Latest news with #Kalingan
Al Etihad
17-05-2025
- Business
- Al Etihad
Direct flights connect Abu Dhabi to three culturally rich Indian cities
17 May 2025 15:47 A. SREENIVASA REDDY (ABU DHABI)Abu Dhabi will soon be connected to three culturally rich cities of India — Bhubaneswar, Visakhapatnam and Madurai — with direct India's largest airline, announced the launch of new direct flights linking the UAE capital to Bhubaneswar, Visakhapatnam and Madurai, three culturally significant Indian cities that have long awaited improved international direct flights to Bhubaneswar will operate three times a week starting from June 12, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, while Visakhapatnam will be connected four times weekly from June 13, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Flights to Madurai will also begin on June 13 and run three times a week — on Mondays, Wednesdays and expansion comes as part of IndiGo's strategic push to enhance regional international connectivity and offer time-saving travel options for passengers. Bhubaneswar, the capital of Odisha, is renowned for its ancient Kalingan temples and its emerging status as a hub for IT and also known as Vizag, is a key port city in Andhra Pradesh known for its industrial importance, naval base, and scenic coastal attractions such as Araku Valley and Kailasagiri. Madurai, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and a centre of Tamil culture and devotion, is home to the iconic Meenakshi Temple and serves as the second most important city in Tamil Nadu after Chennai.'By introducing these direct flights, IndiGo is enhancing travel convenience for passengers, expanding international access to regional markets, and catering to the growing demand from both business and leisure travellers,' the airline said in a Malhotra, Head of Global Sales at IndiGo, added: 'We are pleased to announce direct flights to Abu Dhabi, further growing our international network. With the addition of these flights, IndiGo now operates over 100 weekly flights to Abu Dhabi from 15 cities in India. This also increases our frequencies to the UAE to 275 flights a week from 18 cities in India. As demand for direct international travel grows, we're committed to connecting India with global economic centres, ensuring on-time, affordable, and seamless travel across our expanding network.'The new connections are expected to ease travel for the large Indian diaspora in the UAE, as well as promote two-way tourism, trade, and educational for the new flights can be made via IndiGo's website or mobile app, and the move reinforces the airline's role in bridging India's Tier-2 cities with global destinations through reliable, cost-effective, and direct air Akkineni, a software engineer based in Abu Dhabi, welcomed the direct flight between the UAE capital and Visakhapatnam, the commercial capital of Andhra Pradesh. 'It will save us a lot of time wasted on layovers and changing flights. It comes as a big relief for families from the region,' he Mishra, President of Odisha Samaj UAE, also welcomed the move. 'We are delighted with the news of a direct flight from Bhubaneswar to Abu Dhabi. Now it is almost a daily flight from the UAE to Bhubaneswar except Sunday, which will be of great help to all Odias in the UAE.' IndiGo is already running a three-times-a-week service from Dubai to Bhubaneswar — on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry also hailed the launch of direct flights from Madurai to Abu Dhabi. In a statement, Chamber President N. Jagatheesan said the body had long emphasised the need for increased international flight services from Madurai to benefit the business community, international travellers and the general public.
Time Out Abu Dhabi
14-05-2025
- Time Out Abu Dhabi
IndiGo just launched two new destinations from Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi's travel game just got a serious upgrade. IndiGo, India's go-to airline for seamless, affordable journeys, has unveiled two shiny new direct routes connecting the UAE capital to India's east coast powerhouses – Bhubaneswar and Visakhapatnam. Starting this June, you'll be able to fly straight to these culturally rich cities without any stopovers or mid-air detours. The new Bhubaneswar–Abu Dhabi route takes off on June 12 and will run three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The Visakhapatnam–Abu Dhabi flights launch on June 13, operating four times weekly on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. It's all part of IndiGo's mission to make global travel easier, faster and more accessible – and with over 100 weekly flights to Abu Dhabi now from 15 Indian cities, the airline is clearly making good on that promise. In fact, with these new additions, IndiGo now runs a whopping 275 flights a week between India and the UAE. Bhubaneswar, the capital of Odisha, is known as the 'Temple City' for good reason – it's home to stunning Kalingan architecture and spiritual icons like the Lingaraj Temple. The city forms a cultural triangle with Puri and Konark and its modern side is booming too, with educational hubs like IIT Bhubaneswar and a