Latest news with #Bhadrakali
New Indian Express
10 hours ago
- General
- New Indian Express
Telangana's Bhadrakali temple gears up for Shakambari festival
WARANGAL: The historic Bhadrakali temple will celebrate the 15-day Shakambari Utsavalu from Thursday. Addressing the media, chief priest B Seshu said that the festival will commence on the auspicious occasion of Sahasra Kalasabhishekam and conclude on July 10, when the goddess will be adorned with a grand decoration of vegetables. Celebrated annually during the month of Ashada, the festival is observed to invoke the blessings of the goddess for timely rainfall, a bountiful harvest, and abundant vegetable yield. Historically, it is stated that during times of severe hardship, goddess Bhadrakali compassionately responded to the suffering of farmers and the general populace, bringing much-needed rainfall and prosperity.
New Indian Express
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
The return of Theeyattu: Pallipurathu Kavu rekindles an ancient fire
KOCHI: Amid the bustle of modern life, an ancient ritual art form is not just surviving but finding new life in a quiet pocket of Kottayam town. Theeyattu, a vibrant dance-drama traditionally performed within the hallowed confines of Bhadrakali temples, is witnessing a remarkable revival. Once a rare spectacle, this sacred performance now lights up the Pallipurathu Kavu in Kottayam almost every day, offering a vivid glimpse into Kerala's rich spiritual and artistic heritage. Theeyattu, which intricately narrates the ferocious battle between Goddess Bhadrakali and the demon Darikasura, culminating in the goddess' triumphant victory, is primarily known for its two forms: Bhadrakali Theeyattu and Ayyappan Theeyaattu. The Bhadrakali form, the focus of the revival, remains largely confined to a small geographical pocket stretching from Kottayam to Vaikom and is performed exclusively by the Theeyattunni community. The Ayyappan Theeyattu, which depicts the story of Lord Ayyappa, though has been much popular in the northern parts throughout. Sasidharan Sharma, a 70-year-old artist from the Theeyattunni community, corroborates this surge, stating, 'Earlier, there were only a few offerings at the temple, but now the Theeyattu offerings have gone up substantially. While 'Nadel Theeyattu' is performed on almost all days, an average of 60 'Valiya Theeyattu' performances are held at the temple a year.' Sharma, who has been consistently performing the ritualistic art at Pallipurathu Kavu since 2022, now stages an impressive 200 plays a year, a testament to the art form's renewed popularity. 'Bhadrakali Theeyattu is performed exclusively by a particular community — Theeyattunnis. Presently only four or five families are performing the art. This highlights the critical importance of temples like Pallipurathu Kavu in sustaining the artistic lineage,' he adds. 'Now on most days, offerings are being done at Pallipurathu Kavu,' observes writer Manoj Kuroor, also the head of the Malayalam Department at NSS College and a scholar deeply connected to Kerala's performing arts. 'People too have become much more religious, which drives the demand for these offerings.'
Hindustan Times
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
After the conflict, the need to rebuild
In the Indian imagination, war has never been just a clash of armies or nations. It is part of a larger cycle — where destruction and renewal are inseparable, where endings make way for new beginnings. Every civilisation that endures learns this the hard way. What is broken must one day be gathered, and what is lost must be remembered — not as nostalgia, but as responsibility. The war with Pakistan, provoked by yet another cross-border terror attack, was answered with restraint and resolve by our armed forces. Tactical gains were made, strategic signals delivered. Yet, the silence that followed from the global community was unmistakable. No major power stood up to affirm India's sovereign right to defend itself. This silence is not unfamiliar, but it is no less troubling. To equate our measured response to Pakistan-backed terror with the original act of aggression is both intellectually dishonest and morally indefensible. Yet, in the grand theatre of global diplomacy, such clarity was absent. While soldiers secured the borders, another conflict unfolded at home — on television screens and social media platforms. Journalism, which should have been a beacon of truth, turned into a theatre of disinformation and hysteria. Unverified claims were broadcast with reckless certainty. And when corrections came, they arrived too late and too faint. Journalists — especially women — who dared to ask uncomfortable questions or offer nuance were branded traitors, not for their reporting, but for their refusal to perform outrage. They bore the weight of a society that often mistakes critical inquiry for betrayal. This, too, was a battle; on truth, on dignity, and on the fragile soul of democratic discourse. Meanwhile, in the borderlands, entire communities bore the human cost. Homes were flattened, livestock lost, and schools reduced to rubble. Entire lives were displaced in a single night. These are not distant statistics. They are living reminders that the first and last casualties of war are always ordinary people, who rarely make it to national tributes or commemorations. For them, war is not a national moment — it is personal, it is ruin. And yet, the work of rebuilding awaits. The fires of destruction must now feed the fires of restoration. What was broken must be gathered. What was lost must be remembered. What can be rebuilt must begin again — quietly, steadily, urgently. Our civilisational memory offers its own language to make sense of moments like this. Among the most enduring figures in that memory is Kali — not merely a goddess of destruction, but a cosmic principle, the fierce embodiment of time itself. She arrives not to wreak havoc for its own sake, but to strip away illusion, pride, and all that has outlived its purpose. Her dance is a necessary clearing of what must fall, so that life may renew itself. Yet, Kali's work is