Category: Culture

Ban on VIP darshan for Char Dham Yatra extended to May 31; no social media content creation on temple premises

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Given the surge in pilgrims visiting holy shrines under the 2024 Char Dham Yatra, the Uttarakhand government has extended its ban on VIP darshan until May 31. The move will ensure all devotees have equal access to the four dhams, ANI reported. Subsequently, an order has been issued prohibiting videography and creation of social media content within a 50-meter radius of temple complexes across all the four shrines in Uttarakhand.

In conversation with ANI, Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand Radha Raturi highlighted the importance of preserving the sanctity of the temple premises and respecting devotees’ religious sentiments.

In view of the huge crowd of pilgrims in the Char Dham Yatra, Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Radha Raturi has extended the ban on VIP darshan till May 31, so that all the devotees can easily visit the four Dhams. pic.twitter.com/u2GX19Ap8n

— ANI (@ANI) May 17, 2024

In a letter, Raturi said, “I would like to inform [everyone] that this year, there is a continuous surge in the number of pilgrims visiting the Holy Char Dham in Uttarakhand. For better management, we have decided not to have any “VIP Darshan” till May 31, 2024.

Dhami also held a meeting with senior officials of the state. He said, “The number of devotees on Char Dham Yatra has doubled in comparison to previous years. We are trying to make all arrangements so that devotees don’t face any difficulties during the Yatra. I want to appeal to everyone to come here only after getting their registrations done. In the future, a master plan will be made for Gangotri and Yamunotri to make the journey of devotees smooth.”

Also read: Thousands of devotees walk treacherous route to reach Yamunotri — watch video

The Chief Secretary elaborated that the sacredness of the temples and devotees’ reverence we are permitting mobile phones, but their use for video recording or creating reels within temple premises is strictly prohibited.

Commissioner of Garhwal Division, Vinay Shankar Pandey, told ANI that this year’s Char Dham Yatra has witnessed a significant increase in pilgrim numbers compared to the previous year. With over 26.73 lakh devotees registered for the pilgrimage, including 1.42 lakh offline registrations in Haridwar and Rishikesh, authorities are focused on ensuring a smooth and respectful pilgrimage experience for all visitors.

In pics: Thousands visit Kedarnath as Char Dham Yatra begins

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Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams to release Arjitha Seva Tickets online for August on May 18

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has announced that the Arjitha Seva Tickets quota will be available online for August on May 18. Interested devotees can register their names for a lucky draw for various Seva tickets between May 18 on or before 10 am on May 20. The lucky dip winners can avail tickets after paying the eligible charges online between May 20 and May 22.

Tickets for other Sevas, including Kalyanotsavam, Vunjal Seva, Arjitha Brahmotsavam, Sahasradeepalankara Seva, and tickets for the annual Pavitrotsavam scheduled between August 15 and August 17 will be released online at 10 am on May 21 . Tickets and slots for the Virtual Seva will be released online at 3 pm on May 21.

Angapradakshinam tokens will be released online at 10 am on May 23 . The Srivaani Trust tickets will be released at 11 am on May 23 online.

Padmavati Pariyanotsavams from May 17 to May 19 at Tirumala

The three day annual festival of Sri Padmavati Srinivasa Parinayotsavam will be celebrated in Tirumala from May 17 to 19. pic.twitter.com/G0nerDZikz

— Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (@TTDevasthanams) May 16, 2024

A special free darshan tickets for Senior citizens, physically challenged and persons suffering from chronic diseases will be released online at 3 pm on May 23.

Special darshan tickets will be released at 10 am on May 24 online. Rooms allotment in Tirumala and Tirupati will be released online at 3 pm on May 24. The quota towards Srivari Seva will be released at 11 am, Navaneetha Seva at noon and Parakamani Seva will be released at 1 pm on May 27, a TTD press release said.

