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NDTV
10-07-2025
- NDTV
Shravani Mela Begins, Lakhs Of Kanwariyas Embark On 108 Km Pilgrimage
Deoghar: The world-renowned Shravani Mela commenced on Thursday at Baba Baidyanath Dham in Deoghar, Jharkhand, with lakhs of Kanwariyas thronging the sacred town to begin their month-long pilgrimage during the holy month of Sawan. The fair was formally inaugurated at Dumma, on the Jharkhand-Bihar border, in a traditional ceremony marked by Vedic chants. Jharkhand ministers Sudivya Kumar Sonu, Deepika Pandey Singh, and Sanjay Prasad Yadav jointly inaugurated the event. Baba Baidyanath Dham houses Kamna Mahadev, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, making it one of the holiest Shaivite shrines. As per custom, Kanwariyas fetch holy water from the Uttarvahini Ganga in Sultanganj, Bihar, and walk 108 km barefoot to offer it at the Deoghar shrine. This annual religious procession is considered the longest religious fair in Asia, covering a 108 km route from Sultanganj to Deoghar. The pilgrimage, which began on Thursday, coinciding with Guru Purnima, saw thousands of Kanwariyas filling the roads chanting "Bol Bam", creating a spiritual spectacle. The Jharkhand government has estimated that 50 to 60 lakh devotees from across India and abroad are likely to attend the fair this year. To manage the massive footfall, the state government has made elaborate arrangements for accommodation, safety, sanitation, and information dissemination. Tent cities equipped with essential amenities have been established at Kothiya and Baghmara along the Deoghar-Sultanganj route, providing rest areas for thousands of pilgrims. Facilities such as bathing rooms, toilets, medical camps, and information centres have been set up at key locations across the mela zone. The fair has adopted a digital format, allowing devotees to access real-time information through QR codes on their mobile phones. A dedicated chatbot service is also available for assistance. Deoghar Deputy Commissioner Naman Priyesh said that keeping in view the heavy influx of devotees, all VIP, VVIP, and out-of-turn darshan privileges have been suspended for the entire month of Sawan to ensure smooth crowd flow and fairness. Additionally, touch worship of the Jyotirlinga is not permitted. Devotees can offer holy water through Argha -- a ritual vessel placed inside the temple to facilitate offerings. To help pilgrims, shuttle services have been started for those arriving by bus. Holding points, clean drinking water, accommodation facilities, toilets, healthcare camps, and sanitation services are being closely monitored. Officials, magistrates, and police personnel deployed in the area have been instructed to perform their duties.
Hans India
10-07-2025
- Hans India
World-famous Shravani Mela begins in Deoghar, lakhs of Kanwariyas embark on 108 km pilgrimage
Deoghar: The world-renowned Shravani Mela commenced on Thursday at Baba Baidyanath Dham in Deoghar, Jharkhand, with lakhs of Kanwariyas thronging the sacred town to begin their month-long pilgrimage during the holy month of Sawan. The fair was formally inaugurated at Dumma, on the Jharkhand-Bihar border, in a traditional ceremony marked by Vedic chants. Jharkhand ministers Sudivya Kumar Sonu, Deepika Pandey Singh, and Sanjay Prasad Yadav jointly inaugurated the event. Baba Baidyanath Dham houses Kamna Mahadev, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, making it one of the holiest Shaivite shrines. As per custom, Kanwariyas fetch holy water from the Uttarvahini Ganga in Sultanganj, Bihar, and walk 108 km barefoot to offer it at the Deoghar shrine. This annual religious procession is considered the longest religious fair in Asia, covering a 108 km route from Sultanganj to Deoghar. The pilgrimage, which began on Thursday, coinciding with Guru Purnima, saw thousands of Kanwariyas filling the roads chanting "Bol Bam", creating a spiritual spectacle. The Jharkhand government has estimated that 50 to 60 lakh devotees from across India and abroad are likely to attend the fair this year. To manage the massive footfall, the state government has made elaborate arrangements for accommodation, safety, sanitation, and information dissemination. Tent cities equipped with essential amenities have been established at Kothiya and Baghmara along the Deoghar-Sultanganj route, providing rest areas for thousands of pilgrims. Facilities such as bathing rooms, toilets, medical camps, and information centres have been set up at key locations across the mela zone. The fair has adopted a digital format, allowing devotees to access real-time information through QR codes on their mobile phones. A dedicated chatbot service is also available for assistance. Deoghar Deputy Commissioner Naman Priyesh said that keeping in view the heavy influx of devotees, all VIP, VVIP, and out-of-turn darshan privileges have been suspended for the entire month of Sawan to ensure smooth crowd flow and fairness. Additionally, touch worship of the Jyotirlinga is not permitted. Devotees can offer holy water through Argha -- a ritual vessel placed inside the temple to facilitate offerings. To help pilgrims, shuttle services have been started for those arriving by bus. Holding points, clean drinking water, accommodation facilities, toilets, healthcare camps, and sanitation services are being closely monitored. Officials, magistrates, and police personnel deployed in the area have been instructed to perform their duties.
