Udyanotsav inaugurated

The President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee opens the annual “Udyanotsav” of the Mughal Gardens of Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on Friday.

Goverors' meeting with Prime Minister first time in India

.
The Governor of Madhya Pradesh, Shri Ram Naresh Yadav calling on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, in New Delhi on Friday.

Audit report reveals 266 kg gold missing from Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple

A bulk gold (266 kg) is missing from the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple at Thiruvananthapuram,  according to a audit report.The report has been submitted to Supreme Court by,  former chief government auditor Vinod Rai. The report  has revealed that out of the 893 kg gold that was given out for various works, only 627 kg has been returned to the temple.
Rai was asked by the apex Court last year to conduct an audit of the temple's books and accounts.

An division bench of justice R M Lodha and Justice A K Patnaik last April in its interim order asked former comptroller and auditor general (CAG) Rai to undertake the audit of the temple accounts and properties for the past quarter of a century.

This directive came on the recommendations of amicus curiae Gopal Subramaniam, who had sought overhauling of the functioning of the temple.

 

Sri Nityanda Trayodasi celebrated

Sri Raman Vihari Gaudiya Matth in New Delhi, celebrated Sri Nityanda Trayodasi, the appearance day celebration of Lord Nityananda on 12^th Feb 2014. Lord Nityananda (also known as Nityananda Prabhu, Nitai, Nityananda Balarama) appeared as Lord Chaitanya’s principal associate for spreading the Congregational chanting of the holy names of the Lord. He especially spread the holy name of the Lord throughout Bengal. He is  Lord Balaram himself.

Lord Nityananda is the eternal associate of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Rarely is the name Nimai (Chaitanya Mahaprabhu) taken without that of Nitai (Lord Nityananda). Mahaprabhu cannot be approached or understood without the mercy of Nityananda Prabhu, who is the cardinal guru of all the universes and serves as an intermediary between Mahaprabhu and His Devotees. He is the Lord’s active principle in both creation and lila. He is the second body of the Lord, manifesting as Balaram to Shri Krishna, Lakshman to Shri Ram and Nityananda Prabhu to Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. All other forms and expansions of the Lord emanate from this second body.

Kejriwal meets President of India

The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee, meeting with Shri Arvind Kejriwal & Shri Manish Sisodia at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Wednesday.

Kolkata Music Academy presents Chamber Orchestra

Kolkata Music Academy presents Chamber Orchestra with Conductor Abraham Mazumder at the Western Music Soiree ‘A Potpourri of Musical Gems’ organized by All India Radio, Kolkata at Rabindra Sadan on Thursday.

Debutante film director Mahua Chakraborty’s Glamour screened

Parno Mittra and Parambrata Chattopadhyay — acted in the Glamour, which was directed by Mahua Chakraborty has been premiered in INOX South City five days ago. Parno has the double role of twin sisters — while Mona is the disciplined sort and works for a fashion house, Riya is a journalist and always stay in relax mood. Director Mahua Chakrabarty and composers Shibashish-Sanjib spoke to media people about the film and its music.

Ricky Kej, Neela Vaswani from India get Grammys

India-based Ricky Kej's collaborated album "Winds Of Samsara" won the Best New Age Album trophy at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards here. Ricky teamed up with South African musician Wouter Kellerman for the album, which symbolises peace and harmony.

Kejriwal's AAP sweeps Delhi, BJP down, Congress draws a blank

Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party secured a landslide victory  in the 70-member assembly while its nearest rival BJP was reduced to single digits. The Congress  headed for naught while INLD was ahead in 1 seat. AAP chief Kejriwal  lead in the prestigious New Delhi constituency while BJP's chief ministerial nominee Kiran Bedi trailed in Krishna Nagar seat, considered a traditional stronghold of the party. Congress's Ajay Maken got a defeat in Sadar Bazar seat. Expressing happiness over the party's performance, AAP leader Yogendra Yadav said, "it was not just under class, but the middle class also voted for AAP. The (Narendra Modi) juggernaut seems to have halted at least for now."

Reacting to the election trends, BJP said the polls were a referendum on Kejriwal and it should not be linked to the performance of Narendra Modi government.

"I do not see in this way," BJP spokesperson GVL Narsimha Rao said when asked whether the elections were a referendum on Modi's performance.

Apearance day of Gangamaa celebrated at Badu

Devotees celebrated appearance day of Gangamaa, at Madhab Niloy, Badu near Madhyamgram in North 24 Pargans recently. Gangamaa, was the holy consort of the Shree Madhab, who had founded the organization many years ago. Several devotees observed the day, and prasadam was distributed.  

