Latest news with #SriJagannath
The Hindu
2 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
Religious fervour, devotion marks ‘Kavad Yatra' in Visakhapatnam
Hundreds of devotees participated in the Kavad Yatra 2025, organised by the Marwari Yuva Manch, for the 23rd consecutive year on Sunday. This spiritual procession began at 6 a.m. from Madhavdhara temple, with devotees carrying sacred water in their 'kavads' and chanting 'bol bum/Har Har Mahadev' in reverence to Lord Shiva. The procession culminated at Sri Jagannath temple where devotees offered scared water at the Shiv Linga, located at Daspalla Hills, behind All India Radio, according to Naresh Agarwal, past president of the manch. This year's yatra was conducted with the support and collaboration of several community organisations, including Utkal Samaj, Kerala Kala Samiti, Terapanth Samaj, and Maheshwari Yuva Manch, and cooperation from the police department.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Majhi announces welfare schemes for sanitation workers
Bhubaneswar: Chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Saturday announced comprehensive welfare measures for sanitation workers that is likely to benefit nearly 20,000 workers during a national workshop on "Transforming Core Sanitation Work - Safety, Dignity & Inclusion" held at the Lokseva Bhavan Convention Center. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The landmark announcements include a Rs 10 lakh life insurance coverage for the core sanitation workers engaged in septic and sewerage cleaning activities in different urban areas. They will also receive Rs 30 lakh compensation for accidental deaths. The package also comprises provisions for mobile phones and housing under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban). "This workshop reflects our unwavering commitment to the safety and dignity of sanitation workers who tirelessly maintain the cleanliness of our urban areas," said Majhi while addressing the officials and sanitation workers from seven states and various districts of Odisha. Majhi highlighted the state's successful Garima scheme, which has become a model for other states. The programme has already identified and recognised over 10,000 sanitation workers across 115 urban local bodies as skilled and highly skilled workers. The scheme encompasses worker identification, safety equipment provision, skill development, and social security benefits. The chief minister, during his address, also highlighted how the Sri Jagannath culture stresses the importance of cleanliness. Housing and urban development minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra termed sanitation workers as "invisible heroes", emphasising the need to ensure their rights and safety. Chief secretary Manoj Ahuja noted Odisha's national recognition in the sanitation sector and stressed the importance of extending these initiatives to rural areas. The event also saw participation from Amit Yadav, secretary in the ministry of social justice and empowerment, who praised Odisha's commitment to sanitation workers' welfare. Manvita Baradi, founder director of the urban management center, noted that states are now emulating Odisha's Garima scheme. The chief minister announced a 15-day statewide awareness activity on cleanliness from Aug 15 to 30 to expand sanitation programmes and committed to organising similar national workshops annually in Odisha.
Hans India
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Malhotra condemns cowardly attack on innocents
Bhubaneswar/Puri: Kuarmunda, a small town in tribal-dominated Sundargarh district, observed a 12-hour bandh on Saturday in protest against the Pahalgam attack. As a mark of protest against the April 22 bloodbath, residents voluntarily shut down shops and business establishments in a show of solidarity with the nation. They also demanded the construction of a martyrs' memorial to honour the 26 victims. 'We condemn the killing on the basis of religion. Let Prime Minister Narendra Modi take the strongest action against the culprits,' one of the protestors said. Meanwhile, Union Minister of State for Corporate Affairs and Road Transport and Highways, Harsh Malhotra, during his visit to the city said, 'I want to assure the country that a befitting reply would be given under the leadership of the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister.' He condemned the incident, calling it 'a cowardly attack on the country's innocent people.' Odisha Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan echoed similar sentiments, assuring that the Centre would take stringent action against the culprits. He also said that the Odisha government had initiated steps to deport Pakistani nationals from the State. The BJP supporters also held a procession in Rourkela protesting the terror attack. 'We have submitted a memorandum to the President of India through the local administration condemning the incident at Pahalgam,' Raghunathpali MLA Durga Charan Tanti said. Meanwhile, the Odisha government has beefed up security at Sri Jagannath temple in Puri following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam. The State government has deployed one commandant, two deputy commandants and three assistant commandants to ensure security of the shrine, considered one of the four sacred 'dhams.' An order from the Additional DGP directed the officers concerned to report on April 28. The officers will be on deputation for three years, Puri SP Vinit Agarwal told reporters on Saturday. In addition to the commandants, eight inspectors, 31 sub-inspectors and 24 assistant sub-inspectors will be posted to strengthen security, maintain law and order and streamline queue system for devotees during 'darshan,' Agarwal said. They will also guard the Parikrama corridor, as well as the Gundicha and Mausima temples, he said. Police officers with experience in terrorist operations will be posted on deputation from the armed police battalion, Agarwal said. Although the State had initially resolved to post 1,083 police personnel for Sri Jagannath temple, the number is likely to increase to 1,200, he said. The recruitment process for personnel for this special battalion has already been initiated, the SP said.
New Indian Express
27-04-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Security tightened at Jagannath Temple after Pahalgam terror attack; repairs paused for Rath Yatra
PURI: In the wake of the in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, the Odisha government has heightened security arrangements at the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri. Puri SP Vinit Agarwal informed the media on Saturday that a commandant, two deputy commandants, and three assistant commandants, will be engaged to oversee the security of the temple. A directive issued by the state police headquarters in Cuttack asked the officers concerned to report for duty on April 28. The officers would be on deputation for three years, it stated. 'Apart from the commandants, eight inspectors, 31 sub-inspectors, and 24 assistant sub-inspectors would be posted to strengthen security, maintain law and order, and streamline the queue system darshan for the devotees,' the SP said, adding that police will also be deployed at the Parikrama corridor, Gundicha and Mausima temples. 'Officers having experience in anti-terrorist operations would be posted on deputation from the armed police battalion,' Agarwal said. Though the state had resolved to post 1,083 police personnel for the Srimandir, it is likely to increase to 1,200, he said, adding that the recruitment process of personnel for this special battalion has been initiated. Meanwhile, the ongoing repair and conservation work of both the Ratna Bhandars of the Shree Jagannath Temple will be suspended from April 29 to June 27 to facilitate the observance of several key rituals in the run-up to the Rath Yatra, said chief administrator of Sri Jagannath temple administration (SJTA) Arabinda Padhee. Padhee chaired a meeting on the conservation of the Ratna Bhandars, in which Chhatisha Nijog president Janardan Pattajoshi, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) head of conservation work Chittranjan Das, temple officials, and senior servitors took part. The ASI officials informed that the repair work would continue after the annual Rath Yatra. Padhee said that the restoration of the Bhitar Ratna Bhandar is nearly complete, with granite slabs being installed on the floor. In the Bahar Ratna Bhandar, nine steel box beams have already been fixed, with five more scheduled to be installed. Old corroded iron clamps have been replaced with new ones, he added.
