School Closed: Why schools are shut today in Dehradun, WB, UP & others states; know here
Many schools in Kolkata have declared a holiday on July 21 (today) in anticipation of the Trinamool Congress's Martyrs' Day rally, which is expected to draw thousands of people. Schools like Loreto House, Loreto Convent Entally, St James' School, The Heritage School, Loreto Day School Sealdah, Loreto Day School Elliot Road, Loreto Day School Dharamtala, and Loreto Day School Bowbazar will remain closed.
Following an official notification from the Telangana government, schools across Hyderabad, Secunderabad, and several surrounding districts has today observed a general holiday to mark the celebration of Bonalu 2025.
In Himachal Pradesh, summer schools are scheduled to remain closed from July 12 to August 12, while schools in the Kullu district will observe their summer break slightly later, from July 20 to August 12. Winter schools across the state will be shut from August 8 to 12, and institutions classified as extreme summer schools will remain closed between August 3 and 12.
In view of the Kanwar Yatra, several districts in western Uttar Pradesh—including Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Bareilly, Badaun, and Varanasi—have announced the temporary closure of all government and private schools, colleges, and Anganwadi centres from July 16 to 23. This measure aims to ensure public safety and ease traffic disruptions during the religious pilgrimage.
The Kanwar Yatra, which spans a month, draws lakhs of Shiva devotees—known as Kanwariyas—who travel on foot carrying sacred water from the Ganga, with the highest footfall typically occurring around Shivratri on July 23. Anticipating congestion and law-and-order challenges along school routes, Meerut District Magistrate Dr. VK Singh has mandated the closure of all recognised institutions, including those affiliated with the UP Board, CBSE, and ICSE. Educational activities are expected to resume as usual on July 24.
(with PTI inputs)
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India.com
24 minutes ago
- India.com
From Somnath To Kedarnath: 12 Iconic Shiva Temples Every Devotee Should Visit — Not Just Kashi Vishwanath!
Pilgrimage isn't always about reaching a temple. Sometimes, it's about what the journey reveals. When the conch echoes through the air, when the scent of sandalwood mixes with mountain mist or ocean breeze, something ancient awakens. And Shiva temples—more than monuments—become moments of stillness. Most pilgrims rush to the famous Kashi Vishwanath, say a prayer, and leave with a tika on their forehead. But what if we told you: devotion isn't in the destination. It's in the detours. In a country where every river seems sacred and every mountain feels sentient, there are Shiva temples that don't just ask for your prayers—they ask for your patience, your silence, and sometimes your surrender. Let's begin the yatra. Not just through geography—but through emotion. Through myth. Through energy. What makes Shiva temples so different from other spiritual sites? It's not just the god. It's the energy. Shiva isn't worshipped with fear. He's approached with rawness. With intensity. He accepts the wild, the wandering, the wounded. These temples—often tucked into jungles, perched on cliffs, or sunk into time—don't need fancy gopurams to be grand. They hold their power in rock and ash. In lingas worn smooth by centuries of touch. Unlike temples that dazzle with gold, Shiva's shine comes from simplicity. A water pot dripping slowly on a black stone. A bell tied with hope. A chant echoing off cold walls. Here, you don't just find god. You lose yourself. Tired of temple queues? These Shiva shrines invite the seeker in you 1. Somnath, Gujarat – The Eternal Flame of the West Not just a temple. A and rebuilt over 17 times, Somnath stands as a symbol of land meets the Arabian Sea, the linga faces the ocean—as if Shiva is meditating on infinity at dusk. Watch the waves. Light a diya. Say nothing. 2. Kedarnath, Uttarakhand – Where Stones Breathe At 11600 feet, this isn't a temple. It's a deep in the Himalayas, Kedarnath asks for every ounce of devotion and climb is long. The air is thin. The silence is when you see the linga, shrouded in mist and snow, your soul kneels before your body does. 3. Brihadeeswarar, Thanjavur – Shiva in Stone and Scale Built by the Cholas, this massive temple isn't just about size—it's about scale of every carving breathes mythology. Every corridor hums with 216-foot tower was built without scaffolding. The shadow never falls on the smiles through geometry. 