Anniversary of Shivaji”s coronation celebrated at Raigad

June 6, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Mumbai, Jun 6 (PTI) The 336th anniversary of the coronation ceremony of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was today celebrated at the Raigad Fort in the presence of thousands of his followers. Waving saffron flags, they took out a procession in a tribute to the Maratha warrior this morning.

Water brought from all the rivers of the state was poured on the main idol of Shivaji at the fort along with 108 golden coins, replicating the original coronation which took place on June 6, 1674. Shivaji”s descendant Sambhajiraje, Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray, Finance Minister Sunil Tatkare and Transport Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil were present for the ceremony.

Sambhajiraje demanded that the state government declare the day as a national festival. The coronation ceremony was entangled in a controversy as the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) declined permission to hold any function at the fort citing provisions of Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment and Validation) Act 2010.

Following this, Shiv Sena Chief Bal Thackeray had said that his party would celebrate the anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj”s coronation at the fort, irrespective of the ASI banning any such function. Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan then intervened and spoke to the Centre.

The permission was granted then to celebrate the coronation ceremony ending all controversies. Uddhav said they don”t need permission from the Centre to mark the coronation ceremony and, henceforth, would not seek any nod.

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Youths, police clash in Srinagar over ”blasphemous” depiction

June 6, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Srinagar, June 6 (PTI) Groups of youths took out a procession here today to protest alleged blasphemous depiction of Kaba Sharief on some products and clashed with police prompting them to fire warning shots and tear smoke shells. The protests continued for the second day today in the city despite Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah appealing to people not to pay heed to “rumours”.

Fifteen persons were injured in clashes between police and stone-pelting protestors in the city yesterday. Youth carrying garments allegedly depicting photographs of Kaba Sharief took out a march in Maisuma in the heart of the city trying to enforce a shutdown but police prevented them from coming on the main road, officials said.

They said the protesters pelted stones on the policemen who retaliated with tear smoke shells. They also fired a few warning shots to disperse them, the officials added.

The clashes remained confined to the Maisuma locality, they said adding, no one was injured. Police after examining the garments found that they carry imprints and sketches of various buildings which resemble places like Big Ben in London, St Paul”s Cathedral of London and other places.

“No sketch has any likeness to any Muslim religious place or building,” a police spokesman said. Disturbed over the protests, Omar last night appealed to people not to fall prey to rumour-mongers.

“Some elements are bent upon to disturb peace for vested interests and people should not get carried away by their nefarious designs,” he said. Meanwhile, protests also rocked Banihal town of Jammu region, where a shutdown was observed on the issue.

Over 1,000 people took out a protest rally on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and raised slogans. They also blocked traffic for some time.

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Buddha Purnima celebrated at Bodh Gaya

May 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Bodh Gaya (Bihar), May 27 (IANS) Hundreds of Buddhists from across the world Thursday celebrated Buddha Purnima, the day Lord Buddha was born, at Bodh Gaya in Bihar where he attained enlightenment.

Bodh Gaya temple management committee organised a function to celebrate the 2,554th Buddha Jayanti at the Mahabodhi temple in Bodh Gaya, Buddhism’s holiest shrine.

‘Special prayers were organised under the Bodhi tree for world peace,’ a committee official said.

The celebration began with a procession from the 80-ft tall Buddha statue up to the Bodhi tree behind the temple.

‘Hundreds of Buddhists, including members of the International Buddhist Council, took part in the procession,’ Bhikkhu Priyapal, a monk, told IANS over phone.

The temple premises and adjoining locality were bedecked with colourful flags and other decorative items.

Buddha Purnima is the most sacred day for Buddhists as they take pilgrimage trips to the places associated with the founder of their faith – Lord Buddha.

Buddha Purnima falls on a full moon day.

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Gorkhas hold separate state demand torch rally

May 15, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Salugara (West Bengal), May 15 (ANI): The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) held a torch procession at Salugara town in West Bengal”s Jalpaiguri District in support of their demand for a separate state.

“The Siliguri land is ours. History has witnessed our fight for our survival here.

Therefore, this is our land. The Bengal government should leave this land. It should not capture the land forcefully. Therefore, today, we have taken out this torch rally to protest against this,” said Arjun Pradhan, a central committee leader of GJM.

