India PM (Narendra Modi) Celebrate 2020 Dev Diwali in Varanasi Nov 25th, 2020 from Amar Ujala
Dev Diwali celebrated every year in Kashi will be special this time. Along with the twinkling of lamps on the ghats, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is coming to Kashi to see the grandeur of the decoration itself. From the boat between the waves of the Ganges, PM will not only see the amazing style of Dev Deepawali but will also observe Kashi Vishwanath. Before this, PM Modi will also address a public meeting of five thousand people in Mirzamurad. Preparations for the Prime Minister's visit have been started by the district administration. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is also reaching Kashi on 27 November. After reviewing the preparations for the PM's visit, he will conduct on-site inspection.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will light the first lamp at Rajghat this time in Dev Diwali . For this, a platform is being built there. Within half an hour after the burning of this lamp, 15 lakh lamps will start burning on both sides of the Ganges and will be illuminated all over. After lighting the lamp, PM Modi will also perform Ganga Vihar.
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World Tourism Day is also being celebrated in Varanasi today. Sunday, a roller skating and cycle rally was organized with the cooperation of Tourism India Varanasi and District Administration on the theme of 'Tourism and Rural Development'. In which people were made aware.
The cycle rally, which took place at 7 am from the Tourism India office of the Cantonment area, ended via the Post Office Square, Doordarshan Square, Ashiana Mor, coming back to the Tourism Office through several hotels in the Cantonment area. People from the tourism sector gathered following the Covid-19 protocol.
Prior to the rally, the medical team (Dr. Sanjay Dubey) on behalf of Buddhist Inbound Tourist Faternity (BITF) did thermal screening and sanitizing in view of the Corona crisis. Everyone wore masks by the Rotary Club. India Tourism Varanasi presented India Tourism T-shirts to everyone involved in rally and skating.
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Sarnath, the holy place of Lord Buddha, is opening for tourists after six months. The memorial premises will be opened from September 7 in a phased manner after getting permission from the district administration. No mask shall be allowed to enter the premises. Sarnath's tourist place will be buzzed again from Monday.
It will begin on September 7 from the excavated site of Sarnath. Later, in turn the Chaukhandi Stupa, Lal Khan's Tomb, Rajghat and Man Singh's observatory and museum will be opened for tourists. The time has been fixed for the entry of tourists to the excavated site. Tourists will be given entry from 10 am to 5 pm. Tourists will be given entry by e-ticket only.
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strong> Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that Uttar Pradesh is a prosperous state from the Buddhist circuit point of view. Six major sites including Kushinagar are in this state. The central and state governments are advancing employment opportunities through tourism. In this sequence, the flight will start from the International Airport of Kushinagar within the next two months. Many countries including Sri Lanka, Japan, Singapore wanted to connect by air with Kushinagar. But due to not having a systematic system, there was a problem. Kushinagar will be the fourth international airport of the state. It is a matter of pride for the entire Purvanchal.
The chief minister came to inspect the under-construction international airport at Kushinagar on Sunday.
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Ayodhya will be largest tourist city in India at 2030
Yogi government has started work towards making Ayodhya news of Uttar Pradesh (Uttar pradesh news) the biggest tourist city of the country. The work is planned to be completed by 2030. At this time most of the tourists come to Harminder Sahib, Amritsar (Amritsar).
By 2030, Ayodhya will be the largest religious tourism city in the country if the Uttar Pradesh government's action plan lands. The government estimates that after 10 years the number of tourists visiting Ayodhya annually will be more than 5.25 crore. Currently, this number is 1.70 crore. At present, the highest annual 40 million religious tourists in the country visit Harminder Sahib, Amritsar.
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Renaming of Manduadih Railway Station in Varanasi as "Banaras"
The Union Home Ministry has approved the renaming of Manduadih railway station in Uttar Pradesh as 'Banaras' , officials said on Monday. The Uttar Pradesh government had sent a request for renaming the railway station in Varanasi district.
A 'no objection certificate' has been issued for changing the name of the Manduadih railway station to 'Banaras', a Home Ministry official said. The home ministry considers proposals for name change according to the existing guidelines in consultations with agencies concerned.
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How to make Online Lockdown E-pass
E-pass Varanasi is a platform for providing the e-pass to various fields of essential services which needs to have an uninterrupted movement through out the city.
In order to break the chain of transmission of growing pandemic COVID-19 corona virus. The Hon’ble PM of India has announced a complete lockdown for 21 days starting from March 24, 2020.
In furtherance with the implementation of lockdown .
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In an unprecedented situation caused by the lock down, due to Coronavirus pandemic, the annual prestigious Sankat Mochan Music Festival , that concluded recently, turned digital this year.
The 97th year of the festival made use of technology to continue the tradition. A LED screen was installed at the open stage in the temple premises, where the live streaming of musicians who performed remotely was done.The link of the performance was shared on the social media platform.
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Varanasi. The religious city Ganga Aarti world famous Kashi still have this ritual havoc Corona threat from the corona virus, where the magistrate has issued advisories for Ganga Aarti. It is these instructions under will not include any of the faithful of the Ganga Arti now.
Please tell that he directed the Ganga Seva Nidhi DM that will not be included pilgrims Ganga Aarti today. Now will only engage in ritual organizer of the Ganga Arti. It also said that organizers Arti simple Trike. Priest who offer the prayers that will Aarti.
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The railways will run a special tourist train for those wishing to go on a pilgrimage of sites associated with Lord Ram from March 28, the IRCTC said on Wednesday.
The special train-- Shri Ramayana Express -- will have ten coaches which include five sleeper class non-AC coaches and five AC 3 tier coaches. The booking will purely be on first come first take basis, it said. A similar tourism train on this circuit was introduced last year with only sleeper class coaches which was a tremendous success. The response of the general public was such that all the available seats were booked in merely seven days.
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Kashi's Gyan Mala, Man Singh Observatory, a unique example of Mughal and Rajput architecture Feb 28th, 2020 from Times of India
Varanasi . Kashi, the capital of all learning, is the mine of knowledge, including religion and spirituality. Astronomy is also not untouched by this. To support this, Sawai Raja Jai Singh of Jaipur shaped the observatory in 1734 on the second floor of Maan Mahal near Dashashwamedhghat. This made the unsurpassed example of Rajasthani architectural craft made of sandstone in 1600 by Raja Man Singh of Amer (Rajasthan) even more unique and magnificent.
Due to Maan Mahal, this end of Dashashwamedh Ghat is known as Maan Temple Ghat. The palace attracts unmatched specimen of Mughal and Rajput architecture, with a balcony built of stones. The evidence scattered in the upper part of the palace shows how planets and constellations were used 400 years ago through Vastu and Astrology. Between 1699 and 1743, the observatory was shaped by saving individual instruments. Like the precious pearl of the Science Rosary of Kashi, the intricate heritage is preserved by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) Sarnath Mandal. According to records, for the spread of astronomy, Raja Jai Singh had built similar observatories in Delhi in 1724, Ujjain in 1719, Mathura in 1737 and Jaipur in 1728.
