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Hundreds take part in ‘Ram Baraat’ in Agra

September 17, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

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)

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Majuli Island inhabitants pray to stop soil erosion

September 12, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Majuli (Assam), Sep 12 (ANI): The inhabitants of Majuli Island in Assam perform a Hindu ritual to check the rapid soil erosion near the banks of the river Brahmaputra.

Swelling water of river Brahmaputra river has eroded the land and the residents fear that their houses near the banks of the river might get washed away.

“We mainly depend on the divine spirit, so we have come to the shore of the river to pray to the divine spirit which has caused us to surrender ourselves having no other means to save ourselves and the holy land,” said Bhabhananda Dev Goswami, Benganati Satradhikar.

He added that the erosion has continued. Majuli is home to many wild birds and animals. Due to the rapid erosion this monsoon, the existence of a famous Benganati Satra (a holy shrine) is in danger. The shrine is among the oldest of its kind.

“People of this land believe and depend on this kind of ritual for their existence and survival. We do believe in modern technologies, but religious rituals are above all. So, today all the satradhikars along with the followers of Majuli have gathered here to pray to the divine god to save this place from rapid erosion,” said Pitamber Dev Goswami, Aunati Satrdhikar.

Every year, torrential monsoon rains create panic in Assam, causing the mighty river and its tributaries to breach embankments, displacing thousands of families. (ANI)

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1st century A.D. colossal statue of Greek God Apollo unearthed in Turkey

September 10, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Washington, September 9 (ANI): Italian archaeologists have unearthed a 1st century A.D. colossal statue of Apollo, the Greek god of the sun, light, music and poetry, from white calcified cliffs in southwestern Turkey.

Colossal statues were very popular in antiquity, as evidenced by the lost giant statues of the Colossus of Rhodes and the Colossus of Nero.

Most of them vanished long ago, with their material re-used in other building projects.

“This colossal statue of Apollo is really a unique finding. Such statues are extremely rare in Asia Minor. Only a dozen still survive,” team leader Francesco D’Andria, director of the Institute of Archaeological Heritage, Monuments and Sites at Italy’s National Research Council in Lecce, told Discovery News.

Split in two huge marble fragments, divided along the bust and the lower part of the sculpture, the 1st century A.D. statue was unearthed at the World Heritage Site of Hierapolis, now called Pamukkale.

Founded around 190 B.C. by Eumenes II, King of Pergamum (197 B.C.-159 B.C.), Hierapolis was given over to Rome in 133 B.C.

The Hellenistic city grew into a flourishing Roman city, with temples, a theatre and popular sacred hot springs, believed to have healing properties.

Standing at more than four meters (13 feet) in height, the newly discovered statue, which is missing the head and the arms, might have been one of the most impressive sights in the city.

“It depicts the Greek god Apollo sitting on a throne and holding the cithara with his left arms. The god wears a wonderfully draped tunic. The cloth has a transparency effect to reveal mighty muscles,” said D’Andria.

Inspired by the great classical masterpieces, the artist did not pay the same peculiar attention to the back of the statue.

“This shows that the sculpture was placed against a wall and was supposed to be seen only frontally,” D’Andria noted.

Standing in all its massive regality, the statue was particularly important for the city, since Apollo was venerated as Hierapolis’ divine founder.

The colossal statue was probably the main sculpture at the sanctuary of Apollo, which was intentionally built over an active fault.

“Hierapolis is a unique site, and archaeologists are bringing to light incredible findings each year. As with all the other ancient buildings, the statue will be virtually reconstructed in full detail,” Francesco Gabellone, an architect at the National Research Council in Lecce, told Discovery News. (ANI)

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Himesh Reshammiya seeks divine blessings for his forthcoming film

August 30, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Mumbai, Aug 30 (ANI): Deviating from the usual glitz and glamour associated with any Bollywood event, the movie unit of the forthcoming film ‘Radio’ led by singer-composer-actor Himesh Reshammiya, released the music album of their production amid religious fervour in Mumbai.

