Devotional

Lucknow, Oct 2 (IANS) Kumbhkaran and Meghnad can finally rest in peace, at least in Lucknow now.

After over 300 years, the Aishbagh Ramlila committee has decided to discontinue the practice of burning effigies of Kumbhkaran and Meghnad along with that of Ravana this Dussehra.

The reason, said organisers, is that all Ramayana texts mention that Kumbhkaran and Meghnad had tried to dissuade Ravana from fighting against Lord Ram since the latter was the incarnation of Vishnu, though eventually they too participated in the war when the demon king rejected their advice.

The idea was first mooted by the Aishbagh Dussehra and Ramlila Committee president Harishchandra Agrawal and secretary Aditya Dwivedi five years ago, but it was rejected by other members on the ground that burning effigies of the trio was part of the 300-year-old tradition.

"A thorough reading of Ramcharitmanas and other versions of the Ramayana reveals that Ravana's son Meghnad had told him that Lord Ram was the incarnation of Vishnu and they should not wage war against him. Ravana's brother Kumbhkaran, on the other hand, told him that Sita, whom the Lanka king had kidnapped, was none other than Jagdamba and if he does not free her, he might end up losing everything, including his life. However, Ravana ignored their suggestions and ordered them to fight. Therefore, we thought burning effigies of Meghnad and Kumbhkaran is wrong," said Dwivedi.

"After a lot of debate and discussion, we were able to convince all members this year that the tradition needs to be discontinued," explained Agrawal.

Ramlila and Dussehra celebrations are believed to have been started at Aishbagh by sage-poet Goswami Tulsidas in the 16th century.

The tradition to burn effigies was introduced about three centuries ago. Both the traditions were conducted by seers till the 1857 first war of independence.

The Nawabs of Lucknow also used to visit the Ramlila. After the revolt, the celebrations were carried forward by social workers.

--IANS
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Mysuru, Sep 26 (IANS) President Droupadi Murmu will on Monday inaugurate grand Dusshera festivities in Mysuru, where large-scale celebrations are taking place for the first time since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic two years ago.

The President will pay floral tributes to the state deity Chamundeshwari along with Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and other dignitaries.

The state government has organised an industrial exhibition, film festival, floral exhibition, food mela and a traditional Kushti competition.

The Mysuru Palace is being decked up with lighting arrangements..

The Hindu festival of Dusshera, Navratri and Vijayadashami celebrates good over evil. Hindu legend maintains that Goddess Chamundeshwari (Durga) killed the demon Mahishasura.

It is also said that Mahishasura is the demon whose slaying by the goddess gave the city name Mysuru.

The city of Mysuru has a long tradition of celebrating the Dusshera festival with pomp and grandeur following the fall of the Vijayanagara kingdom.

The Wodeyars of Mysuru formed a kingdom in southern parts of the Vijayanagara Empire and continued festivities.

The tradition was started initially by Raja Wodeyar in 1610 at Srirangapatna town.

--IANS
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Lucknow, Sep 22 (IANS) A Durga Puja pandal in Lucknow will be a replica of the under-construction Ram temple at Ayodhya.

A Kolkata-based pandal maker will create the replica in the city's Model House area.

Convenor of Mitro Sangho Durga Puja committee, Vinod Tewari 'Dalu', said: "With so much hype around Ram temple that is coming up in Ayodhya, we thought it would be befitting to put up a pandal that would be a look-alike. We are confident that our efforts will attract a lot of attention,"

The pandal will be 80 feet high, he said, adding that nearly 3,000 bamboo, 3,500 metres of cloth from Surat, 150 kg iron nails, 2,000 pieces of thermocol and 150 litres of paint will be used in the making of the pandal.

Nitesh Tewari, general secretary of the Puja Samiti, said: "As many as 75 labourers from West Bengal are working day and night to finish the work by September 30. The work began in August."

Asim Matya of Kolkata Flower Art is putting up the pandal. He is also making a huge pandal in Jankipuram which is a replica of a proposed tallest temple of Vrindavan.

Established in 1975, the Mitro Sangho Durga Puja committee of Model House has called women from West Bengal to play the 'dhaak', a traditional Bengali drum.

