Latest news with #Ganesh
South China Morning Post
6 hours ago
- General
- South China Morning Post
In Good Taste: Inspire Yoga founder Neelam Harjani takes the PostMag Q&A
The wellness ritual you can't live without? I do a 20-minute breathwork routine every morning. The Sudarshan Kriya (a breathing technique taught by the Art of Living Foundation ) helps centre me and give me clarity. I have been doing it for about 13 years. I got so much from the practice that I began teaching it to others and am now an Art of Living teacher. The most conversation-sparking object in your home? A brass carving of the Hindu god Ganesh. My husband and I bought it in New Delhi as newlyweds. It was handcrafted in Rajasthan . We host weekly meditations in our home in Discovery Bay. Our Ganesh is positioned in the northeast corner of the living room, which has the energy of peace and spirituality. Shankara's Timeless Kumkumadi Oil is an Ayurvedic skin tonic made from 32 herbs. Photo: Jocelyn Tam A scent that brings you joy? Before prayers at home, my mum would light sandalwood incense. She'd also do it if we had guests coming over, to make them feel welcome. That scent takes me back to my childhood. It's about connection and people coming together. Your favourite city and the first thing you do there?
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Once a bicycle bookseller, publisher Ganesh now basks in Booker glory
Bengaluru: Little did A Ganesh, a small-time bookseller pedalling through Mysuru with bundles of Kannada books in the early 1990s imagine that decades later, he would become the publisher who brought Booker recognition to Kannada literature. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Forced by circumstances to leave home, Ganesh began his career by learning proofreading. "I was drawn to stories. I read K Shivarama Karanth, Poornachandra Tejaswi, Anupama Niranjana, even Phantom comics and Balamitra. I was crazy about stories," he recalled. Over the years, Ganesh dabbled in nearly every corner of the publishing world — as a proofreader at the desk, a reader and customer passionate about Kannada writing, a cycle-based bookseller connecting literature to households, and eventually, as a publisher nurturing voices like Banu Mushtaq through his own imprint, Abhiruchi Prakashana. By 1993, he was cycling around Mysuru, calling out "pustaka, pustaka" (books, books), selling Kannada novels like those of Anupama Niranjana, Triveni, and AN Murthy. "Just like people sold saris or newspapers on cycles, I sold books," he said. Known in the lanes of the city as the man who brought literature to doorsteps, Ganesh would later be christened 'Abhiruchi' Ganesh — a name coined when someone asked him for a bill and publisher DVK Murthy (whose books he sold on the cycle) suggested, "Abhiruchi." Back then, Kannada Book Authority was encouraging Kannada book stores. GT Narayan Rao, a science writer who saw Ganesh pedalling daily, helped him secure books worth Rs 25,000 under the Kannada Pustaka Pradhikara scheme. "That support allowed me to open a store," he said. In 1995, Abhiruchi Prakashana was officially born. He published works of Devanooru Mahadeva and Baraguru Ramachandrappa among others, including Fyodor Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Ganesh's long association with Banu Mushtaq began in 2002, during a protest in Chikkamagaluru over Baba Budangiri. "She was detained, and activist K Ramdas and I went to speak to police. Once she was released, she gave me a script — a set of stories," he recalled. The result was Safira, Banu Mushtaq's first published short story collection, which sold out its first 1,000 copies and was reprinted. To him, her bold, woman-centric writing — dealing with abandonment, clerical injustice, and social marginalisation — stood out. "There are very few Muslim women writing in Kannada — maybe three or four. But her voice was powerful," Ganesh said. He went on to first publish Badavara Magalu Hennalla (2002), which sold 2,000 copies, and in 2013, brought out Haseena Mattu Itara Kathegalu, a five-collection compilation. In 2023, it was expanded with 'Hennu Haddina Swayamvara' to include 47 stories across six compilations. The reprint of 1,000 hardbound copies on April 30 sold out within days after the Booker shortlisting. On May 21, with the prize announcement, demand surged. "We've placed a reprint order for 2,000 more," he said. Ganesh was among those waited for the award announcement at 2.30am. "Banu sent me the link to the event. We got on a call about half-an-hour later — only for 59 seconds — her worried about missing medicines, but filled with joy. She said, 'Kannada and India won today.' I felt like a small-town boy who is overwhelmed when told about having won a big prize," he said.
