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New Delhi, Oct 25 (PTI) A group of young dancers from the United Kingdom and Poland came together under the guidance of renowned Kuchipudi exponent Arunima Kumar to present a tribute to Indian mythology and traditions at the finale of the India-UK cultural event "Samarpanam" here. The dance recital was held at the Stein Auditorium, India Habitat Centre, on Sunday evening. Among the international students who performed was Anoushka Sunak, daughter of former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and philanthropist Akshata Murty. The performance opened with Arunima Kumar and her senior students from Poland presenting a piece dedicated to the sun. Deeply rooted in Indian mythology, the dance offered bhajans to deities such as Shiva, Krishna, Vishnu, Durga, and Kali. Kumar and her younger students appeared in coordinated bright pink and orange costumes, while the Polish dancers began in red and white before changing into vibrant green ensembles. Among the evening's performances was an original piece choreographed by Kumar, featuring veteran theatre director Sunit Tandon who recited Shakespeare's 65th Sonnet to a violin accompaniment. The work brought together the words of the Bard with the movements of Indian classical dance. Kumar also presented a piece dedicated to goddess Kali, performing the Tarangam technique by dancing on the rim of a brass plate. It concluded with the bhajan "Achutam Keshavam", in which Kumar and her students portrayed mythological scenes such as Krishna's childhood stories and the Mahabharat episode of Draupadi's "vastraharan". Presented by Arunima Kumar Dance Company (AKDC), in collaboration with the British Council India and the India Habitat Centre (IHC), the initiative included masterclasses with legendary gurus like Kathak exponent Shovana Narayan, Bharatanatyam dancer Geeta Chandran, Kuchipudi veteran Vanashree Rao and Chhau dance exponent Shashadhar Acharya. The event was attended by Akshata Murty, her parents -- author Sudha Murty and Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy, Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Shukla, British High Commissioner Lindy Cameron, British Council India Country Director Alison Barrett and Delhi minister Kapil Mishra. Kumar, who was recently honoured with British Empire Medal (BEM) by King Charles III, said her work is driven by a mission to connect the diaspora to Indian culture. "After my wedding, I went to London and saw a huge gap where children were not aware of their culture and didn't understand their roots. So I left my corporate career to build an institution which would be professional and give them the values that I have grown up with. "I started AKDC which is now the largest institution of Kuchipudi in the UK, training children and also working inclusively, performing, choreographing, and collaborating to create a truly open and accessible organisation," the 47-year-old told PTI. Sudha Murty emphasised the global reach of Kuchipudi and its ability to connect people with Indian culture. "We have a good relationship with the UK and we have many things in common. Kuchipudi has crossed the sea and gone to the other end. And they are performing it there and coming back here to see the roots. It is a beautiful combination of tracing your roots, enjoying your culture and also coming from other part of the world to India. "I feel when you're away from roots, then you're always pulled towards it," she told PTI. Akshata Murty noted the impact of dance on her daughter and how it helped her connect with her Indian roots. "My daughter has been one of Arunima's students for a long time, and this dance has brought out in her and the other students incredible qualities, musicality, rhythm, form and posture, along with an appreciation of the arts. As a parent, I am most grateful for her to connect to her Indian roots. "As someone who grew up in India and is raising her kids in the UK, this form of cross-cultural partnerships is so important," she said. Cameron said she was grateful to Kumar for bringing the two countries together, solidifying their cultural partnership. "It is wonderful to celebrate such a fantastic and vibrant cultural example of the India-UK partnership... It has been an amazing year for the India-UK relationship, but this programme is part of the ambition we have for our relationship," she said. Barrett praised the dance group for bringing Kuchipudi to the forefront of global cultural dialogue. "We are excited to experience this incredible art form, which perhaps hasn't had the attention and respect in the light that it deserves. I remember the first time I experienced Indian dance was sitting in a small room in Varanasi, watching Kathak, trying to follow the gestures and listening to the ghungroos. "Later, I was really proud that my daughter learnt Bharatanatyam when we lived in Chennai, whose rhythm she still carries in her soul. So I really believe that performances and art exchanges like this are very important and they can connect you to a culture you never want to leave," she said. PTI SMR RB BK RB RB
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 >
Ed Sheeran, Shah Rukh Khan, and Arijit Singh unite for a song?: Fans worldwide have been enthralled by British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran's recent trip to India, particularly because of his encounters with Bollywood's Shah Rukh Khan and Arijit Singh. Sheeran posted some sweet moments of friendship on Instagram, including Shah Rukh Khan jokingly repeating the hook of Sheeran's upcoming song "Sapphire," and a calm coffee conversation with Arijit Singh on a barge. Sheeran immersed himself in Indi ...Read More >
