Latest news with #MauniAmavasya
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Unsafe paths, no security: Most Haridwar shrines mirror Mansa Devi flaws
Haridwar: A day after eight people died in a stampede at Mansa Devi temple, concerns have resurfaced over the safety of other major shrines in Haridwar, many of which struggle with overcrowding, narrow access points and insufficient crowd control. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Survivors and locals said the tragedy highlighted long-standing failures in basic infrastructure and administrative oversight. Just 24 hours after the crush, TOI visited several prominent temples to assess their preparedness and found that critical safety issues persist at many locations. At Chandi Devi temple, perched atop Neel Parvat, steep steps and a narrow approach are clogged with makeshift shops, making movement difficult for pilgrims. There were no visible security personnel to manage the crowd. The Narayani Shila temple also struggles with poor crowd management, especially during Pitru Amavasya, when large gatherings are common. At Mansa Devi, crowd control remains ineffective. The bypass route, which took on more footfall after the closure of the back gate post-stampede, is in disrepair. Unauthorised vendors still occupy both the bypass and the pedestrian path leading to the shrine. Social activist JP Badoni told TOI, "The temple management committee has encroached on land meant for pilgrims by building shops and rooms. I've raised the issue multiple times, but the administration has failed to act against illegal permanent structures, nor have they removed temporary encroachments." He added that Haridwar Municipal Corporation should reclaim its land "illegally occupied by the ropeway company" and use it to improve access for pilgrims. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In contrast, the Daksha temple in Kankhal appears better managed. It sees around 4,000 to 5,000 visitors daily, with numbers rising to over 10,000 during peak Shravan days. The temple was recently expanded. "Thanks to separate entry and exit gates and the regular presence of 10 to 15 policemen, which is ramped up to 30–40 during peak days, it is better managed than most other temples," said Mahesh Pareek, a regular visitor. In 2023, then-district magistrate Dheeraj Singh Garbyal had prepared a management plan for the temple, but it was never implemented, residents said. Encroachments are also rampant along the Har-ki-Pauri stretch, including Malviya Ghat, Subhash Ghat, Nai Ghat, Hathi Bridge, Upper Road and Bhimgoda Road. The absence of a designated zero zone in the area makes it difficult to regulate crowds effectively. Locals said key recommendations made by the Justice KK Commission after the 1997 Mauni Amavasya stampede are still pending. Social activist Ratanmani Dobhal told TOI, "Encroachments along the riverbanks near Har-ki-Pauri pose one of the biggest challenges. Entry and exit points must also be decongested." He said a comprehensive plan was needed to provide basic facilities to pilgrims at Har-ki-Pauri.
Hans India
4 days ago
- Hans India
Stampede at Uttarakhand's Mansa Devi Temple, several injured
Haridwar: A stampede broke out at the Mansa Devi Temple in Uttarakhand's Haridwar early Sunday morning, leaving several devotees injured. The incident occurred due to heavy overcrowding in the temple premises as thousands of devotees thronged the sacred site during the ongoing holy month of Shravan. Eyewitnesses reported chaos as people began pushing each other while waiting in queues, resulting in panic and a sudden rush. Rescue and relief operations were swiftly initiated. Medical teams and ambulances reached the site promptly, and the injured were transported to nearby hospitals for immediate treatment. Authorities confirmed that relief work is still underway, and the situation is being closely monitored. Every year, Haridwar sees a massive influx of pilgrims during the month of Shravan, especially at the revered Har Ki Pauri and Mansa Devi Temple. This year, however, the situation turned grim due to an overwhelming crowd, triggering a stampede that has once again spotlighted the issue of crowd management at religious gatherings. This tragic incident adds to the growing number of stampedes that have occurred across India in 2025. So far, over 50 people have lost their lives in similar incidents at religious sites, railway stations, and public events. On January 8, a stampede occurred at the Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple in the Tirumala Hills, resulting in the deaths of at least six devotees and injuring many others as hundreds of worshippers pushed to obtain tickets for the Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam. On January 29, a stampede at the Sangam area during the Maha Kumbh claimed the lives of 30 people and left 60 others injured. Millions had gathered to take a holy dip on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya, considered one of the most sacred days in the Hindu calendar. In another major tragedy, 18 people were killed and more than a dozen were injured on February 15 at New Delhi Railway Station. The stampede broke out late at night, with most victims being Maha Kumbh pilgrims returning home. On May 3, at least seven devotees were killed and 80 were injured in a stampede during the annual 'Lairai Jatra' at Shree Lairai Devi Temple in North Goa's Shirgao village. On June 4, what was meant to be a moment of celebration turned tragic when at least 11 fans died in a stampede near Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy Stadium during the RCB victory celebration of their maiden IPL title win in 18 years. Further details regarding the Haridwar incident are still awaited as authorities continue to assess the situation.
