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Guwahati: Piles of food waste, used plastic and thermocol plates left by devotees have created an unsanitary situation in several areas, including Bhootnath temple, Pandu, following the conclusion of the Ambubachi Mahayog at Kamakhya temple on Thursday.The accumulated garbage, primarily generated after devotees consumed meals from community kitchens, has begun emitting foul odors and poses health concerns for residents and pilgrims in the area."Workers of GMC did not come to collect garbage today. Maybe GMC workers are more focused on cleaning the area near the temple but over a thousand devotees stayed near the Bhootnath temple and they ate from the community kitchens operating in the area and the smell from accumulated food waste is becoming unbearable," a shop owner said.Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) mayor Mrigen Sarania said, "The GMC has been working tirelessly throughout the Ambubachi Mahayog to maintain cleanliness and sanitation. Our workers are working round the clock, but the sheer volume of devotees created unprecedented challenges. Our teams are now working to address any remaining cleanup requirements systematically.""GMC will continue this cleanup process till June 28 to keep our city clean and sanitised after the Ambubachi, many devotees are still present in the city and they have meals from various community kitchens due to which food waste gets accumulated quickly even after cleaning the areas continuously," added Sarania.A local resident of Kamakhya gate, Jyotiprakash Pathak expressed, "This year situation is better, areas near the Kamakhya temple is being regularly cleaned by the GMC workers, earlier after the conclusion of Ambubachi Mela the whole area used to be dirty, with garbage and devotees' footwears lying around here and there, but now the situation has improved."Pathak added, "The area near the Boothnath temple needs serious attention from the GMC, as the area started emitting foul smell from leftover food that the devotees had from the community kitchens."Many NGOs and social organisations also organised cleanliness drives to keep the areas near the Kamakhya temple and camps for devotees clean amid the Ambubachi Mahayog. Two such organisations are 'Voice of Environment' (VoE) and Gauhati University unit's National Service Scheme (NSS) volunteers.According to a senior member of VoE, Moharana Choudhury, they organised a cleanliness drive at the Kamakhya station camp in effort to keep the area clean. Mangal Seal, a NSS volunteer stated that they ran a cleanliness drive at the end of the day after serving refreshments to the devotees.
Vijayawada: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday said that concerted efforts would be made to increase green cover in the state from current 30.05 per cent to 50 per cent by 2047 when India would celebrate its centenary year of Independence. Addressing the Vana Mahotsavam event on the World Environment Day at Ananthavaram village in Thullur mandal near here, the Chief Minister said: "Currently, Andhra Pradesh has 37,421 sq km of forest area, accounting for 23 per cent of the total area in the State. When we add greenery outside forests, the state's green cover stands at 30.05 per ce ...Read More >
Anantnag (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], June 8 (ANI): The Indian Army with support from an NGO, M3M Foundation, organised the Gujjar-Bakerwal Mela at Aishmuqam in South Kashmir's Anantnag district, aimed at supporting the nomadic community ahead of the annual Amarnath Yatra. Speaking to ANI, Dr Aishwarya Mahajan, Managing Trustee of M3M Foundation, said, "Discussions with the Indian Army were going on from a long time, on furthering their community initiatives in the valley. One of them was, that as soon as the Amarnath Yatra begins, facilities are needed here for the Gujjar Bakarwals who accom ...Read More >
Ahmedabad, June 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) The MSC IRINA, recognised as the world's largest container ship by TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit) capacity, is set to dock at the Adani Group's Vizhinjam International Seaport on Monday and will be berthed till Tuesday. The monumental arrival marks a significant milestone for the seaport, which was dedicated to the nation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 2. The MSC IRINA boasts an impressive capacity of 24,346 TEUs, making it a formidable player in global shipping. With a length of 399.9 metres and a width of 61.3 metres, the vessel is approximate ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Axiom-4 crew members, including Shubhanshu Shukla, were welcomed with hugs and drinks as they stepped into the International Space Station on Thursday. The newly launched spacecraft -- the fifth in the Dragon series and named Grace -- successfully completed a soft docking with the International Space Station at 4.01pm while orbiting above the North Atlantic Ocean."At 6:31 am EDT (4:01 IST) on Thursday, the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft docked to the International Space Station for the fourth private astronaut mission to the orbiting laboratory, Axiom Mission 4," the National Aeronautics ...Read More >
