Govt to restore ancient Shiva temples across state
Officials informed that 188 ancient temples were identified and rejuvenated in the past eight years and now the focus is on to identify and renovate Shiva temples across the state aiming to boost religious tourism.
The old temples and their premises that have been identified for infrastructure upgrades include Shiv Mandir in Bhatta Ki Pipri (Mevalikhurd), Fatehabad (Agra) and Chakleshwar Mahadev and Samaur Baba temples in Firozabad, which are being rennovated through UP Projects Corporation Limited.
Whereas, UP State Tourism Development Corporation has been given the responsibility to enhance facilities at Bhuleshwar, Khajni Mahadev, and Jharkhandi Mahadev temples in Gorakhpur, and Tirre Manorama Temple in Gonda. The government is also working on the beautification of Ghanta Ghar in Mainpuri.
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Indian Express
a day ago
- Indian Express
Women kanwariyas undertake arduous journey — with caution every step of the way
At a Kanwar camp under the Arthala Metro Station in Ghaziabad, the sun gives way to a heavy downpour, drumming against the tarpaulin roof. Inside, on overused mattresses, flattened and covered with roadside dust, a line of men lie sleeping — their backs against the road. Amid the crowd, tucked to one side, sits 15-year-old Deepa. 'I'm travelling with my uncle,' she says. Next to the Kanwar camp are two small portable toilets, surrounded by huge swarms of flies. 'There are toilets, but these are not clean… and there is no place to change. So we, the women and girls, do it behind the tents, early in the morning, before the men are up,' Deepa adds. Personal safety and hygiene continue to be among the top concerns for women kanwariyas as they undertake the Yatra. During this annual monsoon pilgrimage, lakhs of Shiva devotees, dressed in saffron, carry water from the Ganga, mostly on foot, to offer to their local temples. This year, the Ghaziabad administration set up its first women-only Kanwar camp, in Modinagar. It can host around 20 women. 'What about the rest (of the camps)? We have been staying up all night. There is no designated space for children… women,' says Manisha, a kanwariya walking on a Ghaziabad road. She is undertaking the Yatra with her friend and two toddlers — her child and her friend's four-year-old. She started from Southwest Delhi's Mahipalpur, where she lives. Asked if the facilities at the camps are adequate, she complains, 'All camps have washrooms, but they are extremely dirty. We've been using restrooms at dhabas and petrol pumps. But most dhabas and petrol pumps on the route are closed, so we really have to look for one that is safe.' While the scale of the yatra expands each year — helicopter showers, DJ nights, and budgets for camps and other facilities — the women walking this journey continue to be an afterthought. A video from Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar was widely shared last week. It showed Deputy Superintendent of Police Rishika Singh massaging the legs of an exhausted woman kanwariya. 'This is in accordance with the wishes of Respected ADG, Respected DIG, and Respected SSP,' Singh later told reporters. 'I was on night duty in Shamli, along the Uttar Pradesh border. I have been seeing people travelling for many days. When you are taking water from the holy Ganges, and you are travelling such a long distance, discomfort and pain are unavoidable,' she said. 'I saw a woman kanwariya and had a conversation with her. I did what I felt was the right thing to do…,' she added. At another packed camp, 20-year-old Sagar adjusts the kanwar, a single pole (usually made of bamboo) with pots on either side. A welder by profession, he has a more important role to take care of right now — that of an elder brother. 'I'm accompanying my two 16-year-old sisters — Anjali and Simran. They don't look alike but they are twins,' he says. The three siblings are residents of Yamuna Pushta, and this is their first yatra together. 'I won't lie, it's tough. They can't do this yatra alone,' Sagar says bluntly. 'Washrooms are dirty, there's no separate space for women to rest. They wouldn't have been able to do it had I not been there.' His sisters, taking turns to carry the kanwar, nod in agreement. They're missing school for this, but they don't seem to mind. 'School or no school, this is for our devotion to our god,' Simran says. But they have to be cautious every step of the way. At one point in Haridwar, the siblings had to abandon the idea of staying in a camp. 'We saw the camp, full of men, no space to even sit. No curtains… food being served was not free,' Anjali recalls, and adds, 'We had to spend a night on the road, where trucks were passing by — we laid a bedsheet next to bushes. Mosquitoes bit us the whole night.' Shalini (20) holds her infant son close as she speaks. Her journey began over a week ago, and she has barely slept in the camps. 'There is fear of theft… There is fear of being harassed… The men can defecate anywhere, but for women, a clean and usable washroom is a must… I am a devotee. But this journey? It's difficult for a woman to travel without a man.' For Chandni, a 13-year-old student from East Delhi, the biggest hurdle has not been the road — it was her family. 'Pehle mana kar diya tha. 'Ladkiyan nahi jaati' — that's what Papa said (First they flatly refused… Girls don't go…),' she recounts. 'But then I insisted. My cousins were going, so why not me?' She beams as she walks beside her cousins, kanwars swaying with each step — her feet are blistered, and her face sunburnt. 'It's difficult but I'm happy,' she says. Her elder brother, Anish, a seasoned kanwariya, who is doing this yatra for the 12th time, chimes in: 'Earlier, this was not for girls. Now there has been a change. But not so much that they can go alone. I still don't let them out of my sight.'
