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Udupi: The temple town of Udupi in coastal Karnataka has come alive with the commencement of the annual 'Saptotsava' at Sri Krishna Matha. This week-long celebration, led by Shri Sugunendra Tirtha Swamiji of Paryaya Puthige Matha, the present Paryaya Peetadhipathi, and his disciple Shri Sushreendra Tirtha Swamiji, began on January 9 and will continue until January 15. Saptotsava, as the name suggests, is a seven-day grand festival dedicated to Lord Krishna. While the temple town regularly witnesses 'Utsava' or chariot processions from Utthana Dwadashi (usually in October or November) until the Bhagirathi Janma Dina (marking the start of monsoon), the Saptotsava is considered the pinnacle of these festivities. Its highlight is the celebration on Makara Sankramana, a day that holds immense historical and spiritual significance. Over 800 years ago, Trailokyacharya Shriman Madhvacharya, the revered philosopher and proponent of Tatvavada, installed the idol of Lord Krishna in Udupi. This festival commemorates that momentous event, drawing devotees from across the world. The streets of Udupi, particularly the Car Street or Rathabeedi, are a spectacle during this time. On all the days, following the evening Chamara Seve, the grand Teppotsava (boat festival) features Lord Krishna and Sri Mukhyaprana on a magnificently decorated float, gliding on the temple's sacred lake, Madhvasarovara. For the first five days, two chariots are used: the Garuda Ratha carrying Sri Krishna and Sri Mukhyaprana and the Mahapooja Ratha carrying Sri Anantheshwara and Sri Chandramouleeshwara. On the sixth day, Makara Sankramana, the majestic Brahma Ratha is brought out for the first time in the year. On this special day, Sri Krishna is placed on the Brahma Ratha, while Sri Anantheshwara and Sri Chandramouleeshwara occupy the Garuda Ratha, and Sri Mukhyaprana is carried on the Mahapooja Ratha. The day after Makara Sankramana is marked by Choornotsava, also known as Suvarnotsava, a unique daytime event that contrasts with the nighttime grandeur of the previous days. The event also marks the occasion for Maha Anna Santarpane, a grand feast that draws thousands of devotees, including many who return to their hometowns to be part of the Rathotsava. This year's Saptotsava has attracted international attention. "John Mullahy, member of Victorian Legislative Assembly, Australia, has accepted the invitation extended by Shri Sugunendra Tirtha Swamiji to participate in the celebrations," said Mutt Diwan Prasanna Acharya. Adding to the spiritual fervor, Shri Pundarik Goswami, the head of the Gaudiya Madhva Matha and renowned for his profound Bhagavata discourses, will also grace the occasion. The Saptotsava is a celebration of heritage, devotion, and community. For the residents of Udupi and devotees worldwide, this festival is a reminder of their enduring connection to Lord Krishna and the traditions established by Sri Madhvacharya.
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 >
New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday carried out searches at 15 places in Mumbai and Kochi in connection with the Mithi River desilting scam that caused a wrongful loss of more than Rs 65 crore to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), official sources said. The massive crackdown is underway at the premises across Mumbai and Kochi linked to the accused and suspects as part of an ongoing probe into alleged financial irregularities. According to the sources, the searches are being carried out under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) at locat ...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 (West Bengal) [India], June 26 (ANI): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited Lord Jagannath temple in Digha in West Bengal on Thursday, ahead of Jagannath Rath Yatra scheduled to start on June 27. CM Mamata Banerjee said, "Lord Jagannath temple has become a major place of pilgrimage. The Rath Yatra will be held on a 1 km route from 9 am to 4 pm tomorrow. The aarti will be performed at 2.30 pm. Our ministerial team has arrived here for this." Also Read | 'Dreamer and Disciplined': School Teachers Recall Fond Memories of Shubhanshu Shukla As Astronaut Becomes First Indian To ...Read More >
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 >
Bhubaneswar, June 27 -- As the spiritual fervor of Jagannath Rath Yatra 2025 engulfs the temple town of Puri, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president and former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik joined national leaders in extending his heartfelt greetings to devotees. Taking to social media platform X, Patnaik posted a devotional video message, saying, "On the occasion of the holy Rath Yatra, I extend my best wishes to everyone. Jai Jagannath." Rath Yatra: A Sacred Confluence of Devotion, Culture, and Community Earlier in the day, Union Home Minister Amit Shah also took to X to mark the auspiciou ...Read More >
MUMBAI: A directive from the state prohibiting the sale of fish at Sassoon Docks, one of Mumbai's oldest and most active fish landing sites, has stirred the waters for the fishing community, especially Kolis at Colaba and Cuffe Parade. The ban on fish sales, recently imposed by the Maharashtra state fisheries department, is a first at the dock and, according to the Koli community, oversteps the annual ban on fishing during the monsoon from June 1 to July 31. While the community acknowledges the need to prohibit fishing during the monsoon months, as it protects marine biodiversity during the b ...Read More >
Itanagar, Jun 7 (PTI) The flood situation in Arunachal Pradesh improved on Saturday with water levels of most rivers receding, even as 33,000 people in 24 districts remained affected, officials said. Twelve people lost their lives and one person went missing in rain-related incidents, including landslides, after the monsoon set in, they said. In its daily report, the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) said 33,200 people in 215 villages remained affected due to floods and landslides in the state. The water levels of most major rivers and their tributaries were showing a receding trend o ...Read More >