Digha: A sea of devotees swamped the road as the wheels of chariots rolled for the maiden Rath Yatra in Digha on Friday. In keeping with the tradition followed for the chariot festival in Puri, chief minister Mamata Banerjee took part in rituals, washed the road where the three chariots were parked, performed aarti with earthen lamps, and swept the path with a gold broom to set off the Rath Yatra from Jagannath Dham. The rain could not dampen the festive fervour of devotees who started thronging the temple area with umbrellas since 6 am. The priests began the rituals around 9 am and the crowd ...Read More >
Gandhinagar: Stating that it was time to decide whether the next generation will "have a plastic-free or plastic-laden environment," chief minister Bhupendra Patel on Thursday said that the campaign against single-use plastic should become a mass movement in Gujarat. Presiding over the state-level programme in Gandhinagar to mark World Environment Day, the chief minister also unveiled several projects aimed at environment protection. "The Prime Minister has envisioned environment-friendly development, and Gujarat will adhere to the principle of ensuring development in a sustainable and environ ...Read More >
Srinagar, June 26: The Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha on Thursday said that security measures have been strengthened to ensure the smooth conduct of the Amarnath Yatra this year. SInha acknowledged dip in the registration of Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra pilgrims post the terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam in April this year. Addressing media persons at Raj Bhawan, Srinagar, Sinha said that registration dropped by around 10 percent, but maintained that ìthe numbers are now rising again.î ìPublic confidence is returning, and I am hopeful it will continue to grow. Befor ...Read More >
Amid Exposition work, tourists throng Basilica of Bom Jesus Roque Dias Old Goa: With the 18th decennial Exposition of the sacred relics of St Francis Xavier set to begin on November 21, Old Goa is bustling with activity as final touches are being given to works taken up by the government authorities. From the attractive pandals of various sizes erected on the premises of the Basilica of Bom Jesus to the tents put up in the area near Se Cathedral, everything is well designed to accommodate the expected huge number of devotees who will visit Old Goa during veneration of the sacred relics. Se ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 18 (PTI) The Pakistan high commission on Wednesday said it issued 84 visas to Indian pilgrims to visit the Shree Katas Raj temples in Punjab province's Chakwal district. The group has been given visas to visit the Katas Raj temples from December 19 to 25. The temples are also known as Qila Katas. It is a complex of several Hindu temples connected to one another by walkways. Under the provision of a bilateral protocol on visits to religious shrines, Sikh and Hindu pilgrims from India visit Pakistan every year.Pakistani pilgrims also visit India every year under the protocol. ...Read More >
New Delhi: Three Indian citizens vanished mysteriously in Tehran. Darkness closed in as hope seemed lost. A ruthless Pakistani gang with potential links to ISI snatched them away, casting a shadow of fear. But relentless Indian diplomats refused to back down. Against all odds, a daring rescue mission ignited. Now, the captives are free, and a chilling game of espionage comes to light. The Punjab-based trio - Amritpal Singh from Hoshiarpur, Jaspal Singh from SBS Nagar and Hushnapreet Singh from Sangrur - had landed in Iran on May 1. Promised a clandestine route to Australia via Dubai and Tehra ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 7 (ANI): Congress leader Jignesh Mevani on Saturday questioned the government over the ceasefire in Operation Sindoor, alleging foreign pressure and demanding clarity on its terms. Mevani accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of backing down under US influence and asked why the remaining terrorists haven't been caught. 'It's been a month since the government launched Operation Sindoor and claimed to have caught a terrorist. The Prime Minister boasts of a 56-inch chest, says India is a Vishwa Guru, and speaks of vermilion running through our veins. Then why haven't the ...Read More >
Over 331,000 devotees have already registered for the Amarnath Yatra, commencing on July 3 and concluding on August 9, 2025. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha chaired a meeting to review preparations, focusing on essential amenities and safety measures along the Pahalgam and Baltal routes. The board discussed enhancing facilities, lodging, and services for a hassle-free pilgrimage. SRINAGAR: More than 3,31,000 devotees have registered so far for this year's Amarnath Yatra, which is set to begin on ...Read More >