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Indian Express
Daily subject-wise static quiz : History and Culture MCQs on Elephanta caves, Hindi in South India, Zauq, and more (Week 118)
Are you preparing for UPSC CSE Prelims? UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative of daily subject-wise quizzes. These quizzes are designed to help you revise some of the most important topics from the static part of the syllabus. Attempt today's subject quiz on History and Culture to check your progress. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for July 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at With reference to Elephanta Caves, consider the following statements: 1. They are older than the Ajanta Caves. 2. The island on which the Elephanta Caves are situated was originally called Gharapuri, but after the British conquered the region, they renamed it Elephanta after erecting a large stone elephant on the island. 3. The most notable among the network of caves is the Trimurti, a massive three-headed statue representing Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. How many statements given above are correct? (a) Only one statement (b) Only two statements (c) All three statements (d) None of the three statements A masterpiece of Buddhist art, Ajanta caves are located in Maharashtra and are renowned for their exquisite Buddhist rock-cut cave monuments. These caves date back to the 2nd century BCE and were created as retreats for Buddhist monks. Another architecturally significant cave complex situated in Maharashtra, Elephanta caves are just a short boat ride from Mumbai. This site features a collection of rock-cut temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. These caves, dating back to the 5th century CE, are situated on Elephanta Island and are famous for their colossal sculptures. What's worth noting is that the island on which Elephanta Caves are situated was originally called Gharapuri. However, after the Portuguese conquered the region, they renamed it as Elephanta, as they erected a large stone elephant on the island. The most notable among the network of caves is the Trimurti, a massive three-headed statue representing the aspects of Shiva as the highest form of God in Hinduism fulfilling the roles of a creator, preserver, and destroyer. Therefore, d is the correct answer. (For more, refer: In Elephanta Caves, artistic carvings, spiritual callings, and a religious monolith by Ruchika Goswamy, Lifestyle, The Indian Express; World Heritage Day 2024: Explore some of the most architecturally significant caves in India, Lifestyle, The Indian Express.) Who established the first Dakshin Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha in Madras? (a) Gopal Krishna Gokhale (b) Mahatma Gandhi (c) Vinayak Damodar Savarkar (d) K. Kamaraj 'Scholars say Hindi actively began to make its presence felt in the South around the Independence movement, with Mahatma Gandhi establishing the first Dakshin Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha in Madras (now Chennai) in 1918. The objective was to teach Hindi to a non-Hindi-speaking populace as a link language for the freedom movement.' — Nikhila Henry Therefore, b is the correct answer. (For more, refer: History Headline — Far from politics, journey of Hindi in southern states by Nikhila Henry, The Indian Express) Consider the following statements: 1. Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah was the first Nizam of Hyderabad. 2. Hyderabad was founded by Mir Qamar-ud-din Khan Siddiqi. Which of the statements given above is/are true? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 'The year is 1725. It is a cool November morning in Hyderabad, a city founded by Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah. Bustling bylanes converge around Charminar, its tall minarets whispering stories of the Shah's triumph over a devastating plague. Beyond the towering structure, a flash of yellow flutters carelessly in the clear, blue sky. It is the flag of Mir Qamar-ud-din Khan Siddiqi, the first Nizam of Hyderabad.' — Shreya Saksena Therefore, d is the correct answer. (For more, refer: From Khichdi-Khatta to Patthar ka Gosht, what Hyderabadi cuisine tells us about the city's multicultural past by Shreya Saksena, Research, The Indian Express) What was the 'Gagging Act' related to in pre-independent India? (a) Disarming Indians (b) Legal equality for