On July 16 begins the Puri Rath Yatra for Lord Jagannath. Where else is Lord Jagannath celebrated?
What do a Rajasthani style building, an island and a striking lotus-shaped shrine have in common? They are all home to Krishna devotion far from India. Unexpected settings to fascinating architecture, these seven temples offer a glimpse of how Krishna's timeless tradition has travelled across the globe.
These traditions have survived centuries, even as India has changed dramatically around them.
The devotees pulled three 40-foot high colourful chariots carrying the sacred deities of Lord Jagannatha, Lady Subhadra and Lord Balarama from Hyde Park to Trafalgar Square. The giant chariots were accompanied by a procession of singers, musicians and dancers. At Trafalgar Square, where the procession concluded, thousands of people had gathered to witness cultural and educational displays and exhibitions linked to the Rath-yatra.
Thiruvananthapuram International Airport will be closed for over four hours on April 11 to facilitate the "Painkuni Arattu" procession of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple. The procession, which involves taking the temple idols to Shangumugham Beach for a ritual bath, crosses the airport runway. The airport will be closed from 4.45 pm to 9 pm on April 11. This tradition dates back centuries and continues even after the airport's establishment in 1932. Flights will be rescheduled during this period.
Puri Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati, along with his disciples, paid obeisance to the idols on their respective chariots.
Chants of 'Jai Jagannath' rent the air all over as the news about the Supreme Court giving its nod for holding the world famous car festival in the pilgrim town reached the state bringing cheers among people, irrespective of caste, creed and religion.
Chief Secretary A K Tripathy and Director General of Police (DGP) Abhay rushed to the pilgrim town to make the necessary arrangements. "The DGP and I are rushing to Puri to take stock of the situation as per the direction of the chief minister. We will camp there," Tripathy said.
Both West Bengal and Odisha are slugging it out for getting the GI tag for the delicious sweet
However, the woman told police that she was not keen to visit the shrine and admitted that she had come to Pamba following pressure from her husband.
The Sabarimala Karma Samiti, a platform of right-wing outfits, including VHP, appealed to media houses not to depute women journalists in the menstrual age group to cover the developments in Sabarimala.
'Are you so scared for your own skin that you will not help a lady or a weak man from attack?' asks an anguished A Ganesh Nadar.
