logo
UP: Devotees take holy dip in Ganga on Somvati Amavasya in Haridwar

UP: Devotees take holy dip in Ganga on Somvati Amavasya in Haridwar

India Gazette26-05-2025
Haridwar (Uttarakhand) [India], May 26 (ANI): Thousands of devotees converged in Haridwar early Monday morning to take a holy dip in the river Ganga on the occasion of Somvati Amavasya.
Somvati Amavasya holds a special significance in Hinduism, wherein devotees perform bathing, charity, worship, and rituals for their ancestors.
It is believed that bathing in holy rivers and doing charity on this day lead to the attainment of merit.
Pilgrims from various parts of the country gathered at the ghats to perform these sacred practices, driven by the belief that such acts bring blessings, prosperity, and divine grace.
Ashwini Kumar, who has come from Delhi to take a holy dip in the river Ganga, said, 'We keep coming here, and at least when we do, we take a bath two or three times. It feels very good; it feels very religious, and there is some kind of atmosphere.'
Umesh Kaushik, who hails from Haryana, is visiting Haridwar with his friends. 'We have come here to bathe in the Ganga on Somvati Amavasya, and this is a very good, auspicious Nakshatra. Which we have had the opportunity to bathe in. By bathing in the Ganges. This is a very auspicious moment for us that we have come to bathe in the Ganges today.'
Somvati Amavasya is dedicated to worshipping ancestors or forefathers, and hence, people are advised to use it to get rid of 'Pitru Dosha'.
On this day, people go for a holy dip in holy rivers and perform rituals like havan and yajna, charity, feeding animals, and reciting mantras.
Rama Padmani, from Gujarat's Surat, said that she prayed for the betterment of all Indians on this occasion. 'I have come from Surat, Gujarat, and today is Somvati Amavasya.' We came here to Haridwar and took a bath. We are feeling very good about Aarti and the aura here is different, and the mind is calm. Everyone enjoyed it very much. Ganga benefits everyone. We have asked for the welfare of all Indians.'
An Amavasya falling on Mondays has a special significance and hence is being celebrated as Somvati Amavasya to honour ancestors. (ANI)
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Mopa airport emerging as hub for travellers to Lakshadweep, Maharashtra's hinterland
Mopa airport emerging as hub for travellers to Lakshadweep, Maharashtra's hinterland

Time of India

time2 hours ago

  • Time of India

Mopa airport emerging as hub for travellers to Lakshadweep, Maharashtra's hinterland

Panaji : Manohar International Airport, Mopa, is fast emerging as a hub for air connectivity both within India and internationally. Passengers from Maharashtra's tier-II and tier-III cities, along with islanders from Lakshadweep, are flying into Mopa to take flights to metros and outbound flights. According to the tourism department, Goa is well-linked because 2024-25 saw a growth in both domestic and international routes. 'We've seen a clear pattern. Passengers from cities like Jalgaon, Sindhudurg, and Solapur in Maharashtra, often use our airline to reach Goa, and from there, proceed to other destinations. This reflects the growing role of Goa as a gateway and natural transit point,' said FLY91 CEO and MD, Manoj Chacko. With the presence of two operational airports, Indians looking to travel to the Gulf region or to metros have multiple options when planning their journeys through Goa. The last financial year saw a good mix of charter flights and new scheduled routes, with enhanced frequencies from key source markets for both the airports. The state witnessed increased connectivity through scheduled international flights from the Gulf region and Iran in the last year, while new domestic flights connected Goa to major metros and tier-II cities, which have played a vital role during festivals and long weekends, said a travel operator. 'This growth in air access is key to our tourism strategy. Better connectivity brings in wider audiences globally,' said tourism minister Rohan Khaunte, who added that travel to Goa, both domestic and international, has shown steady growth over the past two years. For residents of Lakshadweep, Cochin was the only air link, but with a daily flight between Agatti and Mopa, Manohar International Airport is a better connection point for onward travel to Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata. During the ongoing session of the state legislative assembly, Mandrem MLA Jit Arolkar urged govt to take steps to strategically develop and project Goa as a transit and layover destination for international airlines. Arolkar is batting for the creation of a dedicated hub and spoke model as part of a transit tourism policy for Goa.

Hotels target frequent air travellers to attract customers amid travel boom
Hotels target frequent air travellers to attract customers amid travel boom

Business Standard

time6 hours ago

  • Business Standard

Hotels target frequent air travellers to attract customers amid travel boom

Such initiatives highlight the rise in providing seamless travel experiences to travellers, as per hospitality industry executives Mumbai Listen to This Article With Indians constantly on the move, hotel chains are deploying a common strategy: tap into the growing number of frequent air travellers. Radisson Hotel Group recently launched Radisson Flights in India, partnering with Etraveli Group, a global flight technology provider. Radisson Flights, an integrated booking platform, will offer a 20 per cent discount on hotel stays with every flight booking. The group is rolling out a similar service in 14 other countries. Sarovar Hotels has tied up with FLY91, a regional carrier, to offer discounts to guests at select places in the country. In April, Accor Hotels and low-cost carrier

American YouTuber says he fell sick in India despite eating only in 5-star hotels: ‘It is not racist'
American YouTuber says he fell sick in India despite eating only in 5-star hotels: ‘It is not racist'

Hindustan Times

time8 hours ago

  • Hindustan Times

American YouTuber says he fell sick in India despite eating only in 5-star hotels: ‘It is not racist'

American YouTuber Tyler Oliveira has waded into a growing online debate about whether pointing out India's hygiene and infrastructure problems amounts to racism. The 25-year-old content creator claimed that he fell seriously ill during his visit to India, despite sticking to food from five-star hotels throughout his stay. Tyler Oliveira says he fell sick in India despite eating only at 5-star hotels. Oliveira was responding to a viral video by an Indian woman who criticised foreign travellers – particularly white visitors – for allegedly slumming it in India to reinforce negative stereotypes. In the video, she said that 'white people' often travel on tight budgets, live in poor conditions 'worse than the way underprivileged people in India live', and visit unhygienic locations – only to return and complain about how 'pathetic' India is. Falling sick in India Countering this claim, Oliveira said that even luxury travel in India is not immune to the country's sanitation challenges. 'Only ate in 5 star hotels and still contracted 4 types of Salmonella,' he wrote on X (formerly Twitter), adding that the illness was likely caused by 'the hotel sourcing eggs from a filthy chicken farm right next to a literal mountain of trash.' 'There are serious hygiene issues that must be addressed in India,' wrote Oliveira. 'It is NOT racist to address the poor quality of life most Indians are subjected to while the upper caste insulates themselves from reality.' For naysayers who refused to believe him, the YouTuber attached proof in the form of his medical reports. His post was flooded with angry comments from Indians who slammed him for 'defaming' the country. 'The 5 star hotels were about $100 a night. It was budget travel relative to American standards. Ambani has a billion dollar tower overlooking the slums. Your anger is misplaced,' he wrote in response to one angry comment.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store