"Three men and three women dhakis from North 24 Parganas of West Bengal are coming for the puja at this pandal. Normally, it is the men who play dhaak. This year we have roped in women too for the purpose," said Tewari.

--IANS
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Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 19 (IANS) Starting October 1 for the next six months, the famed Sree Krishna temple at Guruvayoor and those who arrive for prayers are going to get a first of its kind 'Ayurvedic' touch as 34-year-old Kiran Anand Namboothiri becomes the new Chief Priest or 'Melsanthi' of the temple.

Namboothiri is an Ayurveda doctor and till four months ago, he and his wife Manasi, were in Moscow running a clinic there. It was then that he applied for the top post in the temple.

Of the 41 applicants who applied, 39 were cleared and when a draw of lots was done to find who should be the chief priest for a period of six months, the name of Namboothiri was selected.

"Am extremely delighted and happy that this is a great blessing for me. I am really delighted about this and this is now going to be a huge responsibility as well, and am confident that Lord Guruvayoor Appan will help me," said Namboothiri.

Incidentally, Namboothiri belongs to the Kakkad Othikkan family.

He will arrive here on September 30 to take over.

--IANS
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Ayodhya, Sep 19 (IANS) Even before the Ram temple reaches completion, Ayodhya now has a temple that is turning out to be a major tourist attraction.

A temple dedicated to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has come up about 25 kilometres from Ayodhya on the Ayodhya -Prayagraj highway in Bhadarsa village.

The temple is located near the Bharat Kund.

The idol of the chief minister shows him carrying a bow and arrow and an 'aarti' is performed at the temple every evening.

Prabhakar Maurya, who built the temple, said, "Yogi Adityanath has built the Ram temple for us and I have built this temple for him."

--IANS
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Samarkand, Sep 16 (IANS) The city of Varanasi has been nominated as the first-ever SCO tourism and cultural capital during 2022-2023 at the 22nd meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on Friday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the SCO summit, which is the first in-person meeting of the regional group in two years owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.

"The nomination of Varanasi as the first ever SCO tourism and cultural capital will promote tourism, cultural and humanitarian exchanges between India and the SCO member countries. It also underlines India's ancient civilisational links with the member states of SCO, especially the Central Asian republics," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.

Under the framework of this major cultural outreach programme, a number of events will be hosted in Varanasi during 2022-23, for which guests will be invited from the SCO member states. These events are expected to attract Indologists, scholars, authors, musicians, artists, photo journalists, travel bloggers apart from the invited guests.

The regulations for nominating SCO tourism and cultural capital were adopted at the Dushanbe SCO Summit in 2021 with an objective to promote cooperation between the SCO member states in the field of culture and tourism.

--IANS
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Ayodhya, Sep 12 (IANS) The cost of construction of the grand Ram temple is expected to be around Rs 1,800 crores.

Champat Rai, general secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, told reporters that this was a revised estimate.

He said this after a meeting of the trust on Sunday evening.

The Trust also finalised its rules and regulations in the meeting that was presided over by Nripendra Misra, chairman of the Ram temple construction committee.

"After several revisions, we have reached this estimate. Even this might go up," Rai said about the construction cost.

The Trust has also decided to use white marble in construction of the idol of Lord Ram.

Idols of several other deities of the Ramayan era will also come up at the Ram temple.

"Rules and regulations of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust have been finalised. We have been working on it for the past several months," Champat Rai said.

The construction of the temple is expected to be completed by December 2023 and Lord Ram is expected to be seated in the sanctum sanctorum by the Makar Sankranti festival in January 2024, Rai said.

He also said 14 of the 15 trust members attended the meeting.

--IANS
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By Neeraj Dhankher
Here is a guide to the week ahead for you. This is your forecast for September 12-18


Aries

This week may prove to be mentally demanding. You can experience a money crunch, and your expenses will keep rising. In your professional life, you'll have a busy schedule and a ton of work. Avoid delaying or the matter will spiral out of hand. Avoid all forms of gambling and speculation, as any high-risk stock market investment may not yield the returns you expect. Natives who are married might make plans for a family. For those of you who are single, your romantic life will be enjoyable and you will be able to spend quality time with your special someone. Focusing on studies may be challenging for students. Watch out for stomach-related problems.

