing her disappointment and concern for her daughter's future. She boldly decided to call off the wedding right then and there, stating that if this was how ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday performed the groundbreaking ceremony for 12 industrial and infrastructure projects worth ₹28,084 crore, reinforcing the state's vision of sustainable and inclusive development. The projects, located across Gopalpur, Chatrapur, Buguda, and Barapalli in the Ganjam region, are expected to create employment opportunities for 15,455 people. Speaking on the occasion, which coincided with World Environment Day, Majhi said the projects reflect the state government's commitment to eco-friendly growth while ensuring upliftment of local ...Read More >