Latest news with #ShriRajputKarniSena
India.com
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Ajay Devgn rejected this blockbuster due to…, another superstar was offered, it earned Rs 585 crore, film is..., his name is…
Ajay Devgan is among the most accomplished actors in Bollywood and has caused a sensation at the box office numerous times with his movies. Nonetheless, Ajay Devgan made certain choices in his career that he could still regret. Ajay Devgan turned down several major and notable films that later turned into cult-classic. However, this film, which was later did by another superstar, made it a gigantic blockbuster of Indian Cinema. Let's see who this star was. Bollywood Actor… Here we are talking about Shahid Kapoor, whose name does not need any kind of introduction. Shahid played a significant role in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's period drama Padmaavat, which also featured Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone. However, makers did not approach Shahid for the film as they wanted Ajay Devgn to play the role. When Ajay Refused Padmaavat As per reports, Sanjay Leela Bhansali extended a significant role to Ajay Devgan in the movie Padmavat, Shahid Kapoor portrayed Maharwal Ratan Singh in the movie, which was initially presented to Ajay Devgan but, due to his scheduling conflicts with films like Golmaal Again and Raid, he refused to be the part of it. However, it has also been said that Ajay did not like the character, due to which he declined to feature in Padmaavat. The budget for Padmaavat stood at Rs 215 crore. It made Rs 19 crore at the Indian box office on its opening day. On the second day, it generated a revenue of Rs 32 crore. On the third day, it amassed Rs 27 crore. The movie, which made approximately 80 crore in its first three days, accumulated a total of Rs 302.15 crore in India and became a hit by grossing Rs 585 crore globally. Controversies Related To Padmaavat Padmaavat faced numerous controversies throughout its production. Multiple Rajput caste groups, such as the Shri Rajput Karni Sena and its supporters, staged protests and subsequently damaged the film sets, asserting that the movie depicts Padmavati, a Rajput queen, negatively. They had likewise attacked Bhansali on a movie set. The Sena issued additional threats of violence. During the shooting of a scene at Masai Plateau in Kolhapur at night in October 2017, a group of people assaulted and ignited the set, harming animals and ruining numerous costumes. Bhansali and Deepika Padukone faced threats of violence and death many times while shooting this film.
Indian Express
24-05-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Explained: Story of ‘rat temple' near Bikaner, visited by PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (May 24) visited the Karni Mata temple in Deshnok, a small town about 30 km from Bikaner, Rajasthan. Dubbed the 'rat temple', this historical place of worship is famous for being the home to tens of thousands of kabas (rats), which are considered sacred and protected. Karni Mata, also known as Ridhi Kanwar or Ridhu Bai, is believed to have been a 14th–15th sage, and an incarnation of Goddess Durga. She is said to have been born in 1387 CE in the village of Suwap near Phalodi, about 100 km from Deshnok, into a Charan family. (Traditionally, Charans are bards, or court poets and genealogists.) It is said that Ridhi Kanwar was in her mother's womb for 21 months, and her coming was foretold by Goddess Durga herself, who appeared in her mother's dreams. Upon performing many miracles while growing up, Ridhi Kanwar was given the name Karni Mata. Historical details of Karni Mata's life are scant, and much of what is known about her comes from oral tradition and hagiographies, such as the Karni Mata Charitra, which portray her as a spiritual leader who performed miracles and supported rulers including Rao Jodha, the founder of Jodhpur, and Rao Bika ji, the founder of Bikaner. It is said that both Jodhpur and Bikaner were established in 1459 and 1488, respectively, with Karni Mata's blessings. Her followers say she lived for 151 years, before her 'ascension' in 1538 AD. The present structure of the Karni Mata Temple was commissioned in the early 20th century by Maharaja Ganga Singh of Bikaner. 'Karni Mata represents a blend of folk sainthood and goddess worship unique to western Rajasthan,' notes Prof Lindsey Harlan, in Religion and Rajput Women: The Ethic of Protection in Contemporary Narratives (University of California Press, 1992). Charans consider Karni Mata as not just a goddess but also as their kuldevi (tutelary deity). The priests at the Karni Mata temple have traditionally been Charans, who trace their lineage to her family. The community maintains custodianship of the temple. 'For the Charans, Karni Mata is not only divine but a blood relation, which reinforces their caste identity and social authority in the region' wrote Prof Ann Grodzins Gold, in Fruitful Journeys: The Ways of Rajasthani Pilgrims (University of California Press, 1988). Karni Mata is also deeply venerated by Rathore Rajputs, the dominant warrior caste in the region. Her blessings to Rao Jodha and Rao Bika, both Rathore kings, leads to many many Rajput clans in Rajasthan considering her their royal protector and family deity. 