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VARANASI: Prime Minister Modi on Sunday inaugurated ' Kashi Ek Roop Anek', a cultural arts and handicrafts exhibition, at the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Hastkala Sankul here. He evinced keen interest in the products on display as he went around several stalls and personally interacted with buyers and artisans coming from different countries, including the US, England and Australia.
'Kashi Ek Roop Anek' showcased products from over 10,000 artisans from all over Uttar Pradesh.
Artistes and weavers at the two-day event will be imparted skills for improving the quality and branding of their wares suitable for the larger national and international markets.
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Varanasi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate 36 projects and lay the foundation of 14 others besides unveiling the 63ft statue of RSS ideologue Pt Deen Dayal Upadhyay at Padao during his visit to Varanasi on Sunday. Besides attending Veershaiva (Lingayat) Mahakumbh at historical Jangamwadi Mutt, the PM is also scheduled to flag off Mahakal Express, India’s third private train.Talking to TOI on Saturday, district magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma said after landing at LBS International Airport at 10.45am, the Prime Minister would reach Banaras Hindu University’s helipad to leave for Jangamwadi Mutt.
“He will leave for Sujabad by chopper to unveil the statue of Pt Deen Dayal Upadhyaya and inaugurate the initial phase of work at DDU memorial site ‘Antim Padao’ worth Rs 40 crore,” he said. “Besides inaugurating 36 projects worth Rs 1057 crore and laying the foundation of 14 projects worth Rs 198 crore, the PM will also flag off Varanasi-Ujjain Mahakal Express train remotely at Padao,” he said. Mahakal Express, which is the first overnight private train in the country, will connect three Jyotirlinga pilgrimage centres of Varanasi, Ujjain and Omkareshwar. From Padao, Modi will go to DDU-TFC in Bada Lalpur area.
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IRCTC's third private train to start from Varanasi (Kashi Mahakal Express) Feb 13th, 2020 from Times of India
Indian Railway’s PSU IRCTC will be formally inaugurating the third corporate train on 16th February in Varanasi. The train will start running on the set commercial routes from 20th February. The new train will be named Kashi Mahakal Express and it will run between Varanasi and Indore.
The train will connect three important shrines Jyotirlinga – Omkareshwar (near Indore), Mahakaleshwar (Ujjain) and Kashi Vishwanath (Varanasi). Apart from pilgrims, the train will also serve as a direct route students traveling between educational hubs like Bhopal and Indore.
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Varanasi Lakhs of devotees thronged ghats along the Ganga and took dip in the river on the occasion of Maghi Purnima on Sunday. Meanwhile, several religious events were held to mark Ravidas Jayanti celebrations. Devotees started reaching the ghats from the city as well as the adjoining districts for the auspicious occasion of Maghi Purnima from early hours of Sunday morning.
The areas near the ghats were heavily crowded and the arrival of devotees continued till late afternoon. Mean while, celebrations of 643rd birth anniversary of Sant Ravidas started in and around the city since morning hours. Religious processions and tableux were taken out on roads.
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Varanasi Security has been beefed up here ahead of Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa's visit to the city on Sunday. Rajapaksa, who is arriving in the national capital on a three-day visit to India today, will visit the Varanasi city of Uttar Pradesh on Sunday. During his stay in the holy town, he will visit religious sites of Varanasi and Sarnath .
He will also visit the Sarnath Museum, which exhibits the Buddhist Cultural wealth, recovered from the site of Lord Buddha's first sermon at deer park Mrigadava in Sarnath. The Sri Lankan leader will also visit Bodhgaya in Bihar and Tirupati. During his stay in the capital, Rajapaksa will hold delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
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Varanasi has been muse to photographers world over. Joining the brigade is veteran actress Waheeda Rehman who was on a personal two-day visit to the city on Friday and Saturday. She flew back to Mumbai on Sunday. “It is love for photography that has brought me here and I must say the city is beautiful,” said the Sahib Biwi Aur Ghulam and Guide actress, who spent Saturday evening clicking photographs of the famed Ganga aarti organised by Ganga Seva Nidhi at Dashshwamedh Ghat.
Keeping her visit low profile, the Chaudhvin Ka Chand actress donned a mask to avoid attention freezing every moment of the aarti in her camera. Like a regular tourist, she walked from Dashshwamedh Ghat to Darbhanga Ghat, where she was putting up in a heritage property.
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The Alliance Air, a subsidiary of Air India , launched its daily direct flight operations between Bhubaneswar and Varanasi on Friday. The airline has deployed its 70-seater ATR 72 600 aircraft. The Air India station manager at Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport Atif Idrish said that on the first day as many as 36 passengers arrived in the city from Bhubaneswar, while 32 passengers from Varanasi flew to Bhubaneswar.
The flight (9I 747) departing from Bhubaneswar at 12:15pm arrived in Varanasi at 2:05pm, while the flight (9I 748) from Varanasi took off at 2:30pm. Idrish said that the flight services between Varanasi and Bhubaneswar have been started as a regional connectivity scheme (RCS) route under the UDAN.
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Namami Gange programme start by central government for the Save and Clean the river Ganga Jan 28th, 2020 from Times of India
As UP Governor Anandiben Patel flagged-off the Ganga Yatra under Namami Gange programme of the Central government in Ballia on Monday, Minister of state (independent charge) for Tourism and Religious Works, Neelkanth Tiwari inaugurated a photo exhibition on Ganga Yatra evam Vikas at Cultural Complex, Chowkaghat. The five-day Ganga Yatra commencing from Ballia and Bijnor will culminate at Kanpur on January 31. Speaking on the occasion, the minister said that the Ganga Yatra would cover a distance of 1,358 km passing through 27 districts, 21 local bodies and 38 gram panchayats.
The villages situated along the banks of the Ganga would be identified for the development of a Bhagirath Circuit to promote tourism. The tourism department has been directed to prepare its DPR and sent to the Centre for approval. The development of Bhagirath Circuit would not only promote tourism but also help in economic growth of the villages, he added.
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BALLIA: Governor Anandiben Patel along with Bihar deputy CM Sushil Modi flagged off Ganga Yatra from Dubey Chhapra area on UP-Bihar border in Ballia district on Monday. Governor after performing Ganga-pujan and aarti on the river bank flagged off the Ganga Yatra, which will move by road up to Kanpur. A symbolic Ganga Yatra by boat was also taken out in the limits of district. In her address governor motivated people especially women and youths to take part in Ganga Yatra, which is being carried out to give message for saving river from pollution and environment, whole heartedly as the government is aiming at generating livelihood opportunities with an ambitious campaign Arth-Ganga.