Earlier on April 9, GJM chief Bimal Gurung met Union Home Minister P Chidambaram in New Delhi, who assured him that he would talk to the Government of West Bengal and Trinamool Congress about the new territory.

The GJM had agreed during the fifth round of tripartite talks in New Delhi to the constitution of Interim Council by next year prior to the creation of a separate state.

The Gorkhas are demanding a separate state to protect their culture and heritage.

The Gorkha population in West Bengal is estimated to be around a million. (ANI)

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Cultural festival to promote harmony between Assam and Nagaland

May 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Jorhat (Assam), May 13 (ANI): Keen to promote friendship and harmony between Assam and Nagaland, people from the two states assembled in Assam”s Jorhat District to celebrate a cultural festival.

The two-day festival began on Tuesday and concluded on Wednesday. It was celebrated with a procession at Deberapara village.
“We have organised the programme for strengthening the brotherhood and integration between people of Assam and Nagaland,” said Gautam Gogoi, a member of the organising committee.

The two states have a long-standing border dispute, which often results in many clashes.

“We always want to bring the peace between the people living nearby Nagaland border as well as the people of Nagaland,” said Deepak Tanti, Vice President of All Assam Tea Tribe Students” Union (AATTSU), Jorhat unit.

The procession went across the Naga foothills, and also covered many villages in Assam over a distance of six to seven kilometers.

After the procession, tribal dances of Nagaland, Assam”s Bihu dance and Jhumur dances, as well as many dances by the Mising and Deuri tribes, were performed.

The cultural festival was organized by Deberapara Bihu Committee, the All Assam Tea Tribe Students” Union (AATTSU) and the Deberapara Police Outpost.

The dispute between Assam and Nagaland is said to be the most prominent.

Both states have accused each other of illegally occupying each other”s territories. Assam claims that Nagaland has annexed more than 50,000 hectares of its territory. (ANI)

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Kerala initiates signature campaign for using elephants in temple festivals

April 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Thrissur (Kerala), Apr 30 (ANI): Scores of elephant-lovers and owners in Kerala are undertaking the task of collecting one million signatures on a petition to save the centuries-old tradition of parading caparisoned elephants during temple festivals, following a demand for a ban from animal protection agencies.

The main objective behind the campaign is to collect as many signatures as possible and send them to President Pratibha Patil, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and state Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan, for consideration before taking any decisions to ban the presence of elephants during the temple festivals.

“For the safety of elephants all the temple boards, locals and other authorities are greatly concerned and are taking several measures. But by showing false and unlikely love, some people are trying to stop elephants taking part in temple festivities and want them to be sent back to jungles. But this is not possible here because when we started collecting signatures, we noticed that many foreign tourists especially book their tickets to see temple festivals and to have a glimpse of caparisoned elephants. Thus we want elephants parading should go on as it is a part of the rich culture and tradition in Kerala,” said P Sasikumar, General Secretary, Kerala Elephant Owners Federation, Thrissur.

Despite incidents of rampage and killing by the pachyderms, men, women, children and the elderly all queued up to sign the petition.

The resent reason for elephants creating havoc has been noticed by the officials that it is over-stressed as they are made to work long hours in several temple festivals in violation of rules.

The procession of elephants attracts several tourists who are awed by the rich glory and grandeur of the place.

It can be noted that a task force has been formed to protect elephants and their habitats across the country.

Project Elephant, which is being implemented in 13 states, would also address issues of man-animal conflict and welfare of domesticated elephants.

Thrissur is widely acclaimed as the land of elephant lovers. According to official records Kerala is home to over 750 captive elephants. (ANI)

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Red Shirts parade dead comrades

April 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Anti-government protesters in Thailand have paraded the bodies of dead comrades through the streets of Bangkok.

Twenty-one people were killed and more than 800 were injured in weekend clashes with troops.

A procession of cars, trucks and taxis filled with Red Shirt demonstrators moved through the historic district of the capital with the bodies of their fallen comrades.

Prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has accused unnamed terrorists of inciting the unrest, meanwhile the protesters have accused the military of firing live ammunition into the crowd.

The ABC understands autopsies conducted on 11 of those killed in the street battle show they died as a result of high-velocity bullets.

