Chath Pooja begins tomorrow. Tomorrow, thousands of women in Braj will begin a four-day fast and period of intense prayer for the health and longevity of family members. The rituals of Chath Pooja include standing waist-deep in water and facing the rising and setting sun. Chath Pooja is mentioned in Ramayana as having been conducted after Sri Ram’s return from exile. Mahabharata also mentions Draupadi doing similar rituals. Chath Pooja is also associated with rishis, who are said to live without food, taking nourishment only from the sun. This year, Chath Pooja has also become associated with the campaigns to save Yamuna, because standing waste deep in water for the pooja is becoming difficult, due to the low water levels in Braj’s Yamuna. Read more (Hindi)
P.C. Indian Express
Saffron busses and helicopters on the way. Earlier this month, the Yogi Government released the first phase of new busses across the State; with 50 saffron coloured buses unveiled in the State’s capital, Lucknow. The Secretariat Administration department has also replaced the blue straps of Government identity cards with saffron. Certificates and booklets issued by the Government are also invariably saffron. Speaking about the issue, U.P. Minister, Shrikant Sharma said: “We like all colours, but saffron is our favourite because it represents tyaag, balidaan aur shaurya (sacrifice, strength and bravery). The national flag also has saffron. Saffron is our personal choice and nobody should have any objection to it.” CM Yogi Adityanath has announced plans for a helicopter to connect religious places, including Vrindavan, with the aim of increasing religious tourism. To date, there has been no mention of which colour it will be. Read more (English)
P.C. Jagran
Conservationists hold Yamuna Aarti. Officials from the Keshi Tirth Foundation held a Maha aarti with chappan bhog for Yamuna Maharani, to mark the first year anniversary of the organization’s inauguration. The organization’s website says that they are primarily dedicated to the preservation of Vrindavan’s historical Keshi Ghat. Dr. Siddharth Shukla, the organizations secretary, said that as well as honouring Yamuna Maharani, the aarti will strengthen the sankalp (resolution) of the organization’s members to work wholeheartedly to promote Yamuna cleaning and Keshi Ghat preservation. Read more (Hindi)
Rail Minister Piyush Goyal. P.C. Zee News
Mathura Station to showcase temples. Yesterday, when Rail Minister Piyush Goyal arrived at Mathura station, he was not happy with the decor. The minister said that when people arrive at the Station, they should realize they have reached a place of immense religious significance. The minister ordered that pictures of Mathura’s temples be placed on the walls of every platform. The Director of Mathura Station has been ordered to make a proposal for the temple theme decorations. The Rail Minister also checked security and timetabling arrangements and ordered that the levels of some of the platforms be raised to enable ease of access to trains for elderly and differently-abled passengers. Read more (Hindi)
Photo: BBC.com
Widows to be given a voice. A Supreme Court panel investigating the condition of widows in Vrindavan has found that, “There can be little or no doubt at all that widows in some parts of the country are socially deprived and to an extent ostracized. Perhaps this is the reason why many of them choose to come to Vrindavan and other ashrams where, unfortunately, they are not treated with the dignity they deserve,” Highlighting the need to give widows ‘a voice’, the panel has recommended that each State set up a functional ‘Commission for Women’. Read more (English)
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