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Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): The palaces in the city of Ayodhya are dazzling with the rows of lamps (Dipamalah), creating a gorgeous spectacle that contests with the luminous teeth of the moon)-Raghuvansha, Kalidasa The Indian poets and writers have delineated Deepavali, or Diwali, the festival of lights, since time immemorial, because it has an umbilical cord with Indian culture and tradition. But the creative élan of Kalidasa has surpassed all other poets in the portrayal of Diwali. In the Raghuvansham, the poet calls the festival 'Deepamalah' in the Ayodhya part of the epic poem. The specific verse appears in the 14th canto: "The palaces in the city are dazzling with rows of lamps (dipamalah), creating a gorgeous spectacle that contests with the light of the moon." Because Diwali is celebrated on the no moon day, many may question how he could compare the festival of lights with the moon. The key to this description lies in the word 'Chandratapashukladanta' (as bright as the teeth of the moon). It means although there is no moon, the lamps are so bright that they are destroying the darkness as the moon does on a full moon night. The picture he draws in the poem portrays the return of Ram to Ayodhya after his 14 years' exile, and the word 'dipamalah' depicts the city's festive atmosphere. The Sanskrit and Pali texts, scripted nearly 600years BCE, consist of the description of this festival. The Jain texts associate it with the Nirvana of Lord Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara, where Diwali has been described as Dipali Kaya. The Jain scriptures say after the Nirvana of Lord Mahavir, the gods welcomed him in heaven, lighting lamps. So, the Jain texts call the festival 'Dipali Kaya', the light leaving the earthly body. The Padma Purana describes the birth of Goddess Lakshmi on the day of Dhanteras in Samudra Manthan (churning of the sea); however, the original text of the Ramayana does not refer to this festival. Historians say the festival finds mention in the Hindu scriptures during the later part of the epic era, and similarly, the Mahabharata does not directly refer to this festival, but some traditions relate the return of the Pandavas from the exile to the festival of lights. According to some traditions, the people of Ayodhya celebrated the return of Lord Ram after destroying the evil spirit, Ravan, on the day of Diwali. Thus, the traditions of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata relate almost the same story behind the origin of the festival. A seventh-century Sanskrit play, Nagananda, written by Harshvardhan, depicts Diwali as 'Diparatripadotsava' (on the night of Deepavali lamps are lit and gifts are presented to the newly-weds). In the same way, Rajshekhara, a ninth-century Sanskrit scholar, wrote Kavyamimansa, in which he describes how homes are cleaned up and decked up with lamps on Diwali. Kabir also mentions Diwali as spiritual enlightenment. He writes, "Sada Diwali Sant Ki, Barah Maas Basant" (it is Diwali and spring for the saints for 12 months). Similarly, Bhai Nandlal Goya, a poet in the court of Guru Govind Singh, also refers to Diwali as spiritual awakening. Nazir Akbarabadi, an 18th-century poet, also described the celebrations. Similarly, Nazir Banarasi writes, "Ghut gaya andherey ka aaj dum akailey mein" (the row of lamps stifled the darkness). In the 20th century, Rabindranath Tagore also used Diwali as the imagery of spiritual awakening.
Hyderabad: Bollywood fans are super excited, and the wait for Ramayana just keeps getting harder! Directed by Dangal fame Nitesh Tiwari, this upcoming film is turning into one of the biggest projects in Indian cinema. The movie promises to bring back the great Indian epic Ramayana with modern visuals, strong emotions, and a huge cast. One of the biggest reasons for the excitement is Ranbir Kapoor playing Lord Ram. Known for serious and emotional roles, Ranbir is now taking on one of the most important characters in Indian mythology. Fans are already in love with this casting and can't wait to ...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 >
New Delhi [India], July 10 (ANI): Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Thursday extended his greetings on the occasion of Guru Purnima. In a post on X Rahul Gandhi stated,'Heartiest greetings to all of you on the auspicious occasion of Guru Purnima. Thanks to all the Gurus who show us the path of compassion, kowledge, patience and truth in life.' A Guru is considered an essential guide for one's success in life. Thousands of people visit their respected Gurus on this day, presenting gifts to them as per their abilities. The belief is that respecting Gurus on ...Read More >
GURGAON: The investigation into the murder of a 25-year-old former international tennis player, allegedly by her father, has revealed a sudden deterioration in their relationship. The apparent reason was a disagreement over the academy she ran near their house, but the roots clearly run deeper. The father, who claims to have spent Rs 2 crore on his daughter's tennis career, told interrogators he was troubled by questions about her "character" that some of his associates had raised.Deepak Yadav, who shot Radhika at their house Thursday morning, had allegedly been insisting for two weeks on her ...Read More >
