Latest news with #SanatanDharma
India Gazette
3 hours ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
"Sanatanis will vote only for candidates who support cow protection": Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati Maharaj
Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) [India], June 28 (ANI): Ahead of the upcoming Bihar elections, Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati Maharaj on Saturday stated that the Sanatanis (followers of Sanatan Dharma) have decided to vote only for parties or candidates who stand for the protection and welfare of cows. 'Be it any election, we, the Sanatanis, have decided that we will vote for only that party or candidate who will stand for the cow. But no party stands for cows. So, instead of voting for any particular party, we'll vote for only that candidate who will stand for cows. We will do the same in the Bihar elections too. We have said that one candidate per Assembly constituency will stand for cows and we will issue a list too...' Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati Maharaj said. Speaking about the placement of boards on shops during the Kanwar Yatra, the Shankaracharya expressed his views on the religious significance of such practices. He emphasised that any individual willing to follow the dharma and take 'diksha' (initiation) for rituals should be allowed to undertake the Kanwar Yatra. He also addressed concerns about the practice of selling raw materials during the yatra, stating that, as per 'dharma shashtra', the purchase of raw materials is not considered unholy. 'We were asked our views on putting up boards (mentioning details of shopkeeper/staff) on shops during Kanwar Yatra last year...I said that if you ask me from a religious point of view, I would like to say that any individual who is willing to follow dharma, who takes 'diksha' for any ritual that they would undertake the Kanwar Yatra, they adopt some rules - that they would go barefoot, consume just fruits, have just one meal a day, wear just a particular set of clothes, follow celibacy, not lie and so on. There is a rule for sacred food too, which says that there is no provision for buying cooked food in Sanatan Dharma; this is a Western culture where we buy cooked food. In our culture, cooked food is neither sold nor purchased. Raw material can be bought and sold. Purchasing raw material from anyone has not been considered unholy in our 'dharma shastra',' he added. Meanwhile, Bihar elections are expected to be held later this year in October or November; however, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has not announced an official date. Months ahead of the elections, the battle has been intensifying between the grand alliance, Mahagathbandhan, led by the RJD and Congress, and the ruling NDA, which includes the BJP, JDU, LJP (Ram Vilas), and HAM. (ANI)
India Gazette
15 hours ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
Rath Yatra festival celebrated with grandeur at ISKCON, Hare Krishna Mandir in Agartala; thousands join divine procession
Agartala (Tripura) [India], June 27 (ANI): Joining the nation in celebrating the auspicious festival of Rath Yatra, the ISKCON temple and Hare Krishna Mandir in Tripura's Agartala on Friday hosted a grand celebration, drawing thousands of devotees from across Tripura. The vibrant and spiritually uplifting procession was marked by chanting, devotional songs, cultural performances, and traditional rituals. The streets of Agartala came alive as Lord Jagannath, along with his siblings Balabhadra and Subhadra, embarked on the annual chariot journey amid joyous cries of 'Jai Jagannath.' The holy chariots, magnificently decorated and pulled by enthusiastic devotees, wound through key parts of the city, echoing scenes witnessed across the country from Puri to Prayagraj. Prominent political figures joined the celebrations, reflecting the deep cultural and spiritual connection that the Rath Yatra holds for the people. Among the dignitaries present were Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) Mayor Dipak Majumder, Cabinet Ministers Sushanta Chowdhury and Rinku Roy, and State BJP President Rajib Bhattacharjee. In an exclusive interaction with ANI, AMC Mayor Dipak Majumder expressed his reverence for the event, saying, 'On the occasion of the holy Rath Yatra, I extend my heartfelt greetings to the people of the state. I will also pray to the Lord for the well-being and good health of all. Every year, I participate in this grand event, which witnesses the presence of lakhs of devotees. It feels wonderful to see such a huge gathering. Millions come out to catch a glimpse of Lord Jagannath.' He further elaborated on the significance of the occasion, stating, 'According to tradition, Lord Jagannath stays at his aunt's house for seven days. The purpose of this journey is that the Lord himself comes out to bless his devotees. This grand celebration, rooted in Sanatan Dharma and Indian