Puri (Odisha) [India], June 27 (ANI): Devotees from across the world have gathered in Puri to witness the annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath, as the grand chariots of the three deities--Lord Jagannath, his elder brother Lord Balabhadra, and sister Goddess Subhadra--make their way to the Gundicha temple, where the deities will reside for a week before returning to the Jagannath Temple. A woman devotee of Ecuadorian origin, currently residing in the United States, expressed her joy at attending the Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri for the first time. Calling it a 'dream come true,' she said she fe ...Read More >
Puri (Odisha) [India], June 27 (ANI): An Odissi dancer set to perform at the commencement of the annual Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri on Friday described the performance as a form of 'seva' (service) to Lord Jagannath. While speaking to ANI, the dancer said, 'This is a form of 'seva'. I will be performing before Lord Jagannath today. The experience of this service, of performing before Lord Jagannath, is something different.' Describing their attire, the dancer said, 'This is Lord Krishna's form. Devotees get to witness the Lord in this form and express their devotion.' Another Odissi dancer ...Read More >
Video: Kerala Man's 'Gangamma Thalli' Get-Up Goes Viral On The Internet | Vlogger Mukesh Mohan Pushpa 2 was released on December 5 and several fans rushed to the theatres to watch the much-awaited sequel film. While visuals from several areas in India showed excitement and energy among people when the movie hit the big screen, something quite amusing was reported from a cinema hall in Thrissur, Kerala. A topless man covered with body paint was seen raising the Pushpa fervour. He recreated the looks of Allu Arjun as seen in the majestic dance performance to the song 'Kaali Mahaa Kaali'. The K ...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 >
Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh) [India], February 7 (ANI): Bihar Governor Arif Mohammed Khan arrived at the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj on Friday and said that the 'Sanatana' culture embodies the oneness of being and that all the differences dissolve in it. Speaking to the media here, Arif Khan highlighted the Indian culture of seeing divinity in humanity, asserting that "manav" (humans) are a reflection of "Madhav" (God). Khan also noted that India's heritage, values, and ideals continue to be celebrated at the Mahakumbh, fostering unity among people beyond personal familiarity. "We should always not ...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 >
Bengaluru Power Cuts: Citizens of Bengaluru brace yourself for long hours of power outages from June 29 and June 30. More than 100 areas will be impacted as BESCOM undertakes its quarterly maintenance work in various of its division. Bengaluru Power Outages June 29: According to the update by BESCOM on its X handler, there will be power outages in Kittaganahalli, Palasandra, Saptagiri, Maruthinagar, Sankapur, Raghavendra Nagar, Goolarivee, Baddihalli, Kesaramadu, C.M Badawan, Kalalli and SKS village on June 29 from 10 am to 5 pm. BESCOM's executive engineer has appealed to consumers to coop ...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 >
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 >
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 >
Shiva, recently released from jail after nine months, celebrated by dancing outside the gate, captivating police and a lawyer. He was imprisoned for assault and failed to pay a fine. An NGO aided him with legal support, and he vowed to avoid crime in the future. A man broke into a dance right outside the jail gate to celebrate his release after nine months of imprisonment. Impressed by his unique style of celebration, senior police officials and a lawyer were seen in a viral video sharing his happy moment and applauding his performance. According to an NDTV report, the man has been identifi ...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 >
Sub-Inspector Narender Reddy alerted his staff, who traced the autorickshaw within a few hours with the help of cybercrime and forensic experts. Later, the bag along with the ten tolas of gold ornaments was handed over to Hena Parveen. Karimnagar: The Gangadhara police traced ten tolas of gold ornaments that a woman lost within a few hours and handed over the ornaments to her. According to police, a resident of Laxmidevipalli of Gangadhara mandal, Hena Parveen along with her mother came to Karimnagar town on Wednesday. After completing work, she returned to the village in an autorickshaw and ...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 >
New Delhi [India], June 27 (ANI): The Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs will hold a meeting on Friday. During the meeting, the committee will record evidence of experts/non-official witnesses in connection with the examination of the subject 'Future of India-Bangladesh Relationship'. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has been the chairperson of the Committee of the External Affairs since September 2024. India has strongly condemned the demolition of a Durga temple in Dhaka, criticising the role of the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government in allowing the destruction and projectin ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 27 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party's Jangpura MLA Tarvinder Singh Marwah on Friday wrote a letter to Delhi's Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, requesting the temporary closure of meat and fish shops along Kanwar Yatra routes during the upcoming holy month of Sawan. In his letter, Marwah highlighted that the Kanwar Yatra is a matter of deep religious faith, during which devotees of Lord Shiva collect sacred water from Haridwar and other holy sites to perform Jalabhishek of Shivlings in their hometowns. He urged the government to maint ...Read More >
