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Time of India
02-07-2025
- Time of India
Amarnath Yatra begins amid tight security, devotees undeterred by terror threat
SRINAGAR/JAMMU: Chants of 'Bam Bam Bhole' and 'Har Har Mahadev' echoed through Kashmir valley Wednesday as the first convoy of Amarnath Yatra pilgrims crossed Qazigund-Banihal tunnel, marking the start of the annual Himalayan pilgrimage under unprecedented security. Garlanded with flowers and greeted with traditional Kashmiri hospitality, the pilgrims — part of a 5,892-strong batch — were flagged off from the Jammu base camp at Bhagwati Nagar early morning by lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha. A convoy of 310 vehicles carried the devotees toward the sacred Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir. 'Undeterred by recent terrorist activities, devotees of Lord Shiva are arriving in huge numbers, demonstrating their immense faith,' said Sinha. 'I hope this year's yatra will be even more historic than previous years.' The pilgrimage, running from July 3 to Aug 9, is taking place amid heightened security following the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam that killed 26, mostly tourists. A multi-layered security grid with advanced surveillance technology blankets the region. Pilgrims have been advised to travel only in designated convoys, with a separate govt advisory warning journalists against disguising themselves as yatris. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like O que é ar-condicionado sem dutos no Brasil? Knowledge Knower Undo The twin routes to the shrine — Pahalgam (36-48km, 3–5 days) and Baltal (14km, 1–2 days) —remain under constant vigil. Authorities warned pilgrims not to arrive before scheduled dates and reiterated that misrepresentation of identity, especially by media, would result in strict action. Among the first-day pilgrims: 1,043 women, 31 children, 16 trans people, 335 sadhus, and 72 sadhvis. Many will trek on foot or via ponies, palkis, or helicopters toward the 3,888m-high cave shrine that houses the naturally formed ice Shivling. Rain fell. Conch shells blew. Hymns filled the air at Yatri Niwas in Jammu. The spiritual energy of Amarnath Yatra surged forward — undaunted, united, unshaken. 'No matter how many bombs are hurled, devotees will not be deterred,' said Sarvanand Patel from Gujarat. Ramesh Chander added: 'We pray that everybody gets darshan in peace. Army and security forces are here.' Manoj Kumar from UP echoed the sentiment: 'There is no fear among us. We have faith in our Baba Amarnath-ji and the forces.' Ram Prasad, another UP devotee, said terrorist threats will never shake their spiritual resolve. J&K deputy CM Surinder Choudhary welcomed pilgrims at Banihal and raised the political pitch by expressing hope that 'the next Amarnath Yatra would take place in a full-fledged state'. He claimed LG Sinha performed a special puja praying for the restoration of statehood — though BJP did not immediately comment. At Baltal base camp, BJP spokesperson and J&K Waqf Board chairperson Darakhshan Andrabi reviewed facilities and met officials and service providers. 'The yatra is a powerful symbol of communal harmony in Kashmir,' she said. 'It represents Hindu-Muslim unity, and we are all committed to strengthening that bond.'
India Today
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Kesari Veer review: Suniel Shetty is the only spark in this Chhaava knockoff
There are multiple moments in 'Kesari Veer' when you would expect Vicky Kaushal from 'Chhaava' to jump in with his 'Har Har Mahadev' cry. While 'Chhaava', the highest-grossing film of 2025, had its own flaws, the scale, direction, and performances kept viewers engaged. Unfortunately, Suniel Shetty and Sooraj Pancholi's latest release, Kesari Veer, fails in all departments, making it a painful all know there's currently a surge of historical films with religious undertones in cinema, and this Prince Dhiman-directed drama follows suit. The first 30 minutes of the film set the tone for the impending battle between the Tughlaqs and the Hindu rulers. Enter Hamirji Gohil (Pancholi), a rebel prince and saviour of the oppressed. During one of his espionage missions, he encounters Rajal (newcomer Akanksha Sharma), and after a few slow-motion romantic moments, the two fall in Shetty as Vegdaji, her adoptive father, is a Shiv Bhakt, and also gets to carry the Shiv Ling la Baahubali. We are soon introduced to Zafar Khan (Vivek Oberoi), the vicious and maniacal ruler of the Delhi Sultanate, who kills without a flinch. The character is half Khilji, half Aurangzeb, but the thick, unkempt beard just made Vivek look repulsive. But just like other rulers from the kingdom, he enjoys a lavish life, wines and dines with beautiful women, while loathing the The story of warriors who fought to protect the Somnath Temple hasn't been depicted on screen before. While the makers had a promising concept, they failed in execution. The plot gets diluted by forced subplots - romance, family drama, and religious devotion - all stuffed into one narrative. The CGI is shoddy, almost laughable, and the performances are dismissive. None of the songs leave an impression, and even the fight sequences, stylised it with high-speed movements, lack impact. The last few scenes absolutely look like a pirated, low-res version of 'Chhaava', without its impact. The editing department could have easily chopped half of the film, mostly in the first half, to have presentable content. As for the performances, the less said, the better. Suniel Shetty is the only one who brings some gravitas to the screen, while Vivek Oberoi is wasted in a poorly written role. Sooraj Pancholi channels Salman Khan from Veer, and Akanksha pouts and squints her way through the film. Kiran Kumar, however, is a pleasant surprise as a Delhi ruler, but it's heartbreaking to see how the makers insulted veteran Aruna Irani by casting her in a minuscule 'Kesari Veer' truly frustrates is in its inauthenticity. Sooraj almost mouths Shah Rukh Khan's dialogues — 'haar ke jeetne waale ko baazigar' and 'ek aadmi ka sar do jagah jhukta hai'. The dialogues are so wispy compared to other historical films, and the delivery is abominable. The way the actors move and speak seems so contemporary, mainly the younger ones, making them look like SoBo kids in a school the end of Kesari Veer, you ironically start feeling bad for the team, who went through such a strenuous time making this film. We wish they had a vision. And the only person you actually want to be angry with is yourself, for choosing to watch this film. (Well, we did it for you guys.) 2.5 out of 5 stars to Kesari Watch
