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Time of India
a day ago
- Health
- Time of India
122 students of residential school complain of irritation in eyes, blurry vision
Ahmedabad: As many as 122 students of a residential school in Zak village near Dehgam in Gandhinagar district complained of eye-related problems on Monday evening. The affected students, who complained of red eyes, irritation, blurry vision, and excessive tearing, were rushed to Gandhinagar Civil Hospital for treatment. According to officials, the incident occurred around 4 pm at JB Desai Vidya Mandir, a residential school housing approximately 150 students. After consuming their afternoon meal—consisting of laddu, lentils (dal), rice, chapati, and curries—students began reporting discomfort in their eyes one after another. Chief district health officer (CDHO) Dr A J Vaishnav said a total of 122 students were affected. "We dispatched a team after the local Community Health Centre (CHC) flagged the issue. At the hospital, paediatricians, physicians, and ophthalmologists attended to the students. While most showed rapid improvement, two are still under observation due to persistent symptoms," he said. You Can Also Check: Ahmedabad AQI | Weather in Ahmedabad | Bank Holidays in Ahmedabad | Public Holidays in Ahmedabad Dr Vaishnav added that the cause remains undetermined, though a reaction to an external substance is suspected. "We are awaiting lab reports of samples of food, water, and blood collected to confirm the cause," he said. Sources familiar with the situation noted that the school was located near an industrial area, raising the possibility of a chemical leak or gas exposure. "It's plausible that emissions from nearby units could have played a role. A detailed investigation is underway," a source said. Hospital officials confirmed that all but two students were discharged by Tuesday evening. "They responded well to initial treatment and medication. Most returned to the school or were sent home," a Gandhinagar Civil Hospital spokesperson said. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Doctor's Day 2025 , messages and quotes!
India Gazette
5 days 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
15-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Row over Ram Katha in ‘sutak kal'; seer apologises but continues event
1 2 3 Varanasi: Popular narrator of the story of Lord Ram, Morari Bapu, faced objections raised by scholars and seers of Kashi for his holding the Ram Katha event during 'sutak kaal', his period of mourning, following the demise of his wife on Jun 12. Scholars said his holding the religious programme was inauspicious, given his personal circumstance. Ending his Katha session at the Rudraksh International Convention Centre, Bapu sought apology from those who had raised objections, but said he would continue with the Ram Katha event because he was a Vaishnav, hence, followed no such tradition as of abstaining from religious duties while mourning family members. "Many revered figures, great personalities and several people did not find this appropriate and felt it should not have been done. If this has hurt anyone, I sincerely apologise to all and ask for your forgiveness," said Bapu, stating that he offered 'jalabhishek' to Lord Vishwanath and commenced Katha Manas Sindoor on Saturday. Meanwhile, sharp reactions from seers and scholars went viral on social media immediately after Bapu came out of the Kashi Vishwanath temple and left for Rudraksh centre on Saturday. Akhil Bhartiya Sant Samiti's Swami Jitendranand Saraswati said this act of Morari Bapu would not send out the right message to society. Kashi Vidwat Parishad's Prof Vinay Pandey said Bapu's act was highly condemnable. Astrologer Daivagya Krishna Shastri questioned what message Bapu wanted to give to society by offering prayers and reciting Katha despite being in a period of mourning. Pt Sanjay Upadhyaya of Shastrartha Mahavidyalaya held the act as against Shastra. Many individuals and poets trolled Bapu on social media, while a group burnt his symbolic effigy in the Assi area on Saturday.