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KOCHI A gay couple approached Kerala high court on Monday seeking a court declaration that homosexual couples are entitled to get their marriages registered. Nikesh PP and Sonu MS also appealed to the court that a provision in Special Marriage Act, which specifies that solemnization of marriage is possible only between a man and a woman, be declared unconstitutional. Justice Anu Sivaraman, after hearing the petition (WP-C No. 2186/2020) filed by Nikesh and Sonu through advocate George Varghese Perumpallikuttiyil, sought the views of the central and state governments on the matter.
Nikesh and Sonu got married in a private ceremony in September last year, but with religious and temple authorities not willing to solemnise the marriage, they decided to register their marriage as per Special Marriage Act. “It is submitted that the petitioners had turned to this country’s secular law and its Constitution after being discriminated by religion and culture and stereotypical homophobia that they carry,” the couple’s plea said.
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A temple built in the name of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose will be inaugurated in Varanasi on Thursday which also happens to be the 123rd birth anniversary of the iconic freedom fighter. The temple, which is located in Subhash Bhawan on Azad Hind Marg, will be inaugurated by senior RSS leader Indresh Kumar. According to sources, the temple will have a Dalit woman as the chief priest and the morning 'aarti' will be held with a prayer to Bharat Mata. The temple is located in the front yard of the Subhas Bhawan and has a life-size black granite statue of Subhas Chandra Bose. The stairs around the temple are painted in red and white. “The red colour symbolizes revolution while white is for peace and black is for strength," said Dr Rajiv of Banaras Hindu University who is responsible for the temple being constructed. He said that the purpose of the temple was to inculcate a feeling of patriotism among people and keep the memory of Netaji alive.
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Varanasi to promote village tourism in the state, tourism department is planning to develop a Bhagirath Circuit covering the villages along the Ganga UP Minister of state (independent charge) for tourism and religious work Neelkanth Tiwari directed the officials to prepare a DPR in this regard.
The DPR will be forwarded to the Central government for funding under Swadesh Darshan scheme. Central Financial Assistance (CFA) is provided to the state governments/Union territory administrations for infrastructure development of circuits under the Swadesh Darshan scheme.
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Nestled amid the Vindhya mountain range, a village in might be the holding the secret to the majestic glory of Sarnath’s famous Ashoka pillar.
Haunted by the bloodshed in the battle for Kalinga, Emperor Ashoka felt there was a need to define moral principles to create a more just society. The thought inspired him to commission Ashoka Pillars across the Mauryan territory. Barely five kilometres away from the famous Chunar Fort, Baragaon might have been the place from where stones for the Ashokan Pillars were supplied. “Baragaon, primarily a village of stone cutters, was the ancient quarry from where sections of sandstone were extracted, chiseled and transported to build the (Ashokan) pillars,” said Neeraj K Sinha, superintending archaeologist of Archaeological Survey of India’s (ASI) Sarnath Circle.
Archaeologists have noted that Baragaon, located a top the Chunar hill, houses an ancient quarry that supplied ‘pattika’ (pillars) used to build the Ashoka Pillar in Sarnath and an 80-pillar hall in his palace.
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IndiGo to start daily flights on six UDAN routes in next two months Jan 3rd, 2020 from Times of India
NEW DELHI Budget airline IndiGo on Friday announced that over the next two months it will start daily flights on six new routes which come under the Centre's regional connectivity scheme UDAN.
The flights will be to and from Prayagraj -Gorakhpur, Aizawl-Agartala and Varanasi -Bhubaneswar. Under the UDAN scheme, financial incentives in terms of concessions from the Centre, state governments and airport operators are extended to selected airlines to encourage operations from unserved and undeserved airports, and keep airfares affordable.
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Soulful music with a picturesque setting in the background could be a heady combination. The guests attending the annual Kabira Festival got ample opportunity to soak in this beautiful blend. The morning music sessions at the Guleria Ghat with the rising sun and calmness of river Ganga, giving company to the listeners, was a blissful experience .
Ustad Kamal Neeraj Mishra on added to the morning serenity. He presented several raag-based compositions while vocalist Ujawal Nagar, through his rendition, stressed on Kabir as a guru. Taking further the Kabirvani were Shabnam Virmani and Swagath , who regaled the audience on the second morning, of the two-day festival.
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A modern suite with spectacular views or a plush villa with a private pool? Or maybe a homestay set on the edge of a fragrant coffee plantation? Indian travellers, today, are spoilt for choice when it comes to selecting their holiday accommodation. A survey conducted by MakeMyTrip, India’s leading online travel company, reveals that more than 48 per cent of the respondents are likely to book an alternative accommodation , which includes
villas, apartments, homestay and hostels for their next trip. People want travel experiences to reflect on a personal level and in line with their travel interests. For instance, a homestay is a great way to experience a slice of authentic local culture, while a luxurious villa is superb for couples looking to spend quiet time together. With so much to choose from on the accommodation front, we bring you this quick guide to help you figure out that perfect holiday accommodation.
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Almost a decade after coming out of the shadow of Naxal menace, Sonbhadra district is now all set to become a picnickers’ paradise, courtesy a proposal of Rs 50.27 crores prepared by UP tourism department to develop basic infrastructure with advanced facilities without disturbing ecology of the area with the help of forest department.
“Sonbhadra has a treasure of natural beauty as well as ancient rock paintings and other human creations at its hill and valleys. We had prepared a Rs 50.27 crores proposal to develop eight sites in initial phase. It was forwarded to the Central government for approval in March. As parliamentary elections were held in April-May, the approval could not be procured,” said joint director UP Tourism Avinash Mishra.
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The timeless charm of Varanasi , continues to bewitch filmmakers, who are making a beeline to can their films in and around the city, capturing the picturesque locales. Frequent visibility of the city in films and other mediums, including television and web world, is making an impact on domestic tourism. Travellers coming to the city try and incorporate places which they have seen on the screen, in their itinerary. “After the film Mukti Bhawan was released I got a lot of calls from travel agencies to include the place where the film was shot in my itinerary of Banaras. Travellers were also keen to witness the activity of young boys collecting coins from river Ganga which was shown in films like Mukti Bhawan and Masaan .
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On a spiritual sojourn,Kangana Ranaut and Juhi Chawla reached Varanasi on Sunday to be part of Sadhguru‘s Varanasi Sacred Walks, to experience the holy city. Simply clad, the actresses created quite a buzz as they came out of the airport with some onlookers trying for a selfie with them. For both the atressess, Varanasi is a familiar place. Kangana, who had been to the city earlier for the unveiling of the poster of her film 'Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi', says, "Varanasi is a special place. I couldn't explore much of it when I had visited the city earlier. But this time, with Sadhguruji around, I would be able the know the city better. Its energy points, the significance of jyotirlinga, river Ganga and even Manikarnika Ghat."
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The birth place of Aghoreshwar Baba Kinaram in Ramgarh area of Chandauli district will be developed as a tourist place. This was announced by chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday.