That would appear to contradict claims by the government that soldiers did not shoot into the crowd.

The government has accused the Red Shirts of possessing assault rifles and of firing at retreating soldiers.

The Red Shirts have released a group of soldiers taken hostage during the clashes.

Sixteen civilians, four soldiers and a Japanese TV cameraman died in fierce street fighting over the weekend.

The clashes erupted when security forces fired rubber bullets and tear gas as they moved into the old quarter of Bangkok to disperse the anti-government protesters.

The soldiers were met by a barrage of rocks, sticks and even petrol bombs.

The show of force failed to budge the Red Shirts from their stronghold in the city’s old quarter, and the demonstrators are now vowing to stay on the streets of Bangkok.

They have warned that the time for negotiation is over.

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Foreign tourists collect alms for Varanasi kid suffering from aplastic anaemia

March 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh), Mar 27 (ANI): Foreign tourists currently holidaying in Varanasi took to the streets here on Saturday holding placards reading ”Save My Life” and asking for donations for the treatment of a poor kid suffering from aplastic anaemia.

To help the poor child receive proper treatment and get operated, the foreigners with the aid of several willing locals, took out the procession to seek donations from the general public.

Reportedly, in the course of sightseeing, the foreign tourists spotted Aditya, a six-year-old boy being a victim of Aplastic Anaemia, a condition where bone marrow does not produce sufficient new cells to replenish blood cells.

“I am trying to raise money for this six years old child, who has Aplastic Anaemia. He has to have an operation in Delhi and we are trying to raise 10-12,00,000 rupees here today walking on the streets of Varanasi,” said Chelsi Tubmi, an American tourist.

“So, he can have this operation and it”s going really well. Lots of people are donating,” added Tubmi.
Aditya”s family being very poor was wondering as to how to meet the cost of his operation and other treatment expenses.

“My Grandson”s bone marrow has dried up. His condition is critical. We are very poor and have no money for treatment. We need help. But I don”t know where to get help,” said Radhika, Aditya”s grandmother.
“Further, the doctors also mentioned that if the patient”s bone marrow is not transplanted within two months, he might die of blood cancer,” she added. (ANI)

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Button favours big decisions to make Formula One exciting

March 22, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, Mar 22 (ANI): F1 champion Jenson Button insists big decisions must be made if Formula One fails to brighten up over the next few races.

Button was furious as the new regulations turned last week’s Bahrain Grand Prix into a procession.

It means the pressure is on for F1 over the next three races, starting in Australia next Sunday, The Sun reports.

Button said: “I don’t know how we are going to make the racing more exciting than it is. I hope it’s just because of the layout in Bahrain and it was the first race.”

“It’s annoying because it’s a sport I love and it’s tough to see a procession. There’s still every chance it’s going to be a fantastic season. We just have to see what happens over the next few races.

“But if it’s not going in the right direction, then people have to start making the decisions,” he added.

Button’s McLaren teammate Lewis Hamilton even said his mother Linda was bored at Bahrain.

And the former world champion thinks Red Bull are the team to beat this season despite Ferrari one-two in the opening race.

He said: “You’ve got to assume the next race will be more exciting. The track should be more favourable as it’s a street circuit. But the Red Bull is ridiculously faster than anyone else. It’s insane.” (ANI)

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F1 not in crisis despite new rules: Ecclestone

March 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, Mar 16 (ANI): Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has insisted the sport is not in crisis despite the new rules, and asked people not to panic.

There are fears that what was billed as a blockbuster season with four world champions fighting for the title will turn out to be a flop.

“There’s no panic or crisis. There’s nothing we can do immediately, we should not knee-jerk into changes,” The Sun quoted Ecclestone, as saying.

“We’re involved in four flyaway races now so let’s see how the teams adapt and look at it again after China.”

“The first race with new rules was always going to be a learning curve,” Ecclestone added.

The ban on refuelling could turn races into a start-to-finish procession Ecclestone said: “I’ve explained to teams our business is about racing and entertaining.” (ANI)

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Nine-day ‘Navratri’ festival begins all over India

September 20, 2009 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi/ Faizabad/Allahabad, Sept 19 (ANI): The nine-day ‘Navratri’ festival began across India with religious fervour on Saturday.