New Delhi: Alleging "blatant misuse" of agencies to defame its leaders, AAP on Thursday questioned why the first information report filed against former Delhi ministers Saurabh Bharadwaj and Satyendar Jain was being kept under wraps and "selective" press notes were being leaked to the media.Bharadwaj, who is Delhi AAP convener, alleged that only two former ministers were named in the case without any reasonable cause while all the officers of the health and public works departments, who were actually responsible for executing the hospital projects, were spared. "Is the FIR so baseless that BJP ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 27 (ANI): The Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs will hold a meeting on Friday. During the meeting, the committee will record evidence of experts/non-official witnesses in connection with the examination of the subject 'Future of India-Bangladesh Relationship'. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has been the chairperson of the Committee of the External Affairs since September 2024. India has strongly condemned the demolition of a Durga temple in Dhaka, criticising the role of the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government in allowing the destruction and projectin ...Read More >
Rajkot: The administration of Devbhumi Dwarka district has enhanced security measures for pilgrims in the temple town of Dwarka following recent drowning incidents in the Gomti river. The authorities have deployed security personnel and installed ropes to prevent pilgrims from jumping into the river. District collector R M Tanna has urged people to refrain from bathing in the Gomti river. The administration is also considering the installation of iron railings as a preventive measure and has acquired a high-speed rescue boat for emergency operations. There have been three incidents of drowning ...Read More >
Thousands of pilgrims, including foreigners, congregated in Digha, West Bengal, for the Rath Yatra festival. The Chief Minister, along with cabinet members, initiated the chariot procession of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra. Rituals commenced in the morning with 'Pahandi Vijay' at the newly-built Jagannath Dham Temple, followed by the idols being placed on the chariots amid devotional chants and festivities.Thousands gathered from different parts of the state to attend the Rath Yatra fe ...Read More >
Agartala (Tripura) [India], June 27 (ANI): Joining the nation in celebrating the auspicious festival of Rath Yatra, the ISKCON temple and Hare Krishna Mandir in Tripura's Agartala on Friday hosted a grand celebration, drawing thousands of devotees from across Tripura. The vibrant and spiritually uplifting procession was marked by chanting, devotional songs, cultural performances, and traditional rituals. The streets of Agartala came alive as Lord Jagannath, along with his siblings Balabhadra and Subhadra, embarked on the annual chariot journey amid joyous cries of "Jai Jagannath." The holy ch ...Read More >
Bengaluru: The Karnataka government on Thursday took strong action against the police officers allegedly responsible for the Bengaluru stampede, suspending several high-ranking officials, including the city's police commissioner. Addressing a press conference, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also announced a one-man commission to probe the lapses that triggered the deadly stampede. "Cubbon Park Police Station police inspector, station house master, station house officer, ACP, Central Division DCP, cricket stadium in-charge, additional commissioner of police, commissioner of police have been susp ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 8 (ANI): BJP MP Gulam Ali Khatana, who was part of the all-party parliamentary delegation to Europe, said that during their recently conclued visit they successfully communicated India's development story and its resolute stand against terrorism, particularly emanating from Pakistan. Highlighting the delegation's key discussions during the tour, Khatana told ANI, 'We discussed how we dismantled the terrorism factory in Pakistan by responding... We also talked about tourism infrastructure, G20 Summit, and projects like the six-lane roads, bridges, solar initiatives, our ...Read More >
Hyderabad, June 26 (SocialNews.XYZ) Bonalu festival, which symbolises the unique culture of Telangana, began on Thursday amid fanfare with devotees offering the first Bonam to goddess Jagadambika at historic Golconda Fort here. The month-long festivities kicked off with the traditional rituals performed by a group of priests. A procession was taken from Langar House to Jagdamba temple at the Golconda fort. A large number of women with pots on their heads, 'Potharajus' and devotees participated in the event. The women devotees offered 'Bonam', containing cooked rice, jaggery, curd and neem l ...Read More >
Puri (Odisha) [India], June 26 (ANI): After its vast and largely volunteer-led support effort to feed the multitude at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj earlier this year, the Adani Group has now turned its attention to another of India's most iconic religious festivals -- the Rath Yatra in Puri, Odisha. Held annually at the Lord Jagannath Temple in Puri, the nine-day chariot procession draws millions of pilgrims from across the country and beyond. For the Adani Group, corporate social responsibility has always extended beyond infrastructure, education and healthcare. Increasingly, it includes ...Read More >