The music album was released during the ongoing festival at the ‘Lalbaug Ka Raja’, as the film crew sought divine blessings of Lord Ganesha, for the success of their film.

‘Radio’ is a modern day love story that deals with the issue of incompatibility between couples today.

The film revolves around the life of a radio jockey Vivan Shah, played by Himesh.

Vivan is undergoing a bitter divorce when he meets Shanaya, who hosts a show with him. The show becomes popular and sends across wrong signal that they are married.

Later the saga relates how Vivan’s estranged wife realises her mistake and wants to reconcile with him.

Himesh admitted that he had to prepare a lot to get into the role of a radio jockey.

“I’m playing the role of a radio jockey working at Radio Mirchi. I had to train with the radio jockeys. I used to observe these radio jockeys and how a radio jockey keeps his reflexes. I want all of you to pray for the success of my film,” he said.

‘Radio’ is slated to hit the screen worldwide on December 11. (ANI)

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‘Guru Purnima’ celebrated all over India

July 8, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Allahabad/Shirdi/ Chandigarh, July 7 (ANI): Hundreds of devotees converged on the banks of River Ganges in Allahabad to take a dip at Sangam and offer prayers on the occasion of ‘Guru Purnima’.

“After bathing in the river, we will offer prayers to our guru. Taking a dip at Sangam on this day holds great significance,” said Jagannath Singh, a devotee.

The day of full moon, Purnima, in the month of Ashadh of the Hindu calendar is traditionally celebrated as Guru Purnima. On this day, devotees offer worship to their guru.

While the entire country celebrates Guru Purnima on the full moon day, the festivities related to this occasion commenced earlier at Shirdi in Maharashtra.evotees from across the country and even abroad thronged the shrine of Sai Baba, the revered saint and sought his blessings on the auspicious occasion.

“Many Sai Baba devotees come to Shirdi to observe Guru Purnima,” said Balkrishna Joshi, a temple priest.

According to a legend, Sai Baba was a nameless pauper who took shelter in a mosque in Shirdi but never asked for food or water or sought alms. He rarely spoke.

Curious villagers took pity on this feeble and sparsely clothed man and donated fruits and clothing. And it is said that to their surprise the Fakir (mendicant) shared whatever he got with the destitute and even animals.

Soon the ascetic was named Sai Baba by his admirers. The poor, needy and the destitute from far off began pouring in to seek and share his divine wisdom.

It is also said that during his last days, Sai Baba gave nine coins as blessings, to one of his ardent devotees named Lakshmi Bai, who had served him unfailingly for 45 years.

Lakshmi Bai used to cook meals for Sai Baba and feed him with her hands and the ritual continued till he departed from this world.

The coins are still preserved with reverence by the descendants of Lakshmi Bai. Indeed, these coins are protected with utmost care by the members of the family. (ANI)

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Monsoon woes continue in Uttar Pradesh

July 4, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Madna (Uttar Pradesh), July 4 (ANI): Delay in Monsoon in Uttar Pradesh, is upsetting villagers and farmers of Madna village, as they are going through a tough time as the fields in the region have almost dried up.

Harvesting was supposed to start by June 15 but with the delay in monsoons, the whole schedule went haywire.

“We haven’t received any rainfall since last monsoon. We received light rainfall some 7-8 days ago but it was of no benefit. The crops are completely dried up. We don’t plough the land now as the crops which have dried up are now finished,” said Kamlesh Singh, owner of a field.

The village head of Madna, Om Prakash fears that if the current situation continues, it may bring the villagers on the verge of death.

“Farmers are feeling helpless as our village is a flood prone village and many of the sugarcane crops got destroyed earlier because of it. This time we just had wheat crop yield and if there are no rains, then drought might occur and bring the farmers to the verge of death,” said Om Prakash.