UP minister of state for tourism (independent charge) Neelkanth Tiwari along with Aghoreshwar Peeths Mahant Siddharth Gautam will finalise the work plan to develop it as tourist place,” said Yogi while addressing a function organized to mark the birth anniversary of Baba Kinaram in Ramgarh .
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From community networks and referral programmes to hiring consultants, organisations are actively looking at building a skilled pool of LGBT+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender/transsexual, ‘plus’) workers in their journey to become truly inclusive. This comes nearly a year after the Supreme Court removed Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, decriminalising homosexuality. Getting the right skills, however, is a challenge. Organisations like RBS India, and have launched exclusive internship programmes for transgender candidates with the objective of introducing them to the corporate culture and mainstreaming those who are marginalised into professional jobs.
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Now, devotees and pilgrims visiting Kashi Vishwanath Temple will not get an opportunity to enter the sanctum sanctorum.
They will get only ‘jhanki darshan’ (glimpse of Lord Vishwanath and offer prayers by standing at the door of the sanctum sanctorum.) The decision of restricting entry of pilgrims in the sanctum sanctorum by initiating jhanki darshan had been introduced for the period of Shrawan month, which ended on August 15, on an experimental basis. But, after Shrawan it has been made a permanent feature at KVT, one of the Dwadash Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva.
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In an attempt, which would go a long way to protect the environment, the Varanasi Nagar Nigam (VNN) have initiated a project wherein the pyres, at two of the important ghats of the city— Manikarnika and Harishchandra — would use logs made of cow-dung and wood dust.For the purpose, authorities have roped in a startup player which would be using the dung collected from the cow shelter home including Kanha Upwan of Chiaunikot in the suburbs of the city.
“The idea is that these new logs could replace the traditional wooden logs for burning the pyre and thereby save the trees in long run”, said the additional municipal commissioner Ajay Kumar Singh.
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Varanasi 'Dak-Bam', a Religious Practice of Savan, Slowly becoming Extinct Aug 06th, 2019 The Economic Times
As lakhs of Kanvariyas have visited the city during the holy month of Sawan and performed Jalabhishek at Kashi Vishwanath Temple , locals, priests and those serving these kanvariya miss witnessing arrival of 'dak bam'.
Unlike the kanvariya, who travel on foot, buses, bikes, private cars etc to perform Jalabhishek, 'dak bam' are the one who cover the entire journey on foot and once they start their journey, after felling the water of river Ganga, they don't stop even for a second, not even for attending to nature's call. They also refrain from consuming water leave along food during their entire pilgrimage. Wearing white T-shirt, they are given access on the way and even within temple premises over other kanvariya who wear safforn coloured T-shirt.
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CM Yogi Adityanath performs Rudrabhishek at Gorakhnath temple as Shrawan Starts July 18th, 2019 from Times of India
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath performed Rudrabhishek at Groakhnath temple in Gorakhpur on the first day of Shrawan month on Wednesday.
During his visit he held Janta darbar and addressed grievances of around 200 people on Wednesday. He also gave them assurance of resolving their issues at the earliest. Students of blind school also met the CM and complained about the quality of food served to them. Yogi has asked the concerned authorities to look into the matter. Meanwhile, a huge number of devotees thronged Shiv temples in Gorakhpur as Shrawan month commenced on Wednesday.
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After the Kumbh drew millions of devotees from across India, the pilgrims’ progress continues into the holy month of Shrawan. Thousands of Shiva devotees from neighbouring states are trooping into the Sangam for ‘jalabhishek’.
Shrikant, 35, walked 130km from Manduadih village along with a group of kanwariyas on Sunday to carry holy water from the Sangam to Baidyanath dham in for ‘jalabhishek’. Just two days remain for the auspicious month to begin and they will be walking a total distance of 500km on foot.
Devotees say many kanwariyas plan to visit Pashupatinath in Nepal to offer ‘jalabhishek’ after collecting holy water from Sangam. They again collect water from Sultanganj for ‘jalabhishek’ at Baidyanath dham, straddling a distance of 105km.
Noted religious scholar AK Tiwari said, “The number of Shiva devotees, popularly known as kanwariyas are expected to increase over next two days, but many groups from Prayagraj and neighouring districts will travel to Pashupathi Nath, Baidyanath, Kashi and other prominent Shiva shrines.”
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The tourism department in association with Kashi Vishwanath Temple authorities will launch a package for pilgrims visiting the city during the holy month of Shrawan beginning July 16. The package will include the popular Dwadash Jyotirlinga ‘darshan’ and Panchkoshi Parikrama.
The tourism department convened a meeting with travel and tour operators on Sunday evening to discuss ways and means to keep the rate of the package affordable for the pilgrims. UP minister of state for law, sports, youth affairs and information Neelkanth Tiwari said if the package sells among the tourists during Shrawan, it would be on offer round the year. “Panchkoshi Parikrama begins and ends at Manikarnika Ghat after covering ‘panch kos (circumambulation of almost 78 km).
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The plantation of 60,000 saplings along the 78 km Panchkroshi Parikrama route , which encircles Kashi, and in the Anand Kanan Navgrah Vatika at Harahua, will provide a glimpse of the mythological forest Anand Kanan.
On July 6, Prime Minister Modi will plant saplings in a model Anand Kanan Navgrah Vatika at Harahua, along the Panchkroshi Parikrama route, as part of the total 2.60 lakhs saplings and trees being planted with the help of farmers and local residents. Yogi government has planned reconstruction of this route at a cost of Rs 97 crore, while Rs 4 crore have already been spent on developing basic infrastructure. Yogi government has planned reconstruction of this route at a cost of Rs 97 crore, while Rs 4 crore have already been spent on developing basic infrastructure.
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One of the most ambitious project for the tourism sector of the city, the Virtual Experiential Museum (VEM) developed at Man Mahal, will be finally open for the public after its inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to the city on Saturday. The museum, which gives a cultural and spiritual tour of the city, has been awaiting its formal inauguration since February. The PM will inaugurate the museum after launching the mega plantation drive and attending the BJP’s nationwide membership campaign during his five-hour stay in the city on Saturday. As per the final itinerary of the PM’s visit received by the district administration, Modi, after landing at LBS international Airport, will unveil the bronze statue of former PM Lal Bahadur Shastri outside the terminal building at around 10.30am. From here, he will leave for Harahua to launch the mega plantation drive of the state government by planting saplings at a primary school located along Panchkoshi Parikrama road.
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LGBTQIA + members Dating apps help us find companions and even come out July 05th, 2019 from Times of India
Gaurav Singh, 25, owner of a social media marketing agency , was never convinced about the usefulness of dating apps for the LGBTQIA+ community and whether it was a safe space to get into. But his perception has changed in the last one year. Over the last several months, app creators have been making special efforts to improve the experience of online dating for the LGBTQIA+ community and making it as safe as possible for users by introducing additional filters, among other things. Along with this, the inception of a home-grown dating app for LGBTQIA+ people, has led to a major change in the dating experience.
