The Indian Panorama

Year: 2022

  • Indian American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal receives abusive hate messages

    Indian American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal receives abusive hate messages

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): Indian American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal has been receiving abusive and hate messages over phone. On Thursday,  September 8, she posted a collection of five such audio messages. In all these, portions of which have been redacted because of obscene and abusive content, the male caller is heard threatening her with dire consequences and in one instance she is being asked to go back to her country-of-origin India.

    “Typically, political figures don’t show their vulnerability. I chose to do so here because we cannot accept violence as our new norm. We also cannot accept the racism and sexism that underlies and propels so much of this violence,” Jayapal said in a tweet. Early this summer, a man with a pistol had showed up outside the Congresswoman’s house in Seattle. The man, identified by police as Brett Forsell, 49, was arrested later.

  • NYC Celebrates Krishna Janmashtami @ Hare Krishna Temple

    NYC Celebrates Krishna Janmashtami @ Hare Krishna Temple

    From Left – Pragnesh Surti, Jaganath Rao, President of ISKCON Hansrupa Das, Assemblymember Jennifer Rajkumar, NYC Deputy Commissioner Dilip Chauhan Presenting a Proclamation. (Photos : Courtesy ISKCON Brooklyn)

    BROOKLYN, NY (TIP): Krishna Janmashtami, the appearance day or birthday of Lord Krishna, was celebrated at the New York Hare Krishna Temple on Friday, August 19th, from 4pm until midnight with over 2500 guests taking part in the festivities. The free cultural and spiritual event encompassed a full experience of bhakti yoga practices, including live music, sacred chants, reading of sacred texts, dance and dramatic performances, meditation classes, books, gifts, and food sales. and opportunities for children to take part in Krishna related arts and crafts. A free vegetarian feast was served in the evening to all visitors. Special guests at the Temple’s celebration included Jenifer Rajkumar, New York State Assembly member – District 38, Dilip Chauhan, NYC Deputy Commissioner for International Affairs, Dr. Varun Jeph, Deputy Consul General of India, Sheetal Desai, Milan Cultural Association NY and Harish Thakkar, President of Association of Indians in America, NY Chapter.

    Honoring the significance of the celebration and the work of ISKCON, the Temple received proclamations from Ms. Rajkumar, on behalf of the New York State Assembly, and from Mr. Chauhan on behalf of NYC Mayor Eric Adams.  In his proclamation, Mayor Adams, declared August 19th, 2022, as ISKCON Day in New York City.   Also, Deputy Commissioner Chauhan emphasized the great community service of ISKCON during the time of COVID-19 by providing free vegetarian food to the needy people. Those who understand the eternal blessings which come from the temple know that no sacrifice is too great, no price too heavy, no struggle too difficult in order to receive those blessings you all the devotees are so blessed to have a ISKCON temple in the heart of New York City.

    Lord Krishna is revered as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the speaker of the famed Bhagavad-Gita, by hundreds of millions of people across the world.  “India’s sacred wisdom texts, the Vedas, explain that the ultimate personality of God is an ever youthful, all-attractive person, and the most intimate friend of everyone,” says Hansa Rupa Das, ISKCON NYC Temple President, “That is why Janmashtami, the appearance day of Lord Krishna, is such a joyous occasion for us all.” Today, Sri Krishna Janmashtami is celebrated by people of diverse ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds across the world.

  • President Murmu arrives in London to attend funeral of Queen Elizabeth II

    President Murmu arrives in London to attend funeral of Queen Elizabeth II

    LONDON (TIP): President Droupadi Murmu arrived in London on Saturday, September 17  evening to attend the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II and to offer condolences on behalf of the Indian government.

    Queen Elizabeth II, who died aged 96 at her summer residence of Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 8, is lying-in-state at Westminster Hall before the funeral at Westminster Abbey on the morning of September 19.

    President Murmu is on a three-day visit to the U.K. during which she will attend Monday’s funeral service and is also invited to a reception for world leaders hosted at Buckingham Palace by King Charles III on Sunday evening.

    External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had visited the British High Commission in New Delhi on September 12 to convey the country’s condolences, a day after India observed a day of national mourning.

    The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed earlier this week that the President will be travelling to London to offer condolences on behalf of the government of India. “In the 70 years of reign of HM Queen Elizabeth II, India-U.K. ties have evolved, flourished and strengthened immensely. She played an important role in the welfare of millions of people around the world as Head of the Commonwealth,” the MEA statement read.

  • Countdown begins for 3-day Made in India Trade Exhibition in Guatemala

    Countdown begins for 3-day Made in India Trade Exhibition in Guatemala

    GUATEMALA CITY (TIP):  The countdown for the 3-day Made in India Trade Exhibition has begun. The Indian  Embassy in Guatemala,  in collaboration with  ´Beti and Shiksha Foundation´ (a Non-Profit, Non-Political Organization that has been playing a catalytic role in economically empowering women and promoting Indian Industries) is organizing an immaculate 3-day “MADE IN INDIA” grand trade exhibition in Cayala from 22-24 September. A day before, on 21 September, Indian Embassy in Guatemala and B & S Foundation are organizing first ever Thematic Fashion Show “Weaves of India” at Patio de la Vida, in the National palace of Guatemala, to showcase India’s rich heritage, culture, textiles as a blend of modern & traditional wear.

    The trade show is aimed at increasing B2B and B2C connectivity between India and Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and other countries of the Latin American Region.

    The trade show would showcase India´s strength in Handicrafts, Textiles, Gem &Jewelry, Ayurveda products, Pharmaceuticals, and Automobiles sectors. The event would also focus on promoting India’s rich heritage, culture, resilience in supply chain, particularly focusing on Atmanirbhar Bharat.

