J-K locals find antique idols inside caves

Kathua (Jammu and Kashmir), May 6 (ANI): Locals in Jammu and Kashmir”s Kathua District have found several antique idols, including that of Lord Shiva (Hindu god) and Lord Sheshnag (Hindu serpent deity), insides the caves of Billawar town.

The villagers claimed that a shepherd once dreamt of Lord Shiva, who informed him about the presence of idols in the caves.

They said that the shepherd once took a woman suffering from pain in her back to the site, and after taking a dip in the water in the cave she was relieved of her backache.

“A shepherd dreamt of Lord Shiva telling him about the caves. He took the woman near the caves and she got rid of her pain after bathing in the holy water inside the caves. The yatra (journey) is on from the fifth day of Navratra (nine days and nights sacred to the Goddess) and is still continuing. First time in 18 years in this place, I have seen that Lord Shiva Himself is showering his blessings,” said Babu Singh, a devotee.

“Lord Sheshnag and Lord Shiva reside here. We have come to visit the place. A Shivling and idols of Lord Radha Krishna, and looking at the idols, you will see, water is flowing from Lord Shiva”s hair. People, who will bathe in the holy water would get rid of various diseases and Lord Shiva will grant them their wishes,” he added.

The Cave Committee formed by locals is making arrangements to make it easier for the devotees to visit the caves. Though the terrain is rough, as there is no direct path to the caves, hundreds of devotees throng the place daily to offer prayers.
Devotees had to cross the Ujh River, which comes on the way.

“It has Lord Sheshnag and Lord Shiva. It is a bit difficult to walk on the path. The committee has already started working to improve the path. Money is coming and the development work is on,” said Cave Committee President Satpal Gupta.

“The problem is that the water level of the Ujh River has increased, so people are not able to walk across. Donations are being raised for the development,” he added.

The regular visits of the devotees here has come as a blessing in disguise for the local people, as it has increased the scope of employment for them following the setting up of small shops outside the caves. (ANI)

Manipur Ras festival 2010, a feast to eyes

Imphal, Apr 19 (ANI): Manipuri dance is one of the major Indian classical dance forms.

The cult of Radha and Krishna, particularly the Raslila, is central to its themes.

The Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy in Imphal came alive for five days as brightly attired artists performed the `Maha Ras Lila’.

The legend goes that when Krishna, Radha and the Gopis danced the Ras leela, Shiva made sure that no one disturbed the magnificent dance.

Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva also wished to see this dance, so to please her, he chose the beautiful area of Manipur and re-enacted the Ras Leela.

Since then, the Ras Leela has been performed in the northeastern state of Manipur.

This year, all forms of Ras Lila – Vasanta Ras, Diva Ras, Nitya Ras, Kunja Ras and Maha Ras along with Sankirtans were collectively performed on a single platform.

The motive was to educate the youth about different dance forms.

Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy Director, Dilip Mayengbham said the event will facilitate the students.

“To facilitate to the students, teachers and experts, there will be discussion tomorrow, then there will be another form of Raas and there will be another discussion then, the philosophy, beauty, costumes, origin, originality will be discussed,” Mayengbham said.

Ten dance troupes and five sankirtana groups from across the state participated in the festival that also attracted many artists from remote areas.

The event aimed at supporting the artists who perform Ras Lila to ensure that the legacy of the great Gurus and dancers lives on for generations to come.

The event inspired people to do productive activities like this.

“I want to convey good wishes to our brothers and sisters and we should turn our attention to such kind of activities and dance so that we all have a good and prosperous life,” said Hemabati.

The delicate movements, the music and the grace of the dancers marked the performance. (ANI)

Manipur Ras festival 2010, a feast to eyes

Imphal, Apr 19 (ANI): Manipuri dance is one of the major Indian classical dance forms.

The cult of Radha and Krishna, particularly the Raslila, is central to its themes.

The Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy in Imphal came alive for five days as brightly attired artists performed the `Maha Ras Lila’.

The legend goes that when Krishna, Radha and the Gopis danced the Ras leela, Shiva made sure that no one disturbed the magnificent dance.

Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva also wished to see this dance, so to please her, he chose the beautiful area of Manipur and re-enacted the Ras Leela.

Since then, the Ras Leela has been performed in the northeastern state of Manipur.

