Latest news with #Khalasi
NDTV
8 hours ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Thousands Of Devotees Join 148th Rath Yatra In Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad: The 148th Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath began in Ahmedabad on Friday morning, with thousands of devotees joining in for a glimpse of the deity. The raths or chariots of Lord Jagganath, his brother Balbhadra and sister Subhadra were pulled out of the Jagannath temple in Jamalpur area of the city by the Khalasi community as per the age-old tradition. The grand procession of the three chariots rolled on from the 400-year-old temple, and it is expected to return by 8 pm after making its way through the old city, including a few communally sensitive areas. Union Home Minister Amit Shah and his family members participated in the morning prayers at the Jagannath temple, while Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel performed 'pahind vidhi', a traditional ceremony of symbolic cleaning of roads by a golden broom. The procession, usually comprising 18 elephants, 100 trucks, 'bhahan-mandlis' (devotional groups) and 30 akhadas (local gymnasiums), will cover a distance of 16 km during the day. Several trucks have been decorated as tableaux on different themes. Throughout the day, lakhs of devotees are expected to gather on both sides of the route to pay obeisance to Lord Jagannath and his siblings. Police officials said they have made elaborate security arrangements for the procession. Nearly 23,800 security personnel have been deployed in the city to guard the annual Rath Yatra, which is expected to draw 14-15 lakh people. According to a government release, an Artificial Intelligence-based surveillance system will be used for the first time to prevent stampede-like situations. The AI-based system would notify the police and fire department in case of a fire along the route, besides alerting the police control room when too many people are gathered in a particular area, it said. About 4,500 security personnel will walk with the procession on the entire 16-km route, while 1,931 personnel will be deployed for traffic management, said officials. Several roads will remain closed to normal traffic. Senior police officials will keep a watch on the Rath Yatra procession using 2,872 body-worn cameras linked with the control room, 41 drones and 96 cameras installed at different locations and 25 watch towers. Ahead of the 148th Rath Yatra, police had organised 177 meetings of peace committees, 235 meetings of mohalla committees, 57 meetings of women's committees as well as 21 meetings with various religious leaders with the aim of maintaining communal unity and harmony, the release had said.
News18
9 hours ago
- Politics
- News18
Elephants Run Amok During Ahmedabad's Jagannath Rath Yatra, Devotees Flee In Panic
Last Updated: A video of the terrifying moment, shared by news agency PTI, shows the exact sequence of chaos. In the footage, mahouts can be seen desperately trying to restrain the elephants The Jagannath Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad on Thursday was disrupted when a group of elephants, brought in as part of the traditional procession, suddenly went out of control. The unexpected chaos forced several devotees and bystanders to flee as the massive animals charged through the crowded streets, sending people scrambling for safety. VIDEO | Gujarat: Chaos erupted during the Jagannath Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad as elephants went out of control and trampled people. Further details awaited.(Source: Third Party) (Full video available on PTI Videos – — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 27, 2025 A video of the terrifying moment, shared by news agency PTI, shows the exact sequence of chaos. In the footage, mahouts can be seen desperately trying to restrain the elephants as they panic and veer off course. One elephant charges straight into the crowd, forcing people to scramble for safety through the narrow lanes and congested streets. The 148th Jagannath Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad began early Friday morning, drawing thousands of devotees eager for a glimpse of Lord Jagannath, his brother Balbhadra, and sister Subhadra. As per tradition, members of the Khalasi community ceremoniously pulled the three elaborately decorated chariots out of the 400-year-old Jagannath Temple in Jamalpur. The grand procession is expected to traverse a 16-kilometre route through the old city, including several communally sensitive areas, before returning to the temple by 8 pm. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, along with his family, offered prayers at the temple, while Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel performed the 'pahind vidhi,' the symbolic ritual of cleaning the road with a golden broom. The scale of the procession is immense, featuring 18 elephants, around 100 decorated trucks, 30 akhadas (local gyms), and multiple devotional groups known as 'bhajan mandalis'. Over the course of the day, an estimated 14-15 lakh devotees are expected to line the streets to witness the centuries-old tradition. To ensure safety, authorities have deployed nearly 23,800 security personnel, including 4,500 officers walking alongside the yatra and nearly 2,000 managing traffic. An AI-based surveillance system has been introduced for the first time to detect overcrowding or fire hazards, sending real-time alerts to the control room. Additionally, security is being monitored through 41 drones, 96 fixed cameras, 25 watchtowers, and 2,872 body-worn cameras linked directly to the police command center. In the run-up to the event, authorities conducted extensive community outreach with peace committees, women's groups, mohalla committees, and religious leaders to maintain communal harmony during the massive gathering. First Published: June 27, 2025, 13:02 IST
Hindustan Times
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Sea of devotees join as Rath Yatra begins in Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad, The 148th Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath began in Ahmedabad on Friday morning, with thousands of devotees joining in for a glimpse of the deity. Sea of devotees join as Rath Yatra begins in Ahmedabad The raths or chariots of Lord Jagganath, his brother Balbhadra and sister Subhadra were pulled out of the Jagannath temple in Jamalpur area of the city by the Khalasi community as per the age-old tradition. The grand procession of the three chariots rolled on from the 400-year-old temple, and it is expected to return by 8 pm after making its way through the old city, including a few communally sensitive areas. Union Home Minister Amit Shah and his family members participated in the morning prayers at the Jagannath temple, while Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel performed 'pahind vidhi', a traditional ceremony of symbolic cleaning of roads by a golden broom. The procession, usually comprising 18 elephants, 100 trucks, 'bhahan-mandlis' and 30 akhadas , will cover a distance of 16 km during the day. Several trucks have been decorated as tableaux on different themes. Throughout the day, lakhs of devotees are expected to gather on both sides of the route to pay obeisance to Lord Jagannath and his siblings. Police officials said they have made elaborate security arrangements for the procession. Nearly 23,800 security personnel have been deployed in the city to guard the annual Rath Yatra, which is expected to draw 14-15 lakh people. According to a government release, an Artificial Intelligence-based surveillance system will be used for the first time to prevent stampede-like situations. The AI-based system would notify the police and fire department in case of a fire along the route, besides alerting the police control room when too many people are gathered in a particular area, it said. About 4,500 security personnel will walk with the procession on the entire 16-km route, while 1,931 personnel will be deployed for traffic management, said officials. Several roads will remain closed to normal traffic. Senior police officials will keep a watch on the Rath Yatra procession using 2,872 body-worn cameras linked with the control room, 41 drones and 96 cameras installed at different locations and 25 watch towers. Ahead of the 148th Rath Yatra, police had organised 177 meetings of peace committees, 235 meetings of mohalla committees, 57 meetings of women's committees as well as 21 meetings with various religious leaders with the aim of maintaining communal unity and harmony, the release had said. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
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Business Standard
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Business Standard
Bringing busking to India: Buskr Booth rocks Delhi-National Capital Region
To mark World Music Day, June 21, entertainment company Buskr soft-launched its flagship innovation, the Buskr Booth, with a three-day iteration of their performance initiative, Buskr Chowk. Held through June 20 to 22 across the Delhi National Capital Region, the events were designed to introduce Indian audiences to the global culture of busking through curated performances in public spaces. The Buskr Booth is a compact 3x3 feet plug-and-play public address system that enables seamless musical and visual performances. It provides a semi-professional stage setup with sound support and digital tools, offering independent artists a ready space to perform, promote and connect with new audiences. Manu Saksena, director of Feel Good Communications, the company behind the innovation, said the platform had been under development for some time and had recently received a global patent. Given this, 'World Music Day seemed like the right moment to launch something that celebrates public music performance,' he said. The soft launch, held at three venues, served as a live demonstration of how the Buskr Booth can support its core function: busking, the practice of performing in public places, often for voluntary donations. As one event host pointed out, 'Busking is a widely accepted practice abroad; Ed Sheeran was discovered while busking.' The launch kicked off on June 20 at PVR Priya, New Delhi, in collaboration with Superkicks, a sneakers and apparel company. The evening featured performances by vocalists Pahar, Karun and Faizan, with Nanku and Pho also taking the stage. On June 21, the booth was installed at CyberHub, Gurugram, and hosted a varied line-up: Vaibhav aka Groove performed electronic music with live drums; flautist Siddhi Prasanna mesmerised the crowd; indie-electronic artist Curtain Blue played a set; Ankur Tewari, best known for the viral track Khalasi, delivered a crowd-pleasing performance; and Akhil Sachdeva brought his signature Bollywood sound to the evening. On the final day, June 22, the action shifted to Mall of India, Noida, and featured an instrumental jam session by Bobby Pathak, Ritesh Prasanna and Vinayak Pant, followed by a vibrant performance from Kutle Khan. Curtain Blue, the moniker of Delhi-based singer and producer Abhishek Bhatia, performed at the CyberHub event. Highlighting the significance of the Buskr Booth, Bhatia said, 'Busking hasn't really entered the Indian scene in a structured way yet. This booth offers a safe and enabling space for artists like me to perform.' He added that Buskr creates a win-win situation as the venue sees more footfall, the artist gets access to a real audience, and the public enjoys a free, enriching experience. Saksena, in a separate conversation, echoed this sentiment, noting that busking is well-organised and common in other countries. 'In India, there aren't designated spaces where artists can perform freely. Our aim is to create those spaces using the patented Buskr Booth, so that artists can express themselves with ease.' When asked about permanent installations, Saksena clarified that there are none yet due to the regulatory challenges involved. 'Busking as a concept is still nascent in India. Before seeking permits for permanent booths, our goal is to establish an ecosystem, a culture where people understand and support busking.' Currently, artists interested in performing at Buskr Chowk events can apply via Buskr's official website. In terms of location strategy, the platform is prioritising public spaces owned by private entities, which involve fewer bureaucratic hurdles. Looking ahead, the business model for scaling the Buskr Booth remains flexible. Saksena outlined three potential paths: private venues investing in booths for their own public spaces; Buskr installing the booths independently; or partnerships between Buskr and venue owners. But their priority at this moment remains to normalise busking in India and build a community around it.
Arab Times
19-03-2025
- Arab Times
Kuwait's truffle season brings flavorful desert delight
KUWAIT CITY, March 19: As winter sets in and extends into early spring, Kuwaitis eagerly seek out faqaa (desert truffle), a prized seasonal fungus known for its unique taste and rich flavor. The Kuwaiti variety, in particular, is highly valued, with different types varying in shape, color, and size, among them, Zubaidi is the most sought after due to its large size, white color, and irregularly rounded shape, followed by Khalasi, Jabi, and Hober, the smallest of the varieties. For many, the truffle season is an opportunity to venture into the desert after thunderstorms and rainfall, which create ideal conditions for truffle growth. Typically lasting about two months, truffle season sees enthusiasts scanning the sandy or clay-rich terrain for telltale cracks and soil lumps-signs of truffles maturing underground, and once harvested, the truffles are either consumed or sold in the market, where they fetch high prices due to their rarity and culinary appeal. (KUNA)