Indian judges (c) Press control (d) Small and medium landowners Explanation During the reign of the British empire there were several Acts passed as stringent curbs over the Indian Press. Prior to the rumblings of the 1857 mutiny, the Press was fiercely involved in rallying the masses, and inevitably, the British government was increasingly becoming apprehensive about the Press' freedom. Through the newspapers, a nationalistic rebellion was slowly being pieced together through words and symbols. In view of this, the 'Gagging Act' was passed by Lord Lytton, which was driven to curtail and control the Indian publications' content. The Act compelled all Indian publications to apply for a license from the government, while also ensuring that nothing was written against the British government, nor was the government challenged in any measure. Therefore, c is the correct answer. (For more, refer: A pre-Independence history of press freedom in India by Radhika Iyengar, Research, The Indian Express) Consider the following books and authors: Books : Authors 1. Unhappy India : Dadabhai Naoroji 2. Gita Rahasya : Bal Gangadhar Tilak 3. India Wins Freedom : Jawaharlal Nehru 4. The Golden Threshold : Sarojini Naidu Which of the above give pairs are not correctly matched? (a) 1 and 4 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 2 and 4 only (d) 1 and 3 only The correct pairs are : Books : Authors 1. Unhappy India : Lala Lajpat Rai 2. Gita Rahasya : Bal Gangadhar Tilak 3. India Wins Freedom : Maulana Abul Kalam Azad 4. The Golden Threshold : Sarojini Naidu Therefore, d is the correct answer. Shaikh Mohammad Ibrahim Zauq was a contemporary of which of the following Mughal rulers? (a) Jahangir (b) Muhammad Shah (c) Bahadur Shah Zafar (d) None of the above Shaikh Mohammad Ibrahim Zauq, the poetry ustaad of the last Mughal Emperor, Bahadur Shah 'Zafar' saw, in his lifetime, the Mughal Empire brought to its knees (though not formally ended — Zauq, perhaps mercifully, died three years before the 'Ghadar' of 1857, the uprising that was to so impact the fabric of Delhi's social, cultural and literary life). But an impoverished Mughal court and an equally penurious north Indian aristocracy meant that many of Zauq's contemporaries drifted south to Hyderabad, where there was still patronage to be sought and stipends to be earned. Zauq, however, when asked why he did not migrate to the Deccan, had famously remarked, 'In dinon garche Dakan mein hai bohot qadr-e-sukhan/ Kaun jaaye Zauq par Dilli ki galiyaan chhor kar?' As Saif Mahmood translates this in his book Beloved Delhi: 'Although poetry is greatly valued in the Deccan these days, Zauq, who would trade that for the lanes of Delhi?' Therefore, c is the correct answer. (For more, refer: The City of Mushairas by Madhulika Liddle, The Indian Express) With reference to 'Doctrine of Lapse', consider the following statements: 1. It was introduced by Lord Dalhousie during his time as the Governor-General of India. 2. According to this doctrine, the adopted heir to the throne was not allowed to acquire the state, and the state automatically 'lapsed' into British dominion if the ruler died without any natural, biological heir. 3. The territories of Satara, Punjab, Sambalpur , and Jhansi and Nagpur were annexed under it. Which of the above given statements is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 1 and 2 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 What is the Doctrine of Lapse? It was introduced by Lord Dalhousie during his time as the Governor-General of India (1848–56). According to this doctrine, the adopted heir to the throne was not allowed to acquire the state, and the state automatically 'lapsed' into British dominion if the ruler died without any natural, biological heir. The territories of Satara (1848), Punjab (1849), Sambalpur (1850), and Jhansi and Nagpur (1854) were annexed under it. Therefore, d is the correct answer. (For more, refer: Knowledge Nugget — Why Mangal Pandey's role in revolt of 1857 matters for your UPSC exam by Khushboo Kumari, UPSC Essentials, The Indian Express.) Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar are sacred to which of the following religious groups? 