Time of India
3 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Vinayak Chaturthi and Using It to Remove Doshas from the Kundli
Because even the stars need a little divine debugging sometimes. Vinayak Chaturthi : Your Cosmic Reset Button for Astrological Troubles You know Vinayak Chaturthi (or Sankashti Chaturthi, as it's called when it comes after a full moon) isn't just about delicious modaks , lighting lamps, and maybe a little eye-rolling at your neighbor's extra loud aarti . Spiritually, it's a huge cosmic reset button, especially if you're carrying around heavy astrological baggage like a Shani Dosh , Rahu-Ketu Dosh , Mangal Dosh , or that messy, uninvited Saturn Return drama. This powerful day can actually help fix what feels astrologically broken. Here's how: 1. Worship Ganesh with the Right Mantras Ganesh isn't just the one who removes obstacles; he's your VIP pass to bypass any planetary grudges. On this day, chanting " Om Gan Ganapataye Namah " 108 times can seriously help to calm down those troublesome planetary alignments. If you're dealing with issues from Ketu or Rahu , you might find this particularly soothing—think of it as a spiritual mosquito repellent. 2. Offer Durva Grass and Modaks Like It's a Peace Treaty Ganesh absolutely loves Durva grass and Modaks. Offering 21 blades of Durva is said to soften the wrath of Mars (Mangal Dosh) and Saturn (Shani Dosh) . It's not about bribery; it's more like a divine negotiation with some very sweet incentives. 3. Perform Ganesh Abhishek with Panchamrit That classic mix of milk, honey, sugar, curd, and ghee isn't just a recipe; it's a powerful pantry alchemy. This symbolic cleanse helps to realign your chakras and soothe any planetary agitation. Dealing with a Mangal Dosh ? Bathe Ganesh, and you might just find Mars chilling out. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Switch to UnionBank Rewards Card UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo 4. Light a Desi Ghee Diya Facing East Light a lamp made with desi ghee and place it facing east. As you do, mentally send an "unsubscribe" email to all your obstacles. Lighting lamps on this day helps bring clarity and dispels issues from Sun and Mercury doshas —no shady retrograde energy allowed here! 5. Donate for Karma Clearance Vinayak Chaturthi is a prime day for a karmic detox. Donating food, sweets, or school supplies can help clear out debts with Jupiter (Guru Dosh) and Mercury (Budh Dosh) . Think of it as charitable astrology—a spiritual investment with a tax-free return. 6. Moon Connection: Observe a Fast Until Moonrise Keeping a Sankashti Vrat (a fast) until moonrise helps align your energy with the moon to detox any subconscious karmas. It's like taking your birth chart to therapy and letting the Moon be your wise counselor. Discover everything about astrology at the Times of India , including daily horoscopes for Aries , Taurus , Gemini , Cancer , Leo , Virgo , Libra , Scorpio , Sagittarius , Capricorn , Aquarius , and Pisces .