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Thousands gather as doors of Badrinath Temple in Uttarakhand open for devotees

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Doors of the Shri Badrinath Dham in Chamoli, Uttarakhand, opened at 6 am on Sunday (May 12), the Shri Badrinath Dham in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand unlocked its doors to devotees accompanied by the Army Band, hymns and chants of ‘Badri Vishal Lal Ki Jai’, Hindustan Times reported.

Hundreds of devotees thronged the entry of Badrinath Dham on Sunday, with the entrance decked up with flowers. Shri Badrinath Dham opened its gates for devotees after a break of six months. The portals of the temple were closed for winter on November 18, 2023.

Prior to the opening of Badrinath Dham, three other Dhams of Uttarakhand — Shri Kedarnath, Shri Gangotri, and Shri Yamunotri — were opened to devotees on Friday, which coincided with the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya.

Also read: Char Dham Yatra: Thousands of devotees walk treacherous route to reach Yamunotri — watch video

#WATCH | Chamoli, Uttrakhand: The doors of Shri Badrinath Dham were opened for the devotees today at 6 am amidst the melodious tunes of the Army Band, with complete rituals, Vedic chanting and slogans of ‘Badri Vishal Lal Ki Jai’. pic.twitter.com/lPSCXxKfvx

— ANI (@ANI) May 12, 2024

The Badrinath Yatra is significant in Hinduism, drawing pilgrims far and wide, who gather to pay tributes to Lord Vishnu in this sacred abode nestled amidst the Himalayan Garhwal.

The Char Dham Yatra typically begins in late April or early May and extends until November. Recently, the Tehri royal family reinstated an age-old historical tradition by performing the “pattabhishek” ceremony for Ishwari Prasad Namboodiri, the chief priest of Badrinath Dham, marking a significant revival after a hiatus of 47 years. This ceremonial event was last observed in 1977.

With the opening of the shrine, the Chardham Yatra to Badrinath, Kedarnath, Yamunotri and Gangotri has started. The doors of the Badrinath temple were opened after six months amid the chanting of vedic mantras, a pooja and beats of dhols and nagadas, authorities said.

Scores of devotees had gathered on the premises of the temple, which was decked up with 15 quintals of flowers, to witness the ceremony despite rain. The doors opened at 6 am after two hours of rituals.

In pics: Thousands visit Kedarnath as Char Dham Yatra begins; doors of Badrinath temple to open on May 12

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami greeted the people on the occasion. Temple chief priest Rawal Ishwar Prasad Namboodiri, members of the Badrinath-Kedarnath temple committee, including its chairperson Ajendra Ajay, and Chamoli District Magistrate Himanshu Khurana, among others were present. The pooja to open the doors was performed by Namboodiri in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple.

The doors of the Kedarnath, Yamyunotri and the Gangotri temples opened for devotees on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya on Friday.

Till 4 pm on Saturday, 7,37,885 people had registered online for a darshan at Badrinath, according to official data. Last year, 18,39,591 people had visited the shrine.

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Char Dham Yatra: Thousands of devotees walk treacherous route to reach Yamunotri — watch video

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Thousands of devotees thronged the hilly terrain of Uttarakhand leading to Yamunotri on Saturday (May 11), marking the start of the revered Char Dham Yatra. The pilgrimage, encompassing Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath saw large number of devotees resulting in a crowding along the dangerous and narrow hillside pathway.

Videos of pilgrims walking along the scary path went viral on social media. Scores of pilgrims were seen queuing for hours along the route as the gates to Yamunotri temple nestled in Garhwal opened. Many people on social media raised concerns over the lack of adequate safety measures to protect the large gathering.

#AwaazShorts | यमुनोत्री धाम यात्रा पर जा रहे श्रद्धालुओं का जनसैलाब#CharDhamYatra #Uttarakhand #yamunotri pic.twitter.com/46OEiXMEQO

— CNBC-AWAAZ (@CNBC_Awaaz) May 11, 2024

See pics: Thousands visit Kedarnath as Char Dham Yatra begins; doors of Badrinath temple to open on May 12

Reports quoted pilgrims as saying that they were encountering numerous challenges along the route with no assistance available from authorities. Along the narrow path there is no space to sit or wait and people had to stand in the queue for over two hours.

