Two damaged idols were found inside the well of the Bhasma Shankar temple in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, India, which was reopened last week after being shut for 46 years. The temple, which houses an idol of Lord Hanuman and a Shivling, was reopened on December 13 after authorities stumbled upon the covered structure during an anti-encroachment drive. The idols, a Lakshmi idol and a Parvati idol, were found in the well, which authorities had planned to reopen. The district administration has written to the Archaeological Survey of India for carbon dating of the temple, including the well.
State Congress president and former chief minister Kamal Nath has been fielded from his home-turf Chhindwara, from where he is currently the legislator.
The bodies of Sharma, 46, who worked as a carpenter at the Indian Spinal Injury Centre in Vasant Kunj for the last 28 years but had stopped working since January, and his four daughters -- Neetu, 26, Nikki, 24, Neeru, 23, and Nidhi, 20 -- were found on Friday afternoon, but they had died days earlier. According to their acquaintances, the family was very religious and they would perform prayers every day.
Temples across Uttar Pradesh were packed with devotees on Sunday for Ram Navami, with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath leading prayers at the Gorakhnath Temple. Heavy crowds were witnessed at temples in Lucknow, Gorakhpur, and Varanasi, where security was heightened. In Gorakhpur, Adityanath performed the traditional kanya pujan ritual, while in Varanasi, a 51-foot statue of Lord Ram has become a major attraction. The festival was celebrated with enthusiastic fervor across the state.
Making a blatant mockery of the great religious epic, Adipurush showcases the worst side of today's Bollywood, declares Sumeet Nadkarni.
Rupani also praised Ram for his 'engineering skills' by having a bridge constructed between India and Sri Lanka.
The first glimpse of Director Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana was unveiled at a packed IMAX auditorium in Mumbai.
As Ayodhya gears up for the consecration ceremony at the Ram temple next month, a set of imposing sun-themed pillars -- 'Surya Stambhs' -- are being installed along a prominent road of the temple town.
"If any wrong words have been spoken about him, I apologise to God Shri Ram for it," Nishad told reporters in Fatehpur. "Lord Shri Ram has done a lot for our community and our community has played an important role in the construction of the Shri Ram temple," he said.
'You have to be very careful while doing the Ramayan.'
'He also granted the temple freedom from all taxes and decreed that no one could litigate against it ever.'
A smog covers most of the national capital these days, but even the smog clears when Vayuputra is around.
The actor and his wife Upasana Kamineni are expecting their first child; his film RRR has bagged two Golden Globe nominations.
A new landmark of India -- both structural and spiritual -- rises on Ayodhya's horizon on Monday as a new-age architectural marvel of elegant sandstones, diligently carved by craftspeople with dedication and devotion to Lord Ram.
The Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance is planning to celebrate the Ram Temple consecration ceremony, being organised in Ayodhya, in a grand manner in Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency, represented by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
'It is a South Indian ritual to give an amount of your rewards to the Gods.'
Rediff.com's Rajesh Karkera captures the faces from Ayodhya.
'The producers of Adipurush as well as Director Om Raut did not expect such a backlash.'
The orange-strapped watch has a picture of Lord Ram and Hanuman, along with Ayodhya's Ram Janambhoomi Mandir.
Even if you are not a Hindu or religious, the underlying message of loving animals and fellow human beings, and to choose love and peace over war is winning hearts, notes Divya Nair.
The Allahabad high court on Tuesday expressed concern over the way key characters of the epic Ramayana have been depicted in the controversial movie Adipurush, saying, "Hindus are tolerant but why they are tested every time?"
Joining the chorus against the film, the Samajwadi Party said the faithful are hurt by its "cheap and superficial dialogues" and that the film was part of an "agenda".
'We have 38 Dalits who are MLAs and ministers. But that does not mean the Dalits of Bihar are prospering.'
The stamps are not merely a piece of paper or artwork but they are a miniature form of epics and great ideas, he said in a video message.
A statuette of Lord Hanuman is among few items that United States President Barack Obama always carries in his pocket and seeks inspiration from whenever he feels tired or discouraged.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the Bharatiya Janata Party was committed to taking tough steps to rid India of corruption, nepotism and law and order challenges.
'I apologised because sentiments were hurt.'
"Bapu, I am here today not as a Prime Minister, but as a Hindu," said Sunak, opening his address at the gathering.
The Bhasma Shankar temple in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, has reopened after being locked for 45 years following communal riots. The district administration has requested the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to conduct carbon dating of the temple, including a well on the premises. The temple is being guarded round the clock and worshippers have started visiting. The reopening of the temple has been met with gratitude from local residents, who have expressed their desire to reconnect with their heritage.
Local residents shared their memories of the temple, with many highlighting its importance as a religious site for the community.
'Our baby Mark Shankar has come home but he still needs to recover.'
The film folk turned out in traditional outfits for the pran pratishtha at the temple.
In the wake of a political row in Maharashtra over the recitation of Hanuman Chalisa, the Shiv Sena on Monday hit out at the BJP and said the Hindutva ideology is a culture and not chaos.
Prasanna D Zore/Rediff.com recaps emotions on a day that Bihar waited with bated breath.
Remarks by Congress and NCP (SP) leaders in Maharashtra suggesting the term 'Sanatani terrorist' have sparked a controversy, drawing strong criticism from the BJP, which accuses them of 'Hindu hatred' and 'appeasement politics'.
Indian origin Hindus living in Europe and US are mulling opening overseas chapters of Prayagraj-based 'Ram Naam Bank' in their countries. On the occasion of Ram Navami on Sunday, the idea of opening a Ram Naam Bank was discussed among the devotees in Sweden.
The assault allegedly took place over playing Hanuman chalisa, a Hindu devotional hymn in praise of lord Hanuman, at a shop in central Bengaluru area.
The chief minister said his "fault" was providing good education to children, building good schools for them, opening Mohalla Clinics and arranging for free medicines for people.
'He has divine power... For our future, safety is in the hands of Modi.'
When Barack Obama is sworn in as the president of the United States on Tuesday, his fans in Lucknow will hold special prayers to wish him success, and take out a peace march. "We are organising a special Sunderkand (a chapter from the Ramayan) recitation session to convey our best wishes to Obama, who is a devotee of Lord Hanuman, and will pray for his success," said Sunil Gombre, a city-based businessman. "We are organising a special 'Sunderkand' (a Ramayan chapter) rec