This year, all forms of Ras Lila – Vasanta Ras, Diva Ras, Nitya Ras, Kunja Ras and Maha Ras along with Sankirtans were collectively performed on a single platform.

The motive was to educate the youth about different dance forms.

Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy Director, Dilip Mayengbham said the event will facilitate the students.

“To facilitate to the students, teachers and experts, there will be discussion tomorrow, then there will be another form of Raas and there will be another discussion then, the philosophy, beauty, costumes, origin, originality will be discussed,” Mayengbham said.

Ten dance troupes and five sankirtana groups from across the state participated in the festival that also attracted many artists from remote areas.

The event aimed at supporting the artists who perform Ras Lila to ensure that the legacy of the great Gurus and dancers lives on for generations to come.

The event inspired people to do productive activities like this.

“I want to convey good wishes to our brothers and sisters and we should turn our attention to such kind of activities and dance so that we all have a good and prosperous life,” said Hemabati.

The delicate movements, the music and the grace of the dancers marked the performance. (ANI)

Special Holi celebrations at Guwahati’s Kamakhya Temple

Guwahati, Mar. 31 (ANI): Thousands of devotees from across the country gathered at Guwahati’s Kamakhya Temple to celebrate a special Holi festival.

The festival is celebrated on the full moon day after the Navratri to please Goddess Kamakhya, the consort of Lord Shiva.

Devotees offer prayers to the Goddess Kamakhya, smear colour on each other and sing devotional songs in praise of the goddess.

As a part of celebrations, the idol of the goddess is taken from the altar and carried in a palanquin to the nearby Bogola Temple.

After worshiping the goddess there, the devotees bring back the idol to its place.

“The idol of the goddess is worshipped in a temple nearby and after the worship rituals are finished there, the idol is brought back here. This is the Goddess” Holi,” said Sobha Kant Dobey, a tourist from Bihar.

The celebrations this year took place on a rainy day, which saw the devotees celebrating with great gusto.

“This is Mother”s power that it is her Holi today and it is raining as well. That”s why we believe in religion,” said Manik Deori, a priest.

The priests who participate in this festival are not allowed to eat outside the temple for 15 days.

It is only after the Holi celebrations that priests are permitted to eat at their homes. (ANI)

Godman incarnation near Bangalore supplicated by cannabis

Bangalore, March 10 (ANI): In a bizarre ritual, large number of devotees visit a temple in Bangalore’s Chitradurga district and smoke cannabis during an annual festival as an expression of their devotion to the deity here.

The temple’s main deity Nayakana Hatti Tipperudraswami is said to be the incarnation of Lord Shiva.

Visiting this temple during the annual festival shows how men and women consume cannabis during this festival, held in March, in the name of the strange belief.

Also related to this 800-year-old unusual ritual is a belief of some people that smoking cannabis enables the smoker to develop a better focus in the worship of the deity here.

People here believe that God favours those devotees who smoke cannabis here and they attain ‘salvation’ after smoking cannabis.

Legend has it that Tipperudraswami came to Nayakana hatti and stayed until his last days. The God created the pyre for his cremation.

“The fair is of Guru Eppseswamy (another name of Nayakana Hatti Tipperudraswami) is being observed every year for 800 years. He attained Moksha (salvation) at this place,” said Shekharappa, Member of Temple Committee.

Some of the hermits believe that cannabis should be consumed by them alone as it is the sacred offering of God.

“In our Shavana community, many people call it (cannabis) as ”Ganja” or ”Patri”. But it is none of these. It is ”Shiva Patri”. I should say that only the Shavana community should be allowed to smoke it. No other people have authority over it,” said, Niranjan Swamiji, a hermit.

Though it is illegal to buy, sell or possess cannabis in the country, the fair provides an opportunity to cannabis sellers and buyers, as they can trade cannabis here without any hassle. (ANI)

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To View Vaikathashtami Festival Video Click Here

Vaikom Mahadeva Temple

Vaikathashtami Festival is a very popular festival of Kerala which takes place during the month of November or December. This festival is dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva in the form of Shivalinga. The Vaikathashtami Festivalis observed at Vaikom Mahadeva Temple. This temple is one of the oldest and the most popular temples of the country.

