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News18
6 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Who Was Rajendra Chola I? PM Modi To Attend Chola Emperor's Birth Anniversary Celebrations
Last Updated: PM Modi will attend an event marking 1000 years of Rajendra Chola I's maritime expedition and the construction of Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday will attend a programme to mark a thousand years of the maritime expedition of the great Rajendra Chola I to South East Asia and the commencement of the construction of the iconic Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple in Tamil Nadu. As part of the celebrations, a commemorative coin honouring the great Chola king will be released, coinciding with the Aadi Thiruvathirai festival, PM Modi wrote on X. 'Tomorrow, 27th July, will witness a very special programme to mark a thousand years of the maritime expedition of the great Rajendra Chola I to South East Asia and the commencement of the construction of the iconic Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple, a shining example of Chola architecture. It is our privilege that a commemorative coin honouring Rajendra Chola I is being released, also celebrating the Aadi Thiruvathirai festival," he said on X. The celebration also commemorates the birth anniversary of the great Chola emperor Rajendra Chola I. The grand finale of the festival on July 27 will be graced by PM Modi, who will attend the event as the Chief Guest. Who Was Rajendra Chola I? He established Gangaikonda Cholapuram as the imperial capital after his victorious campaigns, and the temple he built there served as a beacon of Shaiva devotion, monumental architecture, and administrative prowess for over 250 years. Today, the temple stands as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, renowned for its intricate sculptures, Chola bronzes, and ancient inscriptions. The Aadi Thiruvathirai festival also celebrates the rich Tamil Shaiva Bhakti tradition, fervently supported by the Cholas and immortalised by the 63 Nayanmars—the saint-poets of Tamil Shaivism. Notably, Rajendra Chola's birth star, Thiruvathirai (Ardra), begins on July 23, making this year's festival all the more significant. PM Modi will be joined by the Governor of Tamil Nadu, R.N. Ravi, Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, and Minister of State in the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs Dr. L. Murugan, along with other dignitaries. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hans India
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hans India
India and Russia reaffirm commitment to strengthen cultural ties
Delhi: India and Russia on Friday reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen bilateral cultural and tourism ties during a high-level meeting held in New Delhi between Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Denis Alipov, the Ambassador of Russia to India. The discussions were focused on enhancing India's participation in upcoming cultural events in Russia, and broadening the scope of bilateral cooperation in the cultural and humanitarian realm. Vivek Aggarwal, Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, along with senior officials from the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), were also present at the meeting. "On July 18, Russian Ambassador to India Denis Alipov met with Indian Minister of Culture and Tourism G S Shekhawat. During the conversation, issues of bilateral humanitarian cooperation and intercultural dialogue, as well as prospects for expanding tourist exchange between the two countries were discussed," the Russian Embassy in India posted on X. The meeting was part of a broader diplomatic agenda to deepen cultural dialogue and facilitate greater people-to-people ties between the two nations. Both the sides expressed their interests in developing sustained engagement through joint cultural initiatives as well as boosting bilateral tourism. A nine-day 'Bharat Utsav' – or Festival of India - was recently held in Moscow's Manezhnaya Square from July 5-13, celebrating India's rich culture, yoga, cuisine and crafts. The event was held as part of the major project 'Summer in Moscow', that brought together the Russian capital's most vibrant events – more than 1,000 festivals and cultural events, workshops, sports and educational activities. India and Russia have deep and historic cultural linkages. The famous Russian artist and philosopher Nicholas Roerich eventually settled in Himachal Pradesh. Writers like Leo Tolstoy and Alexander Pushkin had a profound influence on Indian literature and thought. Leading Russian universities and institutions teach Indian languages. Indian cinema was especially popular in the Soviet period with screenings in most major cities and urban centres. The popularity and ubiquity of Indian movies and actors is remembered fondly even today. Yoga is also immensely popular across Russia.