VIJAYAWADA: The State government on Friday accorded approvals to a slew of industries. Among those are Krishnapatnam Power Corporation Limited (KPCL), which is set to establish a 350 MW Solar and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Thamminapatnam and Mommidi villages of SPSR Nellore district with a Rs 1,225 crore investment, creating 575 jobs. Furthermore, the government also waived off a Rs 54 crore extension of time fee, contingent on project completion within two years as per the Andhra Pradesh Integrated Clean Energy Policy-2024. The government also allocated 22.80 acres at MPSEZ in N ...Read More >
Digha: A day after Rath Yatra, the festive fervour continues in Digha as the seaside town is now gearing up to host Ulta Rath or the return journey of the deities from the 'Masir Bari' or the old Jagannath temple. On July 5 -- the Ulta Rath day -- hotels are hoping for fresh tourist influx. Though the deities are currently in Masir Bari, a large queue of devotees visited the newly-constructed Jagannath temple on Saturday. They offered prayers to the stone idol permanently installed there. It is the wooden idols of Jagannath, Balaram and Subhadra that have taken the chairot rides. Bipradash Cha ...Read More >
Silchar: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday visited the flood-ravaged districts of Hailakandi and Sribhumi in the Barak Valley. He assured affected residents of providing timely disbursement of rehabilitation grants and swift repair of damaged infrastructure.This marks Sarma's second visit to the flood-hit region within four days, underscoring the gravity of the situation. Speaking to the media in Sribhumi after inspecting multiple relief camps, the CM said, "Flood-related problems may persist till July. I will return before Durga Puja to ensure that roads and infrastructure ar ...Read More >
Gandhinagar (Gujarat) [India], June 7 (ANI): Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, while inaugurating the new Development Center of Infosys at GIFT City, reaffirmed the State Government's commitment to advancing the AI industry by implementing artificial intelligence-based systems across the state. He stated that the establishment of an AI Centre of Excellence at GIFT City is aimed at creating a unified platform that brings together solution developers, experts, professionals, and startups under one roof. Also Read | Latur Shocker: Man Kidnaps Woman's Child for Rejecting His Proposal for A ...Read More >
The long-term debt (with original maturity of above one year) at end-March 2025 was placed at $601.9 billion, an increase of $60.6 billion over its level at end-March 2024. India's external debt rose to $736.3 billion, or 19.1 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP), at the end of March 2025 from $668.8 billion, or 18.5 per cent of GDP, a year ago. In a statement, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said the valuation effect due to the appreciation of the US dollar vis-à-vis the Indian rupee and other currencies amounted to $5.3 billion. Excluding the valuation effect, external debt would have ...Read More >
Keonjhar: Thousands of devotees converged in Keonjhar town on Friday to participate in Rath Yatra. The chariot of Lord Balabhadra, considered the world's 'tallest' chariot, became the focal point of celebrations, drawing crowds from far and wide.Festivities commenced in the afternoon as servitors performed 'Dhadi Pahandi' ritual, ceremoniously escorting the deities from the temple to the chariot amid religious chants, creating a sanctified atmosphere.Panchanan Sahu, a servitor and caretaker of the temple, said, "This morning, we conducted rituals for the deities in the temple. In the afternoon ...Read More >
New Delhi: The pan-India mythological drama 'Kannappa', starring Vishnu Manchu and featuring cameos by Akshay Kumar, Mohanlal, Prabhas, and Kajal Aggarwal, hit cinemas on June 27, 2025. Despite its star-studded cast and grand production, the film has seen a slow start at the box office. According to early estimates from Sacnilk, 'Kannappa' earned ₹9 crore net in India on its first day of release. Although this marks Vishnu Manchu's biggest opener, it falls short of expectations considering the film's massive budget of ₹200 crore and the presence of big-name stars. The film saw varying occupa ...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 >
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 >
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], February 3 (ANI): Monday kick-started on an exciting note for the fans of actor Prabhas as his first look as 'Rudra' was unveiled in the morning. The poster features him in the guise of a hermit, his matted hair flowing wildly, his forehead smeared with sacred chandan, gripping a crescent moon staff that hints at divine power and celestial energy. Sharing his look from the film, Prabhas on social media wrote, " (Om symbol) The Divine Guardian 'Rudra' (Om symbol) Unveiling my look as 'Rudra'. The embodiment of strength and wisdom as the unwavering protector in #K ...Read More >