Latest news with #Sawan
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Sawan Kanwar Yatra 2025 start and end date: All you need to know toughest pilgrimages
Sawan Kanwar Yatra 2025: The month of Sawan (Shravan) holds deep spiritual significance for devotees of Lord Shiva. It is a time devoted to prayer, worship, and various religious observances in honour of Shiva. One of the most awaited events during this month is the Kanwar Yatra, a sacred pilgrimage undertaken by Shiva's devotees, which witnesses massive participation across the country. What is the Kanwar Yatra? During the Kanwar Yatra, pilgrims called Kanwariyas chant slogans like 'Har Har Mahadev' and 'Bam Bam Bole' as they walk barefoot to various Shiva temples. Kavadiayas collect holy Ganga water from sacred places like Haridwar and Gangotri, and then perform the Jalabhishek (water offering) of the Shivling with it. As per mythological beliefs, the first ever Kanwar Yatra was undertaken by Lord Parshuram, a devoted follower of Lord Shiva. Since then, offering water to Shiva during this yatra has become a profound symbol of faith, devotion, and dedication. In another story its believed, that Ravana, a devout follower of Lord Shiva, is considered the first Kanwariya. During a crisis caused by the churning of the ocean and the emergence of poison, Ravana brought Ganga water in his kanwar and used it to anoint the Shivlinga, helping Lord Shiva neutralize the poison. When Will Kanwar Yatra Begin in 2025? The Kanwar Yatra is a major annual religious event in Hinduism, observed during the auspicious month of Sawan. In 2025, Sawan will begin on 11 July and end on 9 August. As per tradition, the Kanwar Yatra will commence from 11 July 2025 and continue for 30 days, drawing lakhs of devotees from various parts of India. Important Rules to Follow During the Kanwar Yatra There are certain strict spiritual guidelines that devotees are expected to follow during the pilgrimage: Pilgrims must maintain purity in thought, word, and deed. All intoxicating substances such as alcohol, tobacco, cigarettes, paan, and gutkha must be completely avoided. Once the yatra begins, the Kanwar (pot carrying Ganga water) must never be placed on the ground. Doing so is considered inauspicious and invalidates the journey. In case the Kanwar is accidentally placed on the ground, fresh water must be fetched and the yatra restarted. After relieving oneself, pilgrims must bathe before touching the Kanwar again. Devotees must avoid touching any leather products during the pilgrimage. What Do Kanwariyas Do During the Yatra? The Kanwar Yatra is a devotional journey dedicated to Lord Shiva. Devotees, known as Kanwariyas, begin their on-foot pilgrimage from holy cities such as Haridwar, Rishikesh, Gaumukh, and Sultanganj, collecting sacred river water. They then walk for miles to their local Shiva temples or shrines, where they perform the ritualistic Abhishek of the Shivling using the collected water. FAQs: Q. Who was the first to undertake the Kanwar Yatra? A. It is believed that Lord Parshuram, a great devotee of Lord Shiva, was the first to fetch Ganga water from Haridwar and offer it to Shiva at Puramahadev. This act is recognised as the first Kanwar Yatra. Q. Do devotees fast during the yatra? A. No, strict fasting like nirjala (without water) or fruit-only fasts is not mandatory. However, pilgrims are expected to abstain from non-vegetarian food and alcohol, consuming only pure vegetarian meals. Q. Does the Kanwar Yatra fulfil wishes? A. As per religious belief, Lord Shiva blesses his devotees and fulfils their wishes if the yatra is performed with sincerity and devotion. Q. Is the Kanwar Yatra difficult? A. Yes, the Kanwar Yatra is considered one of the toughest pilgrimages. Devotees walk barefoot for days, enduring harsh sun, rain, and exhaustion. (Note: Dates/timings may be subject to change; details mentioned here are as per the information available.) For more informative articles on historical and upcoming events from around the world, please visit Indiatimes Events.