rapidly growing IT sector. Visakhapatnam, or Vizag if you're in the know, is one of India's most scenic and strategic port cities. Tucked between lush hills and the Bay of Bengal, it's a mix of industrial muscle and natural beauty. From ancient Buddhist relics at Thotlakonda to beachy getaways like Araku Valley and Kailasagiri, Vizag serves up a rich blend of history, commerce and coastal charm. And let's not forget Abu Dhabi's own appeal if you're looking to hop over here. With its gleaming skyline, world-famous attractions like the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and the Louvre Abu Dhabi and a calendar packed with major events from Formula 1 to international art fairs, the capital is a growing favourite for tourists, students and entrepreneurs alike. Flying away soon? UAE residents can now save *big* time on flights thanks to a new Skyscanner feature No complaints here 25 visa-on-arrival destinations UAE residents can visit Hassle-free travel? Count us in Flying from Abu Dhabi soon? Here's your ultimate guide to Zayed International's Pearl Lounge Talk about travelling in style
Indian Express
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Why Puri is concerned about new Jagannath temple in Digha
Servitors of the Jagannath Temple in Puri have warned members of their community against participating in any rituals that are held at a new replica of the 12th century shrine that was opened by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the seaside town of Digha on Akshaya Tritiya. Several culture researchers and senior servitors of the Puri Temple have also questioned use of the word 'Dham' for the temple by the West Bengal government. The Digha temple The new temple has been built at a cost of Rs 250 crore on a 24-acre plot in Digha in West Bengal's Purba Medinipur district, about 350 km from Puri. Like the Puri Temple, the Digha temple is dedicated to Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, Goddess Subhadra and Goddess Mahalaxmi. The 213-foot-high temple is a replica of the world famous Puri Temple, and has been built in sandstone in the Kalingan architectural style. The project was announced in 2019, and construction began in May 2022, supervised by the West Bengal Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation. 'Original' question Servitors' groups like the Suar Mahasuar nijog, which prepares the bhog in the Puri Temple, and the Puspalaka nijog, which dresses the deities daily, put up notices asking servitors not to participate in any rituals at the Digha temple. Padmanava Mahasuar, president of the Suar Mahasuar nijog, told The Indian Express that while they welcomed the inauguration of the temple in Digha and would even like devotees to visit it, the traditional rituals of the original Temple should not be copied in the new one. Performing these same rituals in Digha – and at other Jagannath temples in the country – would dilute the significance of the Puri Temple, he argued. The consecration ceremony on April 30 was attended by a senior servitor (daitapati) of the Puri Temple Ramakrushna Dasmohapatra, and servitors from the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). Radharaman Das, vice president of ISKCON, said that non-Hindus and foreigners would be allowed to enter the Digha shrine – a break from the centuries-old but mostly unexplained practice of allowing only Hindus in Puri. Use of word 'Dham' The West Bengal government's use of the word 'Dham' (seat) and a picture of the Nilachakra (metal wheel atop the Puri Temple) in its advertisements for the Digha temple have also been questioned. Daitapati Ramachandra Dasmohapatra of the Puri Temple pointed out that there are only four dhams in Hinduism – Badrinath, Dwarka, Puri and Rameswaram. Also, this senior servitor said, the idols at the Digha temple are made of stone, which cannot be the case with Lord Jagannath. 'According to Hindu tradition, Lord Jagannath is Daru Brahma, and He is never made of stone. Daru is wood, and Brahma is the supreme power. The idols are made of neem wood,' Dasmohapatra said. A significant concern of the Puri servitors is believed to be the possibility of the Digha temple emerging as a competitor to Puri for Bengali tourists and devotees. A large chunk of visitors to Odisha comes from West Bengal – as per the Odisha government's Statistical Bulletin 2023, of the 97.25 lakh domestic tourists who visited the state that year, the largest number, 13.59 lakh, or almost 14%, were from Bengal. The share of Bengalis in tourist arrivals in Odisha was roughly the same in 2022 and 2021 as well. While there are concerns over the possible impact of lower tourist footfall on the hotel and tourism industry, a leading tour operator said the enormous significance of the Jagannath Temple in Puri cannot be discounted. 'Digha can't as yet match the tourist infrastructure of Puri and other places like Konark, Chilika and Bhubaneswar,' Yugabrata Kar, the tour operator, said. 'However', he added, 'there may be an impact in the long run if the Odisha government does not focus on enhancing the experience of devotees at the Puri Temple and making darshan hassle-free.'
