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BHUBANESWAR : STRUCTURAL conservation of Shree Jagannath Temple's Ratna Bhandar was completed by the Archaeological Survey of India on Monday. The work was taken up on December 12 last year, 47 years after the Bhitara (inner) Ratna Bhandar was last opened for inventory. Elaborating on the conservation works undertaken, head of ASI Puri circle DB Garnayak said 15 stainless steel beams of different sizes have been used in the Ratna Bhandar - six in the Bahara (outer) Bhandar and nine in the Bhitara Bhandar. "One of the major conservation works was of the corbel in the treasury, which has been entirely changed," he said further informing that 520 stone slabs of different sizes have been replaced in both outer and inner walls of the Ratna Bhandar. Similarly, special attention has been paid to replacing the entire flooring of Ratna Bhandar which has been done in granite stone. "The base of the flooring has been set in sandstone and topped with Khondalite. On the top of this base, granite has been laid in both the chambers which will keep it strong for ages. Even if iron chests or almirahs are taken inside the chambers, they won't damage the flooring," Garnayak informed. The ASI chief asserted that the repair work has been such that no structural problem will be witnessed in Ratna Bhandar for many years. "All the cracks that were witnessed in laser scanning of the structure have been addressed. Roof of the Ratna Bhandar has been sealed to prevent any water leakage," he said. There was water leakage in the Ratna Bhandar for more than 40 years as a result of which, the existing old wrought iron beams had rusted and developed cracks and bends. In November, 2023, ASI had conducted condition mapping (laser scanning) at 49 points of the Ratna Bhandar's outer walls on its northern side to ascertain structural stability. The 3D images showed cracks at many locations on the walls. The national monument conservation body had suspected that these cracks might have caused water seepage into the inner chamber of the Ratna Bhandar. Also known as the 'Amuha Deula', the Ratna Bhandar is located in the northern direction of the Srimandir. There is no date assigned to the structure as it was a later addition to the 12th century shrine. Last week, Puri king Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb had reviewed the conservation work and said that inventorisation of jewels and ornaments of the Trinity will begin after the Ratna Bhandar conservation work is completed.
Bhubaneswar, June 26 (SocialNews.XYZ) The city of Puri in Odisha is bracing for the famous Ratha Yatra, as holy siblings -- Lord Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra, and sister Subhadra -- prepare to embark on their nine-day sojourn from their abode, the 12th-century shrine, to Gundicha Temple on June 27. Devotees, gripped with ecstasy, will pull the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra -- Nandighosh, Taladhwaja, and Darpadalan respectively -- for around 3 km to the Gundicha Temple, believed by some legends to be the birthplace of the Chaturddha Murti (Lord Jagannath, Lord Balab ...Read More >
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], June 27 (ANI): A female student was allegedly gang-raped inside a law college in Kolkata's Kasba on Wednesday evening. The police have arrested all three accused within 24 hours. The three accused, named as Monojit Mishra (31), Zaib Ahmed (19), and Pramit Mukhopadhyay (20), were former students or staff members of the same law college. Also Read | Student Gang-Raped at South Kolkata Law College: Police Arrest 3 Youths for Sexually Assaulting Young Woman Inside Law College. According to the police, the accused named in the FIR will be produced before the A.C.J. ...Read More >
Purba Medinipur (West Bengal) [India], June 27 (ANI): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday participated in the first-ever Rath Yatra of the newly inaugurated Jagannath Temple in Digha. CM Mamata Banerjee performed the sacred ritual of sweeping the chariots, in which the chariot's platform is swept gently using a broom. The CM also performed the Aarti as the first-ever Rath Yatra at the Lord Jagannath temple in Digha began. Also Read | Lohardaga Shocker: Woman Strangulated, Teen Grandson Hacked to Death in Sleep in Jharkhand, Family Feud Suspected. The Rs 250 crore temple in ...Read More >
Puri, Jun 27 (PTI) Lord Jagannath devotees will get another chance to pull the chariots tomorrow as none of them reached their destination on Friday after Balabhadra's Taladwaja chariot got stuck while negotiating a turn, causing delays that prevented the others from arriving at Gundicha Temple, 2.6km away from the 12th-century shrine. "There is no major issue. It is not unusual for chariots to be pulled on the following day. All rituals were conducted on time. There have been no accidents or untoward incidents," Odisha Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan said. When Lord Balabhadra's chario ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar: In a distinctive departure from traditional Rath Yatra, the holy trinity of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra embarked on a unique water-borne sojourn at Kankan Sikhari, an islet in Chilika lagoon, on Friday. The deities are placed on a specially designed chariot mounted on three interconnected boats."After the ceremonial Pahandi ritual, we took the deities to the chariot mounted on boats at 1pm. The divine procession circumnavigated the islet while devotees and priests chanted hymns and beat gongs during the journey. At 2.15pm, we brought the deities from the boat ...Read More >