Often dismissed by many for promoting the “hook-up culture”, these apps, with the improved filters, are helping people find companions, mentors and friends. “I have friends who met their partners through a dating app and are now in steady relationships. Personally, I have found some incredible friends through one of these apps, which I have been using for more than a year now,” says Gaurav.
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Deaths at Mt Everest this year caught international attention, but away from the media glare, another category of climbers — the pilgrims to some of the most sacred sites in the Himalayas — have been battling similar challenges: oxygen depletion at high altitudes and serpentine queues on narrow trek routes. Since 2017, 279 people en route Uttarakhand’s four Char Dham shrines have died, mostly due to cardiac arrests at altitudes 3,000 metres above sea level in the Himalayas.
This year alone, 61 pilgrims have died in the first 50 days of the yatra, which means over one death per day.
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Breaking all records, over 7 lakh pilgrims visited Kedarnath shrine in the first 45 days of this year’s Char Dham Yatra . The number is the highest ever in the recorded history of the Himalayan shrine that witnessed the worst natural calamity in 2013 which claimed thousands of lives. While around 7.32 lakh people visited the shrine during the six-month-long yatra in 2018, this year, the number has already touched 7.35 in the first 45 days.
In fact, there were some days when the shrine recorded a footfall of over 36,000, which is also a first. The highest footfall was witnessed on June 7 when 36,179 devotees offered prayers in Kedarnath, followed by June 10, when 36,021 people visited the temple. Authorities, meanwhile, said that the credit for such a high turnout goes to PM Modi, whose frequent visits to the temple have made people follow the same path.
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It is believed that death in Kashi means liberation from the cycle of birth and rebirth. For centuries, the sacred city’s labyrinthine lanes have beckoned the devout in their last days or, in several cases, their last years. But only a few are able to find space in ‘moksha centres’ or hospices where rooms are "reserved for death". With dozens of applications daily in the handful of moksha bhavans, the wait list can run into several years. But all that’s set to change. A new site for salvation that's coming up will be both "more sacred" and have enough rooms to make the wait shorter.
As part of the Kashi Vishwanath Dham (corridor) project, a government-funded moksha bhavan is being built, with equal number of rooms for men and women, that will accommodate about 50 people. Chief executive officer of Kashi Vishwanath Temple Vishal Singh told TOI that while one of the existing moksha centres in Kashi only allows couples, the other is for those on their deathbed. The latest moksha bhavan will have no such riders.
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Dropping your kid to school ? Getting late to workplace due to traffic snarls? Take a ropeway. Varanasi could soon be one of the first few cities in India to get a web of cable car networks to beat congestion on streets. The cable car network based on ropeway system in PM Narendra Modi’s constituency is estimated to be 70% cheaper than Metro rail network.
The state government has junked the Metro rail proposal and instead has decided to go in for the system in the temple town.
This proposal of ropeway system at advance stage is being seen as a move to help commuters get the better of Kashi’s winding bylanes and a complex traffic profile — from meandering bulls and rickshaws to SUVs and buses. Sources said if the government gives the go ahead, cable cars moving in all directions would be a reality in less than two years.
Till now cable cars are limited to tourist destinations in India unlike some of the western cities where it’s a mode of daily commuting.
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The newly revamped Manduadih railway station in Varanasi is of world-class level- it can easily be mistaken for a swank corporate office or an airport terminal. Varanasi, also called Banaras and Kashi, is the parliamentary constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi .
Not only does the station building make the railway station class apart, but also all its various passenger-friendly amenities. The new facilities provided by Indian Railways include LED lights, an air-conditioned waiting lounge and stainless steel benches.
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Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, which had started witnessing a dip in number of flights due to issues like grounding of Boeing 737 Max model and Jet Airways running into trouble in past five-six months, will see the launch of new flights from June 6 with a direct flight from Kashi to Chennai being started by Air India. Talking to TOI, LBS International Airport director, Anil Kumar Rai, said on Sunday, “The airport witnessed continuous growth in number of flights connecting Varanasi with various Indian and international cities in 2018. But, the issues of grounding of Boeing’s 737 Max model following March 10 crash of Ethiopian Airlines flight and Jet Airways suspending operations, reduced eight flights from here.
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“Sometimes, you have to hide your dreams from the world,” says Kolkata’s Amit Bittoo Dey, who would often tell people that he wanted to pursue hotel management when all he really wanted to do was dance in a chiffon sari like his onscreen idols Sridevi and Madhuri. Growing up, his sisters would apply rouge on his cheeks and doll him up as a bride. “It was a game for them but not for me,” says 27-year-old Dey, a gender-fluid photographer and model who revealed his dreams to the universe recently via a classified advertisement in TOI as part of the #TimesOutandProud campaign. Here, Dey — who is seeking a partner who would accept him the way he is — proclaimed: “On my wedding day, I want to dress up as a bride.”
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In the late ’90s, the intimate scenes between Shabana Azmi as Radha and Nandita Das as Sita in Deepa Mehta’s Fire celebrated a shift in the relationship binaries that the Indian society had so far been accustomed to. Same-sex emotional attachments, which would earlier take careful refuge in aesthetic metaphors, needed a jolt and Fire did that with fiery passion. By the time Rituparno Ghosh and Indraneil Sengupta fanned romance on screen as Chapal Rani and Kumar in Kaushik Ganguly’s Arekti Premer Golpo in 2010, the audience had matured enough to accept same-sex love. Films dealing with homosexual relationships have walked a long way since then. The same audience that once cringed in their seats with Radha and Sita’s love-making scenes, was swayed by Madhu (Ritwick Chakraborty) and Puti’s (Riddhi Sen) love story in Nagarkirtan, which went on to win four National Film Awards last year, including the Best Actor for Riddhi.
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Despite the long awaited September 2018 Supreme Court verdict that decriminalised sex between consenting adults of the same gender, the LGBTQIA+ community continues to face stigma in society. In an effort to address this dissonance, we are launching a campaign to create a more inclusive and equal environment. Through this campaign, Times Out & Proud, the paper will offer the LGBTQIA+ community free space in its classifieds for three months.
The campaign started on Friday commemorating the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia . The classifieds will provide a platform to the LGBTQIA+ community to voice their stories. The campaign takes its cue from the Section 377 judgment in which Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice A M Khanwilkar said, “We have to vanquish prejudice, embrace inclusion, and ensure equal rights.”
The only woman judge on the five-judge bench, Justice Indu Malhotra went a step further to say, “History owes an apology to members of the community for the delay in ensuring their rights. Section 377 will, however, continue to govern non-consensual sexual acts, carnal intercourse with minors and acts of bestiality.” Read More....