    The main attraction of the event is 10 National Award winner artisans in handicrafts who are coming to the show from India with the support of Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH). These 10 artists will be showcasing their art in handloom saree, jewelry, silver engraving, phad painting, among others.

    On the sidelines of the main event, we are also organizing several cultural programs including yoga & ayurveda workshops; Incredible India tourism shows and Henna Workshops.

  • Indian Community organizations pay tribute to victims of 9/11 and condemn desecration of Gandhi statue

    Indian Community organizations pay tribute to victims of 9/11 and condemn desecration of Gandhi statue

    TIMES SQUARE, NEW YORK CITY (TIP): Indian American organizations in association with the Federation of Indian Associations of NY NJ CT NE held a non-religious  and  non-political gathering to lodge community’s protest against the recent series of hate crime episodes. Community representatives also expressed concern on the recent and multiple brazen attacks on Mahatma Gandhi’s statue in NY city and other US cities. Moment of silence and prayers were held to pay tribute to the victims and  the heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice to keep us all safe.

    Consul General of India Randhir Jaiswal paid his tribute to the victims of 9/11. He also emphasized on the need to renew our commitment and resolve to be vigilant against hate crimes and terrorism and to embrace peace-filled harmony and non-violence which are also the preaching of India’s Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi.

    Mr. Prem Bhandari, Jaipur foot USA Chairman, said that there is a lot to learn from the values that Mahatma Gandhi embodies and strongly condemned the recent incidents of vandalism where the statue of the great global leader was desecrated and destroyed. He demanded strict action by the administration  to punish those responsible for vandalism. FIA President Mr. Kenny Desai said that there is nothing better than a peaceful march to convey our protest and bring the issue to the attention of concerned authorities as they continue to look the other way and take no major steps to address the issue.

    FIA Chairman Mr. Ankur Vaidya said that as we remember and honor those who lost their lives on this day,  we should work peacefully with a committed resolve to abolish extremism and hate-crime. Others who spoke on the occasion included, among others,  Deputy Consul General  Dr. Varun Jeph,  Chairman of Bihar Foundation of North America Mr. Alok Kumar  and  The Indian Panorama Chief Editor Prof. Indrajit S Saluja Prayers and Hymns were offered during the solemn affair.

  • Biden warns Putin against use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine

    Biden warns Putin against use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine

    WASHINGTON,D.C. (TIP): Ukraine has recaptured swaths of territory in the east from occupying Russian forces in recent weeks, boosted by heavy weapons supplied by Western allies. U.S. President Joe Biden is warning his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin against using chemical or tactical nuclear weapons in the wake of serious losses in his war in Ukraine. “Don’t. Don’t. Don’t,” Mr. Biden said, in an excerpt from an interview with CBS’ “60 Minutes” aired on Friday evening. Mr. Biden was responding to an interviewer’s question about the possibility of Mr. Putin, whose army is incurring heavy losses in the Ukraine counteroffensive this month, resorting to chemical or tactical nuclear weapons. “You would change the face of war unlike anything since World War II,” Mr. Biden said. “They will become more of a pariah in the world, more than they have ever been,” the U.S. leader added. Ukraine has recaptured swaths of territory in the east from occupying Russian forces in recent weeks, boosted by heavy weapons supplied by Western allies. And Moscow is facing fresh outrage from the West after the discovery of a mass grave outside the formerly Russian-occupied city of Izyum, where, Kyiv officials say, almost all of the exhumed bodies showed signs of torture.But Mr. Putin remained steadfast, saying his war against Russia’s Western-leaning neighbor was proceeding according to plan. “The plan is not subject to adjustment,” Mr. Putin said on Friday. “Our offensive operations in Donbas itself do not stop. They are going at a slow pace… The Russian army is occupying newer and newer territories.”

  • Gautam Adani Briefly Listed As World’s Second-Richest Person

    Gautam Adani became the world’s second richest person on September 16 , but only for a brief period. The tycoon surpassed Amazon boss Jeff Bezos and Louis Vuitton’s Bernard Arnault to grab the second spot with a net worth $154.7 billion, showed Forbes’ real-time billionaires list, before he was pushed back to the third position by Arnault.

    Elon Musk remains the richest person with a net worth of $273.5 billion. Last month too, Mr Adani had overtaken Arnault to grab the third spot, but was behind Musk and Bezos. This time he overtook Bezos for a brief period.

    With him occupying the second spot, Arnault was pushed to the third with his family’s net worth falling to $153.5 billion as it slumped by $4.9 billion. Arnault has reoccupied the position with his wealth totalling $152.8 billion though it fell further. Adani’s wealth, meanwhile, slumped to $151.3 billion as his gains were slash to $1.1 billion from over $4 billion, and he settled at the third position. Bezos stands fourth with a wealth of $149.7 billion that declined by $2.3 billion. Mukesh Ambani, who heads the Reliance Industries Ltd, is at the eighth spot and is worth $92 billion.

  • Bloodbath on Dalal Street: Recession, rate hike fears wreck stocks

    Equity benchmarks spiralled lower for the third session on the trot on Friday, September 16, in lockstep with a sell-off in overseas markets as investors fretted over the global economy slipping into a recession amid rate hikes by central banks. A weak rupee and foreign fund outflows added to the woes, traders said.