Digha (West Bengal) [India], June 26 (ANI): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited Lord Jagannath temple in Digha in West Bengal on Thursday, ahead of Jagannath Rath Yatra scheduled to start on June 27. CM Mamata Banerjee said, 'Lord Jagannath temple has become a major place of pilgrimage. The Rath Yatra will be held on a 1 km route from 9 am to 4 pm tomorrow. The aarti will be performed at 2.30 pm. Our ministerial team has arrived here for this.' The Rs 250 crore temple in Digha, constructed over 20 acres, was inaugurated by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on April 30 ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar: The pilgrim town of Puri is abuzz with excitement as the three majestic chariots are ready to roll on the Grand Road Friday, when Lord Jagannath and His siblings, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra, will embark on the annual journey (Rath Yatra) to Gundicha temple. The district administration and the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) have made elaborate arrangements for the mega event, which is expected to be witnessed by lakhs of devotees from across the globe. According to SJTA sources, the three chariots were pulled to the Singhadwar of Srimandir from Rath Yard after ...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 >
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 >
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 >
New Delhi: Chief minister Rekha Gupta on Sunday said authorities cannot go against demolition orders issued by courts and stressed that displaced residents have been provided accommodation.Her words came in the wake of the recent Madrasi Camp demolition for which the opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has criticised her. AAP has targeted Gupta, and alleged that the displaced Madrasi Camp residents were provided homes in faraway Narela, and those lack basic amenities.Attending an event to mark the construction of a Jan Sewa camp at a slum cluster in the Haiderpur area, Gupta told reporters: "In t ...Read More >
The Odisha government has formed a high-level ministerial committee, headed by Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, to ensure the smooth execution of the Rath Yatra in Puri on June 27. The committee will oversee all arrangements for the festival, expected to draw around 1.5 million attendees. Preparations are also underway for the Snan Yatra on June 11.The Odisha government has constituted a high-level ministerial committee to ensure the smooth conduct of the upcoming Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannat ...Read More >
New Delhi: The Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra is not just one of the biggest festivals in the world but also a timeless tribute to devotion, courage, and cultural pride. The Rath Yatra is an ancient festival. The Ratha Yatra in Puri is the world's oldest and largest Hindu chariot festival. It happens every year during the bright half of the lunar month of Ashadh, which falls in June or July. The Puri Rath Yatra is approximately 3 kilometres long and spans from the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple in Puri. The three chariots carrying Lord Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra, and his sister Sub ...Read More >
Digha (West Bengal) [India], June 27 (ANI): The first-ever Rath Yatra at the Lord Jagannath temple in Digha is set to begin soon on a 1 km route on Friday. ISKCON Kolkata Vice President Radharamn Das said the festival is inspired by the Puri Rath Yatra and added that West Bengal Chief Minister will join the event at 2 pm. Also Read | Shillong Teer Results Today, June 27 2025: Winning Numbers, Result Chart for Shillong Morning Teer, Shillong Night Teer, Khanapara Teer, Juwai Teer and Jowai Ladrymbai. Speaking to ANI, Radharamn Das said, "Digha Jagannath Yatra is inspired by Puri Rath Yatra. ...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 >
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 >
Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh) [India], June 6 (ANI): Thousands of devotees rejoice as they make their way to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple today, a momentous occasion in the spiritual and cultural landscape of India. Uttam Kumari Sheluwal, a local from Nepal, said,' We've come to Ayodhya to visit the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, where our beloved Bhagwan Shri Ramchandraji resides. Our family's Ishtadev is Bhagwan Shri Ram, and we worship Mata Janaki too. We're thrilled to be here in Ayodhya, the city of Lord Ram, and can't wait to have Darshan of Prabhu Shri Ram. We're grateful to Chief Minister Yogi ...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 >
Puri (Odisha) [India], June 27 (ANI): Preparations for the annual Jagannath Rath Yatra, set to commence on Friday in Puri, are in their final stages, with elaborate arrangements in place for the grand festival. District Magistrate Siddharth Swain and Superintendent of Police Vineet Agarwal provided updates on the planning underway to ensure a smooth and secure event. Also Read | Rahul Gandhi's Demand for Digital Voter List of 2024 Lok Sabha Elections and Vidhan Sabha Polls Legally Untenable, Say Experts. Officials stated that elaborate security arrangements have been made for the Yatra. Pu ...Read More >
Ahmedabad, June 27: Union Home Minister Amit Shah began his Gujarat visit on a spiritual note early Friday morning by participating in the Mangala Aarti at the historic Shri Jagannathji Temple in Jamalpur, Ahmedabad. The visit coincides with the auspicious occasion of the annual Shri Jagannath Rath Yatra, a major religious event that draws thousands of devotees every year. Arriving at the temple at 3:15 a.m., HM Shah joined in the sacred rituals and offered prayers to Mahaprabhu Jagannath. Sharing his experience on social media platform X, he posted, "On the sacred occasion of Rath Yatra, par ...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 >
New Delhi, Jun 27 (PTI) President Droupadi Murmu on Friday greeted citizens on the occasion of Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath and prayed for an atmosphere of peace, friendship and affection in the entire world. During the annual yatra, chariots of Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath are pulled from Shri Jagannath temple to Shree Gundicha temple in Puri. Lakhs of devotees gather there to be part of the grand festival. Similar yatras are also taken out in other parts of the country. "On the occasion of the holy Rath Yatra, I extend my heartfelt best wishes to the devotees of Mahapr ...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 >
Bhopal: The Gita recitation programme by the Madhya Pradesh government has found a place in the Guinness World Records. "More than 7,200 'acharyas' and 'vatuks' collectively recited the third chapter 'Karma Yoga' on Wednesday, making a record," a statement issued by the government said. The event was parallely organised at Bhopal's Lal Parade Ground and Ujjain to mark the sacred occasion of Gita Jayanti. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said that the collective recitation of the Gita by thousands of Acharyas in Bhopal and Ujjain has been registered in the 'Guinness Book of World Records'. He con ...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 >