never complete in destruction alone. From her terrible, transformative energy emerges the gentler force of Bhadrakali, who gathers what remains — not to burn, but to rebuild. It is she who makes way for life to begin again, for the fire once used to destroy to return to the hearth as warmth, as sustenance, as care. It is here, in this turning —from fury to renewal — that every civilisation must find its way forward. The road ahead calls for a national commitment to rebuild —starting with India's borderlands, where homes, schools, and marketplaces must rise again. We must also confront the collapse of our media ecosystem, perhaps through an independent National Media Ethics Commission to ensure wartime reporting remains factual, responsible, and free of performative outrage, while protecting the voices of women and independent journalists who hold power to account. On the global stage, India must move beyond transactional diplomacy and reclaim its moral leadership. It must build alliances rooted not in convenience, but in justice, peace, and sovereign dignity, especially across the Global South. We must remind the world that neutrality in the face of terror is not peace, it is complicity. Finally, we must institutionalise civilian preparedness and national resilience by ensuring civil defence protocols, emergency infrastructure, and public awareness are in place so that every citizen becomes not a bystander, but a partner in safeguarding the republic. These are not the words of an expert, nor the declarations of those who sit in power. They are the quiet reflections of a citizen, who bore mute witness to the frenzy on the streets, on the screens, and in the silences that followed. In the end, real victory lies not in how loudly we strike, but in how deeply we heal. Shubhrastha is co-author of The Last Battle of Saraighat: The Story of the BJP's Rise in the North-east. The views expressed are personal
New Indian Express
13-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Chandi Homam performed at historic Bhadrakali Temple in Warangal for Op Sindoor success
WARANGAL: In a gesture of solidarity with the Indian Armed Forces, the Telangana State Endowment Department organised a Chandi Homam at the historic Bhadrakali Temple in Warangal on Monday, seeking divine blessings for the success of Operation Sindoor. Following the directive of the Endowment department, special prayers were performed across temples in the state for the well-being of the Indian Army and the success of Operation Sindoor - a military operation launched in response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. As part of this initiative, Bhadrakali Temple Assistant Commissioner and main priest Nagaraju Sharma conducted the Homam, invoking the blessings of Goddess Bhadrakali for the safety and success of the nation's armed forces. Devotees visiting the temple participated in the ritual after. Many joined the prayer chanting patriotic slogans such as 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai', expressing their emotional support for the troops. Speaking after the Chandi Homam, Nagaraju Sharma said, 'Our country is united in the fight against terrorism under Operation Sindoor. With the blessings of Goddess Bhadrakali, we pray for the successful completion of the mission by our brave soldiers and the supporting forces. It is our responsibility to support the Indian Army and pray for their safety as they guard our borders.' Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7, is a counter-terror initiative by the Indian Army, aimed at dismantling terror networks following the deadly Pahalgam attack. The Chandi Homam is part of a larger spiritual campaign being observed in various temples across Telangana to invoke divine blessings for Indian armed forces.
News18
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Deepika Padukone, Prabhas To Reunite After Kalki 2898 AD For Spirit? Here's What We Know
Last Updated: Recently, it was also reported that Deepika Padukone will be reuniting with Shah Rukh Khan for King. An official confirmation is still awaited. Deepika Padukone, who was last seen in Kalki 2898 AD, has not announced any new project after her daughter Dua's birth. Fans have been eagerly waiting for the announcement as many buzzes are going around her joining Prabhas' starrer Spirit. Yes, you are reading right. She has joined the film, and Pinkvilla has exclusively reported that she has officially signed the film. The entertainment portal has quoted sources saying. 'Initially, Spirit was to begin by the end of 2024 and hence, Deepika had turned down the offer, as the timelines were not matching due to her pregnancy. However, with a delay in schedule, Vanga went back to Deepika with a revised shooting timeline, and the actress has now agreed to come on board Spirit." The source further informed, 'It's the most well-written female part in the world of Sandeep Reddy Vanga. Deepika was surprised with the nuances in not just the script, but also her character. She has loved the part, and is excited to team up with Sandeep Reddy Vanga for the first time," the source added. Spirit will mark the reunion of Deepika Padukone and Prabhas after KALKI: 2898AD. According to the report the Spirit is on the final scripting stage and the shooting will start from October. Spirit is special for the fresh collaboration of two powerhouse- Pan India star Prabhas and the renowned filmmaker Sandeep Reddy Vanga. The shooting of the film was about to start in January but got postponed due to the injury Prabhas faced in the shooting floor of Fauji. Now he is all set to make Spirit a grand film. The story of the Spirit is still under the wraps, but according to Pinkvilla, Bhanga is focusing on a high-octane action drama. The report says Vagna worked six long months on the script to come up with a groundbreaking idea. If everything works well, this action film, backed by the T-series and Bhadrakali pictures, will be released on the big screen in 2027. Recently, it was also reported that Deepika Padukone will be reuniting with Shah Rukh Khan for King. An official confirmation is still awaited. First Published:
