Sonia condemned the appearance of the said posters and ordered the state Congress committee to inquire into the matter and identify the persons responsible for it.
Tension gripped Sihora town in Jabalpur district after a communal clash involving stone-pelting and vandalism, leading to police intervention and multiple arrests.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has accused the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) of releasing water recklessly and without prior intimation, creating a flood-like situation in south Bengal districts during Durga Puja.
"The puja is around 100 years old. Pranab's grandfather late Jangaleswar Mukherjee started the puja," said Goutam Roy, who has been looking after puja arrangements for the last couple of years.
This year, Day One of Navratri is marked by white -- a colour that embodies purity, peace and new beginnings.
TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee challenges Amit Shah to a debate on governance, accusing the BJP of political manipulation and misrepresenting West Bengal's financial situation. He also criticised the BJP's record on women's safety and alleged the Centre was withholding funds from West Bengal.
Here's looking at the celebrations.
Noting that Goddess Durga was worshipped as a symbol of 'Shakti' (strength), Modi said his government was consistently working for the empowerment of women.
The present Puja is as much about having fun as it is tied in with bowing to the Mother Goddess.
The five-day Durga Puja festival in West Bengal ended on Wednesday with people celebrating Bijaya Dashami which marked Goddess Durga's return to her husband's home.
Kolkata is ready for Durga Puja and Mamata Banerjee is taking an active part in preparations for the festival.
As festive fever grips India, prepare to go 'holy' this season, and usher in the aura of Maa Durga, for here come the Navratras.
Famous clay modeller Mintu Pal is sculpting the fibreglass idol at his Kumartuli studio draping the 'deity' in the Trinamool Congress supremo's favourite white coloured tant saree and her trademark flip-flop slippers to boot.
The four-day Durga Puja festival in West Bengal and other states ended on Thursday with people celebrating Vijaya Dasami which marked Goddess Durga's return to her husband's home.
Meet Bacchu Malakar whose family has been making traditional ornaments for over a century.
Mahalaya, though essentially about the goddess, wasn't religious for us. And it isn't for most Bengalis. Mahalaya is an emotion. It's gooseflesh for a memory. A welling up of happy tears. A celebration of what is to come.
Durga Puja, the festival that honours goddess Durga and celebrates her victory over the mythological demon named Mahishasura, kickstarts on Tuesday.
A four-year-old girl was sacrificed by neighbours to propitiate the goddess.
The card, depicting the goddess in red on a yellow backdrop, with a prominent eye aiming a trident at an invisible adversary bears Mamata's signature and the caption 'Sharodiya o Deepavalir Shubheccha'.
The Kerala high court gives a go-ahead to the controversial Malayalam film.
Union Minister Pranab Mukherjee worshipped Goddess Durga on Thursday at his ancestral home in Mirati village on 'Mahasaptami', the first day of the four-day long puja.
Fast-track court Judge Vijay Kumar Mandal ordered the issue of the notice to her after hearing the complaint by an advocate Sudhir Ojha. An advocate on behalf of Sonia would be allowed to present her side on May 22 failing which the court would be free to take an ex-parte decision, Mandal directed.
When the deadly earthquake battered Nepal last week, major temples in Kathmandu' Darbar Square were razed to the ground, but the home of a nine-year-old girl worshipped as a living goddess remained almost unscathed.
"You have seen that in Islam, it is said that they oppose 'bootparastee' (idol worship). It is their matter and their philosophy. We perform idol worship. We worship the 'saakaar brahma' and the 'niraakaar brahma', which is allowed by the Sanatan Dharma.... Some are saying 'I Love Mohammad' and indulging in arson and vandalism." "They know that this is Sharadiya Navratra, the occasion of Vijaya Dashami. If they spread chaos during the Sharadiya Navratra, work like 'Chundd' and 'Mundd', then Goddess Bhagwati is not going to tolerate it. Goddess Bhagwati crushes such 'Chundd' and 'Mundd'," Adityanath said.
The Muzaffarpur court had on April 16 issued a notice to the Congress president on a petition alleging that that she had hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus by her alleged portrayal as 'Goddess Durga' in a poster at the party's Muradabad office in Uttar Pradesh.
This Durga Puja, the world's largest Durga idol will be installed at Deshapriya Park in south Kolkata.
Rediff readers went pandal hopping and shared these pictures.
A Durga idol in Kolkata in which the 'Mahishasur' was replaced by a crudely-crafted Mahatma Gandhi lookalike created a controversy on the birth anniversary of the father of the nation.
Hearing an appeal submitted by Forum for Durgotsab, a division bench of the high court comprising Justices Sanjib Banerjee and Arijit Banerjee, retained its earlier order declaring all Durga Puja marquees no-entry zones and erecting barricades in front of the pandals to prevent visitors from entering inside in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.
At 4 am, troops roared their war cry! In the long running tradition of the armed forces, soldiers seek the blessings of the Goddess before setting out on their mission -- in war or peace. The Republic Day parade is one such mission.
Elaborate security arrangements were also made at the temples in view of the rush of pilgrims. Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his greetings to people on the beginning of Navratri and wished them happiness, peace and prosperity.
In the past, Thackeray has expressed disappointment claiming "delay in the disqualification" of rebel Shiv Sena MLAs led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde after the Bal Thackeray-founded party split in June 2022.
Please continue to e-mail your festive pictures and stories to getahead@rediff.co.in (Subjectline: Navratri, Durga Puja, Golu 2025). Don't forget to include your name and location. We will publish the best photographs on Rediff.
Get inspired by these styles when you go pandal hopping during Durga Puja.
The decision to invite Mushtaq had sparked controversy, with several petitions challenging the Karnataka government's move.
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'Kajol has always been very particular about Nysa and Yug coming for the puja every year.'
The nine-day Navratri festival began across India with fervour on Saturday. Thousands of devotees queued up at temples of Goddess Durga. Navratri, which literally means nine nights, is observed twice a year.
For the second straight year, the popular festival will be celebrated under the long shadow of the pandemic.