Guwahati: The sacred doors of Kamakhya temple's sanctum sanctorum reopened for devotees at 5.00am on Thursday, marking the conclusion of the annual Ambubachi Mahayog. Approximately 20,000 devotees had gathered in the early hours to offer prayers to Maa Kamakhya after the four-day long religious congregation.The Ambubachi Mahayog, which celebrates the annual menstruation cycle of goddess Kamakhya, traditionally draws lakhs of pilgrims from across India and beyond. However, this year witnessed a notable decline in the number of visitors due to newly implemented night-time entry restrictions.The ...Read More >
HYDERABAD: The historic Golconda Fort came alive with colour, devotion and festive fervour as the annual Bonalu celebrations kicked off on a grand note on Thursday. The month-long festivities began with traditional prayers to Goddess Jagadambika at the Sri Jagadamba Mahankali temple atop the fort. The first Bonam -- a traditional offering of rice, jaggery, curd and neem leaves carried in decorated brass or earthen pots -- was brought in a massive procession from Langar Houz Crossroads, accompanied by beats of drums, chants and the rhythmic dance of 'Potharajus' wielding whips. Women dressed ...Read More >
Kolkata, Jun 27 (PTI) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday inaugurated the first Rath Yatra from the newly constructed Jagannath temple in the coastal town of Digha. Amid the chants of 'Joy Jagannath' by thousands of pilgrims, including foreigners, the CM, along with her cabinet colleagues, pulled the ropes of the chariots of Lord Jagannath and his two siblings Balabhadra and Subhadra this afternoon. She appealed through a public address system that the devotees could touch the ropes of all three chariots from inside the barricades along the 750-metre procession from the main ...Read More >
Gurgaon: MCG additional commissioner Yash Jaluka directed bulk waste generators (BWG) across the city to ensure proper disposal of waste by private agencies who are assisting them. Giving these instructions in a meeting held on Friday, he said it is often observed that BWGs hand over their waste to private agencies, which only sort valuable items and dump the remaining waste on roads, drains, vacant land or public places. This, he said, not only affects cleanliness of the city but also poses a threat to public health."Under the Solid Waste Management Rules-2016, it is the legal and moral respo ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar: Chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday announced an ambitious plan of planting 7.5 crore saplings across the state within a year. Speaking at the state-level celebration of World Environment Day at the OUAT Agriculture Education Hall in city, the CM emphasised the importance of public awareness and collective responsibility in protecting nature and ending plastic pollution. "A healthy environment is essential for a healthy society," he said.Addressing the rising threat of single-use plastic, the CM urged citizens to support a mass movement to eliminate plastic from daily li ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: In a dramatic turn of events, Canadian PM Mark Carney called PM Modi and invited him for the G7 summit that begins eight days from now at Kananaskis in Alberta. Modi accepted the invitation and said he was looking forward to meeting him at the summit.The announcement by Modi on X followed almost a week of suspense over his participation because of a lack of invitation, drawing barbs from the opposition about his possible exclusion from the summit. India is not a member of G7 but Modi has been invited for all summits since 2019. Modi congratulated Carney on his poll win and thanked h ...Read More >
Jaipur: The much-awaited first AC train under the Senior Citizens Pilgrimage Scheme left for Rameswaram from Jaipur's Durgapura railway station on Friday. About 600 passengers left for Rameswaram-Madurai from Jaipur and 176 from Sawai Madhopur. Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma flagged off the Rajasthan Vahini Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train. The elderly passengers had to wait for several hours at the railway station due to an inordinate delay. After reaching the station at the scheduled reporting time between 7 am and 8 am, the elderly tourists had to wait till 3:45 pm there in the scorching heat ...Read More >
GUNTUR: In a significant push to urban infrastructure, the Andhra Pradesh government has sanctioned an additional Rs 111.5 crore to strengthen the drinking water supply system in the Mangalagiri-Tadepalli Municipal Corporation (MTMC), represented by Minister Nara Lokesh. Administrative approval was issued by Special Chief Secretary S Suresh Kumar of the Urban Development Department. The new funding is part of a comprehensive project to ensure safe and uninterrupted drinking water supply. A Detailed Project Report (DPR) worth Rs 450.24 crore was earlier prepared to serve 21 villages. Of this, ...Read More >
Rudraprayag, Jun 7 (PTI) A helicopter on its way to Kedarnath made an emergency landing on the highway in Rudraprayag district on Saturday after developing a technical snag during take-off, officials said. However, all pilgrims on board and the pilot are safe, the officials said. The helicopter had taken off from Badasu base for Kedarnath when it made the emergency landing on the highway near Sirsi following a technical snag during take-off, they said. Videos on social media showed the Kestrel Aviation helicopter standing in the middle of the highway was dangerously close to populated build ...Read More >