tradition, is awaited throughout the year. I pray that this divine tradition continues forever.' The ISKCON and Hare Krishna Mandir authorities ensured the smooth conduct of the event, with elaborate security arrangements and facilities for the devotees. Volunteers managed crowd control, sanitation, and distribution of prasad (holy offering), while cultural troupes showcased devotional performances along the route. Rath Yatra, one of the most celebrated festivals in the Vaishnav tradition, marks the annual journey of Lord Jagannath from his temple to his aunt's house (Gundicha Temple), symbolising his outreach to bless all devotees, especially those who may not be able to enter temples. In Agartala, as in the rest of the country, the celebration was not just a religious event but a unifying cultural occasion, cutting across age, caste, and community lines -- echoing the deep spiritual fabric of India. (ANI)
Time of India
17 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Seven projects offering 1,500+ jobs get Goa IPB approval
Panaji: The Goa Investment Promotion Board (IPB) has approved seven projects that will see an investment of Rs 180 crore come into the state and create 1,508 jobs. The cleared projects include a gurukul, a cricket academy, and three manufacturing units. The largest investment comes from two Salcete-based projects. Ramesh Hotels and Resorts will expand its luxury hospitality facility at Majorda by adding 60 rooms. The Rs 65-crore expansion is expected to generate 300 jobs. 'There was a meeting last week with industry associations, and the issue of pharma companies recruiting from outside the state was discussed. This same point was brought up during the IPB meeting where the CM said that cleared projects and local industries must try and ensure that employment is given to locals,' said an official. A Rs 65-crore project by Venture Building Dreams at Loutolim proposes a cricket academy and sports complex. This facility alone is estimated to create 950 employment opportunities, the highest among the approved proposals. In the industrial sector, three manufacturing units have received the green light. Kemplast Systems will invest Rs 25 crore to set up a plant for biodegradable and compostable carry bags at the Pissurlem Industrial Estate. The project is expected to create 63 jobs. Standard Epoxy Materials will also operate out of Pissurlem, setting up a Rs 13.6 crore unit to produce epoxy and adhesives. It will employ 90 people. Another Rs 5 crore investment from Sakshi Equipments & Spares at Kundaim will focus on hose pipes, couplings, fittings, nozzles, and gaskets, generating 35 jobs. In the education and cultural sector, Siddhagiri Gurukul Trust has been granted permission on land at Latambarcem, Bicholim, for a Rs 5.5-crore gurukul that will house libraries, a museum on Sanatan Dharma, an archive, and a children's games park. The trust expects to employ 58 people. A Rs 1 crore multi-sports arena dedicated to futsal has also been approved at Camurlim. The project, by Flick and Fire Multi-Sports Arena, is expected to provide employment to 12 people. The seven projects were cleared during the hour-long meeting chaired by chief minister Pramod Sawant at the Mantralaya. 'The issue of land scarcity and the need for more industrial land to be made available was also discussed. The board discussed ways to free more industrial land for IPB projects. IPB is evolving into a forum to discuss larger aspects of Goa's economic development,' said the official.
The Wire
a day ago
- Politics
- The Wire
Unimpeded Mass Murder, Safari Style
You just may have noticed that a new ingenious modality of mass murder has been in operation in Gaza. Call it game-hunting, safari style. Recall how when some royals used to be taken on a tiger shoot, a bait would be tied to a tree so a big cat could be drawn to it for the dignitary's convenient aim. So now, dangerously famished Palestinian children, women, old folk on spindly legs are got the better of by being drawn to the bait where ostensibly benevolent patrons are ready to hand out food packets. As soon as they rush to the bait, the guns blaze. As most are eliminated, some manage to grab a packet or two, proving to the world how the scheme remains such a success at both ends – some get to eat, salving the qualms of those upset at being accused of allowing genocide, others swell the ranks of the dead, facilitating the grand project of ethnic cleansing. When did the world see so clever a two-timing enterprise? The genocidaires of the past gave no food packets; they only killed. Trump and Netanyahu do both at once. What could be smarter? And how could anyone object, not that anyone is objecting. You see, the killings in Gaza are game-hunting; in Ukraine it is people who get killed. Which brings home another sad reality: Curse me if you will, but as a true follower of the Sanatan Dharma, I have been having trouble reconciling Dharma with ethical indifference