Meanwhile, priests in Hyderabad performed fire rituals to appease the Hindu God of rain, Indra.

While incessant rains are lashing the western parts of the country disrupting normal life, it is playing truant in some southern parts of the country.

The monsoon is crucial for summer-sown (Kharif) crops and most of the country’s marginal farmers rely solely on the rains.

Lack of rains has created concern among people across the country. Thus almost all farmers are desperately seeking divine intervention. Parched farmlands present a grim situation. (ANI)

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Rain prayers in Rajouri

July 2, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Rajouri, July 2 (ANI): Residents offered prayers for rains at a shrine in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri District, putting all their hopes on divine intervention.

Situated near to the Line of Control (LoC) between India and Pakistan, the shrine of saint Sain Lal Din at Sorah Pani is said to cure all woes of devotees and fulfil all their wishes.

Devotees from the state and from outside are visiting the shrine with the hope that with god’s grace there shall be rain.

“There were prayers especially for the rain and for prosperity in the country. By the grace of god everything will be sorted out and nothing will remain unsolved,” said Ali Shah Bokhari, a resident.

Lack of rains has caused concerns among the people across the country. Thus, farmers are desperately seeking divine intervention.

The four-month (June-September) monsoon is the main source of water for irrigation in the country.

Ample rainfall helps agricultural output, which contributes a fifth of the country’s gross domestic product. (ANI)

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Hindus, Muslims pray for rains in Patna

June 27, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Patna, June 27 (ANI): Following a delayed monsoon, people in Bihar have turned anxious and want the God to bless them with rains.

On Saturday, various Hindus and Muslims held special prayers to invoke divine powers of the Rain Gods who, they believe, have decided to give the region a miss.

Residents said while incessant rains are lashing western parts of the country disrupting normal life, it played truant here.

Many Hindus participated in a Yajna, or the holy fire ritual whereas members of the Muslim community offered Namaz for rains.

Priests chanted shloka and hymns that reverberated in the entire vicinity during the Yajna ceremony.

“We are pleasing the rain God by offering this prayer. We are praying here in a hope that the rain God accepts our wish and grants us with rain. This rain will bring smile on the faces of the farmers and would help bringing back greenery in the state,” said Prakash Malakar, a Hindu priest.

Members of the Muslim community, took part in prayer session and said they had full faith that the Gods would be pleased and rains would soon touch not only Bihar but other parched lands as well.

“The intense heat and lack of rain is not only causing serious problems to the people of Bihar but to other states as well. We wish that Allah blesses not only Bihar with rains but also the other drought hit regions,” said Mohammad Kalimuddin, a Muslim priest.

The delay in the arrival of monsoon is becoming a cause of concern for the masses especially farmers, as nearly two-thirds of agriculture depend on the rains and two-thirds of the population is dependent on agriculture.

The Meteorological Department has said that the total rainfall from the crucial June-September monsoon would be 93 percent of the long-term average, coming in below normal for the first time in four years. (ANI)

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Rain ritual in Akola

June 23, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Akola (Maharashtra) June 23 (ANI): The delay in onset of monsoon is giving sleepless nights to farmers in Akola district of Maharashtra, as their plants are dying due to water scarcity.

Children of the region are seeking divine help by performing traditional rituals to end the continuing dry spell.

As per the ritual, children tie neem tree leaves around their waist and beg for rain.

Semi-clad children tying frogs with tree leaves also hopped around the entire village, chanting couplet as “Dhondi, Dhondi pani de (God give us rain).

Farmers said that this traditional ritual was meant to please the rain Gods.

Akola falls under Vidarbha region of Maharshtra, where hundreds of farmers committed suicide due to debt-burden and poverty in recent years. Now delay in monsoon rains have added to their woes.