Time Business News
20-06-2025
- Time Business News
Top 7 Benefits of Booking a Puja Online
In a technology-driven world where everything—from groceries to doctor consultations—is just a tap away, why should spirituality be left behind? For every devotee who's stood in a long temple queue under the scorching sun, unsure about the muhurat, priest, or rituals, booking a puja online feels like divine intervention. It's the difference between a packed train ride and a chariot that takes you straight to the deity's feet. If you've ever felt torn between your hectic schedule and your spiritual duties, here's good news: Bhakti has gone digital. Let's explore the top 7 benefits you receive if you book a puja online, and how platforms like Utsav are quietly but powerfully transforming devotion across India. Picture this: wanting to conduct a pooja for kaal sarp dosh— an extremely critical ceremony that usually needs certain timings, temples such as Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga, and skilled priests. Traditionally, it entails travel, planning, and logistical mayhem. But with a mere click, today's pilgrims can: Pick the specific puja they desire Pick a favourable temple anywhere in India Order it from the comfort of their living room, with no fuss It's as if the doors of divinity swing open exactly when you knock, even though you don't have to venture out of your house. One of the most vexing fears of contemporary devotees is 'Am I doing it right?' Fear of omission or even performing a single step in the wrong way can haunt the most devout spirit. When you book puja online, particularly for intricate rituals such as the pooja for kaal sarp dosh, sites like Utsav guarantee: Ritual step-by-step guide On-time reminders of the puja date Viewing the right mantras Visual presence at temple rituals You're not passively watching a livestream — you're engaged, spiritually and mentally. It's as if you have a priest taking you through every step, virtually holding your hand through the divine. Some temples are dreams carved in stone — places like Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga, where thousands go for liberation from doshas like Kaal Sarp. But not everyone can travel to these sacred sites due to health, time, or finances. Online puja bookings let you: Access high-energy temples remotely Perform temple-specific pujas without travel Receive Prasa and blessings at home Imagine it as the temple visiting you, covered in faith and sent to your doorstep. Festivals such as Kumbh Mela (2025 in Allahabad), Navratri, or Maha Shivratri bring immense spiritual value. But these are also peak season travel times, and millions push and shove, competing for space, time, and spiritual service. With online reservation, devotees can: Make prayers on the precise date of the festival Conduct Ganga Aarti, Rudrabhishek, or Triveni Puja from a distance Take blessed Prasad and soak in the festival spirit virtually Most important upcoming puja dates in 2025 to keep in mind: Kumbh Mela (Allahabad): Starts January 13, with Mauni Amavasya on February 26 Starts January 13, with Mauni Amavasya on February 26 Maha Shivratri: February 26 February 26 Navratri: Starts September 22 It's like sitting front row at India's grandest divine performances, without fighting the crowd. Spirituality is intensely personal. Some do pujas for health, others for planetary cures. If you book puja online over the net, it's not a factory-fitted offering. Devotees get to select: Nature of puja (e.g., Maha Rudrabhishek, pooja for kaal sarp dosh) Preferred temple (such as Jyotirlingas or Shaktipeeths) Choice of date and time according to their Janam Kundali You customise your faith experience, like you'd customise a wedding attire — intimate and handcrafted. Unlike stereotypical pandits or unclear ceremonies, reliable platforms ensure complete transparency. With Utsav, for instance: You get videos or images of your puja You know the priest's name who's conducting it You get Prasad and sacred material such as Rudraksha, Kumkum, or Sindoor It's not only a service; it's sacred transparency. As if your faith comes with a bill from the heavens, lengthy and to the point. Ultimately, the actual intent of any puja is peace of mind. And if you've ordered it online, gone through all the steps, and received the Prasad, there's a subtle but powerful emotional satisfaction. You don't feel like you've outsourced bhakti; you feel like you've augmented it. No more worrying, 'Did I do enough?' No feeling guilty for missing a temple visit A sense of profound connection to the divine It's like swapping background noise with the soothing hum of temple bells ringing especially for you. Behind it all is Utsav— a platform subtly empowering lakhs to connect with their heritage. With access to famous temples, precise rituals, and sacred Prasad, Utsav is no replacement for devotion — it's the connector that makes it convenient. Whether it's a reservation of a pooja for kaal sarp dosh at Trimbakeshwar or watching the spiritual majesty of Kumbh Mela online, Utsav makes devotion accessible without dilution. These days, getting a sacred ritual done doesn't need a train ticket or a hasty visit to the priest's home. It just requires your will — and maybe a tap on your phone. With sites like Utsav, your road to spiritual satisfaction is just a click away, be it via their official website or their app available on the Google Play Store. Divine connection, minus the complication. So next time a festival comes around or a dosh needs fixing, don't worry. Just recall — the divine has gone digital. All you have to do is appear, even from your own home. Book a puja online. Embrace bhakti. Be blessed. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