4. Lingaraj Temple, Bhubaneswar – The City That Worships Every Stone Bhubaneswar isn't home to one Shiva temple. It is Lingaraj is the crown jewel. Built in Kalinga style, its towering spire watches over a thousand smaller architecture becomes an offering. 5. Baidyanath Dham, Jharkhand – Healing in Every Drop Also known as Baba Dham, this jyotirlinga is believed to have the power to walk barefoot from Sultanganj carrying holy Ganga this ritual of pain and prayer, the body becomes the offering. 6. Mahakaleshwar, Ujjain – Time Stops Here This temple doesn't just house a linga. It houses is the lord of death and time, and here the aarti is performed in the early hours—when the world is Bhasma Aarti, where the linga is smeared with sacred ash, is both haunting and holy. 7. Tarakeshwar, West Bengal – The Shiva of Farmers and Faith Not far from Kolkata, this temple is raw and may not be grand in design, but it throbs with daily in saffron chant 'Bol Bam,' women offer hibiscus flowers. Here, devotion is unfiltered. 8. Trimbakeshwar, Maharashtra – Where the God Has Three Faces Located near Nashik, this jyotirlinga represents creation, preservation, and destruction—Brahma, Vishnu, and temple architecture holds secret meanings. The rituals feel ancient and the nearby Godavari river adds grace to gravity. 9. Amarnath Cave, Jammu & Kashmir – The Ice That Melts the Ego This is not just a trek. It's in the Himalayas, an ice linga forms naturally every snowstorms and steep climbs, lakhs arrive with chants of 'Har Har Mahadev.'The cave teaches you: the coldest places can carry the warmest faith. 10. Nageshwar, Gujarat – The Silent Guardian of the Coast Another jyotirlinga that guards the western massive Shiva statue outside is a landmark, but the real power lies in the small, silent sanctum the loudest strength is quiet. 11. Kal Bhairav, Varanasi – Where Shiva Drinks Whiskey A fierce form of Shiva, Bhairav accepts offerings of in the heart of Varanasi, this temple is unusual, intense, and here, doesn't follow rules. It breaks them, then bows. 12. Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu – The Bridge Between Two Lands Here, mythology meets believed that Rama prayed to Shiva here before crossing to temple corridors stretch endlessly. The 22 wells inside offer water from different is where north meets south. Where stories walk with you. Why explore these temples? Isn't devotion personal? Exactly. And that's why these places matter. Shiva's shrines don't demand rituals. They demand aren't always comfortable. Some are remote. Some are chaotic. Some are that discomfort breaks something open. Ego. Hurry. Noise. What these temples offer is not just darshan. It's a doorway. A moment to sit by a rock dripping with ghee and feel time drip too.A chance to ring a bell not out of habit—but out of look up at a shikhara piercing the sky and feel your spine straighten. Practical Tips: How to Do a Shiva Temple Trail Like a Seeker Travel light but trueCarry cotton clothes, extra patience, and less expectation. Ask localsGoogle may show the road. But locals show the route. Go slowA temple seen in a rush is just stone. A temple felt slowly becomes soul. Respect silenceNot every chant must be loud. Some of the strongest prayers are whispered. The hidden economy of these holy sites Every time you buy prasad from a small shop Every time you sleep in a dharamshala instead of a hotel Every time you ride a shared jeep instead of a luxury cab You are keeping these towns alive. You're choosing real over telling the next generation: this heritage still matters. So what's stopping you? A remote location? A tough climb? A language you don't know? Good. Shiva never made things easy. He made them honest. While others wait for holidays to post travel reelsYou could be bowing before a linga that watched kings come and goYou could be walking barefoot on temple stone still warm from centuries of faith Final Thoughts Don't just visit Shiva. Let Shiva visit Somnath's sea to Kedarnath's snow, each shrine is a syllable in a mantra older than it. Whisper it. Witness it. Because temples don't just hold hold the stories of those who walked before youAnd the promise of those who will come after.