Tip of the week: Manage your work schedule

Taurus

This week, you'll continue to be interested and like discovering new things. To secure a steady career path in the future, it is advisable to seek for ways to develop your existing abilities and talent. Additionally, you will have a spiritual bent and enjoy lending a hand when necessary. The time is right for home renovations right now. Entrepreneurs have the option of launching a new range of goods or services. Your mother's health could deteriorate, which would be upsetting to your tranquilly. You'll have positive interactions with your spouse. You might be pleasantly surprised by your kids' amazing performance. Be wary of skin infection.

Tip of the week: Explore new areas

Gemini

You'll have a busy time this week. You'll be presented with a lot of opportunities and will be required to manage several scenarios at once. You might soon receive a new work offer that will be beneficial to you in the long run. You may need to sign new paperwork. A short-distance excursion is anticipated and will be advantageous for you. You will be able to effectively manage your finances and expenses. Your relationships with younger siblings may suffer personally as a result of occasional disagreements with them. To prevent problems, improve your communication with your life partner. Students who want to pursue higher education may run into various challenges.

Tip of the week: Be ready to multi-task

Cancer

You will feel content and appreciated for your work this week. Your life will be stable financially, and recent investments will have paid off well. Students will need to work harder because anxiety and confusion might make them unfocused. You'll have a stronger inclination to engage in spiritual pursuits. Those who work in the creative and artistic industries will probably also benefit because their efforts will be well-appreciated. You will soon start to see improvements if you are having marital issues. Natives who are single will find their special someone. Walking often is recommended for your health to keep you fit and active.

Tip of the week: Explore your spiritual side

Leo

You will work incredibly hard this week to accomplish your objectives. You might have self-doubt occasionally. You'll have more chances to boost your revenue. Through your contacts, you'll be able to get some freelance employment to keep you busy. Plan your savings in light of the likelihood that your expenses will rise. Married people will have a steady relationship. Make sure to schedule quality time with your partner to prevent the relationship from becoming stressed. Romantic partners may experience some unpleasantness as a result of issues with their families. You need to keep an eye on your health because stomach illnesses can develop.

Tip of the week: Don't doubt yourself

Virgo

You'll benefit in your work this week. You can make a decent profit financially and keep your spending under control. To stay ahead of the competition, it is essential that you concentrate on developing your skills in your particular line of work. Students will benefit from this period because they may better concentrate on their academics and improve their performance. Some of you might have a new romantic relationship that is motivating. However, married natives will also experience an easy week in their lives. There may be a family disagreement involving property that needs to be handled delicately. Get a comprehensive medical exam for your health.

Tip of the week: Stay competitive

Libra

You'll be able to realise your goals and aspirations this week. You won't have any issues with money, and your spending will be under control. When necessary, your friends will continue to be encouraging. You will probably prosper in a different country. Those who want the chance can travel overseas. You might have plans to remodel your home. There can be a communication gap with your partner in your personal life, which could cause misunderstandings. Couples can plan to extend their family. The support and wisdom of your older siblings will be crucial to your success. Students can occasionally lose attention. You'll continue to be physically active and healthy.

Tip of the week: Plan to travel

Scorpio

This week, you'll be eager to explore your creative side, which will inspire you to want to produce something fresh. Be careful not to be overly ambitious at this time, though. Do not begin a new project or leave your current position. There will be fresh chances for entrepreneurs to grow their businesses. You will have positive interactions with family members and a positive relationship with your siblings. You'll either continue to be very invested in your lover or you'll get a pleasant surprise from them. You can commemorate auspicious occasions in your home. The ability to concentrate more on learning will benefit students.

Tip of the week: Don't be over ambitious

Sagittarius

You will have a wonderful time with your family this week. Through wise investing decisions, some of you will see a sizable increase in wealth. You might receive a fresh opportunity on the professional front, but it's best to exercise patience because there might be some delays. Students will continue to be fortunate because any barriers in their way will be removed. Positive developments in your relationship situation are to be anticipated. You will interact with new people professionally, and you probably will travel. You can feel weak physically, therefore you're encouraged to drink more water to stay hydrated.