Vaikathashtami or Vaikkath Asthami is celebrated on the Ashtami of the Malayalam month Vrischikam (November – December). This year 2009 Vaikathashtami festival falls on 9th December 2009.

Vaikom Mahadeva temple is located at Vaikom. It is about 40 km away from Kottayam district and around 30 km south of Kochi. It is one of the important pilgrim centres of the south India and is considered as one of the largest and the oldest of all the temples in Kerala.Vaikkom gets its name from Vyaghra Pada, the sage who carried the idol of Lord Shiva to the temple.

The Vaikathashtami festival lasts for 12 days and the most important day is the Ashtami day.

To View Vaikathashtami Festival Video Click Here

Disney ‘to bring Hindu mythological superheroes to screen’

Nevada (US), September 14 (ANI): Disney is reportedly in talks with India’s Vimanika Comics to bring Hindu mythological superheroes to film and television.

It could see Karna brought to life on screen.

In mythology, Karna was the son of Kunti and sun-god Surya who was equipped with celestial arms and armor.

However, Hindus are concerned.

Acclaimed Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, while welcoming Hollywood to film ancient Hindu scriptural subjects, urged them to stay true to the story and the spirit of the scriptures.

Zed said that changing ancient Sanskrit scriptures to fit the Hollywood machine were likely to hurt the Hindu sentiments.

According to him, refashioning Hinduism concepts, symbols, doctrines for mercantile greed is not acceptable, as it is the oldest and third largest religion of the world with about one billion followers and a rich philosophical thought and it should not be taken lightly.

Vimanika reportedly plans to launch graphic versions of Dashaavatar, Legend of Karna, Lord Shiva, and Lord Garuda; and is looking to convert comics to online/mobile games. Its other titles include “Moksha”. Its tagline is “Bringing you Myth like no Other”! (ANI)

Radio Pakistan unable to understand importance of Goddess Kali

Abohar, Aug.24 (ANI): The Punjabi Durbar programme of Radio Pakistan has chosen to hurt the feelings of Hindus in border areas by calling the Goddess Kali as “bloodthirsty”.

In its recent broadcast, Radio Pakistan said that Hindus sacrifice innocent lives to their Gods and Goddesses and described Kali, who fights evils in the world, as bloodthirsty.

The programme has surprised local residents and some temple priests in border villages. They say Radio Pakistan staff should educate themselves and learn that Goddesss Kali is an incarnation of Goddess Parvati, the wife of Lord Shiva. She took on the image of Kali to kill a demon.

“Goddess Parvati took a form of Goddess Kali when she got annoyed with the destruction caused by an demon Rakt-Beej. The Demon had a special power by which he could take rebirth whenever any drop of his blood falls on the soil. To kill this monster Goddess Parvati took the image of Goddess Kali and consumed every drop of blood so that no drop fell on soil” said Pappu Sharma, a priest at the Maa Kali temple.

People in the border villages feel that the broadcasts should not make casual remarks about Indian gods. People living in villages are quite religious-minded and any attempt to tarnish the image of Gods would make them angry.

Everyone knows presently Pakistan is faced with political turbulence, challenge from Taliban and fundamental forces. The U.S. is exerting pressure to take visible actions to root-out extremism.

Listeners on the Indian side of the border feel that, despite its own house lying in so much disorder, Pakistan is finding out nothing but throwing mud on feelings of people in India to create communal tensions. But will Radio Pakistan ever learn?. (ANI)

Ganesha Chaturthi festival charms devotees across the country

Bhubaneshwar/ Bangalore, Aug.23 (ANI): On the occasion of Ganesha Chaturthi (birthday), many devotees in different parts of the country like to pay their special obeisance to Lord Ganesha in distinct ways.

In Bhubaneshwar, an artist has sculpted Lord Ganesha idols from soap for the 10-day annual Ganesha Chaturthi which commenced on Sunday (Aug.23).

Rao sculpted different kinds of idols of Lord Ganesha to exhibit them during the festival. Till date, he has sculpted 36 idols with soap.

“Ganesh festival has arrived and so I am sculpting different models of Lord Ganesha from different soaps. During Ganesha festival people including kids will come to watch these idols. I will teach the art free of cost to kids who are interested to learn,” said L. Eshwara Rao, an artisan.

