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Shillong: Kali Puja and Diwali festivities have brought in numerous visitors from all over the country, especially neighbouring Assam and West Bengal to the city of pines and orchids, which is all decked up and glittering.CM Conrad K Sangma greeted the people, wishing, "May the festival of lights cast away all darkness and illuminate our lives with peace, harmony and joy".Meanwhile, just like it was during Durga Puja, almost all hotels, homestays and guest houses in the city and on the outskirts are fully occupied with tourists. People from across the country have reached the hills to spend their Diwali vacation, says the manager of a guest house in the city's Lachumiere locality.Cabbies too are busy shuttling tourists to the scenic spots in and around Shillong and elsewhere in the state."People have been making a bee-line for Mawlynnong village, reputed for its cleanliness and the living root-bridges," a local taxi driver said.Flower vendors from the rural areas, who sell marigold garlands and plantains during Diwali have also been making brisk business.Tourists and denizens of the city have been pandal hopping on occasion of Kali Puja. Temples, community puja pandals, private residences, shops and market places across the state are tastefully decorated and illuminated."Every year we decorate our pandal based on different themes of current relevance," says the secretary of one of the Kali Puja committees in the Polo Hills area in the city."We will be distributing 'kichdi prasad' after the Kali Puja rituals are over," says a member of the Survey of India Sarbajeneen Puja Committee at Barik.Cultural programmes are also being held at the various puja pandals."Security arrangements have been made to ensure peaceful celebration of the festival," a police officer said.
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 >
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], July 10 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said that he stands firmly in favour of holding elections, following the Supreme Court's decision allowing the Election Commission of India (ECI) to carry on with the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. He urged those involved in the case to explore alternative legal avenues for justice and 'wait for the consequences' for the time being. 'The matter was in the Supreme Court. The court has given its decision. Now, we have to wait for the consequences. Those who we ...Read More >
Katra (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], July 13 (ANI): In an initiative aimed at fostering spirituality and preserving cultural heritage, the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, during its 75th Meeting held under the chairmanship of Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, approved the dedication of five newly constructed temples to the public in the month of July along with the construction of five additional temples in District Reasi. According to a release, as part of this initiative, the Shrine Board has formally dedicated the five temples today at each location in distinct villages acro ...Read More >
Krishna Janmashtami 2025 will be celebrated with devotion and joy on Friday, 15 August 2025 across India. According to the Hindu Panchang, this sacred festival marks the divine birth of Lord Krishna, the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, born to Devaki and Vasudeva in Mathura. This year will mark the 5,252nd birth anniversary of Lord Krishna. For devotees in different parts of the country, the auspicious Nishita Puja hours vary slightly: The Nishita Puja is believed to be the precise moment of ...Read More >
Kolkata, Aug 25 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Calcutta High Court on Monday observed that no funds should be released to the Durga Puja committees that have not submitted the previous year's utilisation certificates. A division bench of Justices Sujoy Pal and Smita Das De questioned why grants should be given to puja committees even if they have not submitted expenditure accounts. Hearing a PIL filed by Sourav Dutta, the bench directed the West Bengal government to state its position on this matter in an affidavit by Wednesday, when the matter will be heard again. The judges wanted to know how many ...Read More >
New Delhi, Aug 28 (PTI) India's gains from importing discounted Russian oil are estimated to be just USD 2.5 billion per annum, significantly lower than the previously speculated range of USD 10-25 billion, a research report said on Thursday. Stopping Russian oil imports would force India, the world's third-largest oil importer and consumer, to rely on limited alternatives, potentially driving global crude prices up to USD 100 per barrel amid rising demand and tight supply. "Benefit from Russian oil imports is way less than exaggerated media numbers," brokerage CLSA said in a report. While ...Read More >
Guwahati (Assam) [India], June 28 (ANI): Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, on his visit to the Kamakhya temple in Guwahati on Saturday shared the development project aimed towards making the trip to the temple more accessible and time-efficient He said, 'A ropeway will be constructed from Kamakhya station to Kamakhya temple and another ropeway will be constructed from Sonaram field to Kamakhya temple. Work on both ropeways is going on. The process of floating a tender has already been done. A feasibility study for many other ropeways is going on.' The construction of both ropeways to ...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 >