New Delhi: As Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi compared the actions of the BJP-led government to the tale of Dronacharya and Eklavya, several religious criticised him and said the Congress leader was a 'Rashtra Virodhi' (anti-national) and 'Hindu Virodhi (anti-Hindu)'. Gandhi on Saturday claimed that the Modi-led government was "chopping the thumb of the youth of the country," drawing a parallel to the story where Dronacharya allegedly cut off Eklavya's thumb. The statement has drawn sharp criticism from several religious leaders, who are now calling for strict action and an ...Read More >
New Delhi/Hyderabad, Dec 18 (UNI) Union Minister and Telangana BJP President G Kishan Reddy emphasised the Modi government's commitment to preserving and promoting India's regional languages. Addressing the media in New Delhi on Wednesday, Reddy highlighted various initiatives undertaken by the central government to strengthen India's linguistic diversity. Reddy noted that India is unparalleled in its cultural and linguistic diversity, with 121 languages spoken across the country. "Our Constitution initially recognised 14 official languages, but this number has increased to 21 under Prime M ...Read More >
New Delhi: The first glimpse of Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana, starring Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, and Yash is out and has taken the internet by storm. This grand epic unfolds as a two-part live-action cinematic universe, crafted on a scale matching the biggest global tentpoles. Bringing together iconic talent from both Hollywood and India, Ramayana promises to be a cinematic spectacle like never before. Hailed as the biggest film ever made, it has already begun receiving overwhelming love and admiration from audiences across the world. The teaser introduces Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama and Yash a ...Read More >
CHENNAI: The first look of the much-anticipated project, Ramayana, by Nitish Tiwari, was unveiled on Thursday. The video received appreciation from both critics and audience. Now, it will be unveiled at the Times Square in New York. Starring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, Sunny Deol as Hanuman, and Ravi Dubey as Lakshman, Ramayana is backed by Namit Malhotra's Prime Focus, in association with Monster Mind Creations. Oscar Award winner Hans Zimmer is making his Bollywood debut, with AR Rahman composing the tunes. Guy Norris is taking care of the stunts, taking ...Read More >
Puri: Lord Jagannath and His Siblings Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra were adorned with 208 kg gold ornaments during the 'Suna Besha' ritual on chariots Sunday, an integral part of the annual Rath Yatra festival in Puri. The devotees can have 'darshan' of the deities from 6.30 pm to 11 pm, said the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA). According to temple sources, the deities adorn around 30 different designs of ornaments which include gold, diamond, silver and other precious metals. "Initially, around 138 designs of ornaments were used during the era of King Kapilendra Deb in 146 ...Read More >
Srinagar- Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday said foreign countries were told clearly during the post-Operation Sindoor diplomatic outreach that in case of a fresh provocation, India would repeat its action. Speaking at a discussion at the Ahmedabad Management Association, Tharoor said Indian delegations which visited foreign countries in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor managed to convey that India acted with restraint and responsibility. "In other places, we actually were able to get some very high-placed people to say not only that they respected and supported India's right of self- ...Read More >
Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], July 1 (ANI): Telangana state high court advocate, Rama Rao, has filed a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) regarding the blast at the Sigachi Industries Limited pharmaceutical factory in Pashamylaram Industrial Area, which occurred on Monday. The complaint alleges that the incident, which resulted in several worker fatalities and injuries, was caused by the company's failure to follow safety protocols and negligence on the part of management. According to the complaint, "Several workers have been killed after a suspected reactor explosio ...Read More >
Hyderabad: The first glimpse of Ramayana, directed by Nitesh Tiwari and starring Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, and Yash, has just dropped. And it's already making waves in the industry. The teaser introduces yet another cinematic vision of India's most cherished epic. But amid the grandeur, one small phrase stood out to us: "Filmed for IMAX." For casual moviegoers, this might sound like just another buzzword. But in reality, it hints at a promise of a cinematic experience that's larger, sharper, louder and more immersive than ever before. So what does "Filmed for IMAX" actually mean, and why is ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 28 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the centenary celebrations of the revered Jain spiritual leader Acharya Shri 108 Vidyanand Ji Maharaj at Vigyan Bhawan in the national capital on Saturday. The celebrations mark the formal commencement of a year-long national tribute to the spiritual leader, being organised by the Union Culture Ministry in collaboration with the Bhagwan Mahaveer Ahimsa Bharti Trust, Delhi. Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Rashtrasant Paramparacharya Shri 108 Pragyasagar Ji Muniraj also graced the occasio ...Read More >
MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday appealed to citizens to preserve and nurture the knowledge shared by the state's saints and icons, calling it a responsibility. Maharashtra produced not just warriors, but protectors of dharma, visionaries of the nation, and architects of modern India, he said. "Though we may not be the direct descendants of Dnyaneshwar, Shivaji Maharaj, Savitribai Phule and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, we are the carriers of their intellectual legacy. With their knowledge, sacrifice, and courage, they shaped this state," he said. He was speaking duri ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 10 (ANI): Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Thursday extended his greetings on the occasion of Guru Purnima. In a post on X Rahul Gandhi stated,Heartiest greetings to all of you on the auspicious occasion of Guru Purnima. Thanks to all the Gurus who show us the path of compassion, kowledge, patience and truth in life. A Guru is considered an essential guide for one success in life. Thousands of people visit their respected Gurus on this day, presenting gifts to them as per their abilities. The belief is that respecting Gurus on Gur ...Read More >
New Delhi, June 28 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi was honoured today with the title of 'Dharma Chakravarti' on centenary celebrations of Jain spiritual leader Vidyanand here. Speaking on receiving the award, PM Modi said, "On this occasion, you honoured me with the title of 'Dharma Chakravarti'. I do not consider myself suitable for this. But it is our culture that whatever we receive from saints, we accept it as 'prasad'. So, I humbly accept this 'prasad' and dedicate it to Maa Bharati'." The event was also attended by Union culture and tourism minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Rash ...Read More >
Kolkata, June 28: A political slugfest has erupted in West Bengal after a woman accused Padma Shree awardee monk Kartik Maharaj, who is posted with the Murshidabad unit of Bharat Sevashram Sangha, of allegedly raping her 12 times for six months in 2013. As per the police complaint lodged by the woman, Kartik Maharaj raped her multiple times 12 years ago promising her a job at a local school. The ruling Trinamool Congress is highlighting the issue in a major way and accusing the BJP of being silent on it since the accused monk had been reportedly close to the saffron party. The woman accusin ...Read More >
Mumbai: The wait is finally over! On July 3rd, 2025, the makers of the much-anticipated Ramayana: The Introduction unveiled the first glimpse of the film's grand universe. With a global launch, fans were introduced to Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, and Yash in the powerful avatar of Ravana. But apart from the visuals, what's also making headlines is the jaw-dropping remuneration of the film's lead actors. Ranbir Kapoor, who leads the film as Lord Ram, is reportedly the highest-paid actor in the cast. As per reports, the actor is charging a staggering Rs 75 crore for each par ...Read More >
Ujjain, July 10: On the auspicious day of Guru Purnima, the sacred Bhasma Aarti was performed at the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga Temple in Ujjain. Devotees gathered in large numbers to witness the early morning ritual, which is considered very divine. The temple resonated with chants and spiritual fervor, marking the worship of Lord Shiva and spiritual gurus. Today also marks the end of the month of Ashadh and the beginning of the month of Sawan. From today, the Kanvar Yatra will also begin. Guru Purnima 2025 Date and Shubh Muhurat: Know Vyasa Purnima Tithi Timings and Significance of the Day De ...Read More >
SHILLONG/TURA, July 13: The 211th birth anniversary of Adikavi Bhanubhakta Acharya was commemorated with enthusiasm and cultural gaiety in Shillong and Tura on Sunday. The celebration in Shillong took place at the Babu Mani Singh Auditorium (Gorkha Pathshala Hr. Sec. School). Cabinet Minister AL Hek was the chief guest, and the guest of honour was Assistant Director, IT, NEPA, Dr Arjun Chetry. Various traditional and cultural programmes were the highlights of the event. Winners of various literary and dance competitions were also awarded at the function. Moreover, various meritorious studen ...Read More >
Bengaluru: South Indian actress B Saroja Devi -- known as a doe-eyed beauty with a lasting screen presence in four languages - passed away in Bengaluru Monday. She was 87.Saroja Devi began her acting career at 17 with Kannada film 'Mahakavi Kalidasa' as a co-star of cinema pioneer Honnappa Bhagavathar in 1955. She quickly rose to fame with performances in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Hindi films, starring alongside legends Dr Rajkumar, MG Ramachandran, Gemini Ganesan, Sivaji Ganesan, NT Rama Rao, Dilip Kumar, Sunil Dutt and Shammi Kapoor. She earned the epithet, 'Chaturbhasha Taare' (a star of f ...Read More >