Meanwhile, the weather department said that monsoon might cover Maharashtra by first week of July. By Ravi Patil(ANI)

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Hugh Grant’s post-scandal chat declared best moment of Leno’s Tonight Show

May 25, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Washington, May 25 (ANI): Hugh Grant’s first TV chat after his headline-making arrest in 1995 has bagged the top prize in a new magazine poll of the best moments of The Tonight Show, during comedian Jay Leno’s tenure as its host.

Entertainment Weekly magazine has put together the best bits of comedian Leno, who is set to end his 17-year tenure with the late-night show on May 29.

And Grant’s interview, after he was taken into custody for misdemeanour lewd conduct in a public place with Hollywood prostitute Divine Brown, has taken the cake in the survey, reports Contactmusic.

The Mickey Blue Eyes’ actor’s infamous episode went on to beat President Barack Obama’s historical appearance in March, along with Leno’s tete-a-tete with Arnold Schwarzenegger when he announced his candidacy for California Governor in 2003.

The chat show king had sent the crowd into laughter when he began his interview with Grant in July, 1995, asking, “What the hell were you thinking?” (ANI)

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Madhuri Dixit’s fan celebrates her 42nd birthday in Ranchi

May 16, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Ranchi, May 15 (ANI): A die-hard fan of the Bollywood actress Madhuri Dixit’s has celebrated his idol’s 42nd birthday in a special way.

Ranchi-based Pappu Sardar has been celebrating Dixit’s birthday ince 1996. His dedication to the star has no limits

He installed Madhuri’s idol to perform ‘Aarti’ with incense sticks. He even placed a plate of sweets as divine offering to her.

Earlier, his neighbours used to consider him crazy, but now they eagerly wait for the annual event, and wholeheartedly join in the revelries.

“I have been celebrating her birthday since 1996. Even I cannot explain to you as to why I celebrate her birthday. When I started it, people thought me to be crazy but now all wait for it and even wish to know what I am going to do on her birthday,” Sardar said.

On this auspicious occasion, Sardar also invited a tiny troupe of eunuchs to participate in the celebrations and perform gyrating dances.

As usual, the eunuchs danced on the beats and tunes of popular dance numbers from Dixit’s movies. Pappu too shook a leg with them.

The 60-movies old actress is now married and to a US based NRI, Dr. Sriram Nene.

The Padma Shri award winner has performances of ‘Parinda’, ‘Devdas’, ‘Hum Apke Hain Kaun’, ‘Mrityudand’, Dil To Pagal Hai’, ‘Tezaab’ and ‘Pukaar’ to credit. (ANI)

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UPA is an “Ulta Pulta Alliance”

May 11, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 11 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad on Monday described the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) as an “Ulta Pulta (topsy turvy) Alliance”.

Hours after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh questioned Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s secular credentials,Prasad said the UPA was a divided house.

“Manmohan Singh looked pessimistic and defeated. The campaign of Congress lacks maturity and no one knows who is saying what. UPA is Ulta Pulta Alliance,” Prasad said at a press conference in the capital.

Prasad said the Congress was confused, with some leaders praising Nitish Kumar and others criticizing him.

“Rahul Gandhi praised Nitish Kumar. He said he (Nitish Kumar) did good work, Sheila Dikshit said the same. But Manmohan Singh said he didn’t do good work and didn’t spend the money the centre gave him. The PM said Nitish is an incompetent chief minister, Rahul says the opposite,” Prasad said.

“It’s not in the DNA of Congress to run a coalition. It believes in the divine right to rule,” he added.

Prasad said the UPA had “collapsed” and the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance “has emerged as the front runner with hope and self confidence”.

“The UPA is an alliance which is non existent and filled with pessimism. I would like to remind the prime minister to look inwards, your house has collapsed like a pack of cards.” (ANI)

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Haj pilgrims in Uttar Pradesh to be chosen by computerised lots

May 6, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Lucknow, May 6 (ANI): The Haj Committee for Uttar Pradesh has come up with a novel mode of computerised system through which the aspiring devout Muslims will be chosen by lots for the pilgrimage to Mecca and Madina, known as the Haj.