India Gazette
12-06-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
"Restless about keeping his politics going": BJP' Dilip Jaiswal lashes out at Rahul Gandhi for accusing BJP over deaths in Maha Kumbh
Patna (Bihar) [India], June 12 (ANI): Bihar's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Dilip Jaiswal on Thursday lashed out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for accusing the BJP government of 'suppressing truth' about deaths in Maha Kumbh earlier this year and stated that he was restless about keeping his politics going. 'He is restless about keeping his politics going. He himself doesn't know what he says when. When PM Modi is making a new identity for India in the world, at the same time, Rahul Gandhi is worried about keeping his politics alive,' Jaiswal told ANI. On June 11, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged that the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh government of 'suppressing truth' about deaths in Maha Kumbh earlier this year and alleged that 'like in COVID, the bodies of the poor were erased from the statistics'. 'BBC report reveals that figures of deaths in Kumbh Mela stampede were hidden. Like in COVID, the bodies of the poor were erased from the statistics. Like after every major railway accident the truth is suppressed. This is the BJP model - if there is no counting of the poor, then there is no responsibility either!' Gandhi stated in his X post. Thirty people were killed during stampede in Maha Kumbh on Mauni Amavasya. The Uttar Pradesh government had announced financial assistance of Rs 25 lakh for the families of the deceased in the stampede and a judicial inquiry was also set up. Earlier in March, the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai, in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha that asked about the number of persons killed and injured during the recent Maha Kumbh Stampede, said that 'No such data is maintained centrally.' Rai said that 'Public Order' and 'Police' are State subjects as per the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India. Organization of religious congregations, crowd management, provision of amenities to devotees, prevention of any type of disaster during the congregation, etc., are closely linked to 'public order', which is a state subject. (ANI)
Time of India
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
'Restless about keeping his politics going': BJP's Dilip Jaiswal lashes out at Rahul Gandhi
Bihar's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Dilip Jaiswal on Thursday lashed out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for accusing the BJP government of "suppressing truth" about deaths in Maha Kumbh earlier this year and stated that he was restless about keeping his politics going. "He is restless about keeping his politics going. He himself doesn't know what he says when. When PM Modi is making a new identity for India in the world, at the same time, Rahul Gandhi is worried about keeping his politics alive," Jaiswal told ANI. On June 11, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged that the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh government of "suppressing truth" about deaths in Maha Kumbh earlier this year and alleged that "like in COVID, the bodies of the poor were erased from the statistics". "BBC report reveals that figures of deaths in Kumbh Mela stampede were hidden. Like in COVID, the bodies of the poor were erased from the statistics. Like after every major railway accident the truth is suppressed. This is the BJP model - if there is no counting of the poor, then there is no responsibility either!" Gandhi stated in his X post. Thirty people were killed during stampede in Maha Kumbh on Mauni Amavasya. Live Events The Uttar Pradesh government had announced financial assistance of Rs 25 lakh for the families of the deceased in the stampede and a judicial inquiry was also set up. Earlier in March, the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai , in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha that asked about the number of persons killed and injured during the recent Maha Kumbh Stampede , said that "No such data is maintained centrally." Rai said that 'Public Order' and 'Police' are State subjects as per the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India. Organization of religious congregations, crowd management, provision of amenities to devotees, prevention of any type of disaster during the congregation, etc., are closely linked to 'public order', which is a state subject.