Puri: Lakhs of devotees were left disheartened during the world famous Rath Yatra in Puri on Friday as the Nandighosha chariot of Lord Jagannath was halted due to crowd mismanagement. Despite extensive planning, multiple high-level reviews, and robust preparations, the administration failed to manage the massive turnout. The situation led to a halt in the movement of Lord Jagannath's chariot, drawing sharp criticism from devotees. Many blamed both the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) and the state government for poor crowd regulation and inadequate control measures, particularly w ...Read More >
Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra 2025: The chariot pulling of the Trinity deities -- Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra -- resumed on second day of the festival on Saturday. Lakhs of devotees are in Odisha's Puri for Lord Jagannath's annual Rath Yatra, which commenced on Friday, June 27. Thousands of people pulled the ropes attached with chariots of Lord Jagannath and his siblings on a road from near the 12th-century shrine towards Shree Gundicha temple, around 2.6 km away. During the festival, the devotees draw the grand chariots of the three deities to the Gundicha Temple, where t ...Read More >
Patna (Bihar) [India], July 6 (ANI): The ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) campaign of the electoral rolls in Bihar is progressing rapidly and recognizing the efforts of the Polling station officials, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Bihar has announced a special incentive of Rs 6,000 for each. This additional honorarium is aimed at acknowledging their hard work and commitment during the intensive revision process. Also Read | PM Narendra Modi, Argentine President Javier Milei Agree to Diversify India-Argentina Trade Basket, Vows to Expand Cooperation in Defence, Security and Mine ...Read More >
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar has written a strongly worded letter to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, criticising General Education Minister V Sivankutty for walking out of a function held at Raj Bhavan on June 19. The Governor described the incident as a breach of protocol and an insult to the constitutional office. The letter, dated June 26, refers to an awards ceremony for the Bharat Scouts and Guides, where Sivankutty -- who also serves as President of the Association's Kerala chapter -- objected to the presence of a garlanded portrait of Bharat Mata on the stage, ...Read More >
Puri: A day before the :Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath, thousands of devotees thronged Puri to witness the reappearance of sibling deities at the 12th-century shrine here on Thursday. They reached the 'Singha Dwar' (Lion's Gate) of the temple before the sun rose to have a 'Nabajouban darshan' (youthful appearance) of Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath on the 'Ratna Bedi' (sacred platform in sanctum sanctorum). The deities appeared before the devotees after a fortnight. The public 'darshan' of the sibling deities was stopped after bathing rituals on June 11. "It is believed that t ...Read More >
Puri (Odisha) [India], June 27 (ANI): The grand annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath commenced in Odisha's Puri on Friday, as thousands of devotees began pulling the majestic chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra from the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple, amidst chants, drumbeats, and spiritual fervour. Following the completion of key rituals, including the sacred 'Chhera Pahanra' (sweeping ceremony) performed by Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, the deities were ceremonially placed on their respective chariots -- Nandighosha, Taladhwaja, and Darpadalana. Also ...Read More >
Puri (Odisha) [India], June 27 (ANI): Some people experienced suffocation and reportedly fell unconscious due to high humidity during the Rath Yatra in Odisha's Puri on Friday, prompting an immediate medical response, officials said. According to officials, ambulances were rushed to the spot after some people complained of breathing difficulties and were reported unconscious due to the humidity. Those affected were quickly shifted to nearby hospitals and provided with necessary medical assistance. Speaking on the incident, Odisha Minister Mukesh Mahaling said, 'Due to high humidity, one or ...Read More >
VISAKHAPATNAM: Energy Minister Gottipati Ravi Kumar inaugurated Andhra Pradesh's first Super ECBC (Energy Conservation Building Code) compliant building at Sagar Nagar in Visakhapatnam on Friday. Terming it a landmark in sustainable infrastructure, he emphasised the government's commitment to energy efficiency and green design in public facilities. The facility will serve as a national-level training hub for power sector staff. He urged power utilities to expedite 20 lakh rooftop solar connections, targeting 10,000 in each Assembly segment. He reaffirmed nine-hour uninterrupted power for agri ...Read More >