The first list of pilgrims chosen through such lots was released in Lucknow on Tuesday.

Thousands of aspiring pilgrims waited anxiously to hear their names confirmed from the data that was compiled by the Haj Committee and uploaded on its website, prior to the draw of lots.

Sheikh Mohammad Khan, an applicant contended that it is the Lord Almighty’s call when one’s name gets selected through the online system of lots.

“What a better moment of happiness can we get? This is such an opportunity, which only a fortunate person can get. A lot of this fortune depends on the blessings of Lord Allah. A person experiences a divine feeling when he gets selected through the computerised system of lots,” he said.

According to official figures of Central Haj Committee, the total number of Haj seats allotted to India during 2009 is 1,60,000 of which 45,000 will be earmarked for Haj trips organised by private operators.

Out of the 160 thousand, 27,378 Haj pilgrims are from the state of Uttar Pradesh itself.

Another applicant Haleem Farooqi mentioned that his family and friends have been praying for him so that he gets an opportunity to undertake this holy pilgrimage.

The escalated number of applicants in India had created a problem for the respective Haj Committees in various states in finalising the list of pilgrims.

To overcome this bottleneck and crisis, the choosing of names through computerised lots was introduced in 2007.

Saudi Arabia grants Haj visas to countries based on certain strict ratio of quotas but has increased the numbers over the past couple of years.

Haj, one of the largest manifestations of religious devotion in the world, retraces the path of Prophet Mohammad 14 centuries ago after he defeated pagan forces in Mecca. (ANI)

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Prince reveals his childhood epilepsy ordeal

May 2, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, Apr 30 (ANI): American musician Prince Rogers Nelson has in an exclusive interview revealed the ordeal he went through while suffering from epilepsy.

Prince, 50, revealed to US talk show host Tavis Smiley that when he was “born epileptic” his parents had to struggle to cope with his fits.

“My mother and father didn’t know what to do or how to handle it but they did the best they could with what little they had,” the BBC quoted him as saying.

The singer said he was “teased a lot” at school, and also recalled how as a child he believed divine intervention had helped him overcome the illness.

“My mother told me one day I walked in to her and said, ‘Mum, I’m not going to be sick anymore’,” he said.

“She said ‘Why?’ and I said ‘Because an angel told me so.’ Now, I don’t remember saying it, that’s just what she told me,” he added.

He went on to reveal that before the seizures stopped he tried to “compensate” for the illness by being “as noisy as I could and be as flashy as I could”. (ANI)

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Divine intervention helped Drogba gain form

April 26, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, Apr 26 (ANI): Didier Drogba’s family is thanking divine intervention for helping restore him as the leading scorer of Chelsea.

Drogba is heading for a Champions League semi-final first leg in Barcelona on Tuesday with fans amazed by his comeback after being dumped by previous Blues boss Big Phil Scolari.

And uncle Michel Goba, the ex-pro who brought him up as a kid, believes the power of prayer has been at work.

“Only those close to him know how Didier had suffered this season. He had hit rock bottom. I remember watching him in a Premier League match at Liverpool on TV and he hardly touched a ball. Even when he did, he could not control it,” Goba said.

“His father Albert and I are very religious men. It was God who gave me the idea of bringing Didier from his Ivory Coast home as a child when I went to play football in France.

“Didier proved his resilience then and has done so many times over since, but we thought he needed a little help from above, too. So Albert and I both prayed in Paris for force and energy to be transmitted to Didier because he had a massive job in front of him,’ News of the World quoted Goba, as saying.

“I believe our prayers were answered – especially when you consider how far he had to come back.

“He would have left if Phil Scolari had stayed as boss. Now his future is for him to decide. All I know is that he is a man with a mission and that is to win the Champions League,” he added.