    The Sensex tanked 1,093.22 points or 1.82% to settle at 58,840.79. During the day, it tumbled 1,246.84 points or 2% to 58,687.17. Similarly, the NSE Nifty declined 346.55 points or 1.94% to close at 17,530.85. UltraTech Cement was the top laggard in the Sensex pack, slumping 4.51%, followed by Tech Mahindra, Infosys, M&M, Wipro, TCS and Nestle India. IndusInd Bank emerged as the sole gainer, spurting 2.63%. “With persistent bearish pressure from global stocks amid rising yields and dollar index, the domestic market surrendered to the global trend despite its strong decoupling scenario and encouraging macroeconomic data. “Post the release of US inflation data, which showcased a MoM increase in inflation, the global market has been pricing in the likelihood of a more aggressive policy response from the Fed,” said Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Financial Services. “Markets witnessed a sharp sell-off on the final day of the week and lost closer to 2%. The selling pressure was widespread wherein IT, realty and auto pack were among the top losers,” said Ajit Mishra, VP, Religare Broking Ltd.

  • PRACTICING GRATITUDE IN “MOTHER” NATURE

    Gratitude Revealed, Poster (Photo : gratituderevealed.com)
    • By Mabel Pais

    GRATITUDE REVEALED

    Dir: Louie Schwartzberg l USA l 2022 l 1h 22m

    SPECIAL NYC SCREENING

    to show Gratitude to the Brave Men and Women who Stepped In and Cared for the Great City of New York during the Pandemic

    GRATITUDE REVEALED from acclaimed filmmaker, Louie Schwartzberg, the director of Fantastic Fungi, is an epic journey forty years in the making. It takes us on a transformational, cinematic experience of how to live a more meaningful life full of Gratitude through his intimate conversations with everyday people, thought leaders, and personalities revealing Gratitude is a proven pathway back from the disconnection we feel in our lives; disconnection from ourselves, our planet, and each other.

    Watch the trailer: youtu.be/IPV8aTT1uMc

    Director, Louie Schwartzberg (Photo: gratituderevealed.com) 

    From Director Louie Schwartzberg:

    “For over 40 years, I’ve dedicated my life to making films celebrating life and the human spirit. From a young age, my parents, both Holocaust survivors, appreciated all the little things in life and the blessing of having children. My upbringing taught me the importance of living a daily life full of gratitude. After graduating from UCLA, I began to shoot flowers 24/7, 365 days a year and still have time lapse cameras rolling non-stop. To this day, I am in awe of the beauty of nature, whether oceans, mountains, flowers, bees, or mushrooms. Each day, I am thankful for the opportunity to film nature’s beauty and share my images with a worldwide audience with the hope that people are seduced by the beauty of this planet and fall in love with it and are willing to protect it.

    During the pandemic, I was moved by how society was disconnected, and the small

    things in life, whether meeting a friend for coffee or hugging a family member, were taken away from them. I felt compelled to show my gratitude for our world during such a complex and unpredictable time. I wanted to help people in desperate need of connection, both inner and external, and address the global suffering from isolation, stress, and anxiety due to the pandemic. So, I decided to make Gratitude Revealed.”

    “My goal is to provide an audience with an immersive cinematic experience. Through

    vignettes of everyday and remarkable people, we find the beauty in humanity and the resilience of the human spirit, and the desire to reconnect with each other.

    Gratitude symbol (Photo: gratituderevealed.com)

    The film provides a global audience an opportunity to open our hearts and see each

    other with compassion and understanding and build bridges with those who think

    differently. In addition, the film provides the audience with a shift in consciousness on gratitude’s vital role in their lives and how they can work towards experiencing more of it daily, as it builds resilience, gives purpose, and health benefits in these troubled times.”

    Watch Louie Schwartzberg on TEDX: youtu.be/BxzKjF1ybWE

    Learn more at movingart.com

    SPECIAL NYC SCREENING:

    In addition to opening in theaters, Louie Schwartzberg has partnered with Mount Sinai Health System to host a special screening for NYC nurses. Celebrating their sacrifices during the pandemic, the film will screen exclusively for healthcare professionals across all 8 Mount Sinai campuses. Through the screening, the GRATITUDE REVEALED team hopes to show their gratitude to the brave men and women who stepped in and cared for the great city of New York.

    OPENING IN THEATERS: September 16.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPV8aTT1uMc&authuser=0

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxzKjF1ybWE&authuser=0

    (Mabel Pais writes on Spirituality, Social Issues, Health & Wellness, The Arts & Entertainment and Cuisine.)

  • Places to visit in September

    Places to visit in September

    Wondering about the best places to visit in September in India? If yes, then this is your quick guide to the best that India has on offer. And believe us, you will have a tough time choosing. Right from the misty, rolling hills of Munnar and the high Himalayas of Ladakh to the backwaters of Kerala and the ancient monasteries of Arunachal Pradesh, you can choose it all. While some surprise rain showers in September can set the roads just right for those scenic drives, the weather remains pretty much clear all along the month to make your vacation hassle-free.

    Gangtok

    Nestled in the lower Himalayas, the city of Gangtok has grown over the mountains and in the valleys. Seen from the skies or even from the ropeway, Gangtok shows a colourful facade against the backdrop of the snow-clad mountains. At one time, Gangtok was an important stop on the trade route between British India and Tibet. The Nathu La pass saw a constant stream of traders and travellers come across mountains on either side, bringing not only goods but religious texts and beliefs too. All that came to an end with the Indo-China war of 1962, which ended the independence of Tibet and closed its borders with India. In recent times, the situation has improved with the pass being opened for trade at regular intervals, and also with the route to Kailash being opened through this side. Things are looking up for Sikkim, and especially Gangtok. There is so much to see and do, that tourists are pouring in! Here are 10 places you must visit, if you are in Gangtok!

    Nainital

    You can choose from a myriad things to do in Nainital, Kumaon’s famous tourist destination. While boating at Naini Lake is a quintessential Nainital experience, you can go for a session of stargazing at the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences, ride up the ropeway to Snow View, go trekking up to Tiffin Top or get a sneak peek into Himalayan wildlife at the lesser known GB Pant Zoo. Evening strolls by the lakeside is, of course, a must do.

    Gokarna

    Gokarna, a sleepy little beach town, lies secluded off the national highway 17, which makes its way to Goa. Located very close to the Karnataka- Goa border, Gokarna has been a popular destination since the 70s and 80s when hippies found this hamlet to be more peaceful and serene than the vibrant Goa. It was then only known as a spiritual town on the western coast of Karnataka, which was popular for its Mahabaleshwar Temple. With the incessant flow of tourists, backpackers and foreign hippies, Gokarna has carved a niche for itself in the Indian travel circuit. Its serene and secluded beaches, tucked away from the crowd are the major attractions that bring hordes of visitors to this beach hamlet. Though there are many beaches, some accessible only through a trek or a catamaran ride, Om Beach has been extremely popular. With numerous shacks, hotels and cafes lined on Om Beach and Kudle Beach, Gokarna is an ideal place to relax and break away from the monotony of life.

    Kullu-Manali

    From the snowy delights of Rohtang Pass to the soothing warmth of the surrounding thermal springs, there are several places to visit in Kullu Manali for nature lovers and thrill seekers. With its picturesque views of snow-clad mountains, river valleys, charming cafes and laidback vibe, this hill station in Himachal Pradesh is an immensely popular vacation spot with both domestic and foreign tourists. Its widespread appeal draws everyone from adventure sport enthusiasts and vacationing families and honeymoon couples and hippie backpackers. Here are seven places you must visit during your holiday.

    Munnar

    There are plenty of interesting places to visit in and around Munnar. While nature lovers must visit places like Echo Point, Eravikulam National Park and Kundala Lake, there is a lot for culture buffs as well. The dolmens and rock paintings at Marayur near Munnar, and the Tea Museum that is one of the biggest tea estates in town, are great for some cultural and historical insight. Other than these, the lush green tea estates that line the roadside in Munnar are a no less attraction for those who can marvel at picture perfect scenic beauty.

    Arunachal Pradesh

    Arunachal Pradesh is one of the Seven Sister states in the lesser explored region of North East India. I had the pleasure of exploring this state for 11 days and seeing the best of the best! I’ve lived in and travelled India for three years, but this has been my absolute favourite place that I’ve visited so far. There is a variety of people and cultures in Arunachal Pradesh. The northwest area is inhabited by Monpa people who are Buddhist and Tibetan in culture, while some areas are of Hindus and others are of Christians. The villages throughout the state have tribal people with many different beliefs such as worshipping the sun and the moon. With such a mixed bag, you might find it daunting to plan your itinerary, but you need not worry as here are some of the things to see in Arunachal Pradesh that must be a part of your list.

    Ladakh

    The rugged terrain of Ladakh is dotted with innumerable monasteries or gompas as the majority of its population practice Buddhism as their religion. These monasteries not only attract visitors for religious and cultural significance but also for architectural splendour. Old scriptures, thangkas, murals and other relics effortlessly capture the attention of visitors. Besides, the peaceful ambience of these gompas has a rejuvenating effect. To believe that you have seen it all by visiting just one monastery would be wrong as each monastery is unique in one way or the other.

  • Indira Ekadashi

    Indira Ekadashi

    Ekadashi of Krishna Paksha of Ashwin month is called Indira Ekadashi. The Ekadashi which improves the condition of the wandering ancestors is called Indira Ekadashi. Shaligram is worshiped on this day. Tulsi Dal must be offered on Shaligram ji on this day. The end of the fast of Ekadashi is called Parana. Parana is done after sunrise on the next day of Ekadashi fast. It is very important to break the Ekadashi fast before the end of the Dwadashi date. If the Dwadashi tithi is over before sunrise, then Ekadashi fasting ends only after sunrise and doing so is tantamount to sin.

    Sometimes Ekadashi fast is observed for two consecutive days. When Ekadashi fasting is for two days, then smart family members should observe Ekadashi fast on the first day. The second day of the Ekadashi is called the ‘Dooji Ekadashi’. Sannyasis, widows and devotees wishing to attain salvation should observe a fast on Duji Ekadashi. Whenever Ekadashi fast is for two days, then Duji Ekadashi and Vaishnava Ekadashi fall on the same day.

    Indira Ekadashi Importance

    The fast of Indira Ekadashi is associated with the liberation of the ancestors and the peace of their souls. By observing this fast, Lord Vishnu liberates the living beings. On this day,  those who worship the Lord may get his blessings and their ancestors may rest in paradise. Along with that, worshipers may get immense happiness and prosperity in their life. They keep a day-long fast to please the Lord to seek his blessings. Besides, there is a great importance of reading Vishnu Sahasranama along with fasting rituals and worship. By doing so, one may receive peace in the three worlds.

    Indira Ekadashi Vrat Katha

    According to the legend, King Indrasen of Mahishmati Nagar was a great devotee and majestic king of Lord Vishnu in Satyuga. Everyone lived happily in his Mahishmati kingdom, the people there did not have any trouble. One day, when the king was discussing with his ministers sitting in the court, Devarshi Narada Muni appeared in his court.

    Sage Narada informed the king that in your kingdom, all people are living a peaceful life, but your father is compelled to reside in Yamaloka due to his bad karmas. On hearing this, an anxious King Indrasen asked Devarshi Narada about his father’s soul well-being. The sage told him that he must observe fast on Ekadashi of Krishna Paksha of Ashwin month to ward off his father’s sins. King Indrasen then asked sage Narada how to keep Ekadashi vrat? Narada replied that just a day before Indira Ekadashi, take a bath in the river on the tenth day and perform Shradh for your ancestors. On Ekadashi, worship Lord Vishnu and then eat fruits in the evening. By observing this fast, your father would get virtuous benefits. King Indrasen along with his brothers observed a ritualistic fast of Indira Ekadashi. As a result, his father got salvation and after the death of King Indrasen, his soul departed for heaven.

    Puja Vidhi and Vrat Vidhi for Indira Ekadashi 2022

    –              Wake up early, take a bath in the morning and wear clean clothes.

    –              Mediate the Shaligram form of Lord Vishnu.

    –              Make a swastika on the cloth with kumkum.

    –              Offer flowers and rice on the swastika while chanting “Om Ganeshaya Namah” by bowing to Lord Ganesha.

    –              Then, install Shaligram or the picture of Lord Vishnu inside the home temple.

    –              Do Vishnu Puja by pouring gangajal water on the idol or picture of Lord Vishnu.

    –              Offer roli, sandalwood, akshat, incense sticks, sweets etc.

    –              Read Vishnu Sahasranama and perform aarti.

    –              In the evening, light a lamp in front of the Tulsi plant.

    –              Listen to the story of Indira Ekadashi Vrat.

    –              Donate food to Brahmins after performing Shradh in the name of ancestors.

    –              Conclude your fast by eating fruits on the day of Dwadashi.

    Significance of Indira Ekadashi Vrat:

    Indira Ekadashi Vrat blesses the devotees with prosperity and richness. By observing Indira Ekadashi Vrat, the person can get rid of all the sins. Those who desires to free their ancestors from all offence and ultimately offer them peace must observe Indira Ekadashi Vrat with devotion and dedication. As per the Hindu scriptures, by observing the Indira Ekadashi Vrat, the devotees get the results of the ‘Ashwamedha Yagya.’ The prominence of Indira Ekadashi is mentioned in the ‘Brahmavaivarta Purana’ which was narrated to Yudhishtira by Lord Krishna.

    Celebrations and Rituals:

    A day before Indira Ekadashi, prayers and rituals are carried out in the memory of deceased ancestors. Devotees must consume only single meal on Dashami day. On Indira Ekadashi, devotee performs the rites of Shradh. An idol of Lord Vishnu is worshipped with great devotion. The devotees offer Tulsi leaves, flowers, fruits and other puja essentials to the idol. They also visit Lord Vishnu temple. On Indira Ekadashi, devotees abstain from eating anything. The Vrat ends on the next day by consuming food along with family members. The food is offered to priests and cows, before eating. Indira Ekadashi is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Vedic mantras, kirtans, and bhajans are sung in praise of the Lord. The devotees should stay awake all night and sing devotional songs and listen to the stories of Lord Vishnu and recite ‘Vishnu Sahastranaam.

    Shaligram Worship

    INGREDIENTS: Ganga jal, panchgavya (It is a mixture of 5 auspicious things cowdung, cow’s urine, milk, ghee and curd), fresh tulsi leaves, kusha grass, pipal leaves, Incense sticks, camphor, sandal paste, aarti lamp, conch. For offerings take some milk, fruits, flowers, sweet dish, coconut etc.

    PROCEDURE OF PUJA

    Sit in the position so that you face East or North East direction. Wash the Shila with Gangajal using the conch. Wash it with punchgavya, again wash it with Gangajal. Put some kusha grass in a water tumbler for sprinkling purpose and sprinkle on the Shila. Place the Shaligram Shila over some pipal leaves in a plate, Pl put a red or white clean cloth on the plate. Light the camphor, incense stick and the lamp.

    Apply little sandle paste over the Shila. place some fresh tulsi leaves( if leaves are not there pl place tulasi mala rosary next to the Shaligrama Shila) next to the in front of the Shila. Rotate the lamp in front of thr Shila in the clockwise direction. Chant Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare 9 times Offer some milk, fruits or sweets to the Shila. Offer some money and then donate all offerings of the Shila to the poor person. If cowdung and cow’s uine is not available pl leave them and proceed with rest of the things.

    During Shalagram Shila puja prayers one should think and speak to Krishna, and tell Him how you feel unworthy to perform His puja, and still He has blessed you, and even you are sorry for having so many personal motives still you know that if one has NO motives (desires) or has ALL desires, or even if one has desire for liberation, in all cases one should worship Lord Hari for that attainment. So you are not wrong in asking the Lord for anything, because if you will ask or not, still, He is the One to ask. For this meditation you can chant:

    “Om akama-sarva-kamo-va moksha-kama-udaradi tivrena bhakti-yogena yajesha purusham param.”

    Articles required

    Picture of Lord Ganesh Sri Shalagram Shila (Gandaki Vajra-kita) Tulasi leaves (patra) ready washed Scented flowers (pushpa) Water (toya) in a pot Fruit (phala) cut-ready to offer Throne (singhasan) & stand/table Mat (asan) Incense (dhup) & Holder Fan (panka) Sandal Wood Oil (chandan) Ganges Water (ganga pani) Lighter (fire) Small Plate & Glass with fruit & water White Turbinella bathing conch & stand Small cup for bathing Shalagram Pancha Patra cup & spoon Small hand bell (ganti).

  • Another planet in Universe? New evidence shows proof

    Another planet in Universe? New evidence shows proof

    All astronomers concur that planets are created in protoplanetary disks, which are the bands of gas and dust that encircle newly-formed young stars. Even though the universe has hundreds of these disks, it has been challenging to observe genuine planetary birth and development in these settings.

    Currently, astronomers at the Center for Astrophysics, Harvard and Smithsonian, have created a novel method to find these elusive newborn planets, along with “smoking gun” proof of a small Neptune- or Saturn-like planet hiding in a disk. The Astrophysical Journal Letters on Thursday published a description of the findings.

    According to Feng Long, a postdoctoral scholar at the Center for Astrophysics and project leader, “directly finding young planets is highly tough and has so far only been effective in one or two situations.”

    As they are encased in substantial amounts of gas and dust, planets are always too dim for us to see them.

    Instead, they must look for signs that a planet is forming beneath the dust. Long notes that in recent years, “many structures have appeared on disks that we think are caused by the existence of a planet but it could be caused by something else too.” “We need new methods to examine and provide evidence that a planet exists.”

    Long chose to revisit the LkCa 15 protoplanetary disk for her research. The disc is situated in the Taurus constellation, 518 light years away. Previous research employing ALMA Observatory images showed proof of planet formation in the disk. Long dug over fresh, high-resolution ALMA data on LkCa 15, mostly from 2019, and found two faint characteristics that weren’t there before.

    Long found a dusty ring with two distinct, brilliant clusters of material circling within it at a distance of around 42 astronomical units from the star, or 42 times the distance between Earth and the Sun.

                    Source: ANI

  • WhatsApp feature that will let you hide online status from specific people is now in Beta

    WhatsApp feature that will let you hide online status from specific people is now in Beta

    WhatsApp is starting to roll out a new feature that allows users to hide their online status from people they choose. According to reports, the ability to hide your online status is rolling out to beta testers on the Android beta version 2.22.20.9 of the Meta-owned instant messaging app. As per the name, the feature allows users to pick who can see their online status and who can’t. The Meta-owned instant messaging app allows users to hide their ‘Last Seen’ from their contacts. With the new feature, users will also be able to hide their Online status, and will be able to choose specific people they want to hide both the online status and Last Seen from. The rollout of the feature was first reported by WABetaInfo, and these changes will be available to all users in the coming months.

    According to the report, WhatsApp has changed the ‘Last Seen’ privacy setting to ‘Last Seen and Online’ privacy setting. Currenty, the Last Seen option shows the ability to show the status to ‘Nobody’, ‘Contacts,’ and ‘Everyone.’ With the update, there will be an added option – ‘Everyone except..’ – which will allow you to hide your status from specific people. Now, the feature is currently in beta, so it is unlikely that you have it currently unless you’re a beta tester, in which case, update your app to use the feature. Users can change who can see their online status and who can’t, by simply going into Settings > Account > Privacy > Last Seen and Online.

    WhatsApp, the Meta-owned instant messaging app is also working on several other features, including the ability to be able to message yourself. Now, we are not sure what this feature actually serves, but a new report suggests that people will see their name on the WhatsApp chat list when you link to a PC, iOS and an Android device.

  • Microsoft Teams Will Soon Let You Sign Documents During Meetings

    Microsoft has created a sample app for Teams that allow people to sign documents during remote meetings. According to Windows Central, the application lets users add a document to a meeting for attendees to sign, such as a purchase agreement, invoice, or NDA. The sample app was made by Teams Ecosystem Engineering as a proof of concept aimed at independent software vendors (ISVs) or other customers implementing it. The entire project is available and documented on GitHub, which should help organisations that would like to use it within meetings, the report said. The app allows users to add a document to a meeting to be reviewed or signed by attendees. It supports Teams single-sign-on (SSO) for authentication. The report mentioned that it also supports sharing content during a meeting stage, adaptive cards, and the Teams people picker.

    Microsoft noted that the app could be adapted to work with other scenarios that require signing off, such as reviewing and approving code or working together on a document. The sample app is currently available for desktop clients of Teams. Mobile and web support is on the way, though Microsoft did not specify when in its Tech Community post announcing the feature, the report said.

  • Logitech Launches Three New Gaming Mice Featuring ‘Lightspeed’ Technology

    Logitech has announced a range of new gaming mice namely the G502X, G502 X Lightspeed and G502 X Plus and it is introducing the LIGHTFORCE hybrid optical-mechanical switches to offer precise actuation and prompt response for all of its G502 X models. Traditionally, you would expect optical or mechanical components in a mouse, but Logitech G has been able to combine both into one – optical-mechanical switches allowing for better reliability compared to traditional mechanical switches, better speed and control, and most importantly, retaining the satisfying feeling of mechanical actuation. To facilitate this, Logitech uses galvanic contact components inside the switch. As a result, both optical and mechanical triggers are combined to deliver a hybrid experience that Logitech says allows for an ultra-low latency experience.

    Design and New Tech Inside the G508 X

    A new thin-wall exoskeleton allows for an overall light-weight construction while being robust enough to handle repeated use. The mice are available in either black or white. The mouse also features a redesigned DPI-shift button that is reversible as well as removable to make the mouse diverse enough for a variety of hand sizes. The mouse also retains G502’s infinite scroll wheel, USB-C charging in wireless models and ratchet modes. The high-precision gaming sensor HERO 25K delivers a one-to-one ratio accuracy at sub-micron levels and zero smoothing, filtering, or acceleration.

  • Ajay Devgn, Sidharth Malhotra’s ‘Thank God’ faces legal trouble

    Ajay Devgn, Sidharth Malhotra’s ‘Thank God’ faces legal trouble

    The trailer of Ajay Devgn, Sidharth Malhotra starrer Thank God recently hit YouTube. The said glimpses from the film revealed that it is loosely based on Indian mythology with a comedy twist. However, it seems that its references made to mythological concepts have offended some and now, the film has landed in legal trouble as a UP-based lawyer has accused it of hurting religious sentiments. Thank God will feature Ajay Devgn in the role of Chitragupt who is expected to be a bookkeeper of human deeds in the afterlife as per Indian mythology. While the trailer features him in a comedy avatar, it seems that certain scenes where he uses jokes and some objectional language have not gone down well with some audiences. Lawyer Himanshu Sharma has registered a complaint in Jaunpur court in Uttar Pradesh accusing the film’s trailer of insulting a Hindu deity like Chitragupt. He has reportedly stated in his complaint that the film not only mocks religion but also misrepresents the character portrayed by Ajay Devgn. In a statement given to IANS, Himanshu Sharma said, “Chitragupta is regarded as the lord of Karma and keeps a record of a man’s good and bad deeds. Such depiction of Gods can create an unpleasant situation since it hurts religious sentiments.” It is being said that he has also been summoned to record a statement on November 18.

  • Vicky Kaushal, Katrina team up for first on-screen appearance together

    Vicky Kaushal, Katrina team up for first on-screen appearance together

    Ever since actor couple Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal tied the knot, the two have been often seen making appearances at various events together. However, much to the surprise of their fans, the two stars are now coming together on screen, albeit not for a film. Pictures of the couple have been surfacing on social media from a recent photoshoot as they reportedly endorsed a brand together.

    Ever since their wedding in 2021, the two stars have managed to steal the limelight and create a strong buzz around themselves. After being spotted together at an award show recently, Katrina and Vicky teamed up for an ad shoot that left fans drooling over the two. Though the fans have been hoping to see the real couple romancing on screen, it has now been revealed that Vicky and Katrina Kaif has teamed up with Cleartrip for their first-ever joint collaboration. Fans have also been sharing pictures of the two dressed in comfy holiday outfits which seem to be the BTS shots from the shoot. As per HT, the actors in a statement shared their excitement about working together for the first time and said,  “We couldn’t be more excited to team up with Cleartrip”

    Netizens were quick to share the viral pictures while sharing their takes on the same. One of the Twitter users shared their pictures and wrote, “I’m in love with this pic.” Another user also echoed similar sentiments while sharing their pictures and wrote, “Wow….for the first time #KatrinaKaif & #VickyKaushal  click a shot together..” A third netizen expressed her happiness of seeing the two together and wrote, “Thank you @cleartrip for bringing #VickyKaushal and #KatrinaKaif together! Loads of Love and Kudos to them! Start of something beautiful.”

  • Gauahar Khan learns to ride a horse for her upcoming show Shiksha Mandal

    Gauahar Khan learns to ride a horse for her upcoming show Shiksha Mandal

    Gauahar Khan is no stranger to portraying unconventional, hard-hitting characters. She will go to any lengths to achieve perfection—be it with drama, romance or even action! And this is precisely what she did when she discovered that she had to ride a horse for a scene in her upcoming series, Shiksha Mandal. And Gauahar Khan learnt how to ride a horse in one day! In the show, she is seen playing a no-nonsense cop, who is quick-witted and intuitive. Says Gauahar, “I performed quite a few stunts on my own. The show also has a scene where I am riding a horse but I didn’t know how to ride one. But when the role demands something, you have to give it your all to make it look authentic; there’s no other way. So, I learnt how to ride a horse. We didn’t have much time, so I did it in one day. It takes around six months to be a confident rider, but I had to learn the basics in a day. All credit to our action director, Salaam sir, and his team who patiently trained me. It was pretty intense actually, but empowering at the same time.”

  • Gigi Hadid and Leonardo DiCaprio spotted sharing a cosy moment

    Gigi Hadid and Leonardo DiCaprio spotted sharing a cosy moment

    Gigi Hadid and Leonardo DiCaprio’s rumored romance has been hitting the news daily and recently, the duo was reportedly spotted together at a New York Fashion Week party where they were seemingly involved in an intimate conversation. In photos obtained by the Daily Mail, the pair was seen getting cosy at an afterparty, hosted at Casa Cipriani. The photos reportedly show the actor and the supermodel sitting at a close distance from one another and DiCaprio is also seen reaching for Hadid’s hand. The photos of the duo came up after reports have been doing the rounds about the two hanging out together and getting to know each other. Leonardo’s new rumoured romance comes on the heels of his recent breakup from Camila Morrone after four years of dating. As for Gigi, the model split from former One Direction member, Zayn Malik last year. The former couple shares a daughter, Khai whom they welcomed in 2020.

  • George Clooney calls himself ‘best Batman’: Ben Affleck has got nothing on me

    George Clooney calls himself ‘best Batman’: Ben Affleck has got nothing on me

    George Clooney isn’t a candidate for the best portrayal of Batman in most critics’ list. The actor, however, disagrees, even if just in jest. At a recent event, George called himself the best Batman and added that Ben Affleck–who portrayed the iconic superhero in DC Extended Universe–had “nothing on him”. George had played the caped crusader in Batman & Robin, which was a critical and commercial failure. George recently appeared at the opening of the Roybal Film and Television Magnet, a school for actors and professionals in the entertainment industry. Speaking at the occasion, George made jokes about actor’s education and also referred to his much-maligned appearance as Batman in the 1997 film Batman & Robin.

    In a video from the event shared by The Hollywood Reporter on Twitter, the actor can be seen making self-deprecating jokes about his stint as Batman before calling himself the best. “You don’t look at actors and think education,” he says in the video, before continuing. You don’t look at me and think he is educated. You look at me and just think, ‘oh he’s just the best Batman’.” At this point, the audience erupts into laughter before someone suggests Ben Affleck’s name. George responds, “Ben Affleck? He’s the best available one.” He then takes a pause and looks at the audience member who suggested Ben and adds, “Really though, Ben Affleck, really? He’s got nothing on me!” Ben Affleck has played Batman in Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice and The Justice League and in a cameo in Suicide Squad. He will reprise his role in The Flash and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, both releasing next year.

  • Justin Bieber’s India concert cancelled due to singer’s ill health

    Justin Bieber’s India concert cancelled due to singer’s ill health

    Justin Bieber’s upcoming India concert, to be held in New Delhi on October 18, has been officially cancelled. The organisers of the mega concert confirmed the development in a statement, days after they had initially claimed that the concert was going ahead. The development comes after Justin had pulled out of his ongoing world tour citing exhaustion as he recovers from Ramsay Hunt syndrome. Last week, Justin had announced on social media that he was taking a break from performing indefinitely, cancelling his upcoming concerts in his ongoing Justice Tour. This had cast doubts over his proposed gig in Delhi, which was a part of the Asia leg of the same tour, At that time, BookMyShow, which is promoting this concert in India, had said it was ‘going ahead’.

  • Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds expecting fourth child

    Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively are all set to expand their family. The actor couple, who are parents to three daughters, will soon embrace parenthood for the fourth time. This was revealed as Blake arrived at a red carpet event in New York on Thursday, September 15,  night revealing a baby bump. On September 15, Blake debuted her baby bump as she appeared at the Forbes Power Women’s Summit. Pictures of the actor dressed in in a golden sequin dress and proudly flaunted her baby bump have been shared by fan clubs on social media.

    As per E! News, the actor quipped at the event, “I just like to create. Whether that’s baking or storytelling or businesses or humans, I just really like creating.”

    Ryan and Blake tied the knot in 2012. The couple usually keeps their daughters out of the public eye, but that hasn’t stopped them from gushing over their family life together.

    “Having children for me made me feel so much more in my skin,” Blake had told Forbes in May. “I never felt more myself or at ease in my own body or more confident–not to say that there aren’t a bevy of insecurities coming at me a million times a day, but I just feel incredibly settled.” Blake and Ryan’s eldest daughter James was born in 2014. In 2016, the two welcomed their second daughter Inez, followed by and Betty in 2019.

  • ‘Nude’ photograph was morphed, Ranveer Singh tells Mumbai cops

    Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh has told the Mumbai police that one of his `nude’ photographs which led to the filing of a case for obscenity against him had been morphed. He denied that this photograph was among the pictures from a photo shoot that he had shared on social media, a police official said on Thursday, September 15.

    Singh’s statement was recorded by city police on August 29. He told police that the photograph in which private parts were allegedly visible had not been uploaded by him, the official said.

    The actor also maintained that the photos which he had shared were not obscene as he was wearing underwear.

    “We have sent the photos to a forensic science laboratory to ascertain if they had been morphed,” said the official. A First Information Report (FIR) was registered against the actor at Chembur police station here in July on the basis of a complaint filed by an office-bearer of a non-governmental organisation.

  • BJP continuing with Operation Lotus to break AAP, says Manish Sisodia

    BJP continuing with Operation Lotus to break AAP, says Manish Sisodia

    New Delhi (TIP)- Reacting to Waqf Board chairman Amanatullah Khan’s arrest, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Saturday, September 17,  accused the BJP of continuing with its Operation Lotus to “break” the AAP leaders. Khan, AAP MLA from Okhla, was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Branch on Friday in connection with the alleged irregularities in the Delhi Waqf Board recruitment, officials said.

    “First, they arrested Satyendar Jain but there is no evidence against him in court. They raided my residence. Nothing was found. Then they initiated a fake probe against Kailash Gahlot, and now they arrested Amanatullah Khan. Operation Lotus to break each leader of AAP continues,” Sisodia said in a tweet in Hindi.

    Earlier, the AAP leaders had alleged that the BJP was trying to buy AAP MLAs by offering them Rs 20 crore each to topple the Arvind Kejriwal government in Delhi.

    SC Judge must probe ‘Operation Lotus’

    Amid Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) allegations against BJP of trying to topple the Punjab government by poaching its MLAs, finance minister Harpal Cheema Thursday demanded a judicial probe into ‘Operation Lotus’ by a Supreme Court judge. Addressing the media here, Cheema said, “Not only Punjab, BJP indulged in poaching in other states like Goa, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Assam. In all these states where the Operation Lotus took place should also be a part of investigation.”

    “The BJP is offering ? 25 crore per MLA to switch sides. Operation Lotus may have succeeded in Karnataka, but the Delhi MLAs stayed firm and failed the BJP operation,” said  Cheema. Cheema refused to give names of the BJP leaders against whom they had submitted an evidence to the police after which an FIR was registered by the Punjab Police Wednesday. “We have got the FIR registered. We will make the names public only after a thorough investigation is done. If we give out the names now, the Opposition will distort the facts.”

  • AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan arrested after raids in corruption case

    AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan arrested after raids in corruption case

    New Delhi (TIP) AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Branch, a unit of Delhi Police, on Friday. September 16, Amanatullah Khan was arrested following recovery of “incriminating material and evidence against him” during the searches. Amanatullah Khan was arrested after raids in connection with irregularities in Delhi Waqf Board recruitment. “As alleged in the FIR, Amanatullah Khan while working as chairman of Delhi Waqf Board illegally recruited 32 persons violating all norms and government guidelines and with allegations of corruption and favoritism. The then CEO of Delhi Waqf Board had clearly given statement and issued memorandum against such illegal recruitment,” ACP, Anti-Corruption Bureau, said following the AAP MLA’s arrest.

    The statement further added, “It is alleged that as chairman of Delhi Waqf Board Amanatullah Khan has rented out number of properties of Delhi Waqf Board illegally with allegations of corruption and favoritism. Further, it has been alleged that he has misappropriated the funds of Delhi Waqf Board comprising grants in aid from Delhi Government.” The ACB officials searched four locations in Delhi on Friday. Around Rs 24 lakh cash has been recovered and 2 illegal and unlicensed weapons and cartridges and ammunition was also recovered during the searches. The police statement stated, “From the questioning of Amanatullah Khan and on the basis of incriminating material and evidences against him and from the recovery during the searches conducted on September 16, Amanatullah Khan has been arrested in case FIR No. 05/2020 of PS ACB, GNCT of Delhi.”

                    Source: India Today