to the mass murder of a whole innocent population. Nothing is closer in exclusionary genius to Hindutva than Zionism I am unable to swallow the trick that my noble nation's so-noble government played in the United Nations General Assembly. Where 149 countries voted in favour of demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and the resumption of humanitarian aid operated by the United Nations, Naya Bharat abstained from voting. Perhaps we were setting up an example of how to eat the cake and have it too: after all, nothing is closer in exclusionary genius to Hindutva than Zionism, and nobody more consequential for ensuring Viksit Bharat than Trump, Musk, the Pentagon, Silicon Valley etc. So, at one canny stroke of turning our face away from genocide, we accomplished the feat of not annoying either of our pals, not knowing how badly this Trump fellow would behave subsequently. But these are risks great governments have to take in the larger national interest. After all, as Vishwa Guru, the worst we can do is to take sides. Then, did we not also abandon our so-close friends in the SCO by abstaining there as well when the organisation to which India belongs issued a statement condemning Israel for attacking Iran? Nobody may thus accuse us of inconsistency in our extraordinary foreign policy towards the comity of nations. Now that I am arguing the case, I say mea culpa for not being able to square these cunning decisions with my Sanatana Dharma. So, give me time and I will follow the leader whose finesse in these matters I have thus far been too incapable of absorbing. In the meanwhile, the Mecca/Medina Islamic world more than matches us in their brand of sagacious cynicism towards the game-hunt in Gaza. Also Read: If Trump Turns Tyrant, Can Others Be Far Behind? As to the fussy International Criminal Court, their warrant of arrest against the conqueror of Palestine and the elimination of innocents remains a residual pinprick from a queasy but defeated world that no longer exists. Why these judges and prosecutors in the Hague should be receiving either the world's attention or their salaries from honest tax-payers is a conundrum that may also be up for resolution should Trump and Netanyahu go from strength to strength, should the grand nations of Europe continue to behave with customary sophistication, and should rising stars like Narendra Modi show the way to moral fusspots whose understanding of great events and great ideas remains atavistic. So help us god, and so may the Palestinian lambs-to-the-slaughter know that they serve a noble and mighty purpose in their canonical sacrifice. Badri Raina taught at Delhi University. The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
Mint
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
Kannappa Twitter review: Vishnu Manchu wins praise for devotional epic, internet calls it ‘treat for Shiv bhakts'
Vishnu Manchu's much-anticipated mythological drama 'Kannappa' has finally hit the big screens, and early reactions suggest it's striking an emotional chord with audiences, especially devotees of Lord Shiva. On X, netizens are hailing the film not just as a cinematic release but as a spiritual experience rooted in Sanatan Dharma and Shiv Bhakti. While some viewers pointed out uneven VFX and a slightly slow-paced first half, many agree that Kannappa finds its rhythm in the emotionally charged second half, culminating in a powerful, tear-jerking climax. Trade analyst Sumit Kadel wrote, 'Just watched #Kanappa, and I still can't shake off the last 30 minutes from my mind. The only time I've felt something this intense was during the climax of #Kantara. Audiences - especially devotees of Lord Shiva will be left in tears. The climax is spine-chilling, emotionally overpowering and goosebumps-inducing.' 'Last 40 minutes of #Kannappa is SPECTACULAR. I've never seen anything like this. It's for Shiv Bhakts, those who believe in Shiv Leela, and those proud to be Sanatani,' a user wrote on X. Another user shared, 'Just finished #Kanappa Hindi dub.#Kannappa is visually grand with a powerful mythological core. Prabhas, Mohanlal & Akshay Kumar shine in cameos, and Rajinikanth's praise speaks volumes. But some VFX scenes fall flat, and the pacing drags in parts.' "What starts as a warrior's tale ends in a divine revelation. The final act hits you like thunder, raw, emotional, and spiritual. If you teared up in #Kantara, get ready to weep with devotion during #Kanappa's climax," the third user shared their review. The film has also drawn attention for its impressive star-studded cameos. Prabhas, Mohanlal, and Akshay Kumar make notable appearances, with Kannappa receiving high praise from none other than Rajinikanth. Starring Vishnu Manchu in the titular role, Kannappa brings to life the story of unwavering devotion and sacrifice, offering a blend of mythology, emotion, and visual storytelling that resonates strongly with Shiva devotees and fans of epic dramas alike.