Goba, who coaches the town team of Athis- Mons in Paris, wants to work in England with a lower division club. (ANI)

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Pak Taliban denies entering Jammu and Kashmir to disrupt elections

April 22, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Islamabad, Apr 22 (ANI): Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan has said that it had nothing to do with parliamentary elections being held in India, and dismissed reports of its militants entering Jammu and Kashmir.

The chief spokesman of Tehreek-e-Taliban, Haji Muslim Khan, strongly refuted reports that the Taliban had entered Jammu and Kashmir.

“We fail to understand why India has unleashed a propaganda that the Taliban had entered the Kashmir Valley. By such tactics, India wants to harass Kashmiris,” he said, adding that they only wanted to enforce the will of Allah (Islam) all over the world.

“If we decide to fight the Indians in Kashmir, no power on earth can stop us,” The Nation quoted Khan, as saying.

“Elections in India are not a matter of Taliban’s interest. We are fighting for a bigger cause. Why should Taliban enter Kashmir to disrupt the Indian elections,” he asked.

Khan wondered why Muslims were waiting for the Taliban to enforce Islam everywhere instead of rising to the occasion themselves.

He said Pakistani leadership had stopped aiding Kashmiri fighters.

“But they cannot dampen their faith nor deter their resolve for attaining their right to self-determination. Whether or not Pakistan supports the militants, they should continue their struggle for the cause,” Khan said.

“Fight for territory is not jihad. The real jihad is to enforce the divine law based on justice, which breaks the shackles of human slavery,” Khan said.

He said India and America had been justifying the use of gun for themselves and not for others.

“And, when Muslims use it (gun) in self-defence, it is viewed as dangerous. If use of gun by India and the US is justified, why not by the Muslims, in self-defence,” Khan asked. (ANI)

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Buddhists pray for world peace in Sikkim

April 17, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Rongyek (Sikkim), Apr 17 (ANI): Hundreds of Buddhist devotees congregated at Sa- Ngor Gompa monastery here to pray for world peace and welfare of humanity.

The devotees chanted holy mantras as they offered prayers for peace and harmony in the world.

“What we did today is for world peace. For that, everybody is working towards that. What if it is through recitation of mantra, but they all contributed to the world peace,” said Tashi Tenzing, an organiser.

The colourful congregation also drew some foreigners to the monastery.

“I think it is very important to keep thinking about world peace,” said Elizabeth, a visitor from United States.

In times, when the world is grappling with terrorism, such prayers provide means to people to seek divine intervention in getting rid of such menaces. (ANI)

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‘Mahavir Jayanti’ being celebrated today

April 7, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Apr. 7 (ANI): ‘Mahavir Jayanti’, the birthday of Lord Mahavir, is being celebrated today with religious zeal and gaiety across the country.

President Pratibha Singh Patil, Vice President Hamid Ansari and Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh have greeted citizens of the country on the occasion.

In her message, President Patil said: “May the message of Lord Mahavir, of love, compassion and peace, guide our conduct and inspire us to follow the path of ‘Ahimsa’ for good of all humanity.”

“On the occasion of ‘Mahavir Jayanti’, I extend my greetings and good wishes to all my fellow citizens,” she added.

Vice President Ansari urged the countrymen to imbibe Mahavir’s teachings for promoting peace and enduring happiness of humanity.

“Bhagwan Mahavir, through his divine life and teachings, showed us the path of non-violence, truthfulness, peace and universal love. His teachings are relevant at all times to emancipate mankind from suffering and to ensure peace and happiness through spiritual excellence,” he said.

Prime Minister Dr. Singh said: “Lord Mahavir’s life and philosophy inspires everybody to lead a life of compassion, sacrifice and non-violence.”

On the occasion, Dr. Singh also wished the countrymen happiness and prosperity. (ANI)

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Politicians seek divine blessings for polls

April 5, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Bhopal, April 5 (IANS) With the Lok Sabha polling dates fast approaching, many political heavyweights have descended at the well-known Pitambara Shakti Peeth temple in Madhya Pradesh to seek divine blessings for victory in the elections.

Several candidates in Madhya Pradesh whose tickets have been finalized have started performing religious rituals, including tantrik rites, hoping for success.

‘Most of the tantrik rituals are performed in secret as there is a strong belief that they don’t work if they are performed publicly,’ said a priest.

Several top leaders, including from the Scindia family, arrived a few days ago at Pitambara Peeth, located at the entrance of Datia town near Gwalior, for performing puja.

Prominent among those who arrived include former Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje and her sister and Gwalior MP Yashodhara Raje Scindia.

Their relative and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Dhyanendra Singh and his MP wife Maya Singh are also leaving no stone unturned in appeasing the goddess at the Pitambara Peeth.

‘All these leaders have shunned colourful clothes and are dressed in yellow attire. They are not only doing sewa (public service) at the temple but are not eating anything brought from outside. They are surviving only on home-cooked food in order to appease the goddess,’ said an official of the temple trust.

Others who visited the temple include BJP’s Madhya Pradesh president Narendra Singh Tomar, Madhya Pradesh PWD Minister Nagendra Singh, Water Resources Minister Anup Misra, who is the nephew of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and former minister Narottam Misra, who is contesting against Jyotiraditya Scindia from Guna.

‘They performed pujas to earn the favour of the almighty in the polls either for themselves or their party,’ the official said.

Leaders of the Congress, including Madhya Pradesh party chief Suresh Pachauri, are seeking the blessings of various deities for the success of the party.

‘Pachauri has already visited the Pitambara Peeth during Navratri. His supporters have organised yagnas in the towns of Dwarka and Ujjain though Pachauri’s candidature is yet to be finalized,’ a Congress leader told IANS.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s loyalists are reported to have fanned out to various religious places like the Lord Venkateshwara temple in Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh, the Guruvayur Krishna temple in Thrissur district of Kerala and the Sankat Mochan temple in Varanasi to pray for his victory.

Leaders from other states also visited the Pitambara Peeth. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati’s close aide Satish Chandra Misra and Minister Badshah Singh went to the temple after the announcement of the polls.

‘Candidates of all the parties are performing pujas and yagnas. Most leaders are opting for the Akhand Ramayana Path (recitation of Ramayana for 24 hours) or Durga Saptashati Path (recited for nine days),’ said Pandit Rajesh Sharma.

Some of the aspirants, hoping for sure success, have opted for a special prayer, the Shat Chandi Path, which takes 21 days, said Sharma.

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Navratra at Vaishno Devi shrine in Kashmir

March 29, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Katra (J-K), Mar 28 (ANI): Devotees offered evening prayers at the famous shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi as the nine-day Hindu festival of “Navratri” beganith religious fervour on Friday.

Nestling amidst Trikuta hills in the Himalayas, the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine and the base camp, the temple town of Katra in the foothills, present a festive look these days.

Thousands of devotees are pouring in from across the country to undertake a pilgrimage to the shrine during the Navratra festival.

Continuing for over a century, the festival was declared official by the Jammu and Kashmir Government 12 years ago, with an objective of projecting the rich culture and heritage of the region.

To seek the blessings of the Divine Mother in her three manifestations of Maha Saraswati, Maha Kali and Maha Lakshmi, over 6.5 million pilgrims visit the shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi every year.

Chaitra Navratri is most famous in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and in other parts of North India.

Temporary stalls are set up by the road side or near the temples selling traditional goods for the festival such as diyas of all sizes, coconuts, clay pottery (matkas), dupattas for women, wrist-bands, special garlands made of marigold and other flowers, beads, and agarbatti sticks.

Chaitra Navratra is known by different names like Ram Navratri, Vasant Navratri, Basant Navrathri and some people also refer it as Spring Navaratras. By Tahir Nadeem Khan (ANI)

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