How have five years of the Modi raj changed Varanasi, his own constituency ? Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised to turn Varanasi into Kyoto, the Japanese town famous for its temples. The VVIP constituency of Varanasi may not have become another Kyoto but PM Modi sure has started and even inaugurated many ambitious projects.
While election results will tell how Varanasi residents judge PM Modi's performance in his own constituency, on the day when PM Modi files his nomination papers to seek another term from Varanasi, we list below some of the prominent developmental projects initiated and delivered by the Modi government.
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Indian travellers are set to spend an additional $24 billion in three years on online travel bookings , according to a report.
As India’s travel spending is set to grow at 13% CAGR from $94 billion in 2018 to $136 billion by 2021, around 57% ($24 billion) of the incremental bookings will happen online, revealed a report by management firm, Bain & Company. “The contribution of travel and tourism’s spend in India has reached developedmarket levels, from 6.7% of GDP in 2013 to 9.4% in 2018. This growth, combined with a rapidly growing internet user base and adoption of online bookings will lead to incremental revenues through online channels by 2021,” said Joydeep Bhattacharya, partner at Bain & Company. Read More....
In a historic first, the Vishwanath Temple Trust opened the temple’s sanctum sanctorum for devotees an hour after ‘Shayan Aarti’ on Sunday night, a day before Mahashivratri. Usually, doors open at dawn after completion of ‘Mangala Aarti’.
Traditionally, the temple is shut for the day after ‘Shayan Aarti’ , except on Mahashivratri. This move by the temple and district administration enabled over six lakh pilgrims to enter temple premises and have jhanki darshan — offering prayers to Lord Vishwanath from the door of the sanctum sanctorum — in 24 hours between Sunday and Monday midnight. Read More....
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will perform ‘bhumi pujan’ for the ambitious Kashi Vishwanath Temple (KVT) expansion (corridor) project on March 8. During his about three-hour stay in the city, Modi will also interact with women beneficiaries of various government schemes at Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Trade Facilitation Centre in Lalpur area.
Talking to TOI on Monday, district magistrate Surendra Singh confirmed that initial intimation regarding PM’s visit on March 8 has been received. As per the itinerary, the will reach the city around 9.30 am and stay for more than two and half-hour, he said. Read More....
DM Allahabad Suhas LY has ordered the closure of schools on Tuesday due to traffic restrictions. Over 5 crore devotees took holy dip by 5 pm, claimed Kumbh mela authorities. Heavy force of RPF, UP police, PAC are deployed at every shed before the devotees are released for boarding their trains.
Allahabad Junction witnesses heavy rush of devotees trying to get back to their home. Railways are running Kumbh special trains for the devotees. Read More....
Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth on Tuesday said educated and self-reliant can be a great asset in bringing new perspective, investment and ability to home country India.
“The Indian diaspora can help India grow and in turn India can help out the countries where diaspora is located by developing opportunities to work together,” said Jugnauth in his keynote address at the inaugural function of Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas convention at Bada Lalpur. “I truly encourage the establishment of a diaspora knowledge network. The diaspora connect can indeed be a powerful instrument in face of increasing challenges and significantly contribute to transformation of our country,” he added. Read More....
Varanasi Boy develop apps for Virtual tour of Kashi Vishwanath Temple Jan 21st, 2019 from Times of India
A Varanasi boy, settled in Michigan, has developed an app that will enable darshan of Kashi Vishwanath temple from the comfort of your home. Buy 3D goggles, download the app and savour the experience. The facility comes with pooja or aarti, recorded live and made accessible to the devotee for a fee.
The digitized darshan of the temple will be launched by chief minister Yogi Adityanath during the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas on Monday and will also be on display at Kumbh. Rupesh Srivastava, CEO of Youngsoft Inc, Michigan, has developed the app and he believes it’s payback time. Read More....
The mega Kumbh Mela , which began on January 15 and will continue till March 4, is expected to generate a revenue of Rs 1.2 lakh crore for Uttar Pradesh, says apex industry body Confederation of Indian Industry.
Although the Kumbh Mela is spiritual and religious in nature, the economic activities associated with it generate employment for over six lakh workers across various sectors, CII said in a report. Read More....
Altogether 4,500 non-resident Indians (NRIs) from 85 countries have registered themselves for the 15th Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas (PBD) convention, which will be held in the city from January 21 to January 23. While most of the participants are from the US, UAE and Malaysia, 2,254 Indians will also attend the convention. Prominent foreign guests, including Prime Minister of Mauritius Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, Norway MP Himanshu Gulati and New Zealand MP Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi will also attend the convention being organised by the ministry of foreign affairs on the theme of ‘Role of Indian Diaspora in building New India’.
“A total of 4,500 NRIs have registered themselves to take part in the PBD convention,” said district magistrate Surendra Singh. Read More....
Air India is set to connect Allahabad with Kolkata, Delhi and Ahmedabad with an Airbus 320 aircraft from January 13 to March 30, 2019, to meet the rush of passengers bound for Kumbh pilgrimage at Prayag .
Fight AI 769 will take off from Kolkata at 2.40pm and arrive at Allahabad at 4.30pm on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Prior to that, flight AI768 will depart from Allahabad at 12.05pm and reach Kolkata at 2.05pm on the same days.Read More....
Prayagraj Allahabad has a new name, the city also has a new look. From the railway station to the civil lines, from Arail village to the Sangam area , about 300 murals have brightened the city’s landscape. Even the trees on the Arail road have been painted in bold, barking colours. Kumbh 2019 is less than a fortnight away and Prayagraj already looks like an open-air art gallery.
The murals are largely Hindu mythological in content. Scenes of Samudra Manthan mentioned in the Puranas have been recreated . Read More....
Kashi Boatman Block Sail of Ganga Cruise, Varanasi Jan 01st, 2019 from Times of India
The ongoing strike of boatmen intensified on Monday after the boatmen blocked the waterway in Ganga to protest against the cruise operator being allowed to board passenger from Assi Ghat apart from Khidkiya Ghat.
The strike spoiled the plans of New Year celebrations of people visiting the ghats for boat ride and to enjoy New Year’s eve on the river banks. On the fourth consecutive day of their on Monday, boatmen blocked the waterway in river Ganga to disrupt the cruise movement to protest against increase in points of passenger collection for cruise operator. Read More....
New T20 Studium Host in Ayodhya and Wrestling Akhara in Varanasi Dec 20th, 2018 from Times of India
Six km away from the disputed site of Babri Ram Temple in , UP government is quietly putting bricks and mortar at a 50-acre site with 23,000-seating capacity that has become a spectacle for many sportsmen and officials from Delhi touring it every week.
It’s a Rs 131-cr sports complex that will house a cricket stadium, first such big construction since 1992 when the Babri Masjid demolition shook up the temple town. The project was sanctioned by the Yogi Adityanath government at a meeting by state sports minister Chetan Chauhan, a former cricketer and two time BJP MP, two months ago during Diwali. “Our objective is to host a Ranji and international cricket T20 match in Ayodhya in next two years,” said Chauhan. Read More....
