Latest news with #RathYatra


Time of India
3 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
Iskcon to host Rath Yatra on June 29
Prayagraj: Devotees of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) Prayagraj are gearing up to celebrate the much-awaited annual Jagannath Rath Yatra on June 29. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The Rath Yatra will commence at 4 pm from Hira Halwai Crossing and pass through Subhash Chauraha and Hanuman Mandir before culminating at the KP ground. According to Achyuta Mohan Das, the temple president, during the yatra, Lord Jagannath, Baladev, and Subhadra will sit on the chariot. Preparations began a month in advance with the formation of FOJ (Friends of Jagannath), in which more than 70 volunteeers aged 12-25 years took up various services. There will be other dance performances besides Harinam Sankirtan. A team of 150 devotees from Varanasi is also expected to participate in the festivities. Another highlight of the Rath Yatra will be the offering of 1008 types of bhoga from devotees of different states of India. "Iskcon is organising the yatra on the 29th, instead of the 27th, as it being a Sunday, we wish to give more and more people the opportunity to get the blessings," explained Das.


Time of India
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Surat CP invokes PASA against 28 ahead of Rath Yatra
Surat: To maintain law and order in Surat before Rath Yatra, the Surat police commissioner has invoked the Prevention of Anti-Social Activities Act (PASA) against 28 history-sheeters in the city. These include the alleged extortionist Avdesh Tiwari and textile cheat Arvind Vaghasiya. All these persons have been sent to jails in Ahmedabad, Bhuj and Rajkot. Tiwari faces three FIRs for extortion , lodged at Udhna and Pandesara police stations. He would allegedly make applications to the SMC and threaten people with demolishing their constructions if they did not pay him protection money. Tiwari was sent to Bhuj jail. Another notorious history-sheeter, Arvind Vaghasiya alias Atul Vaghasiya, is accused of several crimes including failing to make payments to textile traders after taking delivery of grey textile goods. Cheating FIRs have been lodged against him with Udhna and Khatodara police. He has been sent to Ahmedabad jail. Others accused in cases of loot, extortion, attempt to murder, cybercrime, cheating and bootlegging were also sent to jails under PASA. These are Niki Yadav, Chandan Swain, Ashish Saroj, Suraj Survade, Ravinder Singh, Sohel Khan, Mahendra Rana, Safruddin Shaikh, Sunny Nayak, Samir Shaikh, Dinesh Patil, Hardik Parmar, Shivam Mahanto, Ajay Patel, Hasan Pathan and Jayna Rana, among others. The Surat police commissioner has invoked PASA against 450 individuals so far this year. In 2024, 704 persons were sent to jail under PASA.


Time of India
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Lawyers demand better security
1 2 3 4 Keonjhar: Members of District Bar Association, Keonjhar, (DBAK) on Friday submitted a letter to superintendent of police, Keonjhar, Nitin Kushalkar, to improve law and order, following the recent gang rape and murder incident. They demanded that the trial be fast tracked. "We also demanded better security arrangements for Rath Yatra," said Alok Mohanta, president, DBAK.


Time of India
4 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
Single-use plastic items banned, ID cards must for vendors at Rath Mela this year
1 2 Ranchi: Deputy commissioner Manjunath Bhajantri on Friday asked district officials to ensure a complete ban on the use of single use plastic items and thermocol products during the Jagannathpur Rath Mela in Dhurwa, scheduled to begin on June 27. Chief minister Hemant Soren, governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar and other VIPs are expected to attend. Notably, manufacture, sale and use of single-use plastics is banned in Jharkhand since 2017. Vendors will be allowed to use only biodegradable materials like leaf plates, bamboo containers, and earthen utensils. Enforcement teams will conduct routine checks and can impose fines or shut stalls for violations. To strengthen safety, watch towers and loudspeakers will be installed at five main entry points. CCTV cameras will be placed throughout the mela area and along the Rath Yatra route. Local police stations have been instructed to ensure surveillance and rapid response, while a dedicated police control room will remain functional throughout the event. Bio-toilets will be placed at various points, and deep borewells will be dug to ensure clean drinking water. Temporary electric and generator connections will power stalls and lighting arrangements Over 1,800 stalls and 25 amusement rides will be a part of the week-long fair, organisers said. Sale and consumption of meat at the fair will be banned. Stall operators must procure eco-friendly containers and comply with waste management guidelines. Each stall and volunteer will be issued official identity cards by the mela committee. All amusement ride operators need to furnish valid safety certificates. "No ride will be permitted without safety clearance. Medical teams will be on standby with ambulances on the fair premises. A fire tender will remain stationed at the venue am," Bhajantri said.


Hindustan Times
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Declined US President Trump's invite to Washington to come to Odisha: PM Modi
Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said he declined an invitation from US President Donald Trump to visit Washington after his official visit to Canada because he had to come to Odisha, the sacred land of Lord Jagannath. Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets the gathering during a public meeting in Bhubaneswar on Friday. (DD/ANI) 'During my visit, US President Donald Trump called me and said 'since you're already in Canada, why not come to Washington too? Let's have a meal and talk.' He extended a warm invitation. I respectfully told the President of the United States, 'Thank you for your kind invitation, but it is essential for me to go to the sacred land of Mahaprabhu.' And so, I humbly declined his offer, because your love and the devotion to Mahaprabhu drew me irresistibly to this holy land,' PM Modi said at an event in Bhubaneswar to mark the first anniversary of the BJP government led by Mohan Majhi. Modi said Odisha was a radiant beacon of India's rich heritage. 'For thousands of years, it has been a cornerstone of Indian culture, contributing to its growth and vibrancy. Today, as the ideals of development and heritage form the foundation of India's progress, Odisha's significance and role in this journey have grown even greater,' he added. 'Today is a very special day. Today, the first BJP government in Odisha has successfully completed one year. This anniversary is not just of the government; it is the anniversary of the establishment of good governance. This one year was dedicated to public service and public trust. When the BJP government in Odisha is completing its first year, all of you are busy preparing for the Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath. Mahaprabhu is our idol and inspiration and with the blessings of Mahaprabhu, the issues related to the Srimandir have also been resolved,' he said. PM Modi also unveiled the Odisha Vision Document, a roadmap for the state's development goals anchored around the centenary of Odisha's formation as India's first linguistic state in 2036 and India's 100 years of independence in 2047, an official statement said. The vision document aims to transform Odisha into a $500 billion economy by 2036 and a $1.5 trillion economy by 2047. Additionally, he launched the 'Baraputra Aitihya Gram Yojana' initiative to honour eminent Odias by developing their birthplaces into cultural hubs. The Prime Minister launched multiple development projects covering critical sectors such as drinking water, irrigation, agricultural infrastructure, health infrastructure, rural roads and bridges, sections of national highways, and a new railway line. He flagged off new train services extending rail connectivity to Boudh district for the first time and launched 100 electric buses under the Capital Region Urban Transport initiative to promote eco-friendly urban mobility.