Bhubaneswar, Jul 13 (PTI) The Odisha government has started working on securing copyright for the rituals of Lord Jagannath temple in Puri to protect its traditional cultural expressions, Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, the titular king of the pilgrim town, said. The statement came amid resentments among the devotees of Lord Jagannath over the untimely celebration of Lord Jagannath's rituals by the ISKCON abroad and the West Bengal government's declaration of a temple in Digha as "Jagannath Dham". These are "gross violations" of sacred scriptures and ancient tradition, the Gajapati Mahara ...Read More >
Bank holidays in India vary from one region to another. They differ from one state to the next and are often influenced by local festivities, religious events, and regional festivals. Many people in India are unsure about bank holidays. Reserve Bank of India states banks are closed on the second and fourth SaturdaysWith a busy work schedule, many individuals push their bank related work to Saturday to visit the branch and finish transactions. However, it is always confusing to know if this Saturd ...Read More >
Patna, July 19 (SocialNews.XYZ) In a major action against corruption, the State Vigilance Unit (SVU) on Saturday arrested Sub-Inspector Putul Kumari, the SHO of the Women's Police Station in Samastipur, for accepting a bribe of Rs 20,000. Her driver was also arrested in the case. The arrest has created a stir within the police department. According to an official, Putul Kumari was caught red-handed while taking the bribe from Rajiv Ranjan, a resident of Chhatauna village under Mufassil police station limits, in connection with an assault case. Rajiv Ranjan had filed a written complaint with ...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 >
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 >
Guwahati (Assam) [India], June 28 (ANI): Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, on his visit to the Kamakhya temple in Guwahati on Saturday shared the development project aimed towards making the trip to the temple more accessible and time-efficient He said, "A ropeway will be constructed from Kamakhya station to Kamakhya temple and another ropeway will be constructed from Sonaram field to Kamakhya temple. Work on both ropeways is going on. The process of floating a tender has already been done. A feasibility study for many other ropeways is going on." The construction of both ropeways to ...Read More >
Puri (Odisha) [India], June 28 (ANI): Adani Group Chairperson Gautam Adani, along with his family, took part in the annual Rath Yatra celebrations of Lord Jagannath in Puri on Saturday and also offered 'Prasad Seva' to devotees. Accompanied by his wife Priti Adani and son Karan Adani, the industrialist participated in the rituals associated with the procession of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra. Also Read | Christy Martin Biopic: Sydney Sweeney Says She 'Didn't Care' About Getting Hurt While Filming Fight Scenes With Co-Star Katy O'Brian. "I have got everything from Lo ...Read More >
MADURAI: Likening the custodial murder of Ajith Kumar in Tiruppuvanam to an 'organised crime by police where the state kills its own citizens,' Madras high court lambasted the Tamil Nadu police and said the action against the perpetrators should be more stringent than in normal murder cases.A division bench of Justice S M Subramaniam and Justice A D Maria Clete pointed to 44 external injuries on the person of Ajith Kumar and said no part of the body was spared by the delinquent cops. "Even an ordinary murderer would not have inflicted such kind of injuries," the bench said on Tuesday.The natur ...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 >
Katra, July 13: In a significant step toward promoting spiritual development and preserving cultural heritage, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) has dedicated five newly constructed temples to the public across Reasi district. The decision was approved during the 75th Meeting of the Board, chaired by Shri Manoj Sinha, Hon'ble Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir and Chairman of the Shrine Board.In addition to the dedication of these temples, the Board has also approved the construction of five more temples in Reasi, further expanding the region's spiritual infrastructure.The ...Read More >
KARUR: Acting on court orders, the HR&CE department-administered Mariamman temple at Chinnadharapuram in the district was reopened for public worship amid tight police security on Friday evening. The temple was closed in 2018 following a caste clash. The temple, which has been under the HR&CE department since 1973, had members of various communities participate in pujas and other rituals until 2018 when SC and MBC members involved in an alleged clash. With both groups approaching the Madurai Bench of the Madras HC, the temple remained closed since then. During the hearing on July 15, the cour ...Read More >
Vijayawada: ISKCON Vijayawada's Sri Jagannath Swamy Rath Yatra Maha Mahotsavam, known as the largest Rath Yatra in South India will be held from June 27 to 29, said ISKCON Mandir President Chakradharidas. The programme will begin at 1 pm on Friday with Rath Puja and will proceed with great pomp and grandeur amidst cultural programmes by local and foreign artistes and chanting of Harinama by devotees. Rath Yatra Mela Mahotsavam will be organised every day from 5 pm on an area of 3.5 acres in a most magnificent and heart-touching way. This year, a special programme called 'Sumangali Subhadra' w ...Read More >