In Bangalore, a man is running a museum where he has exhibited a wide variety of Ganesha idols for people.

S.Tyagarajan is a collector of Ganesha idols and has put on display 2,000 different idols of the deity in his museum.

He started collecting Ganesha idols after the death of his wife who was a devotee of Lord Ganesha.

Tyagarajan procured some of the idols from his friends living overseas. He says that people feel rejuvenated after visiting the museum.

“I see in everybody’s face who come to see my museum happiness. And they say that there is some sort of positive energy and positive aura when they come inside the museum. And some of them say that here they get a sort of feeling that they felt when they meditated when they come in museum,” said S.Tyagarajan, owner of a museum of Lord Ganesha.

Ganesha Chaturthi is one of the most important festivals of Hindus in India.

On the concluding day of the festival, the idols are carried in grand processions and immersed in rivers or seas.

Lord Ganesha, is one of the most revered Gods of Hindus, and is worshipped at the beginning of every auspicious occasion.

Ganesha, as the God of knowledge is described as “Vinayaka”and as remover of obstacles he is called “Vighanharta”. He is worshipped at the beginning of every auspicious occasion for blessings of luck and success.

The son of Shiva and Parvati, Ganesha has an elephantine countenance with a curved trunk and big ears, and a huge pot-bellied body of a human being.

He is revered as the Lord of success and destroyer of evils and obstacles besides being worshipped as the God of education, knowledge, wisdom and wealth.

Legend has it once Goddess Parvati, while bathing, created a boy out of the dirt of her body and assigned him the task of guarding the entrance to her bathroom. When Lord Shiva, her husband returned, he was surprised to find a stranger denying him access, and struck off the boy’s head in rage.

Parvati broke down in utter grief and to soothe her, Shiva sent out his squad (gana) to fetch the head of any sleeping being who was facing the north. The company found a sleeping elephant and brought back its severed head, which was then attached to the body of the boy. Shiva restored its life and made him the leader (pati) of his troops.

Hence, his name ‘Ganapati’. Shiva also bestowed a boon that people would worship him and invoke his name before undertaking any venture. By Sarda Lahangir / Jaipal Sharma (ANI)

Devotees visit Manimahesh Lake in Himachal Pradesh

Manimahesh, Chamba (HP), Aug 19 (ANI): Hundreds of devotees are on a pilgrimage to Manimahesh Lake in Himachal Pradesh.

On reaching the destination, the pilgrims take a dip in the lake, considered holy and devoted to Lord Shiva.

The annual pilgrimage begins on Janmashtami (birth anniversary of Lord Krishna) and culminates on Radha Ashtami (birth anniversary of Lord Krishna spouse, Radha).

Located in the Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas, the pilgrimage is taken by staunch devotees of Lord Shiva.

The pilgrims trek along a stretch of 13 kilometres before reaching the holy lake. After the holy dip, they turn slightly towards northeast direction where the peak of Kailash is situated and offer their prayers.

Kailash is regarded as the abode of Lord Shiva.

Interestingly, the young and the old alike take part in this pilgrimage, braving all sorts of odds such as the steep and difficult terrain, which at certain places is hostile.

Among the pilgrims, this year was a septuagenarian devotee.

“We are visiting Manimahesh because of devotion. I had faith in my heart that I will reach there that too by walking. Many times on the way I had difficulty in breathing. I am 73-years old,” said Satpal Singh, a pilgrim.

Although the pilgrimage is held under the guidance of the State Government, there have been several instances of mishaps.

Eight devotees lost their lives during the last year’s pilgrimage. (ANI)

Lord Shiva devotees carrying 54-feet long Kanwar draw people in Patna

Patna, July 15 (ANI): A group of Kanwarias or, the devotees of Lord Shiva, are drawing wide public attention for carrying a 54-feet long Kanwar or, a wooden carrier fitted with water pots on both ends of the pole, in Patna city.

Hundreds of thousands of devotees take arduous on-foot religious journey to express their devotion for Lord Shiva in the Hindu month of Shravan or Monsoon month (mid June to July).

This group, however, is a fascinating everyone’s attention, as members of the group enjoy their time dancing and chanting praises of Lord Shiva.

The lanes and by-lanes of the city reverberating with the chants of the devotees and hundreds of people gather to watch them, as the group moves on.