Puri, Jul 5 (PTI) Lord Jagannath's 'Bahuda' Yatra or return car festival formally began here on Saturday with thousands of devotees pulling the chariot of Lord Balabhadra's 'Taladwaj' after ceremonial 'Pahandi' and Gajapati Maharaja Divyasingha Deb performing 'Chhera Pahanra' (sweeping) rituals. Though the pulling of chariots was slated to start at 4 pm, it began at about 2.45 pm much ahead of the schedule amid chants of 'Jai Jagannath', 'Haribol' and beating of cymbals. The chariots of Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath would follow Lord Balabhadra's Taladwaj. Earlier, the sibling deities - L ...Read More >
Amritsar: BJP MP Nishikant Dubey from Jharkhand has claimed that Britain assisted India in executing the 1984 Operation Bluestar at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, stoking a new controversy.In a post on X on Monday, Dubey alleged that then PM Indira Gandhi "launched an attack on the Golden Temple in collaboration with Britain", with British Army officers present in Amritsar.He uploaded a classified British document, "Sikh Community", claiming that on Feb 23, 1984, the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office mentioned in a letter that the Indian govt had sought British advice over a plan to remove Si ...Read More >
Mumbai, June 27 (SocialNews.XYZ) Bollywood actor Ayushmann Khurrana joins names such as Kamal Haasan, Ariana Grande, and Jeremy Strong at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences this year. Ayushmann along with names such as Kamal Haasan Naomi Ackie, Gillian Anderson, Branford Marsalis, Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Graham, Jodie Comer and Jason Momoa are among 534 individuals who were invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences on June 26. "We are thrilled to invite this esteemed class of artists, technologists, and professionals to join the Academy," said Ac ...Read More >
BHUBANESWAR: Close to a million devotees from across the country and abroad converged at Puri as the annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra began with great religious fervour in Puri on Friday. Even the intermittent showers could not dampen the enthusiasm of the pilgrims as the crowd continued to swell to take part in the chariot pulling. Amidst reverberating sounds of musical instruments, chanting, recital of shlokas and performances by artistes, the festival got off to a vibrant start with all the rituals that mark the holy Trinity's annual sojourn. The thr ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar: Nearly 600 new khondalite stones and 15 steel beams have been used for the ongoing repair of Ratna Bhandar, according to Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA). The conservation measures, which commenced on Dec 17, 2024, are expected to conclude by Niladri Bije on July 8. Puri's titular king and Lord Jagannath's principal servitor Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb inspected the work progress on Thursday and expressed contentment with the restoration results. "Ratna Bhandar, which was in urgent need of repair, is completely safe now. It looks beautiful now. The ASI has replaced about ...Read More >
Puri: Lord Jagannath's 'Bahuda Yatra' or return car festival began here on Saturday with thousands of devotees pulling the chariot of Lord Balabhadra's 'Taladhwaja' after ceremonial 'pahandi' and Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb performing 'chhera pahanra' (sweeping) rituals. Though the pulling of chariots was slated to start at 4 pm, it began at about 2.45 pm much ahead of the schedule amid chants of 'Jai Jagannath', 'Haribol' and beating of cymbals. The chariots of Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath followed Lord Balabhadra's Taladhwaja. Earlier, the sibling deities, Lord Balabhadra, Devi S ...Read More >
Ranchi, Jun 27 (PTI) Lord Jagannath's chariot along with goddess Subhadra and Lord Balbhadra are set to roll out on Friday evening on way to their annual nine-day sojourn to Mausi Bari in Jharkhand's capital Ranchi amid tight security. The chariots of the deities will start rolling around 4.30 pm from Jagannath temple in Dhurwa with traditional rituals. Jharkhand Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar and Chief Minister Hemant Soren extended their wishes on the occasion of Rath Yatra. "Heartfelt greetings to all devotees on the sacred occasion of Rath Yatra. May Lord Jagannath bless this auspicious ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], June 28 (ANI): Former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik raised concerns over the 'inordinate delay' in pulling the Nandighosha chariot on Saturday. Some people experienced suffocation and reportedly fell unconscious due to high humidity during the Rath Yatra in Odisha's Puri on Friday. Taking to 'X', the Biju Janata Dal chief stated that he doesn't want to 'point fingers or blame' the administration for the delay in pulling the Nandighosha chariot, but it is 'impossible' to 'voice' deep concern and anguish on how the things unfolded during the most sacred eve ...Read More >
Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], June 27(ANI): As part of heightened security measures for the 148th Jagannath Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad, the Crime Branch has deployed anti-drone guns developed by Bangalore-based AXISCADES Aerospace & Technologies Pvt Ltd to monitor the 16-km procession route, officials said on Friday. According to officials, the advanced equipment is designed to detect and jam unauthorised drones, ensuring that only drones authorised by the administration remain operational along the yatra route. Speaking to ANI, Prashant Sharma, Anti-Drone Gun Operator at AXISCADES, said, "This ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar: Aiming to transform Puri into a world-class religious tourism destination and provide better amenities for residents, chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday unveiled plans for a comprehensive infrastructure upgrade of the pilgrim town. Elevating Puri from municipality to a municipal corporation, Majhi announced a world-class Shri Jagannath Museum, library and research centre in the beach town, which has a population of around 4 lakh.Coinciding with the ongoing nine-day Rath Yatra festival, Majhi emphasised the need to enhance Puri's appeal beyond its iconic Jagannath Temple a ...Read More >
Agartala (Tripura) [India], June 5 (ANI): Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha said that the state government is prioritising quality education for students, and quality teachers are being recruited through the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET). Saha also informed that more recruitments will be made in the future. Also Read | Centre Notifies Waqf Management Rules 2025; Portal, Database, Audit of Waqf Properties. "Textbook education can never be the standard of life. One can become morally strong through education. Along with education, children should also be engaged in social work," he said. CM ...Read More >
Puri: After erving lakhs of people during the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, Reliance has launched multi-pronged efforts to enrich the experience of devotees in Lord Jagannath's Rath Yatra in Puri, the business group said in a statement. On the first day of the Rath Yatra on Friday, the company distributed hot meals to about one lakh devotees through its 'Anna Seva', and the service will continue till July 8 on 'Naladri Bije', the day on which Lord Jagannath and his siblings will return to the 12th-century shrine. Reliance Industries Limited in close collaboration with the district administra ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has declared Swapneswar Mahadev temple, built in 6th-century, as a protected monument site. The Shiva temple is located at Punjiama village in Banpur block of Khurda district. "In exercise of the powers conferred by...the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, the Central government hereby declares that the ancient monument specified...to be of national importance," read a Gazette notification issued by the ASI on July 2. Odisha Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan, who is looking after the Endowment Commission, ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar, Jul 8 (PTI) A day after the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) completed repair and conservation work of the sacred Ratna Bhandar (treasury) of Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan on Tuesday said the long-awaited inventory of valuables stored in the treasury may begin in August with the assistance of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Responding to a question on the next step after ASI's conservation efforts, the minister said, "The inventory of the valuables in the Ratna Bhandar could be undertaken any time in August. The state government ...Read More >
Guwahati, June 27: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday announced that his government will soon issue a blanket order to the Central Government to facilitate the exploration of Assam's mining potential. The announcement was made during the second edition of the North East Mining Ministers' Conclave, held in Guwahati. "This morning, we discussed granting a blanket exploration order for geological investigations. I want to commit that within a very short time, we will allow the Government of India to explore mining potential across," the Chief Minister said. He further informed that t ...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 >
Puri, Jun 29 (PTI) Three persons, including two women, were killed and over 50 others injured in a stampede near Shree Gundicha Temple in Odisha's Puri early Sunday during a ceremony related to the ongoing Rath Yatra festivities, officials said. The incident took place around 4.20 am when thousands of devotees had gathered near the chariots parked in front of the temple, they said. The injured have been admitted to a nearby hospital where the condition of six people is stated to be critical. The Gundicha Temple, located around 3km from the 12th century shrine, is the aunt's house of Lord Jag ...Read More >