The Char Dham Yatra commenced on May 10 as doors of Kedarnath and Yamunotri temples in the Garhwal Himalayas were opened for devotees on Akshaya Tritiya after remaining closed during the winter months. The doors of the revered Himalayan temples dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Yamunotri were opened at 7 am in the presence of a hundreds of devotees who were chanting hymns. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami along with his wife Geeta were present as the doors of Kedartnath temple were opened to the public.

Meanwhile, gauging the potential risks to pilgrims, the Uttarkashi Police has requested travellers to postponed their visit to  Yamunotri. In a post of social media platform X, the police wrote: “Today, sufficient number of devotees have reached Shri Yamunotri Dham as per its capacity. Now sending more devotees is risky. All the devotees who are going to Yamunotri today, are requested to postpone their Yamunotri Yatra.”

#आवश्यक_सूचना
आज श्री यमुनोत्री धाम पर क्षमता के अनुसार पर्याप्त श्रद्धालु यात्रा के लिये पहुँच चुके हैं। अब और अधिक श्रद्धालुओं को भेजना जोखिम भरा है। जो भी श्रद्धालु आज यमुनोत्री यात्रा पर आने जा रहे हैं, उनसे विनम्र अपील है कि आज यमुनोत्री जी की यात्रा स्थगित करें।

— Uttarkashi Police Uttarakhand (@UttarkashiPol) May 12, 2024

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Mother’s Day 2024: Date, history, and significance

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Mother’s Day is a special occasion celebrated on the second Sunday in May around the world to honour mothers and motherhood. This year it will be celebrated on May 12.

On this special day, people express love, gratitude, and appreciation for their mothers through gifts, cards, flowers, or spending quality time together. The main focus of Mother’s Day is to show love in meaningful ways to mothers.

Many families also celebrate by organising special meals or outings to show their mothers how much they are valued and cherished.

Mother’s Day 2024: Date

There is no specific date to celebrate this occasion, which is usually marked on the second Sunday in May each year. This year, it will be observed on May 12.

Mother’s Day History

Mother’s Day was first celebrated by Anna Jarvis in the early 20th century, inspired by her own mother’s dedication to humanitarian work.

US President Woodrow Wilson officially declared the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day in 1914, which was later celebrated in almost all countries. The day of celebrating mothers and motherhood is also rooted in ancient Greek and Roman cultures.

While dates and celebrations vary, this day holds an important role in celebrating mothers and motherhood.

Significance

Mother’s Day is a special occasion to honour mothers across the world. It is a wonderful time to show appreciation to the women with love and gratitude.

Mothers play an essential role in their children’s lives, fostering growth, supporting them, and teaching values. The foundation of family life is their everlasting dedication and unselfish love, which create ties that last for generations.

It is an opportunity to recognise the important role mothers play in our lives and acknowledge their sacrifices, love, and care. It is a day to reflect on the unconditional love and support mothers provide and express our heartfelt thanks for all that they do.

The day also honours every aspect of maternal figures who provide love, guidance, and support in various forms, like stepmothers, grandmothers, adoptive mothers, and guardians.

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Akshaya Tritiya 2024: How and why the day celebrated

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Akshaya Tritiya or Akha Teej is an annual springtime festival celebrated in Vaishakh month on the third lunar day (Tritiya) of the bright half (Shukla Paksha). The auspicious celebration this year will be on May 10.

Akshaya Tritiya is considered auspicious for buying gold, starting new ventures, and making investments. Apart from that, people also perform charity, donating food, clothes, or money to the needy.

The auspicious timings for the puja and gold purchase start at 05:33 am and remain until 12:18 pm.

Why is Akshaya Tritiya celebrated?

Akshaya means never diminishing in Sanskrit, and Tritiya means third day. It is believed that any new thing started on this day will bring prosperity and good fortune in life.