Normally, as per the ritual, a devotee is expected to carry one Kanwar, the pole carrying two water pots on behalf of his family. But, this time, it is 18 people carrying this 54 feet long ‘Kanwar’ wishing for the well-being of their families and all people.

“Our only aim is to pray for well being of the people. We are praying for rains, to deal with the drought. People should be happy. Our farms should be green again, so that we can earn our living,” said Vinod Kumar, one of the Kanwarias carrying the 54-feet Kanwar.

These Kanwarias are set to traverse hundreds of kilometres to reach the holy town of Baidyanath.

The pilgrimage continues through the whole of Shravan month of Hindu calendar (July-August) for 30 days and is considered the longest fair of the world, drawing a lot of devotees from abroad.

The devotees with this unique ‘kanwar’ believe that this is just another way of showing their faith in Shiva and praying for good rains.

Devouts believe, offering sacred water to Lord Shiva during the month will fulfill their wishes. By Ajay Kumar (ANI)

Amarnath pilgrimage resumes after weather improvement

Srinagar, July 6 (IANS) A day after the ongoing Amarnath pilgrimage was temporarily halted due to bad weather, nearly 10,000 Hindu pilgrims left for the Himalayan cave shrine in the Kashmir valley on a sunny Monday.
Weather improved a lot Monday and there was no downpour on the Amarnath cave temple track, said a spokesman of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) that manages the affairs of the pilgrimage.

Over 6,000 pilgrims were allowed to proceed towards the Holy cave from the north Kashmir Baltal camp while 3,500 started their journey towards the temple from south Kashmir Pahalgam route, the spokesman said.

The pilgrimage was suspended Sunday from both north and south Kashmir routes after it rained heavily.

Another batch of 2,217 pilgrims left the winter capital Jammu for the Kashmir valley, the spokesman said.

Over 200,000 pilgrims have visited the shrine that houses the iced stalagmite believed to be an icon of Lord Shiva’s mythical powers.

Fresh batch of 1,703 Amarnath pilgrims leaves Jammu for holy shrine

Jammu, June 22 (ANI): A fresh batch of 1,703 pilgrims left Jammu on Monday for their onward journey to the holy Amarnath cave shrine.

The batch comprising of 1,185 men, 384 women, 61 children and 73 sadhus left in 53 vehicles, including 40 buses, from the base camp at Bhagwati Nagar here at around 4. 50 a.m.

With today’s batch, a total of 7,793 pilgrims have left Jammu for the Shrine since the beginning of the Yatra on June 15.

The yatra remained suspended for three days due to bad weather prevailing in Kashmir valley before resuming on June 19.

The Jammu and Kashmir Government and the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) has set up three base camps at Bhagwati Nagar in Jammu, Nunwan in Pahalgam and Baltal for providing food and lodging facilities to pilgrims.

Located in Jammu and Kashmir, the Amarnath caves shrine is dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Last year, over 450,000 pilgrims visited the cave. The two month long pilgrimage will conclude on August 5. (ANI)

Fresh batch of 1,395 Amarnath pilgrims leaves Jammu for holy shrine

Jammu, June 21 (ANI): A fresh batch of 1,395 pilgrims left here on Sunday for their onward journey to the holy Amarnath cave shrine.

The batch comprising 734 men, 305 women, 60 children and 295 sadhus left in 50 vehicles including 31 buses from the base camp at Bhagwati Nagar here at around 4:50 a.m.

With today’s batch, a total of 6090 pilgrims have left Jammu for the cave shrine since the beginning of the Yatra on June 15.

The yatra remained suspended for three days due to bad weather prevailing in Kashmir valley before resuming on June 19.

The Jammu and Kashmir Government and the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) has set up three base camps at Bhagwati Nagar in Jammu, Nunwan in Pahalgam and Baltal for providing food and lodging facilities to pilgrims.

Located in Jammu and Kashmir, the Amarnath caves shrine is dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Last year, over 450,000 pilgrims visited the cave. The two month long pilgrimage will conclude on August 5. (ANI)

A batch of 1,935 Amarnath pilgrims leaves Jammu for holy shrine

Jammu, June 20 (ANI): After initial weather related hindrances, a fresh batch of 1,935 pilgrims left Jammu on Saturday for its onward journey to the holy Amarnath cave shrine in Kashmir.