Tip of the week: Invest wisely

Capricorn

You will develop your cognitive skills and make a decision about the type of work you want to accomplish throughout this week. You're probably a spendthrift, so stay away from anything that could get you into difficulty financially. Additionally, it is advisable to invest your money with the right advice. There might be advantages to insurance. Professionally, you can benefit from international collaborations. Additionally, this is a good time for business partnerships and trade. You can anticipate making a significant profit if you have made any real estate investments. Married people can occasionally have disagreements. You may experience problems with your stomach and lever.

Tip of the week: Control your expenses

Aquarius

This week, the go-ahead will be given to those of you eager to relocate abroad. Working professionals could be given new assignments related to a foreign country. This is an ideal time for businesspeople to seek out new alliances and partnerships. Additionally, customer acquisition will accelerate. Pay close attention to your finances and try to reduce them. Profit is conceivable, but expenses will also continue to rise. On a personal level, you might have a desire to assert yourself a little bit more, which could result in unneeded arguments with your loved ones. During this time, a few of you may get married.

Tip of the week: Seek new collaborations

Pisces

You are encouraged to maintain your strength during this week so that you can deal with any difficult events. Your coworkers' lack of cooperation at work may cause you professional stress. Competitors may potentially exploit you at the same time. You will see a consistent increase in your income. You can have some home tension related to your family dynamics. Avoid engaging in any type of conflict with your better half since it may escalate into a major disagreement. You can experience certain health issues with blood sugar and weight gain.

Tip of the week: Stay fit and healthy

(Neeraj Dhankher is an Astrologer with proficiency in Vedic, KP and Nadi Astrology. He is Founder and CEO of Astro Zindagi. The observations are made by the writer based on his own analysis)

--IANS
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Bhubaneswar, Sep 9 (IANS) A video of Lord Jagannath's idol being ferried in a pick-up van in a disrespectful manner along with a bunch of bamboo and wood on a national highway in Odisha's Balasore district has gone viral on social media, drawing strong condemnation from the netizens.

A youth named Binay Pradhan, who was travelling on the Bhubaneswar-Jaleswar highway on Thursday, had noticed the idol tied to a rope hanging from the van and filmed the moment, which later went viral.

As the video went viral, netizens strongly condemned the careless manner in which the idol was being carried and demanded an apology from the persons responsible for it.

Later, the tent house owner and his staff visited a Jagannath temple in Jaleswar and begged for forgiveness for their mistake.

The tent owner said the idol was installed in a Ganesh puja pandal in Balasore and after immersion of the Ganesh idol, the Jagannath idol along with other materials were being transported to his hometown Jaleswar.

"I was out of station on that day. As my workers are non-Odia people, they sisn't know about our sentiments with Lord Jagganth. Whatever my workers have done is really disgraceful. I would like to apologise for hurting the sentiments of Jagannath devotees. I will never commit such mistake in future," the tent house owner said.

--IANS
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Jaipur, Sep 8 (IANS) Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday visited the Dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti in Ajmer along with her delegation, during a tour to Rajasthan.

Earlier, she reached Jaipur airport from Delhi at around 11 am. She was given a rousing welcome by Rajasthan Education Minister B.D. Kalla and Chief Secretary Usha Sharma. The traditional artists of Rajasthan welcomed her with a folk dance, during which she could not stop herself and danced with the artists at the airport itself.

During the visit of Sheikh Hasina, the Dargah was completely evacuated for security. The lanes leading from the road were also closed and traffic was diverted during passing of her cavalcade. More than 30 ministers and relatives of her cabinet accompanied the Bangladesh Prime Minister.

Mobiles of Khadim and others were kept outside during Ziyarat. Sheikh Hasina wrote her message in Bangladeshi language in the visitor's book of the Dargah Committee.

Sheikh Hasina's convoy reached the circuit house in Ajmer after spending an hour in the dargah. Hasina and her delegation rested here and left for Jaipur.

--IANS
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