Latest news with #LordJagannath
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Posts accusing Rahul Gandhi of 'insulting Hindu festival' use misleadingly edited speech
A misleadingly clipped video of Rahul Gandhi purportedly showing him calling a major religious festival a "drama" has circulated in posts accusing the opposition leader of insulting Hindus. Gandhi was in fact criticising a local Indian state government, saying it was serving the interests of billionaires over its own people. "Rahul Gandhi, standing on the soil of Odisha, called the Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath a 'drama'!" reads part of the Hindi-language caption of a Facebook video shared on July 11, 2025. The video shows Gandhi standing at a podium and saying: "When the Jagannath Yatra takes place in Odisha, the chariot of the Jagannath Yatra comes out, hundreds of thousands of people watch it and follow it and then a drama takes place." It was shared after a deadly stampede marred the annual Rath Yatra festival honouring the Hindu deity Lord Jagannath, which was held in eastern Odisha state (archived link). At least three people were killed and around 50 others injured in the early hours of June 29, with the Times of India reporting that eyewitnesses blamed the chaos on poor planning and arrangements for VIPs (archived link). The clip was also shared in similar Facebook, Threads and X posts targeting the opposition Congress party's leader. "The Supreme Court should take cognisance of the insult of the Hindu faith and Lord Jagannath by this heretic and strict action should be taken against this heretic," read a comment on one of the posts. Another said: "When will action be taken against this corrupt stupid man? How long will he keep roaming around the country and keep talking nonsense, keep playing with the sentiments of Hindu believers?" The video, however, has been misleadingly edited. Clipped video A reverse image search on Google using keyframes from the misleadingly edited video led to a longer version published on the verified YouTube channel of News 18 Odia on July 11 (archived link). Its description states that Gandhi was speaking at Congress' "Save the Constitution" rally in Odisha's Bhubaneswar city, part of a national campaign to bolster support for the opposition party. The segment used in the false posts can be seen at the video's 32-second mark. The falsely shared clip omits Gandhi explaining what he meant by "drama". "When the Jagannath Yatra takes place in Odisha, the chariot of the Jagannath Yatra comes out, hundreds of thousands of people watch it and follow it and then a drama takes place -- the chariots are stopped specifically for Adani and his family," he says, referring to Indian billionaire Gautam Adani. The Adani Group chairman took part in the Rath Yatra with his family on June 28 (archived link). The pulling of giant chariots of Lord Jagannath and his siblings from the Lion's Gate of the Shree Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple 2.5 km (1.5 miles) away -- a key ritual in the Rath Yatra -- had been delayed by a day, according to India's The Telegraph newspaper (archived link). The newspaper said the opposition Congress party accused the Odisha state government, run by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), of deliberately delaying the ritual so the Adani family could take part. In response, Odisha law minister Prithiviraj Harichandan accused the opposition of trying to "politicise the issue". Gandhi goes on to say in his speech: "This alone reveals the true nature of the Odisha government. This is not the Odisha government and it is also not the government of poor people. "It doesn't serve the people of Odisha, but rather a handful of billionaires like Adani. Their aim is to seize your land, your forests, and your future." His remarks were also reported by The Indian Express, The Print, PTI and Times of India (archived here, here, here and here). AFP has debunked other false posts targeting the opposition leader here.
