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The banks of the Cauvery in Tiruchi were abuzz on Sunday with thousands of people gathered there to celebrate the Aadi Perukku festival on the 18th day of Tamil month of Aadi. Women, newly-wed couples, and children thronged Amma Mandapam bathing ghat in Srirangam. Devotees, mainly newly-weds, offered special prayers and puja. Many devotees took a dip in the Cauvery, which was in full flow. They began assembling at Amma Mandapam early in the morning. As the day progressed, the crowds continued to
The annual 'Kartheeka Brahmotsavams' began at the temple of Goddess Sri Padmavati Ammavaru at Tiruchanur here on November 28 (Thursday). Priests hoisted the 'Dhwajapatam', the sacred flag bearing the imprint of the divine elephant (the celestial carrier of Goddess Padmavati), atop the temple flag post as part of the 'Dhwajarohanam' ceremony, which signalled the formal launch of the nine-day fete. Under the guidance of the 'Pancharatra Agama' adviser Manikantha Swamy, the officiating priest (Kankana Bhattar), K. Srinivasacharyulu, and priest Babu Swamy conducted the rituals. Executive Office ...Read More >
Filmmaker Jayan K Cherian; stills from his latest film 'Rhythm of Dammam', on the Siddi Community of Yellapur in Uttara Kannada (north Karnataka). The stunningly shot and evocative Rhythm of Dammam, in Siddi Bhasha, is the first fictional feature ever to be made on the Indian Siddi community that traces its ancestry to Africa. In the film, the pre-teen Jayaram, who lives in Karnataka's Yellapura, is afflicted by his dead grandfather's visions, as his impoverished family fights over supposed buried treasure. But Jayaram is a chosen one, the visitations will lead him to discover his community's ...Read More >
Seven Maoists including two women were killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur district on Thursday, a senior police official said. IMAGE: District Reserve Guards of the Chhattisgarh police celebrate after an anti-Maoist operation in Sukma, Chhattisgarh, November 22, 2024.Photograph: ANI Photo The gunfight broke out around 3 am in the forest of south Abujhmad along the border of Narayanpur and Dantewada districts, inspector general of police (Bastar Range) Sunda ...Read More >
A temple locked since 1978 communal riots in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, has been reopened by authorities during an anti-encroachment drive. The Bhasma Shankar temple, containing idols of Lord Hanuman and a Shivling, was rediscovered during an electricity theft inspection. This follows recent violence and heightened tensions in the area, including a mosque survey dispute and loudspeaker fine.The Sambhal administration here on Saturday uncovered and reopened a temple, which is said to have been closed ...Read More >
Lucknow, Jan 8 (UNI) Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday said that the belief system of Sanatan Dharma represents the world's oldest culture, standing above comparison with any religion or sect. The CM said, "I inherit a legacy that spans thousands of years, with its cultural and spiritual events equally ancient. The tradition of Sanatan is higher than the sky and beyond comparison." Speaking at the 'Mahakumbh Mahasammelan, he emphasised the profound significance of the Maha Kumbh. He explained that after the Devasura Sangram (the battle between gods and demons), drops of nectar fell ...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 >
Mumbai, Feb 5 (VOICE) Actress-producer Priyanka Chopra Jonas, who will be next seen in the second season of the streaming series 'Citadel', is busy with her brother Siddharth Chopra's wedding festivities. On Wednesday, the actress took to her Instagram, and shared pictures and videos from the Haldi ceremony. She wrote in the caption, "Kicking off #Sidnee ki shaadi with happiest haldi ceremony". In the pictures, Priyanka can be seen posing with her family and friends. The videos show her dancing and celebrating the festivities. Earlier, Priyanka took blessings at the famous Chilkur Balaji te ...Read More >
Telangana has launched a weekend tour package connecting Hyderabad, Warangal, and the UNESCO-recognized Ramappa Temple. Departing from Hyderabad every Saturday and Sunday, the tour offers a full-day exploration of spiritual and historical landmarks, including Bhadrakali Temple, Padmakshi Temple, Thousand Pillar Temple, and the stunning Ramappa Temple. Priced at ₹2,800 for adults and ₹2,240 for children, this affordable package showcases Telangana's rich heritage. The 13th-century Ramappa Temple, known for its architectural innovation and intricate carvings, is a masterpiece of Kakatiya craftsm ...Read More >
Assam Beef Ban: A political row has erupted over the Assam government's decision to ban the public consumption of beef in the state with the Opposition labelling it "against the right to freedom" while the ruling BJP lauding the state Cabinet's call. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had announced on Wednesday that his government has decided to ban the consumption of beef in restaurants, hotels and public places, drawing sharp reactions from the Opposition. Samajwadi Party MP Iqra Hasan ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 12 (VOICE) The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered that no fresh suits would be registered under the Places of Worship Act in the country, and in the pending cases, no final or effective orders would be passed till further orders of the Apex Court. A Special Bench headed by CJI Sajiv Khanna asked the Union government to file within four weeks its reply to the clutch of petitions challenging the validity of the 1991 Act, which prohibits the filing of a lawsuit to reclaim a place of worship or seek a change in its character from what prevailed on August 15, 1947. The Bench, also c ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], November 26 (ANI): Responding on the arrest and denial of bail of Chinmoy Krishna Das the Ministry of External Affairs on Tuesday urged Bangladeshi government to ensure the safety and security of Hindus. "We have noted with deep concern the arrest and denial of bail to Shri Chinmoy Krishna Das, who is also the spokesperson of the Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatan Jagran Jote", the statement said. "This incident follows the multiple attacks on Hindus and other minorities by extremist elements in Bangladesh. There are several documented cases of arson and looting of minorities' ho ...Read More >
BUDAUN: A court hearing a plea of a Hindu outfit, which had sought permission to worship at Jama Masjid Shamsi here claiming it was a temple, on Tuesday asked the Muslim side to complete their arguments by December 10. Arguing his case, the lawyer for Shamsi Shahi Jama Masjid Intezamia Committee and Waqf Board Asrar Ahmed questioned the locus standi of the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha to file the petition in the matter. Urging the court to dismiss the plea, the counsel submitted that the mosque is about 850 years old. He stated that there is "no existence of a temple" there and worship by Hin ...Read More >
The Supreme Court halted new temple-mosque legal battles. The court will review the 1991 law impacting religious site status. This law froze the status of religious sites as of August 15, 1947. Several cases, including Gyanvapi and Shahi Idgah, challenge this law. The law's validity is being questioned. The court's decision impacts ongoing and future disputes.In its ruling on the keenly-watched Place of Worship Act case, the Supreme Court said on December 12 that no new Mandir-Masjid suits are to ...Read More >
Chhattisgarh (Bastar), Dec 12 (UNI) Seven Naxals were killed in an encounter with the security forces in the South Abujhmarh area of Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur district in the wee hours of Thursday. So far, seven bodies have been recovered, including that of a top Naxalite, who was part of the red ultras' Central Committee. Since 3 am, there has been intermittent firing between security forces and the Naxals, police said. According to the police, a joint team of the Special Task Force, Central Reserve Police Force, and District Reserve Guard from Narayanpur, Dantewada, Jagdalpur, and Kondagao ...Read More >
Karthigai Deepam 2024 is set for December 13, with rituals honoring Lord Shiva and spreading spiritual light. The lighting of lamps symbolizes victory over darkness and ignorance. Karthigai Deepam, one of the most cherished festivals in Tamil Nadu, is a vibrant celebration of light, spirituality, and devotion. In 2024, the festival will be observed on Friday, December 13, a day marked by the lighting of countless earthen lamps (deepam) to signify the triumph of light over darkness and good over ...Read More >
New Delhi, December 13: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said the government is committed to providing every facility to the devotees visiting Prayagraj for Maha Kumbh. Ahead of his visit to Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, on Friday, PM Modi said that he will take stock of the works related to the Maha Kumbh and also inaugurate and launch multiple development projects. PM Modi Prayagraj Visit: Prime Minister Narendra Modi To Arrive in Prayagraj Today To Launch Development Projects Worth Around INR 5,500 Crore. "Along with making the Maha Kumbh of faith divine and grand, we are committed to providi ...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 >
Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], December 26 (ANI): A meeting between Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and directors, producers, and actors from the Tollywood industry is underway at Telangana State Police Command and Control Centre at Banjara Hills in Hyderabad. The delegation of influential people from Tollywood is led by Telangana Film Development Corporation (FDC) chairman Dil Raju. Among other attendees are actors like Nagarjuna, Varun Tej, Sai Dharam Tej, Kalyan Ram, Shiva Balaji, Adavi Sesh, Nithin, and Venkatesh. Also Read | Agra Shocker: Posing as RAW Agent, Gym Trainer Rapes Ca ...Read More >
Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh) January 27 (ANI): Spiritual leader and orator Devkinandan Thakur on Monday said that the Sanatana Dharma Sansad, which he convenes at the ongoing Mahakumbh, is organised for safeguarding Sanatanis. Devkinandan Thakurji Maharaj, as he is popularly known, said that the Dharma Sansad has been called for a board that can bring all our puja, tradition, culture, and Gau mata together and protect them. Also Read | Mahakumbh 2025: After Taking Holy Dip, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Along With His Family, Performs 'Aarti' at Triveni Sangam. "This Sanatana Dharma Sansad is ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], November 28 (ANI): India has expressed its concern over the escalating incidents of violence against Hindu minorities in Bangladesh and desecration, and damage to their places of worship, and has also called on the interim government there to ensure the safety of minorities. In a response to question asked by RJD MP AD Singh, Minister of State for Ministry of External Affairs, Kirit Vardhan Singh in a written reply to Rajya Sabha, stated that the "primary responsibility" for the protection of life and liberty of all citizens of Bangladesh, including minorities, "rests with ...Read More >