Business Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Times
Shell is being ‘very careful' with shipping in the Middle East: CEO
[TOKYO] Shell CEO Wael Sawan said on Thursday the oil and gas major was being 'very careful' with its shipping through the Middle East given the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. The Iran-Israel air war entered a seventh day on Thursday with President Donald Trump keeping the world guessing on whether the United States will join the fighting. 'The escalation in tensions over the last few days, in essence, has added to what has already been significant uncertainty in the region,' he told an industry conference in Tokyo. 'We're being very careful with, for example, our shipping in the region, just to make sure that we do not take any unnecessary risks.' About 20 per cent of the world's oil and fuel flows through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway in the Middle East, and Sawan said what was particularly challenging was electronic interference disrupting commercial ship navigation systems. 'The Strait of Hormuz is, at the end of the day, the artery through which the world's energy flows, and if that artery is blocked, for whatever reason, it'll have a huge impact on global trade,' he said. Sawan said the rise in oil and gas prices in recent days has been 'moderate' as investors wait to see whether physical infrastructure might be damaged. Oil prices have risen to their highest levels in more than two months this week. Shell is closely monitoring the possibility of US military action and has plans in place should things deteriorate, he said. REUTERS
West Australian
3 days ago
- Business
- West Australian
Top oil CEOs sound the alarm as Israel-Iran strikes escalate
Top oil executives are sounding the alarm over the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. The CEOs of TotalEnergies, Shell, and EnQuest told CNBC on Tuesday that further attacks on critical energy infrastructure could have serious consequences for global supply and prices. Israel's surprise attack on Iran's military and nuclear infrastructure on Friday has been followed by four days of spiraling warfare between the regional foes. Some oil and gas facilities have been hit in both countries in recent days, although key energy infrastructure and crude flows have so far been spared. The potential for major supply disruption remains a key concern, however, particularly worst-case scenarios such as Iran blocking the highly strategic Strait of Hormuz. 'The last 96 hours have been very concerning … both for the region but more broadly in terms of where the global energy system is going given the uncertainty and the backdrop that we see right now and the geopolitical volatility,' Shell CEO Wael Sawan told CNBC's JP Ong on Tuesday. Speaking at the Energy Asia conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Shell's Sawan said the London-listed company has a 'significant footprint' in the Middle East, both in terms of operated assets and shipments. 'How we navigate over the coming days and weeks, the situation is something that is particularly top of mind for myself, and the leadership team,' Sawan said. Oil prices traded higher on Tuesday, extending recent gains. International benchmark Brent crude futures with August stood at $75.41 per barrel at 4:16 p.m. London time, up around 3%. U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures with July delivery, meanwhile, was last seen up 2.7% at $73.74. Oil traders see the Israel-Iran conflict as the most significant geopolitical event since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanné said the French oil giant's primary concern amid Israel-Iran tensions is the security of its regional employees. 'We are the largest international oil company in the region. We were born 100 years ago in Iraq, and we still have operations in Iraq, Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Saudi Arabia,' Pouyanné told CNBC on the sidelines of the same event. Pouyanné said he hoped further strikes would not concern oil installations 'because this could become a real problematic hit, not only in terms of safety and hazards and risks, but also in terms of global markets.' As Israel and Iran continue to exchange strikes, some shipowners have started to steer clear from the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway, which connects the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea, is recognized as one of the world's most important oil chokepoints. The inability of oil to traverse through the Strait of Hormuz, even temporarily, can ratchet up global energy prices, raise shipping costs and create significant supply delays. Market watchers remain skeptical that Iran will seek to close the waterway, however, suggesting it might even be physically impossible. Amjad Bseisu, CEO of U.K.-based EnQuest, described 2025 as 'the year of volatility.' 'It's almost like every day we see something different but obviously this war between Israel and Iran is another step up,' Bseisu told CNBC on Tuesday. 'The quicker we can come to an end of this terrible conflict, the better for overall markets but I do think that the market is well supplied in the short to medium term,' he added.