The batch comprises 852 men, 325 women, 54 children and 704 ascetics left from the base camp at Bhagwati Nagar in Jammu at around 0450 hours amid tight security, officials said. It will travel though the Baltal route.

A total of 4,695 pilgrims including Saturday’s batch have left Jammu for the cave shrine since the beginning of the Yatra on June 15.

Amarnath pilgrimage was obstructed for three days following bad weather prevailing in Kashmir valley before resuming on Friday.

Presently, the authorities were allowing only the Baltal route for the annual pilgrimage as the Pahalgam route has not been fully cleared of snow.

The Amarnath caves are one of the most famous shrines in Hinduism, dedicated to Lord Shiva, located in Jammu and Kashmir.

The holy shrine is claimed to be over 5,000 years old and forms an important part of ancient Hindu mythology. Inside the main Amarnath cave lies an ice stalagmite resembling the Shiva Linga, which waxes during May to August and gradually wanes thereafter.

This Shivalinga is said to grow and shrink with the phases of the moon. (ANI)

Amarnath pilgrimage via north Kashmir route to start Monday

Jammu/Srinagar,  The annual Amarnath pilgrimage that attracts tens of thousands of Hindus will start June 15 from Baltal, taking the shorter and steeper route to the Himalayan cave shrine in Jammu and Kashmir, it was announced here Friday.

“The first batch of the pilgrims will leave Jammu on June 15 and would reach the cave shrine on June 16,” a spokesman of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) said in a release.

To make a final assessment of the tracks leading to the cave shrine in the wake of recent unprecedented snowfall, Jammu and Kashmir Governor N.N. Vohra, who is also chairman of the SASB, conducted a detailed review of the climatic conditions, the arrangements at the holy cave and both the base camps at Baltal and Pahalgam.

“Observing that the safety and security of the yatris (pilgrims) was the first and foremost concern of the board, particularly in the context of the adverse weather conditions, particularly on the Chandanwari-Holy Cave route, the governor stated that the board is left with no option except to allow the yatra only from the Baltal route, at this juncture,” said the SASB, which is responsible for the administration of the shrine located at the height of 13,500 feet above sea level.

“The Baltal route has been cleared of snow, while there is a thick layer of snow on Pahalgam cave route. The snow clearance operations were on and the pilgrims would be able to start their pilgrimage to the shrine by June 21 from that route,” the spokesman said.

The Amarnath shrine, where an ice stalagmite is formed and is seen as an icon of Lord Shiva by the devotees, attracts nearly 400,000 pilgrims.

The pilgrimage period this year will be effectively a little short of seven weeks, against eight weeks in the previous three years.

More than 200,000 people have registered themselves for the pilgrimage.

The board clarified that due to the continuing rain and snowfall at several points on the traditional Pahalgam-Chandanwari route, it is not possible to open the yatra along that route till the weather improves and the track from Sheshnag to Sangam is cleared.

The Jawahar Mountaineering Institute at Pahalgam has been requested to depute a group of trained people to recce the Chandanwari-Holy Cave route by June 21 and send a report to the board, it said.

The date of commencement of the yatra along the south Kashmir route will be decided depending upon the weather and the track condition.

Amarnath yatra registration for pilgrims begins

Jammu, May 21 (ANI): The registration for the annual pilgrimage to the Hindu cave shrine of Amarnath in Jammu and Kashmir commenced across the country on Wednesday.

The pilgrimage spread over two months is scheduled to begin on June 6.

At Jammu and several other places, the pilgrims were seen in long queues to register their names.

Jammu and Kashmir Bank has been authorised by the government to register the intending pilgrims.

Around 110 branches of the bank spread over the country will facilitate the registration of the pilgrims.

According to Madan Gupta, Vice President (Central Zone) of J and K Bank has said that facilities like mobile ATMs and banking facilities at the base camp are the latest additions this year.

“We are doing bookings up to 3,00,000 in this counter and through Internet up to 1,20,000 bookings. We request people to get their bookings done through Internet because it would be more convenient. For pilgrims, we have arranged mobile banking facilities at the base camp, which will remain for June 6 to August 5. ATM facility will be available round the clock. We would be providing the pilgrims with on-the-spot banking facilities at the base camp,” Gupta added.