Time of India
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Bastille Day in Delhi channels Cannes glamour
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Minister of Culture and Tourism, with French Ambassador Thierry Mathou Inspired by the French Riviera, the French Embassy's Bastille Day celebration brought a touch of Cannes glamour to Delhi. Guests walked the red carpet, posed at a Cannes-style photo station, and soaked in the atmosphere as a live jazz set played timeless classics like Fly Me To The Moon. Shombi Sharp, UN Resident Coordinator, posed with his wife Sarah Watterson at a Cannes-style photo station, striking a pose on the red carpet rolled out for the French Riviera-themed evening; EU Ambassador Hervé Delphin 'India and France are both committed to accelerating partnership' You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi The evening opened with soulful renditions of the Indian and French national anthems by the Neemrana Foundation, followed by an address by French Ambassador Thierry Mathou. Highlighting the South of France, he referred to the recent political visits, high-level summits, and Cannes, which saw strong Indian representation this year. He started his address with a 'namaste' and said, 'Both the nations are committed to accelerating partnership across three pillars of India-France Horizon 2047 roadmap. The first pillar is security and sovereignty, the second is the partnership for the planet, and the third is for the people… The agenda is to diversify and intensify cooperation in fields like scientific exchanges, student exchanges and culture. Long live India-France friendship.' In 2026, innovation will be the mantra defining the next chapter of Indo-France partnership, while culture remains the bedrock on which our strategic partnership is built. Vive la France. Jai Hind Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Minister of Culture and Tourism Italian Ambassador Antonio Bartoli; German Ambassador Philipp Ackermann with the French Ambassador 'Culture is the living bridge between our people' Gajendra Singh Shekhawat , Minister of Culture and Tourism, who was the chief guest at the event, remarked, 'Culture is the living bridge between our people. Festivals like Bonjour India and Namaste France are not just events but celebrations of the dynamic cultural fusion, bringing our traditions, cinema and culinary arts closer to each other's shores.' Emily in Delhi: Orphée from Agence Française de Développement brought a dash of Emily in Paris flair to the celebrations Guests savoured French breads and ballotines, which added to the evening's Riviera charm. Chetan Seth; Lindy Cameron, British High Commissioner with husband Sean Reynolds Chilean Ambassador Juan Angulo, Cécile Mathou, Mexican Ambassador Federico Salas Lotfe Ambassador of Malta Reuben Gauci with Ukrainian Ambassador Oleksandr Polishchuk; Belgian Ambassador Didier Vanderhasselt
Saba Yemen
15-07-2025
- Saba Yemen
Expanded meeting held to discuss & approve Ministry of Culture's plan
Sana'a (Saba) - An expanded meeting, chaired by the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Dr. Ali Al-Yafei, discussed the work plan of the Ministry and its affiliated bodies and agencies for the year 1447 AH. The meeting reviewed the Ministry's plan, which was prepared to achieve cultural and tourism development in various fields, taking into account urgent priorities, reflecting the program of the Government of Change and Reconstruction and in accordance with available resources. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print
Euronews
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Euronews
Turkey investigates Spotify over 'insensitive' playlist names
Another day, another investigation in Turkey — this time targeting Spotify, which is under scrutiny for allegedly "insulting societal beliefs" and engaging in anti-competitive behaviour. The controversy began with what appeared to be a highly coordinated backlash on social media, and has since escalated. On Friday, Spotify told The Times that it is considering temporarily suspending its services in Turkey or even pulling out of the market entirely. The Swedish music streaming giant stated that it was "not prepared for its users to be censored" but added that it was "working to co-operate with Turkish authorities." Company representatives told The Times that all options were being evaluated, including "pausing operations in the market or exiting Turkey altogether." Spotify is well known for its user-generated playlists, many of which feature satirical or humorous titles, ranging from celebrity references and fictional characters to political jabs. However, some playlist titles have sparked political controversy in Turkey. Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Batuhan Mumcu accused the platform of "hosting content that targets our religious and national values and insults the beliefs of our society." He claimed the platform included "insidious and provocative" playlists directed at First Lady Emine Erdoğan. "The platform's failure to act is incompatible with our nation's cultural and moral values," Mumcu said, arguing that such content undermines social unity. The playlist titles that caused a stir One playlist in particular — titled "Songs Emine Erdoğan listens to while cleaning the palace" — triggered outrage among pro-government social media users, often referred to as 'AK trolls' (a reference to President Erdoğan's ruling Justice and Development AK Party). The campaign to ban Spotify gained traction among conservative voters, with users tagging government officials on X and demanding action. Screenshots of the controversial playlist titles quickly went viral. Religious-themed playlists also provoked anger. Two lists — titled "The playlist Prophet Muhammad listened to while escaping the Mushrikites" and "Songs the Prophet listened to in the cave" — also drew heavy criticism in conservative circles. Spotify currently has more than 12 million monthly active users in Turkey.