'The Karni Mata cult reflects the intertwining of folk sainthood with the political legitimisation of early Rajput kingdoms,' noted Prof Harlan. The first Karni Sena, the Shri Rajput Karni Sena (SRKS) which was created in 2006, derives its name from Karni Mata. Karni Mata is also worshipped by other castes, including the Meghwals and Malis. Her reputation as a just, miracle-working saint who protected her people transcends caste, and her temple offers equal access to devotees. Locally known as kabas, rats are believed to be incarnations of Karni Mata's family members. Legend has it that when her stepson Laxman, also known as Lakhan, drowned, Karni Mata asked Yama, the god of death, to revive him. Yama relented and allowed him and other members of her lineage to be reborn as rats, avoiding the cycle of death and rebirth. Other legends say that when Yamaraj said he was unable to do so, Karni Mata herself revived Lakhan and decreed that her family members would no longer die but be re-incarnated as rats. Hundreds of families living near the temple claim to be descendants of Karni Mata. This belief has transformed the rodents into holy beings: rats are considered to be Karni Mata's descendants, who will then take birth as humans, and then again as rats again in the temple, and so on. There are more beliefs surrounding the rats, one being that despite the presence of a large number of rats, there have been no diseases or infection; that their numbers have mostly stayed the same over the centuries; that there is no foul smell when they die; and that they don't leave the temple premises. The prasad touched by the rats is also considered sacred and followers say that it holds the power to cure ailments. Moreover, spotting a white rat is considered auspicious. The temple holds immense significance for the armed forces in the district bordering Pakistan. That said, the temple's association with the armed forces dates back to the pre-Independence era, long before Pakistan was on the map. Col Mahendra Singh Chandel (retd), recipient of Vishisht Seva Medal, said: 'Karni Mata has been a deity of the erstwhile Bikaner state's armed forces: the Karni Battalion, Sadul Infantry, Dungar Lancers, Vijay Battery and the Ganga Risala. Of these, the Sadul Infantry and Karni Battalion were converted into the 19 Rajput Battalion, which is still sometimes known as 19 Rajput Karni Battalion. Similarly, the Vijay Battery was merged into 41 Field Regiment Artillery and is still sometimes known as 41 Field Karni Regiment.' As part of the tradition, the Commanding Officers of the 19 Rajput Battalion visit the temple whenever they take over. And, during navratra, two non-commissioned officers (NCOs) are sent to the temple to make special offerings on behalf of the Battalion. Karni Mata is seen as a symbol of divine feminine power and is invoked for courage, protection and success, particularly by soldiers with Rajasthani roots. It is common for serving soldiers from the region to visit the temple in uniform, offer prayers, and seek blessings before joining field duty or deployment. 'Military reverence for Karni Mata reflects the traditional martial values of Rajputana, where deities are protectors and guardians in both spiritual and battlefield realms,' said Col R S Rathore (retd), in an interview published in the Journal of Indian Military History, 2015.
Indian Express
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Prakash Raj says Fawad Khan's Abir Gulaal should release: ‘Let people decide…govt allowing bans to create fear in society'
Prakash Raj firmly stands against the ban of any film, irrespective of its ideology. He said public sentiments are getting hurt at the drop of a hat these days. The actor quoted the examples of Deepika Padukone-starrer Padmaavat (2018), Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Pathaan (2023), and more recently, Prithviraj Sukumaran's L2: Empuraan and Fawad Khan-starrer Abir Gulaal. 'I'm not for any banning of films, whether it's right-wing or a propaganda film. Let people decide. People have the right. You can't ban films, unless it's pornography or about child abuse. But thought process? So what? Let them come, no,' said Prakash, reacting to the ban of Aarti S Bagdi's romantic drama Abir Gulaal, starring Pakistani actor Fawad Khan in the lead role. He further said in the interview to The Lallantop, 'Today, anybody can get hurt. 'I'll chop off the nose of Deepika Padukone! I'll behead her!' Useey kya hoga (what effect would that have?). Shah Rukh Khan… just because of a colour? Besharam rang na… they can make a hue and cry about anything they don't like.' Prakash Raj was referring to the Shri Rajput Karni Sena threatening to chop off Deepika's nose if her film Padmaavat is released, which allegedly distorted Rajput history. He also referred to a section of society objecting to the saffron bikini worn by Deepika in the song 'Besharam Rang' from Siddharth Anand's spy thriller Pathaan. 'The present power is letting it happen. They're giving them enough support to let it happen, to create a fear in society,' argued Prakash. 'Certain films are not being made in this country. They will not let it because there's censorship. There was state censorship. Now, they've clearly brought it to Central censorship. They decide what's made. Film industry is a very vulnerable industry. There's money. So their whole idea is to bring so much of fear so that the next generation decides not to even write what they otherwise would. They don't want this discourse,' added the actor. Prakash Raj quoted the example of L2: Empuraan, which was cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification. But after objections were raised towards the alleged depiction of the 2002 violence in Godhra, Gujarat, lead actor Mohanlal issued an apology. Certain cuts were made to the film subsequently. 'The Kashmir Files will release. But some other films won't. There's a conscious attempt that every party will do. Today, it's BJP, but it happened before also. Every powerful central government is always intolerant of questioning. That's why anybody you give too much power to, will become intolerable,' added Prakash.