He further said that in Jammu, the bank has set up an extra counter at the Exhibition Ground for registration, which will remain open on week days from 3.p.m in the afternoon till 6.p.m. on weekdays and on Saturday from 1.p.m to 4.p.m. in the afternoon.

The registration will close on July 30.

“Every year we go on this pilgrimage. We pray to Lord Shiva for the pilgrimage journey to proceed smoothly this year unlike last year,” said Rajkumar, a pilgrim.

The Amarnath pilgrimage will culminate on August 5, which according to Hindu almanac is the Shravana Purnima (full moon in the monsoon month of Shravana).

Every year a large number of devotees trek the steep, slippery 48-km route to reach the Amarnath cave shrine, which stands at a height of nearly 12,500 feet above sea level. (ANI)

Kerala celebrates Thrissur Pooram

Thrissur, May 4 (ANI): Hundreds of thousands of devotees gathered at Thrissur town in Kerala for Thrissur Pooram, one of the most colourful and grandest temple festivals.

The festival witnesses 30 richly caparisoned elephants divided into two rival groups facing each other in the temple premises amidst drum beats and frenzied shouting of devotees.

As part of the ‘Pooram’, elephants carry the idols of different temple deities in a procession which culminate at the ancient Vadakkumnathan temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Tourists from abroad flocked in large numbers to witness the festival.

“Very nice here on Pooram because you see all the elephants, and the culture,” said Francises, a tourist from Germany.

The foreign tourists enjoyed the festivity.

“We are so impressed by the participation of all the Indian community. For us, it is a first time, we are coming here,” said Alexander, a tourist from England.

This festival is one of the biggest festivals in Kerala as no other festival draws such an unbelievable number of people to a single event.
It is believed that King Sakthan, who ruled Cochin in the late 18th century, started the festival.
The word “Pooram” literally means a group or a meeting. It is believed that the gods and goddesses meet on the day of celebration, which falls in the month of April-May every year. (ANI)

Special prayers on River Ganga’s birthday

Varanasi, May 2 (ANI): Special prayers were organised on the bank of Ganga River in Varanasi marking the birthday of the river.

People performed prayers by offering milk to River Ganga on Friday and pledged to stop the pollution of the river.

According to the organiser of the Gangotri Welfare Committee, Kishori Raman Dubey, prayers offered to prevent the river from getting further polluted.

“The condition of Ganga River has worsened. The river is drying up and has almost turned into a drainage. To retain its lost glory, we decided to celebrate its birthday every year,” said Dubey.

Legend has it that on this day, Goddess Ganga descended from heaven onto Lord Shiva’s matted locks and then flowed onto the Himalayas.

The Ganga runs its course of over 2,500 kilometres from Gangotri in the Himalayas to Ganga Sagar in the Bay of Bengal through 29 cities.

In 1996, the Supreme Court had banned the discharge of effluents from various tanneries and factories located on its banks in Kanpur.

However, with one billion tons of waste being dumped into it everyday, the River Ganga unfortunately remains to be one of the most polluted rivers in the world. (ANI)

Jharkhand tribals celebrate ‘Koka Festival’

Ranchi, Apr 29 (ANI): The aboriginals living in the hilly tracts in Tamar village of Jharkhand celebrated the ‘Koka Festival’ devoted to Lord Shiva.

The highlight of the festival is the marriage procession of Lord Shiva.

Thousands of villagers from nearby villages gathered in the compound of ancient Mahadeo Temple to witness the annual colourful procession.

“In the marriage procession of Lord Shiva, the guests were dressed up as Koka (disguised ghosts). When the procession reached the house of the bride, then the mother-in-law and others asked the guests to change their disguised look,” said Ratan Lal Rai, a priest.

The festivities continue throughout the night with dance-drama performances and prayer sessions followed by a fair.

Devotees also observe fasting for the fulfillment of their wishes.

“Devotees observe fasting for the sake of their wishes. Some observe five-day fasting while some observe seven-days fasting,” said Sandip Kumar Mandak, a devotee.

Koka festival is also known as ‘Chaitra Parv’ because of its celebration in Chaitra month as per Hindu calendar. By Girija Shankar Ojha (ANI)