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
‘Small-eyed Ganesh idols': PM Modi says time to back 'Make-in-India', limit foreign goods
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday took a swipe at imported goods by referring to 'small-eyed' Ganesh idols, urging traders to stop selling foreign products and instead contribute to the country's growth through the 'Make-in-India' initiative to further boost India's economy. Addressing a public rally in Gujarat's Gandhinagar PM Modi said, 'We must encourage village traders to pledge that no matter, however, much profit they make, they will not sell foreign goods. But unfortunately, even Ganesh idols come from overseas, small-eyed Ganesh idols whose eyes don't even open properly. For Operation Sindoor, as a citizen, I have a task for you: go home and make a list of how many foreign products you use in 24 hours.' He stressed that India's climb up the global economic ladder should not just bring celebration, but also a sense of responsibility to aim higher. He stated that becoming the third-largest economy should now be the nation's focus. Reflecting on the country's economic journey since he first assumed office, Modi said, 'On 26th May 2014, I took the oath as the Prime Minister for the first time. At that time, India's economy was at the 11th India has become the world's fourth-largest economy. It is a matter of pride for all of us that we have now surpassed Japan...I still remember the excitement across the country when we moved from sixth to fifth place, especially among the youth. The reason was that India had overtaken the United Kingdom, the very nation that ruled over us for 250 years.' He added, 'The pressure of becoming the third (largest economy) is more than the happiness of becoming the fourth (largest economy). The country is not ready to wait. If someone asks to wait, the slogan is raised 'Modi hai toh mumkin hai'...Our goal is clear, by 2047, India must be a Viksit nation. No compromise. We will not mark 100 years of independence casually. We will celebrate it in such a manner that the flag of a Viksit Bharat will fly high across the world.' PM Modi said that Operation Sindoor would now be driven by the collective strength of Indians, as he reiterated the importance of producing and purchasing goods made in India. 'On the night of May 6, Operation Sindoor began with the strength of our armed forces. But now, this Operation Sindoor will move forward with the strength of the people. When I speak of the strength of our armed forces and the people's strength, I mean that every citizen should become a partner in the nation's development. If we all contribute to building a Viksit Bharat by 2047 and to take our economy from the 4th to the 3rd position globally, we will not rely on foreign products,' Modi said. His comments came as India officially overtook Japan to become the world's fourth-largest economy, according to the latest data. Speaking at a press conference following the 10th Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog on the theme 'Viksit Rajya for Viksit Bharat 2047', NITI Aayog CEO B.V.R. Subrahmanyam confirmed the development using International Monetary Fund (IMF) data. "We are the fourth-largest economy as I speak. We are a USD 4 trillion economy. This is not my data; this is the data from the IMF. India today is larger than Japan. It's only the United States, China, and Germany which are larger, and if we stick to what is being planned, what is being thought through, it's a matter of another two to three years; we would become the third largest economy," said Subrahmanyam. As per the IMF's April World Economic Outlook report, India's nominal GDP for fiscal year 2026 is projected to hit around USD 4.187 trillion, slightly ahead of Japan's estimated USD 4.186 trillion. The report also forecasts that India's economy will grow by 6.2% in 2025 and 6.3% in 2026—outpacing both global and regional averages. (With ANI inputs)
News18
6 days ago
- Business
- News18
'Even Ganesh Idols Come From Abroad': PM Modi Bats For 'Make In India' Over Foreign Goods
Last Updated: Prime Minister Modi, at an urban event in Gandhinagar, criticized importing Ganesh idols, urging citizens to support local products for economic and cultural benefits. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday urged citizens to choose Indian-made products instead of foreign alternatives. He gave the example of Ganesh idols, which he stated are often imported from abroad. Prime Minister Modi made these comments while speaking at an urban development event in Gandhinagar, during a two-day visit to his home state of Gujarat. Highlighting the importance of supporting local craftsmen, he encouraged people to stop selling foreign goods, even if it means earning less profit. 'We must encourage village traders to pledge that no matter how much profit they make, they will not sell foreign goods," he said. PM Modi noted that even Ganesh idols are now being imported. 'Ganesh idols come from abroad, small-eyed Ganesh idols whose eyes don't even open properly," he added. Gandhinagar, Gujarat: Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, 'We must encourage village traders to pledge that no matter how much profit they make, they will not sell foreign goods. But unfortunately, even Ganesh idols come from abroad, small-eyed Ganesh idols whose eyes don't even… — IANS (@ians_india) May 27, 2025 'During Holi, people say they want to spread colors, but foreign products keep coming," PM Modi stated. The Prime Minister also asked people to look at how many foreign products they use each day. He suggested that citizens make a list of items they use from morning to night. He pointed out that many daily-use items — like combs, hairpins, or toothpaste — may be foreign-made without people even realising. 'For Operation Sindoor, as a citizen, I have a task for you: go home and make a list of how many foreign products you use in 24 hours, from morning till the next morning. You might not even realize it, sometimes you unknowingly use foreign items, like combs or hairpins, even toothpaste," he said. Earlier in the day, PM Modi held a roadshow in Gandhinagar — his first visit to Gujarat since Operation Sindoor, India's military response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam. The roadshow began at Raj Bhavan and ended at Mahatma Mandir. First Published: May 27, 2025, 18:28 IST