1. Hindus 2. Buddhists 3. Jains 4. Sikhs 5. Baháʼís Select the correct code: (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 1, 3, 4 and 5 only (c) 1, 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 5 only After a five-year hiatus triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic and extended due to tensions between India and China, the Kailash-Mansarovar yatra has resumed in 2025. This year, the Ministry of External Affairs chose 750 pilgrims who would be making the storied pilgrimage: five batches of 50 yatris will cross into Tibet through the Lipulekh pass in Uttarakhand, and 10 batches of 50 pilgrims will make the longer but relatively easier journey through the Nathu La pass in Sikkim. The first batches of pilgrims on both routes are currently on their way. Kailash-Mansarovar: The mountain & the lakes With an elevation of 6,638 metres, Mount Kailash (Gang Rinpoche in Tibetan) is located in the Ngari Prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region, near the tri-junction of India, Tibet and Nepal. To its south on the Tibetan plateau are two lakes: the freshwater Manasarovar (Mapam Yumtso) and saltwater Rakshastal (Lhanag Tso). Both lakes and the towering mountain in their background are significant in Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, and Tibetan Bon traditions. Therefore, c is the correct answer. (For more, refer: Kailash-Mansarovar yatra resumes after five years: history of a storied pilgrimage, Explained, The Indian Express.) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. Manas Srivastava is currently working as Senior Copy Editor with The Indian Express (digital) and leads a unique initiative of IE - UPSC Essentials. He majorly writes on UPSC, other competitive exams and education-related projects. In the past, Manas has represented India at the G-20 Youth Summit in Mexico. He is a former member of the Youth Council, GOI. A two-time topper/gold medallist in History (both in graduation and post-graduation) from Delhi University, he has mentored and taught UPSC aspirants for more than five years. His diverse role in The Indian Express consists of writing, editing, anchoring/ hosting, interviewing experts, and curating and simplifying news for the benefit of students. He hosts the YouTube talk show called 'Art and Culture with Devdutt Pattanaik' and a LIVE series on Instagram and YouTube called 'LIVE with Manas'.His talks on 'How to read a newspaper' focus on newspaper reading as an essential habit for students. His articles and videos aim at finding solutions to the general queries of students and hence he believes in being students' editor, preparing them not just for any exam but helping them to become informed citizens. This is where he makes his teaching profession meet journalism. He is also the editor of UPSC Essentials' monthly magazine for the aspirants. He is a recipient of the Dip Chand Memorial Award, the Lala Ram Mohan Prize and Prof. Papiya Ghosh Memorial Prize for academic excellence. He was also awarded the University's Post-Graduate Scholarship for pursuing M.A. in History where he chose to specialise in Ancient India due to his keen interest in Archaeology. He has also successfully completed a Certificate course on Women's Studies by the Women's Studies Development Centre, DU. As a part of N.S.S in the past, Manas has worked with national and international organisations and has shown keen interest and active participation in Social Service. He has led and been a part of projects involving areas such as gender sensitisation, persons with disability, helping slum dwellers, environment, adopting our heritage programme. He has also presented a case study on 'Psychological stress among students' at ICSQCC- Sri Lanka. As a compere for seminars and other events he likes to keep his orating hobby alive. His interests also lie in International Relations, Governance, Social issues, Essays and poetry. ... Read More
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Indian Express
School Closed: Why schools are shut today in Dehradun, WB, UP & others states; know here
Schools in Uttarakhand's Dehradun have been closed today (Monday) due to an orange alert issued by the meteorological department. The alert is issued across six districts of Uttarakhand. In response, official directives have been sent to district magistrates to stay vigilant and implement necessary safety measures. Additionally, Dehradun District Magistrate Savin Bansal has ordered the closure of all schools and Anganwadi centres for Classes 1 to 12 on Monday, citing the weather alert. 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)