NDTV
3 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
"Ensure Not Even A Pebble Pricks Feet Of Devotees": Rekha Gupta On Kanwar Yatra
New Delhi: Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday said that the Delhi government will set up a single-window system to grant permissions and handle grievances related to Kanwar camps during the holy month of Sawan. CM Gupta said that the government will extend full support to these committees serving Shiva devotees in ensuring the provision of electricity, water, medicines, sanitation, and other necessary amenities. "It is our responsibility to ensure that not even a pebble pricks the feet of Shiva devotees. Kanwar Yatra is a festival of faith, devotion, and discipline, and the government will take every possible step to make it smooth and efficient," the CM said. She said that the government will oversee the arrangements through its Ministers, District Development Committee (DDC) Chairpersons, and District Magistrates. Earlier in the day, the Chief Minister met office-bearers of various Kanwar camp committees from across Delhi to solve their problems and discuss the facilities required. Delhi Government Cabinet Ministers Parvesh Verma, Ashish Sood, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, and Kapil Mishra, senior government officials and representatives from the Fire Services, Electricity Department, and other departments were present in the meeting. Responding to the concerns raised by the Kanwar camp representatives, CM Gupta assured them that this time, they would not face the kind of administrative hurdles experienced under the previous government. She said, "Despite crores of rupees being spent earlier, Shiv devotees faced numerous difficulties. This time, we will not let that happen." The Chief Minister declared that her government would take full responsibility for managing Kanwar camps and would resolve all problems faced by organising committees. She said the Single-Window System would ensure smooth camp setup and uninterrupted service delivery. DDC Chairpersons and DMs will assist the committees in resolving issues, while Ministers will oversee the entire process and ensure that any difficulties are addressed with priority. She assured that there will be no compromise in providing facilities like medical aid, medicines, electricity connections, water, sanitation, toilets, fire safety, security, and smooth traffic management at the camps. The Kanwar Yatra is one of North India's most significant religious traditions, where millions of devotees collect holy Ganga water from Haridwar, Gangotri, and other sacred places to offer at Shiva temples. Every year, thousands of Kanwar devotees pass through Delhi en route to other states. To welcome and accommodate them, Kanwar camps are set up across various parts of the city.
CNBC
4 days ago
- Business
- CNBC
Top oil CEOs sound the alarm as Israel-Iran strikes escalate
Top oil chief executives have raised the alarm over Israel and Iran's escalating conflict, warning about the consequences of further attacks on key energy infrastructure. Israel's surprise attack on Iran's military and nuclear infrastructure on Friday has been followed by four days of spiraling warfare between the regional foes. Some oil and gas facilities have been hit in both countries in recent days, although major energy infrastructure and crude flows have so far been spared. The potential for major supply disruption remains a key concern, however, particularly worst-case scenarios such as Iran blocking the highly strategic Strait of Hormuz. "The last 96 hours have been very concerning … both for the region but more broadly in terms of where the global energy system is going given the uncertainty and the backdrop that we see right now and the geopolitical volatility," Shell CEO Wael Sawan told CNBC's JP Ong on Tuesday. Speaking at the Energy Asia conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Shell's Sawan said the London-listed company has a "significant footprint" in the Middle East, both in terms of operated assets and shipments. "How we navigate over the coming days and weeks, the situation is something that is particularly top of mind for myself, and the leadership team," Sawan said. Oil prices traded higher on Tuesday, extending recent gains. International benchmark Brent crude futures with August stood at $74.84 per barrel at 1:15 p.m. London time, up more than 2%. U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures with July delivery, meanwhile, was last seen up 2% at $73.2. Oil traders see the Israel-Iran conflict as the most significant geopolitical event since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanné said the French oil giant's primary concern amid Israel-Iran tensions is the security of its regional employees. "We are the largest international oil company in the region. We were born 100 years ago in Iraq, and we still have operations in Iraq, Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Saudi Arabia," Pouyanné told CNBC on the sidelines of the same event. Pouyanné said he hoped further strikes would not concern oil installations "because this could become a real problematic hit, not only in terms of safety and hazards and risks, but also in terms of global markets." As Israel and Iran continue to exchange strikes, some shipowners have started to steer clear from the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway, which connects the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea, is recognized as one of the world's most important oil chokepoints. The inability of oil to traverse through the Strait of Hormuz, even temporarily, can ratchet up global energy prices, raise shipping costs and create significant supply delays. Market watchers remain skeptical that Iran will seek to close the waterway, however, suggesting it might even be physically impossible. Amjad Bseisu, CEO of U.K.-based EnQuest, described 2025 as "the year of volatility." "It's almost like every day we see something different but obviously this war between Israel and Iran is another step up," Bseisu told CNBC on Tuesday. "The quicker we can come to an end of this terrible conflict, the better for overall markets but I do think that the market is well supplied in the short to medium term," he added.