Thousands of devotees queued up at various temples dedicated to Goddess Durga.

In New Delhi, devotees converged at Jhandewalan to offer prayers prior to dawn and observed fast throughout the day.

“We observe fast on the first day of Navratri. On the first day, we pray for the whole day and meditate on Goddess Durga,” said Madan Gehlot, a devotee.

Meanwhile, at Faizabad in Uttar Pradesh, people made a beeline to the temple of Goddess Badi Devkali.

The devotees believe their wishes are fulfilled if they pray to Goddess Badi Devkali during the festival.

“People believe that coming here redeems them from their sins. Since the Goddess Devkali is the deity of Lord Rama’s dynasty, her significance is all the more. That’s why people come here to offer prayers to the Goddess,” said Poonam, a devotee.

Earlier on Friday, a day prior to the commencement of Dusshera, a unique annual horse procession was taken out through the streets of Allahabad.

The belief is that the horse representing sage Vyasa would relate the Ramayana.

Musical bands led the attractively decorated white horse procession organised by a leading Ram Lila committee of the city.

“Legend says that when Maharishi Valmiki narrated the story of Lord Rama to Luv and Kush then this horse standing next to them also listened to the story. The horse in the form of sage Vyasa tells the story of Rama to people during the Navratri celebrations,” said Ajay Kumar Shukla, secretary, Ramlila Committee.

“Naaratri”, which literally means nine nights, is observed twice a year.

The festival lasts for nine days in honour of nine manifestations of Durga, goddess of power, and fall in the months of April-May and September-October.

It is believed that during the Navratri, Goddess Durga descends on earth to rid it of the demons and blesses her devotees with happiness and prosperity. (ANI)

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Hundreds take part in ‘Ram Baraat’ in Agra

September 17, 2009 By 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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Demonstration in Shopian over death of property dealer

September 10, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Shopian (J-K), Sep 10 (ANI): Hundreds of residents on Wednesday took to the streets in Shopian town, 60 km from Srinagar, after a missing local was found dead.

Frenzied locals raised anti-India slogans during the funeral procession of Mohammad Hussain Zargar, a prominent member of the local ‘Majlis-e-Mushawarat’ (council for discussion), the organisation that spearheaded protests to seek justice for the rape and murder of two Muslim women.

The body of Zargar, a 42-year-old property dealer, was discovered on Tuesday He was missing since Saturday and residents alleged he had died under mysterious circumstances.

Government offices and schools remained closed and business activity came to a standstill in the town on Wednesday after Majlis-e-Mushawarat gave a shutdown call demanding a probe into Zargar’s death.

“Nothing can be said at this time. The post-mortem report is not out, when the report is out only then we can clear about that what has happened. Let’s wait for report then we will talk about it and thereafter investigations also take place, things become clear then we will come out with a positive response on the case, well,” said Muhammad Shafi Khan, spokesman for the majlis. (ANI)

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Curfew relaxed in communal-hit Maharashtra towns

September 10, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Sangli (Maharashtra), Sep 9(ANI): Curfew in the riot-hit towns of Sangli, Miraj and Ichalkaranji in Maharashtra was relaxed on Wednesday, as the situation was gradually improving.

Communal clashes had broken out at in Miraj town and Sangli city last week.

Trouble started on September 3 (Anant Chaturdashi Day), when some pro-Hindutva organisations tried to raise an arch on the immersion procession route, depicting the killing of the Mughal warrior Afzal Khan by Maratha King Shivaji. This led to group clashes.

An all party meeting was held in Mumbai on Tuesday during which a peace formula was worked out.

Meanwhile, Sarvajanik Ganesh mandal representatives in Miraj have decided to immerse the idols tomorrow. (ANI)

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Ganesha Puja festivities end with immersion of idols

September 3, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Mumbai/Pune, Sep.3 (ANI): A large number of Lord Ganesha devotees converged at different places of Maharashtra on Thursday evening near rivers and sea for immersion of colourful idols, worshipped during the last 10 days of religious festivities in several Puja Pandals.

Ardent devotees converged to bid farewell to Lord Ganesha here while chanting ‘Ganapati Bappa Moriya…. Loukariya’ (Hail Lord Ganapati, go home and do return next year) on the final day of religious festivities.