Dhaka: A writ petition has been filed in the Bangladesh High Court seeking a ban on the broadcast of Indian TV channels in the country citing growing concerns over the impact of Indian media on Bangladeshi culture and society, Dhaka Tribune reported. Lawyer Ekhlas Uddin Bhuiyan, who filed the petition on Monday, is seeking a directive under the Cable Television Network Operation Act 2006 to prohibit the broadcast of Indian TV channels. It also asks why a rule should not be issued instructing a ban on Indian TV channels in Bangladesh, as per Dhaka Tribune. The hearing on the application may ...Read More >
Kottayam (Kerala), Dec 12 (PTI) The historic struggle for equality that took place in Vaikom a century ago, popularly known as the Vaikom Satyagraha, was not a movement confined to Kerala but marked the starting point for various other struggles for social justice, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin said on Thursday. In his address at Vaikom in this district after inaugurating the renovated Thanthai Periyar Memorial and Periyar Library, Stalin said that while impressive strides have been made in areas of social justice and economy in 100 years, a lot more has to be achieved. Stalin inaugur ...Read More >
Puri (Odisha), Feb 4 (PTI) Thousands of people took a holy dip at Chandrabhaga at Konark in Odisha's Puri district on the occasion of 'Magha Saptami' on Tuesday. Magha Saptami is observed as the birthday of the Sun God and is held on the seventh day of 'Magha' month of the Hindu calendar. People offer prayer to 'Tri Mahadev' after taking a dip at the confluence of Chandrabhaga River and the Bay of Bengal. Devotees also offer puja at 'Naba Graha' on the premises of the Sun temple at Konark. This year, the holy dip started at 4.37 am and the sadhus were given the first opportunity to take a d ...Read More >
Following violence in Sambhal on November 24 related to a mosque survey, authorities plan to publicly display posters of over 400 identified individuals involved. 32 have been arrested so far. The posters will exclude those arrested. The government aims to hold those responsible for property damage accountable. Four people were killed, and many injured during the clash.The Sambhal administration on Thursday said it will put up posters of those involved in the November 24 violence. "We will put up ...Read More >
Taal Thok Ke: Anti-Hindu violence is once again continuing in Bangladesh. Somewhere temples are being targeted. Somewhere acid attacks are being carried out on Hindus. Somewhere armed mobs are targeting Hindu homes. And on top of that, the Maulanas of Bangladesh are making venomous speeches threatening to kill Hindus. Meanwhile, ISKCON's Brahmachari Chinmay Prabhu is arrested without a warrant. He is put in jail and when the Indian government objects to this whole incident, the Bangladesh government says that the court's order is supreme here. This is true but there are ISKCON temples all over ...Read More >
All over the world, there are certain temples so powerful and energetic, that just being around them gives the most overwhelming feelings of positivity, protection, and love. Visiting these temples feels like the Gods and Goddesses themselves are holding us in their arms, protecting and shielding us from harm. And some of these temples are Shaktipeeths. They are dedicated to the divine feminine energy of Mata Sati, the consort of Lord Shiva, and wherever the parts of her body fell, those places became Shaktipeeths, the houses of energy. Here we mention the 6 most powerful Shaktipeeth from all ...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 >
Dhanbad/Gumla, Dec 4 (PTI) Thousands of people from various Hindu organisations on Wednesday took out rallies in Jharkhand's Dhanbad and Gumla cities in protest against the attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh and the arrest of spiritual leader Chinmoy Krishna Das. Demanding the immediate release of Das, the protesters urged the Indian government to intervene and stop the atrocities being perpetrated on minority Hindus in the neighbouring country. In Dhanbad, Hindu Rashtriya Samanvya Samiti (HRSS) organised the protest, which was attended by members of Dhanbad ISKCON, Bajrang Dal, BJP and other o ...Read More >
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday directed courts across the country to refrain from admitting or passing any new orders on pleas seeking surveys of mosques to determine if temples lie beneath them. This decision extends to existing suits, halting any further orders on the matter. The directive was issued as the apex court continued hearing petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991. This Act prohibits filing lawsuits to reclaim places of worship or alter their character from what existed on August 15, 1947. Judicial Revie ...Read More >
Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], December 26 (ANI): A meeting between Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and directors, producers, and actors from the Tollywood industry is underway at Telangana State Police Command and Control Centre at Banjara Hills in Hyderabad. The delegation of influential people from Tollywood is led by Telangana Film Development Corporation (FDC) chairman Dil Raju. Among other attendees are actors like Nagarjuna, Varun Tej, Sai Dharam Tej, Kalyan Ram, Shiva Balaji, Adavi Sesh, Nithin, and Venkatesh. Directors including Koratala Siva, Anil Ravipudi, K Raghavendra Rao ...Read More >