Time of India
12 hours ago
- Time of India
KV Dham ready to welcomedevotees on 3rd Shrawan Monday
Varanasi: Preparations for third Monday of Shrawan were finalised in Kashi amid pleasant weather conditions as saffron-clad started converging in large numbers on Sunday. Officials were busy enforcing traffic and crowd regulation arrangements, while Vishwanath Gali traders association began preparations to facilitate 'jalabhishek' ritual. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In view of directives of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who will be in the city on Monday, officials were enhancing facilities for pilgrims and Kanwariyas to ensure easy and safe visits during overcast conditions and in case of heavy rains on the third Monday. Special attention was paid to proper sanitation, the availability of drinking water, and necessary resources on the routes leading to Kashi Vishwanath Dham. Officials also kept a sharp vigil on Kanwariya camps. K ashi Vishwanath Temple authorities are ensuring opportunity for pilgrims to get a glimpse of Lord Vishwanath adorned in different forms every Monday of Shrawan. The temple's chief executive officer, Vishwa Bhushan Mishra, said that on third Monday of Shrawan, the deity will be adorned in special form of 'Ardhanarishvara' during the evening Shringar Aarti. Meanwhile, police commissioner Mohit Agrawal and other senior officials were busy monitoring arrangements finalised for managing the crowd, especially on Mondays of the auspicious month. A no-vehicle zone was created between Maidagin and Godowlia as queues of devotees, especially Kanwariyas, began to form from Sunday evening to offer Jalabhishek on the third Monday at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Traffic restrictions and diversions were already implemented on main routes of Vishwanath Dham from Saturday night. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Officials mentioned that to avoid problems, especially for elderly and disabled visitors in reaching the temple from Godowlia and Maidagin points, temple administration will operate e-rickshaws up to Gate-4 of Kashi Vishwanath Dham. All other arrangements, including a lost and found centre with multilingual staff, medical and ambulance services in case of emergencies, sheds and German hangers, have been in place since the beginning of Shrawan to protect from weather conditions, including rain, sun, and heat. For the convenience of devotees, live broadcasts of the sanctum sanctorum's worship are being shown on LED TVs at several locations. Agrawal said women police officers had been deployed on all Kanwar routes. Additionally, large number of women police constables have been stationed. Extra women police forces are deployed at all police stations, permanent and temporary police posts. Furthermore, women police are stationed at Kashi Vishwanath Temple and ghats. Police personnel have been trained in soft skills to ensure they interact with all devotees with respect and courtesy, and assist them in all necessary ways. Women police personnel have been trained on various aspects for safety, respect, empowerment and self-reliance of women and children. For crowd surveillance, eight drones and over 2,000 CCTV cameras are being utilised.