In Pune city of Maharashtra, devotees carried their heavily garlanded idols of Lord Vinayaka, as the Ganesha is also called by His devotees, in processions amidst beating of traditional drums during the farewell ritual.

“Lord Ganapati is very dear to our hearts. It makes us nostalgic to see our Lord leaving us after the 10 days of festivities performed at various Puja Pandals. We wait for this religious festival every year with big enthusiasm,” said Trupti, a college lecture and a devotee in Mumbai.

The festival marks the birth anniversary of Ganesha, who is revered by the Hindus as the divine index of good omen and prosperity.

Following authorities advisory due to swine flu, there were fewer number of people than hundreds of thousands that converge on this occasion.

The civic authorities of the city had forewarned the people not to converge in large numbers for the procession in view of the swine flu scare.

“Due to swine flu, we appealed to the masses that they should watch the procession at their homes on their television sets. Also, we wanted that fewer crowds should be present in the procession so as to prevent spread of swine flu and we are thankful, as all the festival committees did abide by our advice,” Rajlaksmi Bhosle, Mayor, Pune.

The immersion of the idols marks the conclusion of festivities for many, but the devotees believe He will again return next year and bring happiness and joy. By Shivaji (ANI)

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Marxist-Leninst activists stage protest against spiralling prices in West Bengal

September 3, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Kolkata, Sep 3 (ANI): Members of the West Bengal state unit of the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist)-Liberation, staged a mass protest against the risen prices of essential commodities here.

Over 500 protestors took out a procession holding banners and raising slogans against the State government.

They alleged that the Communist state government has created artificial shortage of essential commodities at the behest of hoarders and black-marketing traders.

“The callous government of West Bengal has failed to reduce the prices of essential commodities and failure to supply essential commodities to the PDS (Public Distribution System). They are supporting and patronising hoarders so that the artificial crisis increases,” said Partha Ghosh, Secretary, West Bengal State unit of Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist)-Liberation.

The Kolkata Police arrested some of the party supporters when they tried to violate the prohibitory orders in force.

The soaring prices of food grains, sugar and other items of daily needs because of weak monsoon and drought like situation, have created an explosive situation in India because of weak monsoon and drought like situation. (ANI)

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Foreign tourists join Onam celebration in Kerala

September 3, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Kochi, Sep 3 (ANI): Foreign tourists in Kerala took part in the ten-day long harvest festival ‘Onam’.

The Homestay Operators Association organised Onam celebrations for the foreign tourists staying in the association’s homes.

Many foreigners participated in a simple procession in Kochi along a floral carpet on a street.he foreigners enjoyed sumptuous traditional meal with a variety of delicacies prepared in coconut oil and served on Banana leaf.

“I feel very lucky to be here to be a part of the Onam celebrations today by joining in arranging the flowers and also in the parade. It is a very beautiful experience for me so I feel lucky,” said Claire, a tourist from Australia.

Onam, a harvest festival, is celebrated in Kerala when young girls and women make flower patterns called “Pookalam” in local parlance to welcome the mythical King Mahabali.

Onam recalls the story of the mythical king Mahabali who created a kingdom in what is now Kerala.

The festival falls during the month of Chingam (August-September as per the Gregorian calendar), the first month of the Malayalam calendar and lasts for ten days.

Traditionally celebrated as a harvest festival, mythologically it is linked to Malayalee-Hindu folktales. (ANI)

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Students, wildlife activists spread awareness against cruelty to elephants

August 30, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Jaipur, Aug 30(ANI): Hundreds of school students, animal lovers and wildlife enthusiasts came together on Sunday to stage a mass rally through the streets of Jaipur to highlight the cruel treatment meted out to elephants by their owners and mahouts.

The peace procession follows the death of Naina, a 35-year-old elephant, which ran amok while ferrying a group of tourists on a joyride on August 23 and died a day later.

Naina was carrying the tourists to Amer Fort and suddenly turned aggressive although the tourists managed to escape by jumping down as soon as the Mahout lost control of the elephant.

The animal activists, some of them dressed as elephants, carried the symbolic ‘carcass’ of Naina on their shoulders and an earthen pot with smoke coming out of it like Hindus carry dead bodies to a cremation place for the final ritual.