According to Hindu -beliefs, the day is celebrated to mark the birth anniversary of Lord Parshuram, the sixth avatar of Lord Vishnu.

Devotees also believe that it was the starting day of Treta Yuga, one of the four ages.

When the Pandavas set out for the Vanavasa on this day, Lord Krishna gave Draupadi the Akshaya Patra, ensuring that they would always have surplus food.

On this auspicious day, Veda Vyasa started writing the Mahabharata.

Another event linked to the day is when the holy Ganges descended to Earth.

People also believe that Sudama’s visit to his childhood friend, Krishna, in Dwarka on that day brought him unlimited wealth and happiness.

How to celebrate Akshaya Tritiya?

The day is celebrated across the world by offering prayers to Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi. Devotees offer prayers, observe fasts, perform rituals, and participate in charitable activities on this day. Apart from this, people also buy precious metals like gold. The day is considered auspicious for marriage and investments as well.

People also offer water to the Sun God (arghya), engage in dhyana (meditation), and make the commitment to undertake the puja completely and wholeheartedly (sankalpa).

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Special Bharat Gaurav trains launched this summer for Ram Lalla Darshan: Check price, destinations and more

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has launched the Bharat Gaurav Special Tourist Train for FY24–25, offering a unique spiritual journey to travellers in northern parts of India.

The “Tour Uttar Bharat with Ramlala Darshan ex-New Jalpaiguri”, aims to provide a spiritual experience at revered destinations such as the recently-consecrated Ram Mandir in Ayodhya and the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in Jammu and Kashmir.

The eight-night-nine-day pilgrimage starts on May 18 and concludes on May 26, 2024, with a visit to Mata Vaishno Devi, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Mathura, Vrindavan and Ayodhya.

Passengers will embark on this journey onboard the Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train from New Jalpaiguri, with boarding and deboarding facilities arranged at various stations, including Malda Town, Rampurhat, Dumka, Bhagalpur, Jamalpur, Kiul, Patna, and Pt Deen Dayal Upadhyaya junction.

Also read: Religious tourism takes center stage in India; check top searched destinations

Packages are available in sleeper class SL and 3AC, wherein a tour manager will be available for convenience of passengers. Travellers will be provided accommodation in non-AC hotels, and non-AC buses will be used for commuting within cities. These tourists will be provided with three meals, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Package price

The cost per person is ₹17,900 for the economy class and ₹29,500 for comfort class, inclusive of a 33% concession provided by Indian Railways as part of the Bharat Gaurav Train scheme. The seats will be confirmed two days before departure. There are 660 seats in SL class and 120 in 3AC.

Also read: Decoding the most popular temple towns of India and the accompanying tourist economy

Religious destinations on the route

The destinations included in this journey are Mata Vaishnodevi Temple (Katra), Bharat Mata Devi Temple (Haridwar), Har ki Pauri to join the Ganga Aarti (Rishikesh), Ram Jhula, Triveni Ghat (Mathura and Vrindavan) and Ayodhya Ram Janmabhoomi Temple.

Visit sacred cities across North India on the Uttar Bharat With Ramlala Darshan (EZBG16) tour starting from New Jalpaiguri on 18.05.24.

Book now on https://t.co/xrCbEe8fyP@incredibleindia @tourismgoi @RailMinIndia @mygovindia @uptourismgov @UTDBofficial @JandKTourism pic.twitter.com/vQz3zoHqBk

— IRCTC Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train (@IR_BharatGaurav) April 8, 2024

“IRCTC Ltd proposes to run Uttar Bharat With Ramlala Darshan Ex New Jalpaiguri, by Bharat Gaurav special tourist train in SL class, covering the visit of divine places like Mata Vaishnodevi, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Mathura, Vrindavan, and Ayodhya and in 08 Night/09 days tour,” the official page of IRCTC shared in a social media post.

IRCTC added that a COVID-19 vaccination certificate is mandatory for visitors during temple visits and sightseeing. Passengers are required to carry their vaccination certificates with them throughout the tour, either in hard copy or on their phones.

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KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow