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The Hindu
21-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
PM to inaugurate 103 Amrit Bharat railway stations on May 22
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate 103 Amrit railway stations through video conference at an event in Bikaner, Rajasthan, on May 22. These stations, located in 86 districts across 18 States and Union Territories, have been developed at a cost of over ₹1,100 crore. 'Over 1,300 stations are being redeveloped with modern facilities, designed to reflect regional architecture and enhance passenger amenities under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS),' a Railways Ministry spokesperson stated. Mr. Modi will inaugurate the Deshnoke railway station in Bikaner, Rajasthan, redeveloped under ABSS and flag off Bikaner-Mumbai express train service (21903) from the station. The station serves pilgrims and tourists visiting the Karni Mata Temple here, and its construction is inspired by temple architecture with an arch and column theme. Begumpet station in Telangana is inspired by the architecture of the Kakatiya empire. Thawe station in Bihar incorporates various murals and art works representing Maa Thawewali, the presiding deity at the temple here, which is one of the 52 sites known as Shakti Peethas, and depicting Madhubani paintings. Dakor station in Gujarat is inspired by Ranchhodrai Ji Maharaj, a form of Lord Krishna. Among the revamped stations which will be inaugurated, five are from Karnataka: Gadag, completed at a cost of ₹23.24 crore, Dharwad (₹17.1 crore), Bagalkot (₹16.06 crore), Munirabad (₹18.40 crore) and Gokak (₹16.98 crore), Railways officials said. The redeveloped Amrit stations across India integrate modern infrastructure with cultural heritage as well as passenger-centric amenities, the Railways Ministry spokesperson said. Mr. Modi will also lay the foundation stone of Churu-Sadulpur rail line (58 km) and dedicate to the Nation the electrified rail lines of Suratgarh-Phalodi (336 km), Phulera-Degana (109 km), Udaipur-Himmatnagar (210 km), Phalodi-Jaisalmer (157 km) and Samdari-Barmer (129 km). The PM will also inaugurate projects of road infrastructure, medical education and solar power during the visit. Bikaner-Mumbai express service The Bikaner-Mumbai express train service (21903) will run between Bandra Terminus and Bikaner on a weekly basis. The train is scheduled to leave Bandra Terminus every Monday (May 19, 2025) at 11.25 p.m. and reach Bikaner at 8.40 p.m. on Tuesday (May 20, 2025). On the return journey, the train (21904) will leave Bikaner on Wednesday (May 21, 2025) at 8.50 a.m. and reach Bandra Terminus on Thursday (May 22, 2025) at 6.45 a.m. The train will stop at Borivali, Vapi, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand Nadiad, Sabarmati, Mehsana, Palanpur, Abu Road, Phalna, Marwad, Pali Marwad, Jodhpur, Merta Road, Nagaur, Nokha, and Deshnoke stations. The 22-coach train will include 18 3AC coaches, two 2AC coaches, two coaches for luggage, and two General Brake Vans.
Time of India
05-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
A temple with thousands of rats — inside Rajasthan's strangest shrine
Imagine walking barefoot into a temple, only to find thousands of rats, not scurrying away, but lounging, nibbling, and being revered. Welcome to Karni Mata Temple in Deshnoke, Rajasthan — affectionately known as The Rat Temple — a place where these furry little beings aren't pests but sacred souls. Trust me when I say that this Mata Mandir in Deshnoke, Rajasthan, has over 20,000 rats. Yes, it is a fact that this temple is renowned for its rat population, and they are considered sacred and are believed to be reincarnations of Karni Mata's family. It's a marvel, a dedicated temple for Karni Mata where the line between sacred and earthly vanishes. A divine encounter with rats The factor that makes Karni Mata Mandir stand apart from other temples throughout India is that it treats rats with special veneration. The temple is home to thousands of black rats that are revered and considered sacred by pilgrims. It is said in local legend that Karni Mata's son drowned in the Kapil Sar river, and in despair, she prayed to Yama, the god of death, to revive him. Yama, touched by her devotion, consented to reincarnate her son and all her devotees as rats so that they would not die. The temple rats, known as "Kabbas," are said to be the reincarnations of these devotees and the relatives of Karni Mata. Devotees in India and overseas come to the temple, praying and offering food to the rats. Their sighting, scurrying around freely on the marble floors of the temple and even on the offerings themselves, is a positive omen. The sighting of these sacred rats is a sign of the grace of the gods and prosperity, and people typically believe that to see one white rat among the black is a very auspicious sign. The architectural beauty Although renowned for its eccentric inhabitants, Karni Mata Mandir is also popular due to its ornate architecture. The temple, which was first constructed in the 14th century by Maharaja Ganga Singh of Bikaner, features exquisite carvings and silver doors. The temple's main structure is covered with delicately carved marble stonework and refined motifs, capped by a high spire pointing towards the heavens. The temple also has a stunning silver gate and pictures of Karni Mata and her family. Within the temple compound, the devotees tend to place sweet dishes such as kheer (rice pudding) as an offering to the rats in a gesture of respect. The ritual is based on a belief that the rats, which are holy animals, serve as intermediaries between the devotees and Karni Mata, taking their prayers to the goddess. How to reach Karni Mata Mandir? Even though it is an extremely spiritual affair to go to Karni Mata Mandir, it is also an opportunity to see a tremendous cultural tradition. The temple is open throughout the year, but the most prominent celebrations are in the Navratri festival, when the temple becomes a center of worship and celebrations. Deshnok village is road-accessible, and the nearest big city is Bikaner. Pilgrims have facilities at the temple in the form of a rest house and local shops for religious paraphernalia and offerings. The holy rats, although a rare sight, speak volumes about the spiritual importance of the temple where man and animal live together in harmony to serve the divine. Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