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First Post
5 days ago
- Politics
- First Post
Lord Jagannath Yatra pelted with eggs in Toronto: How Hindus are targeted in Canada
The annual Lord Jagannath Yatra in Canada's Toronto was marred over the weekend when unidentified miscreants pelted devotees with eggs. India has reacted strongly to the attack, calling on Canadian authorities to hold the perpetrators accountable. This incident is the latest instance of Hindus being attacked in the North American nation — over the past few months, several temples have been defaced or desecrated read more Over the weekend, Hindus held the annual Lord Jagannath Yatra in Toronto. The procession was marred when eggs were pelted at devotees. Image Courtesy: X Hinduism is the third largest religion in Canada, as per the 2021 census. However, it appears that Hindus in the country continue to be victims of religiously motivated attacks. The latest instance — the alleged disrespect to Lord Jagannath's rath yatra in Toronto when eggs were hurled at the procession. The incident prompted India's Ministry of External Affairs to issue a statement in which it denounced the move, adding that the matter had been strongly taken up with Canadian authorities to hold the perpetrators accountable. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This isn't a lone incident of Hindus being targeted in Canada — there have been several instances of vandalism and attacks on Hindu temples in the past few months. Does this mean Hindus are unsafe in the North American country? What's going on? Eggs hurled at Rath Yatra in Toronto Over the weekend, Hindus in Canada carried out a Lord Jagannath rath yatra in Toronto. According to a video now posted online, people are seen walking, chanting names of Lord Jagannath and dancing. However, at one point, one can hear someone say, 'Kisi ne yaha par abhi aande feke hai (Someone just threw eggs here).' Soon after, the camera turns and one can see smashed eggs on the road. Despite the egg situation, the procession didn't stop and they continued. The women, who posted the video, also said: 'Someone from a nearby building threw eggs at us…Why? Because faith makes noise? Because joy looked unfamiliar? We didn't stop. Because when Lord Jagannath is on the streets, no hate can shake us. This is not just a festival — it's an unshakable belief' India strongly reacts Shortly after the video was posted on social media, former Odisha chief minister and the state's Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik said such incidents cause deep anguish to the people of Odisha. Taking to X, Patnaik wrote, 'Deeply disturbed to know about the reports of eggs being hurled at devotees during #RathaJatra celebrations in Toronto, Canada. Such incidents not only grievously hurt the sentiments of Lord Jagannatha's devotees worldwide, but also cause deep anguish to the people of #Odisha, for whom this festival holds profound emotional and cultural significance.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The former CM also urged the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to register a strong protest with Canadian authorities over the incident. And on Monday (July 14), the MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal in a press briefing denounced the incident, saying they had taken it up with Canadian authorities. Our response to media queries regarding an incident during the Rath Yatra procession in Toronto, Canada 🔗 — Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) July 14, 2025 Jaiswal said the disruption was caused by 'mischievous elements'. 'Such despicable acts are regrettable and are against the spirit of the festival, which seeks to promote unity, inclusivity, and social harmony,' he said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'We have strongly taken up the matter with Canadian authorities to hold the perpetrators of the act accountable.' He added that the Indian side hopes the Canadian government will take 'necessary action to protect the religious rights of people'. Hindu temples under attack in Canada But the incident at the Lord Jagannath yatra in Toronto isn't a single incident. In recent years, several Hindu temples have also been vandalised across the country, often with anti-India and pro-Khalistan graffiti. For instance, earlier in April, a Hindu Laxmi Narayan Temple in Surrey, Canada was vandalised by Khalistani extremists. The Canadian Hindu Chamber of Commerce shared a video of the graffiti on social media platform X, calling the act 'Hinduphobia.' The organisation expressed outrage, saying, 'We strongly condemn the vandalism of Laxmi Narayan Mandir in British Coumbia (BC) by Khalistani extremists.' The Chamber further urged all Canadians to unite against hate and take swift action, declaring that 'silence is not an option.' The desecration of the Lakshmi Narayan Mandir in Surrey, BC in April. File image/ And almost 20 days prior to that, the Sri Krishna Brundavana Temple in the Greater Toronto Area was vandalised by two men. A video showed the two miscreants leaving a pub in the area before walking to the temple, where they were seen ripping down and damaging a sign at the entrance. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Last November too, a Hindu temple was attacked in Canada. The Hindu Sabha Mandir temple in the Canadian city of Brampton, just outside of Toronto, was attacked by a violent group of men, carrying flags of pro-Khalistani groups. Videos posted to social media showed what appeared to be fist fights and people hitting each other with poles on the temple grounds. This incident even prompted condemnation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi; he asked the Canadian government to 'ensure justice and uphold the rule of law'. Activists and supporters of the Hindu Sikh Global Forum hold placards as they take part in a protest near the Canadian embassy in New Delhi against the attack on a Hindu temple in the city of Brampton, near Toronto in Canada. File image/AFP In July, the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Edmonton was reportedly vandalised with anti-India graffiti, targeting PM Narendra Modi and Canadian MP Chandra Arya. This was the fourth incident since September 2022 in which a BAPS temple was targeted in Canada. Last February, burglars targeted the Vaishno Devi Mandir in Oakville, looting a significant amount of cash from the donation boxes placed before the idols, ransacking offices and stealing other items. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Many note that at the heart of rising Hinduphobia incidents in Canada is the Khalistan movement. Banned in India, the Khalistan movement continues to flourish in the North American nation, with Indian officials accusing Canada of harbouring Sikh extremists and allowing more hardline elements of the Khalistan movement to thrive. With inputs from agencies
Mint
6 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
India asks Canada to hold perpetrators accountable after Rath Yatra disrupted in Toronto: ‘Such despicable acts…'
India on Monday denounced the disruption of a Rath Yatra in Canada's Toronto over the weekend, saying that the matter had been strongly taken up with Canadian authorities to hold the perpetrators accountable. The procession, which was organised by the Indian community and ISKCON Toronto, was pelted with eggs, multiple media reports said. External affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal called the incident 'despicable acts' and perpetrators as 'mischievous elements'. 'We have seen reports regarding disruption created by mischievous elements during the Rath Yatra procession in Toronto. Such despicable acts are regrettable and are against the spirit of the festival, which seeks to promote unity, inclusivity, and social harmony,' Jaiswal said in a statement released by the Ministry of External Affairs on Monday. 'We have strongly taken up the matter with Canadian authorities to hold the perpetrators of the act accountable. We hope the Canadian Government will take necessary action to protect the religious rights of people,' the MEA statement added. Former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday expressed deep concern over reports of eggs being hurled at devotees during the Rath Yatra celebrations in Toronto, Canada, calling the incident deeply disturbing and hurtful to the sentiments of devotees of Lord Jagannatha worldwide. "Deeply disturbed to know about the reports of eggs being hurled at devotees during Ratha Jatra celebrations in Toronto, Canada. Such incidents not only grievously hurt the sentiments of Lord Jagannatha's devotees worldwide, but also cause deep anguish to the people of Odisha, for whom this festival holds profound emotional and cultural significance," Patnaik said in a post on X. The remarks came in response to posts by Toronto-based Instagram user Sangna Bajaj, who alleged that eggs were thrown at devotees from a nearby building during the celebrations. "People from a building throw eggs at us," she wrote in one post. In another, she stated, 'Someone from a nearby building threw eggs at us. Have you ever experienced discrimination for your faith?' The Odisha government has started working on securing copyright for the rituals of Lord Jagannath temple in Puri to protect its traditional cultural expressions, Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, the titular king of the pilgrim town, said. According to a PTI report, the statement came amid resentments among the devotees of Lord Jagannath over the untimely celebration of Lord Jagannath's rituals by the ISKCON abroad and the West Bengal government's declaration of a temple in Digha as "Jagannath Dham". These are "gross violations" of sacred scriptures and ancient tradition, the Gajapati Maharaja, considered the first servitor of the Lord Jagannath, told PTI in an interview. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee inaugurated a temple at the seaside town of Digh on April 30 and called it 'Jagannath Dham', much to the chagrin of the Odisha government, the Shankaracharya of the Puri Govardhan Peeth Nischalananda Saraswati and a large number of devotees.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Time of India
Eggs hurled at Rath Yatra devotees in Toronto: Viral video sparks outrage; Naveen Patnaik demands MEA action