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Business Standard
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Politicians in power should not consider themselves kings, says Madras HC
The Madras High Court has decided to keep pending its suo motu case against former Tamil Nadu forest minister K Ponmudi for allegedly narrating an obscene joke referring to the Shaivite and Vaishnavite communities, reported by Bar & Bench. The decision comes despite the Tamil Nadu police having closed all related complaints. Justice P Velmurugan, presiding over the matter, remarked that politicians in power should not see themselves as kings or queens entitled to sovereign immunity. He made this comment after Advocate General PS Raman informed the court that Tamil Nadu police had closed all 124 complaints filed against the former minister over his alleged remarks. Justice Velmurugan remarked that nowadays, all politicians and individuals making public speeches seem to believe that Article 19 grants them absolute rights, as if "only the sky is the limit". He added that the court could not remain a silent spectator in such matters. "Everyone taking a mic in public must understand. A strong message should go. So many things are being said, as if they (politicians) are the kings of this country. Whatever they say, (they think) they can do no wrong. The court cannot watch these things silently," Justice P Velmurugan said. The controversy stems from a public event organised by Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam, during which Ponmudi allegedly made a lewd joke referring to Shaivite and Vaishnavite religious symbols. A video of the speech went viral, drawing widespread condemnation, including from DMK MP Kanimozhi. In response, party president and Chief Minister MK Stalin removed Ponmudi from his role as DMK's deputy general secretary. Later, Ponmudi was forced to resign from the Cabinet as well. Case to be heard in August In response to the advocate general's argument that the complainants had the option to approach senior police officials regarding the closure of their cases, Justice P Velmurugan decided to keep the suo motu case pending. He also instructed that police officers must serve closure reports to all 124 complainants. The case is scheduled for further hearing on August 1, 2025.
India Today
08-07-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Politicians act like kings: Madras High Court raps ex-minister for vulgar speech
The Madras High Court came down heavily on former DMK Minister K Ponmudy over his derogatory remarks against Vaishnavites, Saivites, and women of the general category, warning that a CBI probe could be ordered if Tamil Nadu police fail to act against an event in April, Ponmudy made remarks linking Hindu religious identities with sexual a suo motu writ petition initiated by the court, Justice Velmurugan observed, 'Nowadays these politicians feel that sky's the limit under Article 19. We can't be mere spectators. We live in a democracy with many communities.'advertisement The judge further stressed that politicians, while addressing the public, must remember they live in a country meant for everyone, 'not for any particular person, not for the politician alone,' he said. 'Everyone must realise that they're living among the people.''Everyone is taking the mic and saying so many things as if they're the king. As if no one can do anything against the king. The court cannot just watch and tolerate all this,' the court said, as reported by Live Velmurugan also noted that, 'Unfortunately or fortunately, this is the first such case," listing the matter for August a viral video from the public event, Ponmudi was heard saying, 'Women, please don't misunderstand,' before narrating a joke where a man visits a sex worker, who then asks the man whether he is a Shaivite or the anecdote, when the man doesn't understand, she clarifies by asking whether he wears a pattai (horizontal tilak, associated with Shaivism) or a naamam (vertical tilak, associated with Vaishnavism). She then explains that if he's a Shaivite, the position is 'lying down,' and if Vaishnavite, the position is 'standing up'.- EndsMust Watch IN THIS STORY#Tamil Nadu
News18
08-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
'Can't Be Mere Spectators': Madras HC Slams Ponmudi Over Obscene Remarks Insulting Hindu Sects
Hearing the matter, Justice P Velmurugan slammed the DMK minister and said, "Nowadays these politicians feel that sky is the limit under Article 19." The Madras High Court on Tuesday took up the suo motu case initiated over controversial remarks made by Tamil Nadu DMK Minister K Ponmudi on the tilaks of the Hindu sects, Saivites and Vaishnavites. Hearing the matter, Justice P Velmurugan slammed the DMK minister and said, 'Nowadays these politicians feel that sky is the limit under Article 19. We can't be mere spectators. We live in a democracy with many communities." 'When they're coming to public, they must realise that they're living in a country which is meant for every person. It's not meant for any particular person. Not for the politician alone. Everyone must realise that they're living among the people," he added. Earlier in April, Justice Venkatesh took serious note of the issue after an extract of the video containing Ponmudy's remarks was played in open court by a lawyer, during the hearing of a 2023 suo motu revision petition taken up by the court against the minister's acquittal in a case of disproportionate assets. This case was also initiated by justice Venkatesh. Ponmudi, Tamil Nadu Forest Minister and senior DMK leader, landed into a major controversy for his speech at a public event, in which he made remarks linking Hindu religious identities with sexual positions. In a viral video from the event, Ponmudi was heard saying, 'Women, please don't misunderstand," before narrating a joke where a man visits a sex worker, who then asks the man whether he is a Shaivite or Vaishnavite. DMK MP Kanimozhi condemned the statement by Ponmudi. In a post on X, she wrote, 'Minister Ponmudi's recent speech is unacceptable. Regardless of the reason for the speech, such vulgar remarks are condemnable." Following the controversy, the DMK removed Ponmudi from the post of deputy general secretary of the party. First Published: July 08, 2025, 12:33 IST