Indian Express
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Puri Jagannath temple servitors warned against taking part in Digha temple inauguration
With West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee scheduled to inaugurate a Jagannath Temple at Digha on Wednesday, various servitors' groups of the Puri Jagannath Temple opposed the move and warned its members against participating in the rituals. The Puri servitors' groups, like the Suar Mahasuar Nijog that prepares the food offerings (bhog) and the Puspalaka Nijog that dresses the deities, have put notices around the Puri temple warning servitors not to participate in the performance of any rituals of the Digha Jagannath Temple. 'We welcome the inauguration of the Jagannath Temple at Digha. There are many Jagannath temples across the world, but the rituals of the original temple, which are performed as per mythology, should be preserved. If all the rituals of Puri Jagannath temple are performed everywhere, the significance of the original temple will be diluted,' said Padmanava Mahasuar, president of the Suar Mahasuar Nijog. In its poster, the Suar Nijog said its members should not participate in the preparation of bhog at any temple other than the Puri temple. The Puspalaka Nijog condemned the promotional slogan for the Digha Jagannath Temple that says 'no need to go to Puri to see Jagannath Dham and sea' and 'Jagannath Dham is here now'. It has warned servitors against participating in rituals like aarti and the dressing of the deity on the day of the inauguration or thereafter. 'Any member found defying the order will face strict action,' read the notice signed by the secretary of Puspalaka Nijog, Harekrushna Singhari. The 213-foot-tall temple at Digha, designed as an exact replica of the 12th-century Puri Jagannath Temple, has been built in accordance with the Kalingan architectural style using sandstone. Like the Puri temple, it is dedicated to Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, Goddess Subhadra and Goddess Mahalaxmi. The West Bengal Chief Minister is scheduled to inaugurate the temple on the day of Akshaya Tritiya, which is considered auspicious for new beginnings. The rituals leading up to the 'Pran Pratistha' have commenced, with a 'Kalash Yatra' performed by devotees on Saturday. The temple project, announced in 2019, started construction in May 2022 under the supervision of the Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (HIDCO).
Indian Express
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Digha Jagannath temple: Rituals underway before Akshaya Tritiya inauguration; Opposition BJP raises questions on construction quality, temple management
Days before the scheduled inauguration of the Jagannath temple in beach town Digha, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Sunday sounded hopeful about the impact of the newly constructed temple. CM Banerjee said, 'The arrival of Lord Jagannath in Bengal is a moment of great spiritual significance. May His blessings bring peace, harmony, and prosperity, not only to the people of our state but to the nation as a whole.' The 213-foot-tall temple, built in the Kalingan architectural style using sandstone, is dedicated to Lord Jagannath, Lord Balaram, Goddesses Mahalaxmi, and Subhadra. It is set to be inaugurated by CM Banerjee on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya on Wednesday. The temple is expected to become a significant tourist and pilgrimage destination, enhancing both the spiritual and economic value of the coastal town of Digha. The rituals leading up to the 'Pran Pratistha' have commenced, with a 'Kalash Yatra' performed by devotees on Saturday. Banerjee shared her sentiments on social media, saying, 'It is our faith that teaches us to stand tall through hardships, shapes our spirit, roots us in humility, and reminds us that even in our frailty, we are infinite. The Jagannath Temple in Digha will soon open its doors, welcoming not only the people of Bengal but pilgrims from across India. The countdown has begun, with rituals being performed each day. May this temple serve as a sanctuary of hope, peace, and unity for generations to come.' However, the scheduled inauguration has sparked political controversy. Suvendu Adhikari, Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Bengal Assembly, has raised concerns regarding the temple's construction quality and management. In a post on X, Adhikari tagged Dr H K Dwivedi (IAS Retd), Vice Chairman, West Bengal Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (WBHIDCO) Ltd, and questioned the official designation of the temple site as 'Jagannath Dham Sanskriti Kendra' (cultural centre). 'What will happen to the donations made by the devotees in the future? Will it be considered as 'Temple property' or HIDCO's source of income from the Cultural Center?' posted Adhikari. The temple project, announced in 2019, commenced construction in May 2022 under HIDCO's supervision. BJP 's Amit Malviya also alleged corruption and political motives behind the construction of the temple, citing recent thunderstorm damage as a potential 'divine intervention' and accused the government of misleading Hindus for political gain. 'A devastating Kalbaisakhi (nor'wester) wreaked havoc in Digha on April 26, 2025 – just days before the inauguration of Mamata Banerjee's Jagannath Temple on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya. As the storm raged, a light gate collapsed on a toto, with the driver narrowly escaping. Worse, the temple's iron gate crumbled, seriously injuring a passerby. Is this merely nature's fury – or divine intervention?' he wrote. 'Prabhu Jagannath does not reside where falsehood, fraud, and selfishness reign. This Kalbaisakhi was not just a storm – it was His message,' added Malviya. The West Bengal government has invited Opposition leaders, including LoP Adhikari, former BJP MP Dilip Ghosh, and his newly wed wife Rinku Mazumdar, for the inauguration ceremony.