Mumbai: Actor Ravi Dubey, known for his versatility, has officially confirmed his role as Lakshman in the highly anticipated Ramayana. Speaking to Connect Cine, Ravi shared his excitement about joining the star-studded cast and praised his co-star Ranbir Kapoor, who is playing Lord Ram in the film. Ravi expressed his gratitude for being a part of this epic project, saying, "I am playing Lakshman in the film. I finally have the permission from the makers to reveal this. I didn't talk about it all this while because I didn't want to give irresponsible statements and spoil Namit (Malhotra) and N ...Read More >
New Delhi: Yash starrer Ramayana, the epic saga, is set to begin its highly anticipated cinematic journey with an unprecedented nationwide launch. Ramayana: The Introduction will be unveiled across 9 cities in India on July 3. The nine-city revel are Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Pune, and Kochi is designed to bring the scale and ambition of the project directly to audiences across the country. Ahead of the grand launch, Yash's fans have set Twitter on fire, trending the KGF superstar's name hours before his first glimpse as Ravana drops from Nitesh Tiwari ...Read More >
Jammu, July 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) Another batch of Yatris left Jammu for the Valley as the annual Amarnath Yatra begins officially on Thursday, officials said. Officials added that the second batch of 5,246 pilgrims left Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas on the Canal Road in Jammu for the Valley in two escorted convoys on Thursday. "Of these, 1,993 Yatris are going to Baltal base camp while 3,253 are going to Pahalgam base camp," officials said. The 36-day long Amarnath Yatra begins on Thursday as the first batch of Yatris left Baltal base camp for the holy cave shrine in the morning. Other Yatris o ...Read More >
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], July 3 (ANI): The first glimpse of 'Ramayana', directed by Nitesh Tiwari, has been officially unveiled, showcasing Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Yash as the formidable Ravana, and introducing Sunny Deol in the portrayal of Lord Hanuman. The introductory footage, now released on the official social media handles of the makers, has generated a storm of excitement for the epic's Diwali 2026 release. Also Read | 'I Have NOT Deleted My Post About Diljit Dosanjh': Naseeruddin Shah Remains Defiant Amid 'Sardaar Ji 3' Row, Says He Doesn't 'Care a Fiddler's Fart About Backl ...Read More >
With a huge rollout, Namit Malhotra's ambitious epic Ramayana has made a spectacular debut on two continents and garnered international attention. The movie, which is already regarded as one of the most anticipated film events of the decade, had a spectacular Indian premiere in nine major cities before illuminating Times Square in New York, demonstrating its genuinely global appeal. The Indian leg of the launch saw Ramayana unveiled in tremendous style across Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, ...Read More >
New Delhi, July 10 (SocialNews.XYZ) The best way to honour teachers is by empowering them, said Priti Adani Chairperson of the Adani Foundation, on the occassion of Guru Purnima on Thursday. Guru Purnima is a festival dedicated to expressing reverence for spiritual and academic mentors. "A beautiful way to honour teachers is to empower them," Priti Adani said, in a post on social media platform X. Priti Adani informed that teachers from Adani Schools are being groomed to become master trainers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). "Our STEM Leadership Training in par ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 10 (ANI): External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar offered wishes on the occasion of Guru Purnima on Thursday. In a post on X he said, 'Greetings on the auspicious occasion of Guru Purnima, I bow to all the Gurus. The knowledge and guidance of the Gurus shape our lives.' https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1943149215766712441 A Guru is considered an essential guide for one's success in life. Thousands of people visit their respected Gurus on this day, presenting gifts to them as per their abilities. The belief is that respecting Gurus on Guru Purnima brings positive ...Read More >
Hyderabad: The teaser of Ramayana, India's most expensive movie ever, has taken the internet by storm. Directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra's Prime Focus Studio, this film isn't just making fans excited -- it's also making investors sit up and take notice. After the teaser came out on July 3, something big happened: Prime Focus' stock price went through the roof! Between June 25 and July 1, the share price of Prime Focus jumped from Rs. 113.47 to Rs. 149.69. But the real magic happened when the teaser dropped. In just two days, the stock hit Rs. 176, increasing the company ...Read More >
Chennai: Preliminary investigations attribute the fire on the goods train near Tiruvallur to a possible spark from overhead electrical equipment (OHE) igniting fuel leaking from a derailed wagon.The incident paralysed services on the busy Chennai-Arakkonam route and left nearby residents engulfed in thick black smoke. The disruption left thousands of rail passengers stranded, many of whom were unable to get updates as railway helplines went unanswered for hours. The train carrying diesel from Chennai Harbour to Walajah Road Siding was exiting Tiruvallur station around 5.30am on Sunday, when a ...Read More >