New Delhi : Good news for Biharis living outside the state -- celebrating festivals with family back home will now be easier. In a major move aimed at easing travel during festive seasons, the Bihar government has announced the launch of 299 AC and non-AC special buses. These buses will operate from key states, including Delhi, to various destinations across Bihar. A Heartfelt Desire to Celebrate with Loved Ones During major festivals like Holi, Diwali, and Chhath Puja, people from Bihar living across India yearn to return to their ancestral homes. However, due to limited availability of tra ...Read More >
Baramulla, Jul 5: Hundreds of mourners from Delina and its neighbouring villages Saturday participated in the Muharram procession, the 9th day of the month of Muharram-Ul-Haram at Delina area of north Kashmir's Baramulla district. The procession was one of the series of processions being held in the month of Muharram, the first month of Islamic calendar. Dressed in black and carrying flags bearing religious inscriptions, participants from the villages of Hygam, Bulgam, Bohripora, Syedpora, Uri, Boniyar and other villages marched from new Imambargah through the National Highway NH-1 to the ma ...Read More >
Chandigarh: Punjab chief ministerBhagwant Mann on Thursday said the government will table a bill in the assembly on Friday to introduce harsher punishment for religious sacrilege. However, the law will not be enacted immediately, as the government plans to hold consultations with stakeholders before finalising the legislation.Mann said the decision was taken in a meeting of the cabinet earlier in the day. After the legislation is tabled, Punjab govt will gather suggestions on the law from stakeholders, including religious organisations and people, he added.Sources said said the new legislation ...Read More >
Kanpur: With the auspicious month of Shrawan commencing on Friday and the first Shrawan Somwar (Monday) falling on July 14, all major Shiva temples in Kanpur have begun extensive preparations to ensure smooth observance of the rituals and effective crowd management. Temples are not only being decked with decorations but are also coordinating with district authorities to implement effective crowd control measures. Decorations are underway, and temple authorities are working in coordination with th ...Read More >
Agartala, July 19 (SocialNews.XYZ) Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha said on Saturday that the state's traditional 'Ker Puja' is a symbol of faith and unity, and it reflects the rich cultural heritage of the state. "On this occasion of the Ker Puja, I had the opportunity to take blessings near Ujjayanta Palace in Agartala," the Chief Minister told the media after observing the century-old puja from outside the notified areas of the puja ground. As per the customs of the 'Ker Puja', no outsiders are allowed to enter the notified areas of Ker Puja, held in Agartala, different parts of Tripura, ...Read More >
Puri (Odisha) [India], June 27 (ANI): A large number of devotees gathered at the Jagannath temple in Puri as the grand annual Rath Yatra festival began on Friday morning. People from across the country arrived to witness the grand chariots of the three deities, Lord Jagannath, his brother Lord Balabhadra, and sister goddess Subhadra, at the Gundicha temple, where the deities reside for a week and then return to Jagannath temple. Speaking to ANI, Pooja Anand, a devotee from Mumbai, shared her emotions while witnessing the yatra for the first time. 'I have come from Mumbai. It is an out-of-thi ...Read More >
New Delhi: The razing of a Durga temple in Dhaka's Khiliket area has cast a long shadow over India-Bangladesh ties, reviving questions about the safety of religious minorities in post-Hasina Bangladesh. With reports attributing the demolition to pressure from radical Islamist groups, the incident on Thursday represents a potential inflection point in India's foreign policy approach toward its eastern neighbour. "We understand that extremists were clamouring for demolishing the Durga temple in Khilkhet, Dhaka," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during a regular media ...Read More >
Puri: Despite travel uncertainties due to recent conflicts in some parts of the world, people from Europe and elsewhere have reached Puri to witness the annual Ratha Yatra of the sibling deities.As non-Hindus are not allowed inside the 12th-century Jagannath Temple, the Ratha Yatra provides a rare opportunity for devotees across the world to see the deities in their full glory atop their majestic wooden chariots."Back home, we are surrounded by uncertainty and fear. But here, I found peace. I came because this is my only chance to see Lord Jagannath. He comes out for the whole world. This is v ...Read More >
The sacred coastal city of Puri is bustling with devotional energy as preparations intensify for the Bahuda Yatra 2025, the revered return journey of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra, and Chakraraj Sudarshan from the Gundicha Temple to the Shree Jagannath Temple. After the completion of the important Hera Panchami ritual on Tuesday night, the focus shifted to the Dakshina Moda (southward turning) of the three grand Rath Yatra chariots. On Wednesday, July 2, the chariots of Devi Sub ...Read More >
KATRA, July 13: In a major step towards strengthening spiritual infrastructure and cultural preservation in Jammu and Kashmir, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) has dedicated five newly constructed temples to the public in District Reasi. The initiative was approved during the 75th Board Meeting chaired by the Lieutenant Governor and Chairman of SMVDSB, Manoj Sinha. The temples, located in Gorta Kalika Sathaan (Village Harotkote), Pancheri Galli (Village Dangakote), Tote Devsthan (Village Tote), Village Devigarh (Tehsil Bhomag) and Village Chasana, were formally consecrated and ope ...Read More >