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Indian Express
11-06-2025
- Indian Express
Snan Yatra fever grips Digha: Mamata sends homegrown mangoes for bhog
The sacred Snan Yatra festival commenced with great fervour at Jagannath Dham in Digha on Tuesday, marking a spiritually vibrant prelude to the forthcoming Rathayatra celebrations. The deities — Sri Sri Jagannath, Baladev, and Subhadra Devi — will be ceremoniously brought out from the temple's inner sanctum to the Snan Bedi, a special bathing platform constructed on the temple's eastern side. Bathed in the morning sun, the platform will become the stage for one of the most sacred rituals of the Vaishnavite calendar. The deities will be bathed in water collected from 108 holy tirthas. This elaborate Snan Vidhi will then be followed by an anointing ceremony involving devotional chants, pancha-amrit (a mixture of milk, curd, honey, ghee, and sugar), sweet fruit juices, and other sacred substances. 'Once the divine bath, or Snan Vidhi, is complete, the deities will be offered a grand bhoga. And in a truly heartwarming gesture, the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, has sent a special gift! Luscious mangoes and jackfruits, plucked straight from the trees in her Kolkata residence. It will be included in the afternoon's elaborate Chappan Bhog, a magnificent offering of 56 delectable items,' said Radharaman Das, Vice President of ISKCON. Darshan timings on the day of the festival are scheduled from 3 pm to 9 pm, during which devotees will have the rare opportunity to witness the deities in Gaja Vesha (elephant attire), a form said to bless viewers with prosperity and protection. However, starting Wednesday, the temple will observe a period of tender silence as the deities are believed to fall ill due to the elaborate bathing ritual — a state affectionately called Snana Yatra fever. As per tradition, Sri Sri Jagannath, Baladev, and Subhadra Devi will enter a period of divine rest, making themselves unavailable for public darshan, said Das. 'However, the temple will remain open, and Sri Sri Radha Madan Mohan ji will bless the devotees with darshan,' he said. The deities are expected to reappear on June 26, a day before the grand Rathayatra on June 27. Sweety Kumari reports from West Bengal for The Indian Express. She is a journalist with over a decade of experience in the media industry. Covers Crime, Defence, Health , Politics etc and writes on trending topics. With a keen eye for investigative and human-interest stories. She has honed her craft across diverse beats including aviation, health, incidents etc. Sweety delivers impactful journalism that informs and engages audiences. Sweety Kumari is a graduate of Calcutta University with an Honors degree in Journalism from Jaipuria College and a PG in Mass Communication from Jadavpur University. Originally from Bihar, she is brought up in Kolkata and completed her education from Kendriya Vidyalaya SaltLake. Multilingual, Sweety is fluent in English, Hindi, Bengali, and Maithili. She started her career as an Entertainment and lifestyle journalist with a newsportal in Kolkata. She is working with The Indian Express for 8 years now. ... Read More


India Gazette
06-06-2025
- Automotive
- India Gazette
Elon Musk's father, Errol concludes 6-day India visit; praises green tech leap and cultural depth
New Delhi [India] June 6 (ANI): Father of Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Servotec's Errol Musk concluded a highly productive and culturally enriching 6-day trip to India on Friday. Accompanied by his daughter, Alexandra Musk, the visit, which began on June 1, significantly underscored India's pivotal role in the global green technology and electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure revolution. Hosted by Servotech Renewable, Musk's itinerary was packed with engagements designed to accelerate India's sustainable development. His journey included headlining the India Global Green Tech Vision Forum in New Delhi, where he shared his global insights on green technology. He also toured Servotech's state-of-the-art manufacturing plant, gaining firsthand insight into India's indigenous capabilities in EV chargers and solar solutions. A unique aspect of his visit involved profound spiritual and cultural immersion. Musk engaged in sacred visits to the Ram Mandir and Hanuman Garhi Temple in Ayodhya and ISKCON Delhi. At ISKCON, he actively participated in a Tulsi plantation drive, performed aarti, and reverently partook of the 'Chappan Bhog' prasad, highlighting the deep connection between sustainability and Indian traditions. During his spiritual interactions, he openly praised the timeless teachings of the Bhagavad Gita. Reflecting on his journey, Errol Musk stated, 'This trip has been truly eye-opening, witnessing India's dynamic progress in green tech and its rich cultural depth. I leave incredibly optimistic about India's future and its role on the global stage, and I look forward to returning soon to explore more of India's beautiful places.' Servotech Renewable Power System Ltd, Managing Director, Raman Bhatia expressed, 'Hosting Errol Musk has been an immense privilege and a pivotal moment for Servotech and India's green energy sector. His strategic insights and personal embrace of India's cultural values have been incredibly validating, further solidifying our commitment to accelerating India's journey towards a cleaner, more sustainable, and self-reliant future.' Musk's departure marks the culmination of a visit that has not only strengthened Servotech's global partnerships but also vividly amplified India's narrative as a burgeoning leader in both sustainable innovation and spiritual harmony. (ANI)