Hindustan Times
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Classical dancer Sonal Mansingh conferred with Sankardeva Award in Assam
Guwahati, Eminent classical dancer Sonal Mansingh has been conferred with the Srimanta Sankardeva Award for 2023 by Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya. The award was instituted by the Assam government in 1986. In a message, President Droupadi Murmu said Mansingh was an inspiration for the people of the country who faced many challenges but with grit and determination, she overcame that and has made immense contributions to the cultural world. The Vaishnav saint and social reformer Srimanta Sankardeva had spread the message of unity and equality among all sections to strengthen society, the President said. Murmu was scheduled to confer the award on Mansingh on April 25 but her visit was postponed following the terror attack in Pahalgam. She was again scheduled to arrive here on a day-long visit on Wednesday to confer the award but her visit was cancelled due to ''personal reasons". The governor said that the award to Mansingh was in recognition of her lifelong dedication to Indian classical dance, cultural advocacy, and social reform. 'This award is not just a tribute to her as a person, but a recognition of her relentless service in upholding and modernising the spirit of Indian heritage,' he added. Acharya also paid rich tributes to Srimanta Sankardeva, describing him as a spiritual luminary and cultural reformer who transcended regional boundaries to become a national symbol of unity, harmony, and inclusiveness. Speaking on the occasion, Mansingh said that she is grateful to the Assam government for honouring her with this award and this has been possible due to ''Ma Kamakhya's blessings and love of the people of the state''. She said that Bharat Ratna Dr Bhupen Hazarika as the Chairman of Sangeet Natak Akademi had asked her to ascertain whether the Sattriya dance, originated from the Vaishnavite monasteries known as Sattras in Assam, can be declared a classical dance form. ''I along with some others conducted considerable research and we came to the conclusion that it should be the eighth classical dance form of the country,'' the 81-year-old Padma Vibhushan awardee said. The dance form is now performed all over the country as well as abroad and is globally famed, said the she added. Mansingh said that she has earlier presented an entire production on Sankardeva's spiritual philosophy, literary and cultural works and ''I am planning to introduce more 'Borgeets' in the repertory of Bharat Natyam and Odissi''. She was presented with an Angavastram, a gold medallion, the traditional Assamese bell-metal 'Xorai' , a citation and a cheque of ₹five lakh. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on the occasion that for decades, the dancer dedicated herself to taking forward India's classical dance forms and keeping them alive in contemporary times. "It is only fitting that she has been conferred with the Srimanta Sankaradeva Award in recognition of her contributions,'' he said. ''Culture formed the bedrock of Gurujona's teachings and his timeless creation of Sattriya is a testament to it. As the philosophies align, we are proud to present the Srimanta Sankaradeva Award 2023 to the veteran dance exponent,'' Sarma said. Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, who hails from Assam, described Mansingh as a guardian of Indian classical traditions who has equally honoured her social responsibilities with her art. "To honour her with this award is to affirm the values of the great saint in our contemporary cultural landscape,'' he said. Mansingh used Bharat Natyam and Odissi dance forms to raise issues of women empowerment, social justice and environment sustainability and she has inspired several generations through her work and art form, he said.
Time of India
10-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Rare terracotta sculptures unveiled in Chausa museum
Buxar: Rare terracotta sculptures unearthed from Chausa Garh in Buxar are set to reshape Indian art history, said former Rajya Sabha MP Nagendra Nath Ojha at a programme held during the inauguration of a dedicated gallery at the Sitaram Upadhyay Museum on Tuesday. Ojha called for research into the artisans' lives and practices behind the ancient works. The gallery, based on Ram Katha, was jointly inaugurated by Ojha, Buxar Municipal Council chairperson Kamrun Nisha and a representative of the erstwhile Dumraon estate. Museum head Shiv Kumar Mishra said that between 2011 and 2014, the department of art, culture and youth excavated a Vaishnav terracotta temple under Umesh Chandra Dwivedi's supervision. "The site reveals traces of four cultural layers, suggesting a civilisation dating back 4,000-5,000 years," Mishra said. Among the rare finds is a fourth-century clay sculpture of Shiva-Parvati's marriage, believed to be India's oldest. Others depict Vishwamitra, Menaka and Shakuntala, Hanuman, Kumbhakarna, and Ram with some bearing inscriptions in ancient scripts. Mishra added, "Scenes such as Sita's abduction and Ram striking Kumbhakarna with an arrow showcase remarkable craftsmanship." Clay figures of deities, monkeys and mythical beings are also on display. Bronze Jain statues from 1931 found at the same site are preserved in the Bihar Museum. Chairperson Kamrun Nisha commended the museum for preserving Buxar's heritage and pledged continued support.