The ‘carcass’ of Naina was placed on a symbolic pyre for the final ritual to create awareness against elephant cruelty.

“Our message is basically to reduce this violence against the elephants and to treat them as living beings. That’s basically peace, we are not doing any kind of protest. Our main aim is to create awareness and make sure that the animal gets some kind of at least basic care they need in Rajasthan weather, which they actually don’t belong to,” said Arjun, a wildlife activist.

The activists said that no lessons had been learnt since the death of Naina and the uncared elephants were still being used to ferry tourists.

“We basically want that the animal being provided (given) their true basic right to food, shelter and water which is not being provided. On top of that they are being used. When you are generating money out of using an elephant, which is providing you food and revenue, the basic thing you can do is to give the elephant sanitation and healthcare, which we are not providing. Elephants are made to work, cruelly chained and they are beaten up with an Ankush (trident like hook),” said Dr Rina Dey, an animal lover. By Lokendra Singh (ANI)

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Mela Patt fair celebrated in Bhaderwah in Jammu and Kashmir

August 29, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Bhaderwah (Jammu and Kashmir), Aug 28(ANI): Colourful folk dances marked the annual three-day fair ‘Mela Patt’ celebrations in Bhaderwah sub-division of Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district.

The festival, which concluded on Thursday, is celebrated every year after it was started by Raja Nagpal, the 16th century ruler of the then small principality of Bhaderkashi, now known as Bhaderwah.

The festival begins on Naag Panchami, festival dedicated to honour the snake God.

According to folklore, Mughal emperor Akbar wanted to make Raja Nagpal bow to him, but Nagpal would not bow before anyone except his Lord Vasuki Naag. The emperor summoned Nagpal and ordered to sever his head. But, when king’s men tried to cut his head a serpent came out from his turban.

Impressed by Nagpal’s spiritual powers, Akbar awarded him with a golden pot with precious stones and costly velvet robes embroidered with gold and silver as a token of his devotion to Vasuki Naag.

Every year during the festival the devotees take out a procession of the gifts presented to Nagpal.

“The pot you see was gifted by emperor Akbar to Raja Nagpal and every year it is taken out for display to the locals,” said Hari Krishan, a local.

The festival sees enthusiasts from across north-India, as they believe that their wishes will come true if they pray earnestly.

“Not only people from Jammu and Kashmir, but from people across north India come to see the festival. There is a saying that if someone asks for a wish it comes true,” said Naresh Gupta, another local.

People danced to the sweet and melodious tunes of the traditional ‘Dhaku’ dance, a unique folk dance of the area, a regular feature during the Mela. By Tahir Nadeem Khan (ANI)

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McCartney says death rumours led people to think he was an impostor

August 27, 2009 By Leave a Comment

London, Aug 27 (ANI): Sir Paul McCartney has disclosed that people often checked him over to make sure he wasn’t an impostor after the circulation of a conspiracy theory which claimed he had died in the 1960s.

About 40 years ago rumours about the former Beatle’s death in a 1966 accident had gained currency and conspiracy theorists proved the death with clues appearing on the cover of The Beatles’ last recorded album Abbey Road.

The Telegraph quoted McCartney as saying: “I think the worst thing that happened was that I could see people sort of looking at me more closely – ‘were his ears always like that?”"

The story, which still remains a popular Google search, circulated in October 1969 after a Detroit DJ claimed the Beatles had recruited a McCartney look-alike William Campbell, after the bass player’s death.

The cover of Abbey Road featured a bare footed McCartney and many believed this to hint dropped by the Beatles that the fourth member of the band was not alive.

The act was said to be the representation of a funeral procession and a car’s number plate with ’28IF’ was believed to refer to McCartney’s age had he been alive.

McCartney told the October edition of Mojo magazine: “It was funny really, but ridiculous. It’s an occupational hazard – people make up a story, and then you find yourself having to deal with this fictitious stuff.”

The star even explained the clues: “I knew why I’d had bare feet – ‘cos I’d kicked off my sandals. I knew the car that said ’28IF’ was a completely random car that had just been parked. It was madness.”

The Beatles’ original studio albums and Abbey Road are scheduled to be re-released in a remastered version on September 9. (ANI)

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