Train 18 Faster Train Flagged off By Prime Minister Dec 19th, 2018 from Times of India
Train 18 , fastest train from railways' stable, will be flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 29 likely from his constituency Varanasi, sources said Wednesday.
The country's first engineless train will replace Shatabdi trains and will run between Delhi and Varanasi, the source said. Train 18, manufactured by ICF Chennai at a cost of Rs 100 crore, recently became India's fastest train by hitting speeds of over 180 kmph during trial-run on a section of the Delhi-Rajdhani route Read More....
Tent City at Kangan Ghat to Celebrate 352nd Guru Gobind Singh birth Anniversary in Patna Dec 18th, 2018 from Times of India
A tent city will be set up at Kangan Ghat in Patna City for the large number of devotees expected to visit Takhat Sri Harmandir Ji Patna Sahib gurdwara from January 11 to 13 next year to celebrate the 352nd birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Sikh guru. The gurdwara premises will also be adorned with multi-coloured lights and other decorative materials for the occasion.
The tent city will have the capacity to accommodate around 5,000 people. Besides, an online registration procedure will be in place for allocation of rooms in the tent city. The system should provide a seamless systematic method for bed allocation to avoid mismanagement at the venue. Read More....
Kumbh 2019 Four Terminal Setup for passenger movement in Ganga Prayagraj or Varanasi Dec 15th, 2018 from Times of India
The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) is working towards facilitating safe passenger movements scheduled to be held at Sangam , Allahabad (Prayagraj) from January 15 to March 15.
The IWAI has already set up four floating terminals, one each at Kilaghat, Saraswati Ghat, Naini Bridge and Sujawan Ghat. Further, two vessels — CL Kasturba and SL Kamla — will be deployed for pilgrim movement, said IWAI spokesperson Deevakar Anand . Read More....
Helicopter Services in Agra ,Mathura and Varanasi soon Dec 12th, 2018 from Times of India
It will soon be possible to take a chopper ride to Mathura, Varanasi , Agra and Allahabad . The UP cabinet on Tuesday cleared various proposals for land acquisition and free land transfer for setting up of heliports, and airstrips in these cities which, it hopes, will boost tourism there. The routes and connecting cities are yet to be finalised though.
The proposed heliport for Agra will be located close to the Agra-Lucknow Expressway. The government has identified 2.27 hectare land belonging to UP Expressways Industrial Development Authority which will be acquired for free. Read More....
Anil Kapoor Celebrates Dev Deepawali in Varanasi Nov 25th, 2018 from Times of India
The Dev Deepawali celebrations in Varanasi this year were just as grand as every year. But the highlight of the festival this time was the presence of actor Anil Kapoor.
The 'Mr India' actor enthusiastically took part in the celebrations that took place at the Dashashwamedh Ghat and also performed the Ganga Aarti on the occasion. Actor Anil Kapoor arrives to attend the Dev Deepawali celebrations at Dashashwamedh Ghat in Varanasi (BCCL/ Unmesh Pandey).Looking dapper in an embroidered off-white jacket and pyjama-kurta, Kapoor arrived in style in a bajra on the ghat. Read More....
10, 000 people avail Bihar-Nepal bus service in 2 months Nov 15th, 2018 from Times of India
PATNA Around 10,000 people have availed the Bihar-Nepal bus service since its launch by the state government on September 11. The cross-border transport service is operated by Bihar State Road Transport Corporation under the state transport department as part of the government’s bid to promote Buddhist tourism in the state.
Chief minister Nitish Kumar had launched the luxury bus service with an aim to promote tourism and strengthen cultural ties between Bihar and the neighbouring country. The bus service was launched following an agreement signed between India and Nepal. Read More....
Tourist Police Station to Come up at Kumbh Mela 2019 Nov 14th, 2018 from Times of India
Allahabad For the first time in the forthcoming Kumbh, foreign tourists would find men-in-khaki as their felicitators-cum-guides after Kumbh Mela police has decided to set up a "tourist police station" at sector 20 in Arial area on the Kumbh Mela campus
A total of 150 policemen with multi-lingual facility would be deployed at the proposed tourist police station to serve devotees arriving from abroad as well as southern states. "For the first time, Mela police authorities have finally decided to set up the tourist police station where special 'tent city' is already being planned and set up for the Mela, ASP (Kumbh Mela) Neeraj Pandey told TOI. Read More....
Over three lakh Diyas lit on bank of Saryu River, India Nov 06th, 2018 from Times of India
A new world record was set in the holy city of Ayodhya on the eve of Diwali Tuesday 2018 with over three lakh 'diyas' or earthen lamps lit up simultaneously on the banks of the Saryu river, officials said.
Rishi Nath, official adjudicator of the Guinness World Records, made the announcement that the record was created at the Deepotsav event on the ghats here. "A total of 3,01,152 diyas were lit up simultaneously for a period of five minutes, which is a new record," Nath said in the presence of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and South Korean First Lady Kim Jung-sook. Read More....
Statue of unity to put Kevadiya on Global Tourism Map Nov 01st, 2018 from Times of India
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said here on Wednesday that the 182 metre world’s tallest statue - ‘Statue of Unity’- packed a potential to catapult Narmada district on to the global tourism map.
The region, he said, is replete with indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants and the delicacies made from locally produced rice are sure to be hit among the visitors. Plants like khati bhindi (an okra variety) that has tremendous healing properties are grown in this forest area. He also said that delicacies like Una Manda, Thokla Manda made from locally grown rice are sure to be hit among the visitors, he said Read More....
Making Sangam city beautiful ahead of Kumbh Oct 27th, 2018 from Times of India
At a time when various walls, crossings and buildings of the city are being given a new look under the ongoing project of ‘paint my city’, the trans-Yamuna area of Naini is not lagging behind. Apart from various walls and buildings of the area, the long walls of Naini central jail and the shabby-looking main building of Naini station is now wearing a new eye-catching look.
Among these, the long span of outer wall of the Naini Central Jail (station road) is attracting the attention of every passerby. The vibrant paintings on this wall forces every commuter to stop and take a glimpse of the artistic strokes of the brush made by the expert painters. Read More....
Allahabad will now be known as Prayagraj Oct 16, 2018 from Times of India
Allahabad has been formally renamed Prayagraj after the UP cabinet put its seal on the decision on Tuesday.