Hindustan Times
16 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Lost in Kanwar noise, devotion to the divine
Let me share three snapshots from the biggest pilgrimage during the monsoon season in North India. Scene 1: Modinagar, Ghaziabad district: The Kanwar procession stood still with hundreds of devotees clapping and surrounding a woman and her physically challenged husband chanting 'Har Har Mahadev'. The reason? This villager, Asha Devi, was undertaking Kanwar pilgrimage carrying her husband on her back. She believed it would not only cure him of his disability but also fetch him a job. Scene 2: Lachhiwala in Dehradun: A large contingent of Kanwariyas is resting with boom speakers playing devotional songs inspired by Bollywood music. A large elephant emerges from the neighbouring Rajaji National Park and charges at them. Utter pandemonium ensues. After flipping a tractor trolley the elephant retreats into the jungle. Wildlife experts say high decibel sounds disturbs the sleep pattern of wild animals, making them irritable and aggressive. Scene 3: Mirzapur: A video of young Kanwariyas in which they are roughing up a soldier has gone viral. The man in uniform isn't giving in. Each time he falls, he gets up to take on his attackers. The video evokes memories of the disturbed areas in Kashmir and the North East. Tell me which one would you like to witness in your neighbourhood. I guess none! I have nothing against the Kanwar processions. I am a Hindu — by birth and in deeds. I have endured long queues leading to the temple in the freezing cold, pouring rains and oppressive heat. I have walked for miles carrying my young children in my arms so they can take a dip at Triveni (the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati). Even today I feel rejuvenated and complete after undertaking the Panch Kedar journey performing the rudrabhishek. I have no doubt that 99% of the people participating in such a pilgrimage are inspired by deep devotion to the divine. Unfortunately, miscreants and anti-social elements are able to muscle their way in such journeys of faith targeting passing vehicles and harassing the travellers, sparing not even women and children. They feel no remorse in attacking places of worship of other religions. Reel makers are a class of nuisance in themselves. They desecrate the pious and holy flavour of pilgrimage with flippant and debased behaviour. They aren't alone in abusing faith, traders and politicians alike treat it like a profitable venture. The state of Uttar Pradesh will go for village pradhan (headman) elections this year. The probables have gone out of the way to not only sponsor a large number of young men to undertake the Kanwar pilgrimage but also organised langars (community lunches) along the way. It has resulted in record crowds at Haridwar. The Uttarakhand government says this year 4.5 crore people gathered to procure Ganga water. Last year, the numbers were at 4.14 crore. It's okay to support the kanwariyas but creating inconvenience for others is where it gets tricky. Spare a thought about the ordeal of those living in almost curfew like situations. Going to school becomes a challenge. Businesses and government offices along the way come to a standstill for a fortnight. Even nights don't offer any respite. Loud music played by kanwariya boom boxes creates intense noise disturbing citizens, pets and wildlife alike. Residences along the Kanwar pilgrimage routes with elderly people in need of a good night's sleep bear the brunt of this loud and very public display of devotion. Newborns and toddlers are subjected to intense stress. The traffic jams caused by the large movement of people is a veritable nightmare for the hospital goers and those running to meet a deadline. Religion means peace and well being, not cacophony and chaos. During the past two weeks, I asked many people and found them to be favourably disposed towards the Kanwar pilgrimage. But they were uncomfortable with the growing new trends around this time of the year. The Supreme Court orders are clear that loud music should stop at 11 pm. But these processions seem above the law of the land. Anyone wanting to lodge a complaint is flummoxed whom to approach as senior police officers in uniform are seen attending and pampering the kanwariyas. Such politicisation of the bureaucracy is dangerous. The chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, who has gone the extra mile to make the Kanwar pilgrimage more comfortable and safe, is aware of the deterioration creeping in to the age-old tradition. It's no surprise that he warned miscreants hiding behind the kanwariyas, insisting that everyone's CCTV footage was available. He said those who are trying to malign the Kanwar yatra will be exposed and their posters pasted everywhere. We should remember that apart from Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, Kanwar yatras are organised in other parts of the country. But these places don't witness such hooliganism. Not only the Kanwar yatra, many religious processions are organised throughout the country on different occasions round the year. Millions attend them but rarely do we witness such chaos and mess. I am reminded of France where once I got a chance to witness a religious procession. I saw thousands of people moving quietly in single files. It set a beautiful example that religion and spiritual peace are complementary. There's no place for noise and nuisance. At that time I thought the oldest religion in the world should also reflect maximum discipline. But why is it lacking? Hinduism and thousands of years of our Hindustaniat (Indian identity) are testimony to the fact that we always deal with our weaknesses and emerge stronger and better. I have firm belief we'll pause, reflect, and recalibrate our approach for restoring the pristine glory of the pilgrimage for present and future generations. Shashi Shekhar is the editor-in-chief, Hindustan. The views expressed are personal.
