Hundreds take part in ‘Ram Baraat’ in Agra

Agra, Sept 17 (ANI): Hundreds of people here took part in ‘Ram Baraat’, which is a part of the Ramlila celebrations.

Jeetander Chauhan, a worker, who erected the decorations for the celebrations, said that people were happy that god was among them.

“We are feeling that Lord Ram has appeared among us. Hundreds of people have come to witness this famous god’s marriage,” said Chauhan.

Maya Sharma, a devotee, said that women were also excited about this deity marriage.

“I’m really feeling good that ‘Baraat’ procession of Lord Rama and Sita is taking place. We are feeling good that god himself is present here,” said Sharma.

Every year, a new locality is chosen in Agra and festivities last for three days and the area is elaborately decorated with lights and flowers. The area is given a major face-lift befitting the venue for the divine marriage.

The marriage procession sees marriage between saint Shaligram who represents Lord Ram and holy Basil plant, which represents Sita, his wife.

The place is lit up with thousands of lights and non-stop music. The cinema theatres run film shows throughout the night to accommodate the migratory crowd.

These three days are like a carnival when people from all walks of life come together to have a great time.

The history of Ram Baraat is said to be around 125 years old, when Lala Kokamal, a cloth merchant, started the tradition of three-day festivities, revolving around the royal wedding. (ANI)

Kiwi town bans ‘unlucky’ number 13!

Melbourne, May 26 (ANI): Fear of bad luck has forced a Kiwi town to ban number 13.

Palmerston North, in the central North Island, New Zealand has a policy to jump street numbers from number 11 to 15 to avoid the unlucky figure in-between.

The bizarre regulation is in place so people with triskaidekaphobia, or fear of the number 13, are not deterred from buying homes carrying the number on the letterbox.

According to The Dominion Post newspaper, Palmerston North City Council has admitted the age-old policy is a little odd, reports News.com.au.

And residents at number 15 can apply to have their numbers adapted if they really want.

A 92-year-old World War II vet anti-tank gunner Basil Buckley, who lives in the nearby capital of Wellington also criticised the policy.

Buckley said he’d lived at number 13 without incident for 40 years and the policy was a whole lot of “nonsense”. (ANI)

Autopsy on John Travolta”s son planned in Bahamas

Washington: Two pathologists would perform autopsy on John Travolta”s son to determine the cause of his death, Bahamas’ health minister said.

Jett, 16, who had a history of seizures arising from the rare condition Kawasaki Disease, had been found dead at the actor”s vacation home in Grand Bahama.

Caretaker Jeff Katharain had discovered the collapsed boy in the bathroom on January 2, reports Fox News.

The teenager had then been taken to Rand Memorial Hospital, Freeport, where he was pronounced dead, Police Superintendent Basil Rahming said in a statement.

It is yet to be determined if Jett fell to the floor as a result of a seizure or if he had a seizure after falling or slipping.

Dr. Hubert Minnis revealed that he decided to use a second specialist to help perform the autopsy to ensure a thorough consideration of what might have been the cause of death.

Jett’s body is to be embalmed at Restview Memorial mortuary in the Bahamas.

Owner Keith McSweeney told Radar Online said: “We will embalm the body and there will be a private family viewing. After that, the body will be shipped back to Ocala, Florida.