Government spokesperson and MP from Allahabad West, Sidharth Nath Singh announced that 'Prayagraj' would be used to promote Indian culture on an international scale and also for promotion of Kumbh, scheduled to start in January 2019. "I had personally taken up the matter with the governor a few months back and other people, too, had expressed their desire to have the name of Allahabad reverted to its original
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Rajinikant Wraps up Film shoot in Varanasi Oct 25th, 2018 from Times of India
After wrapping up the Varanasi leg of the f the Tamil film ' Petta', superstar Rajinikanth went for darshan at Kaal Bhairav temple on Saturday morning. "Ever since Rajini sir was told about the tradition of paying obeisance to the deity by whoever visits the city, he was really keen to go for darshan to the Kaal Bhairav temple," said a member of the production team. "So before heading back home, he went to the temple, stayed there for a while and offered prayers," he added.
"During his nearly 20-day stay in Varanasi, Rajini sir enjoyed a lot of Banarasi delicacies also. While shooting at Ramnagar, during the refreshment break,
lassi which he really liked. He also relished the Banarasi mithais and the What really impressed him about the city was the cooperation of the people that made the shooting go on smoothly," adds the source.
Construct Buddha Temple at Ayodhya, India Oct 22nd, 2018 from Times of India
Adding a twist to the Ram Temple potboiler, BJP's Bahraich MP Savitri Bai Phule, who has been critical of her own party and government since long now, said on Sunday that a temple of Gautam Buddha should be constructed on the disputed site in as various statues excavated from the spot and academic research showed that the latter had close association with the place.
Phule's remarks came two days after CM Yogi Adityanath asked his supporters to start preparing for the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya . Talking to reporters in Allahabad , Phule said, "We demand the construction of a grand temple of Lord Gautam Buddha at the disputed site as statues of Buddha recovered during excavation and academic research show that the place is associated with Buddhism. Buddhism is the only religion which does not discriminate on the basis of caste and class." Read More....
Carpet business to reach global heights: PM Narendra Modi Oct 22nd, 2018 from Times of India
The Indian carpet industry will capture 50% of the export market of the world in two years, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, adding that the industry should try to take the export value from the existing Rs 9,000 crore to Rs 25,000 crore by 2022 .
Modi was addressing the inauguration of the four-day India Carpet Expo in Varanasi on Sunday via a video link. However, he said, "It worries us that the next generation of weavers and artisans is not interested in continuing their traditional art and occupation. We should encourage and patronize skilled weavers and their coming generations to keep the art alive to maintain dominance in the market."
All development works related to Kumbh to be completed before 30 Nov 2018 Oct 16th, 2018 from Times of India
UP CM Yogi Adityanath , who had taken charge of the preparations for the Kumbh Mela , stayed for two days in Allahabad and reviewed development work and also met the saints. The UP CM said that he has "fixed the deadline of November 30 to fulfill the development related works for Kumbh". It was learnt that after completion of 443 works at a cost of around Rs 15,000 crore, they will be inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi in the first week of December. An invitation has been sent to the prime minister for this speaking to the media in Allahabad, the CM said that Mela will give a message of 'New India', which is conceptualized by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said that Kumbh Mela is the largest religious and spiritual event in the country and the world.
The CM said that this time the message of cleanliness, harmony and prosperity of India from Kumbh Mela will be carried out throughout the country and the world.
The CM said that the previous deadline for completing development works was November 15 but now it has been extended to November 30. The CM said that arrangements for worshiping people in ancient Veni Madhava Mandir, Bharadwaj Ashram, Akshay vat and Saraswati Koop are being arranged. Yogi said that a museum connected with the tradition of Prayagraj would also be made.
Allahabad will now be known as Prayagraj Oct 16th, 2018 from Times of India
Allahabad has been formally renamed Prayagraj after the UP cabinet put its seal on the decision on Tuesday.
Government spokesperson and MP from Allahabad West, Sidharth Nath Singh announced that 'Prayagraj' would be used to promote Indian culture on an international scale and also for promotion of Kumbh, scheduled to start in January 2019. "I had personally taken up the matter with the governor a few months back and other people, too, had expressed their desire to have the name of Allahabad reverted to its original
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Rajinikant Visited Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi Oct 13th, 2018 from Times of India
Superstar Rajinikanth , who is currently shooting for Tamil film 'Petta' in and around Varanasi, took time off for darshan at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple on Tuesday evening. The thalaiva, along with actress Trisha Krishnan, reached the temple around 7 pm and attended the Saptrishi aarti .Dressed in his characteristic white kurta, the actor stayed for nearly an hour and witnessed the entire aarti. Later, he was given a rudraksha mala along with prasad by the temple authorities who were also really delighted to have the superstar amidst them.
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Last Rites of unborn girls performed in Varanasi Oct 03rd, 2018 from Times of India
For the peace of souls of those unborn girls who were killed in their mothers’ womb, the rituals of last rites were performed on the bank of holy Ganga at Dashashwamedh ghat in Kashi on Wednesday. A social organisation–Aagman organises this event annually on the occasion of Matri Navami in Pitri Paksha to discourage female foeticide in the society.The pind daan of 5000 female children whose lives were seized before coming to this world was performed as per Vedic tradition amid chanting of mantras by a group of five priests.
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Transgender perform Pind Daan in Varanasi Oct 02nd, 2018 from Times of India
Amid chants of mantras, the kinnar (transgender) people, led by Mahamandaleshwar of Kinnar Akhada Lakshmi Narayan Tripathi performed ‘pind daan’ (last rites) of their ancestors during Pitri Paksha at Pishach Mochan Kund .Kinnars from various places including New Delhi, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Ujjain, West Bengal and Himachal Pradesh assembled at the mythological pond to perform the rituals. “We have been performing the rituals for last two years for the peace of departed souls,” said Tripathi.
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Kashi airport to begin 24-hr operations from Sept 28th, 2018 Oct 02, 2018 from Times of India
LBS (Lal Bahadur Shastri) International Airport in Varanasi will start round-the-clock operations in view of the demand for operating more flights and night parking facilities by some airlines. Presently, the country has about 20 such airports. LBS International Airport director Anil Kumar Rai said, “We have received Airport Authority of India (AAI) nod to operate the airport round-the-clock. Presently, the airport is being operated from 7.30 am to 9.30 pm only,
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LGBT Marriage and Parentings Rights Sept 07th, 2018 from Times of India
LGBT community won its battle to decriminalise homosexuality. But the victory will gather real meaning only when they secure the right to marriage, inheritance, guardianship and adoption, say lawyers and activists .The LGBTQ community welcomed the verdict that also said the society cannot dictate a sexual relationship between consenting adults .Many cut cakes and waved the rainbow flag which has come to be associated with the gay pride movement and is often used during marches held by the community.
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LGBT Rainbow Flag closet celebrations SC Verdict Sept 06th, 2018 from Times of India
The LGBT or the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community in India cheered yesterday's Supreme Court verdict that ended controversial British-era Section 377 and decriminalized consensual gay sex. In a win for the gay rights activists, who have been fighting for their rights since decades, this was a "rainbow moment" in India's history. Rainbow flags swirled the skies after the landmark verdict. The word rainbow is often associated with the gay community and rainbow flag,
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