In what may be considered the silver lining of a very dark cloud, the 500-year-old Mahabodhi temple and Bodhi tree have not been damaged in spite of the nine serial blasts that rocked the 500-year-old temple premises in Gaya, Bihar.
Three dead branches of the sacred Bodhi tree at the Mahabodhi temple in Bodh Gaya, Bihar were pruned by a team of scientists of the Dehradun-based Forest Research Institute to keep the tree healthy. The FRI scientists have also suggested some fresh measures for healthy growth of the tree, considered to be about 150 to 200 years old. The FRI has been given the responsibility of maintaining the sacred Bodhi tree by the state government.
They also accused the Nitish Kumar-led government of suppressing facts on the issue.
In June this year, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had ordered a test to be conducted by Forest Research Institute experts to determine whether the branch of the bodhi tree was cut last year or not. The order was given after a criminal case was filed by a monk Arup Brahmachari against the top officials of the Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee, including Gaya District Magistrate, in the court of the chief judicial magistrate.
The Bihar government steps in to check the alleged abuse of the sacred Bodhi tree
Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), Viacom18 Media (Viacom18), and The Walt Disney Company announced on Thursday that they have completed the merger of Viacom18's media and JioCinema businesses into Star India (SIPL), creating a mega joint venture valued at Rs 70,352 crore. The new entity will be guided by three chief executive officers (CEOs), "who will lead the company into a new era of ambition and disruption", according to a joint statement. Kevin Vaz will lead the entertainment division across all platforms, Kiran Mani will head the combined digital division, and Sanjog Gupta will oversee the sports operations.
'The design of the logo of this competition is a symbol of the rich cultural heritage and all-round progress of glorious Bihar.'
'As you're watching the IPL live, there's a conscious effort to showcase the entertainment portfolio.'
Billionaire Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries has completed the merger of its media assets with the India business of global media house Walt Disney and formed a joint venture with a valuation of over Rs 70,000 crore. The JV will be one of the largest media and entertainment companies in India with a combined revenue of approximately Rs 26,000 crore and will be led by Nita Ambani as its chairperson, according to a joint statement.
Both sports and digital will drag down the healthy operating margins that entertainment television continues to make.
Could it be about clout? Given its size and influence, RIL doesn't need the media for that, notes Vanita Kohli-Khandekhar.
Walt Disney Co and Reliance Industries on Wednesday announced signing of binding pacts to merge their media operations in India to create a Rs 70,000 crore behemoth. Reliance and its affiliates will hold 63.16 per cent in the combined entity while Disney will hold the remaining 36.84 per cent, the companies said in a statement.
Mukesh Ambani-owned Reliance Industries (RIL) is in discussions to acquire a 29.8 per cent stake in Tata Play from the Walt Disney Company, according to sources close to the development. This move is seen as part of RIL's broader strategy to deepen its footprint in India's television distribution sector. Tata Sons, the holding company of the Tata group, currently holds a 50.2 per cent stake in the satellite television broadcaster.
Paramount Global has agreed to sell its 13 per cent stake in its Indian TV business to Reliance Industries for Rs 4,286 crore, the Indian firm said on Thursday. In a stock exchange filing, Reliance said it has signed a binding agreement with two subsidiaries of Paramount Global to acquire 13.01 per cent equity stake of Viacom 18 Media Private Limited held by Paramount Global. Similarly, in a filing on the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Paramount Global said the closing of the transaction is subject to the satisfaction of certain customary conditions, including receipt of applicable regulatory approvals, as well as the completion of a previously announced joint venture involving Reliance, Viacom18 and Star Disney.
The location of the bust of Gandhi has been chosen as a mark of solidarity for peace and non-violence.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday gifted a sandalwood Buddha statue encased in a 'kadamwood jali box' to his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida who is in India on a state visit, officials said.
Disney Star India, bought at a valuation of $15 billion, could be on the block for roughly one-third that amount.
Modi, who is in the Himalayan nation at the invitation of Deuba, is paying a day-long visit to Lumbini on the occasion of Buddha Purnima.
At a time when there is a growing number of edtech companies laying off employees in a bid to conserve cash and focus on profitability amid a funding winter, Ronnie Screwvala-led upGrad is expanding its facilities and hiring talent. The company plans to hire over 1400 team members between November 2022 and March 2023 in India and at offices outside the country. upGrad has also signed new leases in the past few months for 335,000 sq ft of space across four cities -- Mumbai, Bengaluru, Pune and Noida.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday planted a sapling of a Banyan tree at a resort in Dhulikhel, a tourist paradise where the SAARC leaders held deliberations in an informal setting.
The Indian Premier League's media rights for the next five years have been sold for a whopping Rs. 48,930 crore, said BCCI secretary Jay Shah on Tuesday.
Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Friday held a special prayer at Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's official residence here for world peace and praised the state government for taking interest in Buddhism.
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Bodh Gaya emerged as a centre that encouraged a continuous dialogue of civilisation, it has enabled India to re-forge her age old linkages with countries, who derived inspiration from Buddha's message of compassion. It is this dialogue that was sought to be interrupted by the dastardly attack, says Dr Anirban Ganguly.
"Buddhism is more relevant today than ever," said President Pratibha Patil after visiting Bodh Gaya and Nalanda
Buddhist monks have demanded the arrest of chief priest of Mahabodhi temple in Bodh Gaya, Bhante Bodhi Pal, ex-officio secretary of Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee (BMTC) Kalicharan Yadav and public relations officer Bhajju Yadav for chopping off a branch of the Bodhi tree.
Chief priest of Mahabodhi Temple of Bodh Gaya Bhadant Bhodipal has resigned, fearing prosecution on criminal charges in a case related to the illegal felling of a branch of the sacred Bodhi tree.
IIT Roorkee is organising its annual youth festival Thomso Encore 2006.
"Looking forward to a wonderful day," Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweets before he leaves Colombo. G Sudhakar Nair/PTI reports from Anuradhapura
Modi and Deuba discussed ways to strengthen ongoing cooperation and develop new areas in the multifaceted bilateral partnership.
India on Monday raised with Myanmar the incident of bomb blasts in holy town of Bodh Gaya in the backdrop of reports that the attack was a reaction of alleged violence against Muslims in that country.
DIG, Magadh Range, Nayyer Hasnain Khan said an identity card was found within the temple premises on Sunday on the basis of which the person was detained.
The Torana Gate is a gift from India to mark the launch of Kuala Lumpur's 'Little India' project as a symbol of friendship between the two countries.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday held talks with his Nepalese counterpart Sushil Koirala on key strategic issues after which ten agreements, including a pact on $1 billion assistance to Nepal, were inked.
Arvind Singh, a member of Mahabodhi temple management committee, said the two injured included a national of Myanmar and another of Tibet. They have been admitted to the Magadh MedicalCollege and Hospital, he said
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a rather eventful day out in Mongolia. Amid his packed schedule he made time to play a fiddle, try his hand at archery and of course click a selfie. :)
"Had a wonderful meeting with President U Htin Kyaw," Modi tweeted along with some pictures of the meeting.
An intricately carved gateway, built at a cost of over $1 million and representing hundreds of years of Buddhist and Islamic art forms in India, will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 'Little India' in Kuala Lumpur during his visit to Malaysia this week.
I thank the people and Government of Myanmar for their exceptional hospitality, Modi tweeted.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday arrived in Ulan Bator on his historic visit to Mongolia to hold talks with the country's leadership to bolster economic and trade cooperation, including in transport, highways and energy sectors.
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