Classical programme at Chhatu Babu Latu Babu Thakur Bari

Pix: File picture (Pandit Shyamsundar Goswami at a music conference)
Pandit Shyamsundar Goswami will perform classical songs at Chhatu Babu Latu Babu Thakur Bari on 27 December this year. Ustad Sabir Khan will accompany him by playing table. Amzad Hossain will also perform Sitar with him. Subhrangshu Chakraborty will also play table in the same programme. Soizic Society will organise the event. 

DRSA celebrates Annadathakur's birthday

General Secretary of the Dakhineswar Ramkrishna Sangha Adyapeath (DRSA) Brahmachari Mural Bhai and other devotees carrying image of Annadathakur

Varanasi is an important part of India’s heritage: Prime Minister

Pix: Varanasi Ghat. The Prime Minister, Mr Narendra Modi being received by the Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Mr Ram Naik and the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Mr Akhilesh Yadav, on his arrival at Varanasi airport, Uttar Pradesh on November. 

The Prime Minister, Mr Narendra Modi on Friday described Varanasi as an important part of India's heritage, and underlined his resolve to restore it to its position of global pre-eminence. He was interacting with leading citizens from various strata of society in Varanasi. He said he is talking to and receiving suggestions from a lot of people in this regard.

The Prime Minister gave examples of the redevelopment of London post World War 2, which retained its original character; and the redevelopment of Bhuj post the 2001 earthquake. He said Kashi needs similar renewal. Ruling out any big announcements, the Prime Minister mentioned some key elements of his vision for Varanasi's renewal: Making Banaras Hindu University a wi-fi university; modernizing it and placing it alongside the best universities of the world. Separate toilets for boys and girls in schools. Cleaning of the Ganga using latest technology. Provision of clean drinking water. Modernization of the Ganga ghats ensuring dignity of women. Creating a contemporary ambience and feel for the Ganga aarti, using modern lighting. Running a special "Palace on wheels" train for Kashi. Small battery operated cars for Kashi. Solid waste management for the town. Enough seating for everyone at Varanasi railway station. Modern restrooms in public places. Solar lighting in public places. Creating a global market for handlooms and handicrafts using e-commerce. Free emergency ambulance service. The Prime Minister remarked that thanks to modern tools of communication, he had perhaps received more support than even Mahatma Gandhi for the Swachhta Abhiyaan. He said awareness is growing among people. An atmosphere is being created where people will start hating dirt. The Prime Minister said that on the basis of his experience over the last six months, he sees no reason why the country should remain where it is today. Noting that the whole world is looking to India today, he said it is up to India to take best advantage of the situation.

 

Rajddep Sardesai's book released by Union Minister for Finance, Corporate Affairs and Defence

The Union Minister for Finance, Corporate Affairs and Defence, Mr Arun Jaitley releasing the book titled “Rajdeep Sardesai 2014 The Election That Changed India”, at a function, in New Delhi on Friday. The former Finance Minister, Mr P.Chidambaram is also seen.

Guru Nanak Dev ji’s 546 birth day celebrated in city

Sikhs across Kolkata today celebrated the 546th birthday of Guru Nanak Dev ji, the first Sikh guru, with reverence. Several thousands of Sikh devotees gathered at the Saheed Minar ground, near Esplanade today and started prayer. .

Ragi jathas (singer of sacred hymns) and pracharaks  (scholars who interpret the holy Scriptures) came from across the country asked the devotees to follow the principles of  Guru Nanak Dev ji who always taught to live in peace and harmony.

The celebrations of the Guru's birth anniversary started on Sunday with nagar kirtan (procession). It was a three days event that started since Tuesday. The festivities would end on Thursday late night around 1.20 a.m, which is the actual time of birth of Guru Nanak who was born in Talwandi, now in Pakistan in 1469. Devotees from other community also took delicious prasad and a langar (community kitchen) was also set up where a large number devotees engaged them cooking prasad. Women and gents devotees were serving the prasad like chapatti, dal makhani, halua rice, vegitables.

Panchayat and rural development, Mr Subroto Mukherjee attended the birthday celebrations, The president of Shree Guru Singh Sabha, Kolkata, Bhupinder Singh Grewal said, around 1 lakh devotees took part in the annual event that is being celebrated jointly by all the gurudawaras of the city at one place.

The general secretary of the committee, Mr Sukhdev Singh Warna, said the state government helped them with  deploying the cops for the peaceful conduct of the event.