Screengrab from video by Sangna Bajaj A peaceful Rath Yatra procession in Toronto was disrupted when residents of a nearby building allegedly hurled eggs at devotees. The incident gained attention after a video went viral on Instagram, capturing eggs thrown near the procession. Narrating the incident, Sangna Bajaj wrote on Instagram, 'Someone from a nearby building threw eggs at us.. Why? Because faith makes noise? Because joy looked unfamiliar? We didn't stop. Because when Lord Jagannath is on the streets, no hate can shake us." The Toronto based user said the procession continued despite the disruption with participants maintaining their devotion and spirit. 'We were stunned. Hurt. But we didn't stop. Because hate can never overpower faith,' she said. The attack took place during Iskcon's 53rd annual Rath Yatra in Toronto, celebrated on July 11 from 11 am to 1 pm. According to Iskcon, the Rath Yatra is a public and vibrant celebration where devotees bring the deities, Lord Jagannath, Baladeva, and Subhadra Devi, out onto the streets, accompanied by loud kirtans and devotional singing. Also read: India slams Rath Yatra disruption in Toronto, calls incident 'despicable'; urges Canada to act against perpetrators The Indian government has formally raised concerns with Canada over the incident and urged that those responsible be held accountable. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Dementia Has Been Linked To a Common Habit. Do You Do It? Memory Health Learn More Undo Ministry of external affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal described the incident as "despicable" and "regrettable," stating, "We have seen reports regarding disruption created by mischievous elements during the Rath Yatra procession in Toronto. Such despicable acts are regrettable and are against the spirit of the festival, which seeks to promote unity, inclusivity, and social harmony." "We have strongly taken up the matter with Canadian authorities to hold the perpetrators of the act accountable. We hope the Canadian Government will take necessary action to protect the religious rights of people,' he added. Former Odisha chief minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik expressed deep concern over the incident. "Deeply disturbed to know about the reports of eggs being hurled at devotees during #RathaJatra celebrations in Toronto, Canada. Such incidents not only grievously hurt the sentiments of Lord Jagannatha's devotees worldwide, but also cause deep anguish to the people of #Odisha," he wrote in a post on X sharing images of the procession. Patnaik urged the ministry of external affairs to lodge a strong protest and called on both the Centre and the Odisha state government to take the matter seriously. The video drew mixed reactions online. While many condemned the act, calling it 'deeply disrespectful,' others offered a more critical take on public religious events. One user wrote, 'Throwing eggs at the Jagannath Ratha Yatra in Canada is a deeply disrespectful act and must be condemned in the strongest terms.' Another commented, 'If you bring religion to the streets, you need to factor in all this as well—goes for any religion, for that matter. '
Hans India
09-07-2025
- General
- Hans India
‘Adhara Pana' ritual held on chariots of holy siblings
Bhubaneswar: The servitors of Jagannath temple on Monday conducted a significant ritual called 'Adhara Pana' before the holy siblings - Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra - seated on their chariots near the 12th century shrine at Puri. The significant ritual related to the annual Rath Yatra began at 4.30 pm and continued till 9 pm on Monday. Traditionally, this ritual takes place after Suna Besha of the deities. Thousands of devotees gathered at the holy city to witness the divine ritual of the deities on Monday. As per tradition, a special drink is offered to the deities in nine cylindrical pots large enough to reach the lips of the deities on their chariots. This ritual is known as 'Adhara Pana' with the joining of two words - 'Adhara'(lips) and 'Pana' (delicious drink prepared with the mixture of jaggery, coconut gratings, cottage cheese, gram flour and other ingredients). The servitors broke nine large earthen pots, three each placed before Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra, filled with sweet drinks after offering them to the deities. The spillover drink is meant for the subsidiary deities placed on the chariots, evil spirits and ghostly bodies. The devotees are forbidden to collect and drink the Adhara signifies the end of Rath Yatra as the deities in a ceremonial procession will return to their sanctum sanctorum on Tuesday. The special ritual. popularly called Niladri Bije, is held on the 13th day of the bright fortnight of Ashadha. Niladri Bije is the last phase of the Rath Yatra, which began on June 27. Lord Jagannath will enter the 12th century after pacifying an angry Goddess Laxmi by offering her 'rasagolla' during the Niladri Bije ritual. The devotees will have the 'darshan' of the deities on the Ratna Singhasana (the bejewelled platform) from Thursday. This year's Rath Yatra was marked by the unfortunate stampede incident that claimed the lives of three pilgrims near Gundicha temple on June 29, as well as chaos during the pulling of chariots on June 27.
