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The Herald Scotland
44 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
The Eagle: An Open Championship diary from Portrush
"Gulls can have an aggressive nature for food,' said one of the falconry experts. He's obviously not watched the golf writers attack the breakfast buffet in the media centre canteen. The pest control company in charge of these birds is called Clear Skies. As for those aforementioned scribblers swooping on the fry-ups? Well, after the glass-clinking shindig of the Association of Golf Writers' annual dinner the previous night, there weren't many Clear Heids. *Lights, camera, action. The Open is an all-singing, all-dancing production these days. This week, the broadcast is being enhanced by the trailblazing use of Spidercam which will provide spectacular aerial views from above Portrush's 18th. Spidercam operates with four motorized winches positioned at each corner at the base of the covered area, each of which controls a Kevlar cable connected to a gyro-stabilised dolly. By controlling the winding and unwinding of the cables, the system allows the dolly to reach any position in the three-dimensional space. It sounds a bit like the elaborate contraption used to haul the diarist out of bed after a heavy night at that golf writers' knees-up. *The AGW dinner is a lavish do that would make the grand Tudor banquets of yore look like a poke of chips at pub closing time. One of the guests at the bash was the legendary Indian cricket all-rounder, Kapil Dev. The 66-year-old looked resplendent in his finery, which is more than can be said of the diarist whose rumpled shirt had more creases than Lord's. Howzat!
Indian Express
7 hours ago
- Indian Express
Arc of the Kanwar Yatra: From Samudra Manthan to churning forces in society today
For about a fortnight in July, a common sight in North India is groups of men dressed in saffron clothes, atop trucks or on foot, chanting religious slogans like 'Har Har Mahadev' or 'Bol Bam', and carrying decorated slings. These slings, called kanwars, hold containers full of water from the Ganga, which the pilgrims are taking to various Shiva temples. The pilgrims are called kanwariyas and the annual pilgrimage is called the Kanwar Yatra. In recent years, the numbers of kanwariyas have swelled as the government has made better arrangements for their journey. However, this has also created an image of kanwariyas blasting music from their vehicles and getting into scuffles with other passersby. While the idea of pilgrimage in the Hindu religion is ancient, the Kanwar Yatra as seen today is a relatively new phenomenon. What are the religious beliefs behind the Kanwar Yatra, and what socio-economic-cultural forces shaped its present form? We explain. Kanwar Yatra is undertaken in the Hindu month of Shravan, or Saavan. Like many Indian festivals, Kanwar Yatra is also linked to the Samudra Manthan, the cosmic churning of the ocean. When the Devas (gods) and the Asuras (loosely translated as demons) churned the ocean, among the many things to emerge from it was halahal, or poison. The poison was so potent that if allowed to spread, it would have ended all life. Lord Shiva then swallowed the poison, which turned his throat blue and earned him the epithet of Neelkantha (the blue-throated one). To cool his burning throat, Goddess Parvati and others gave him water from the Ganga. Since the Samudra Manthan took place in the month of Shravan, devotees carry pitchers of Ganga water to Shiva temples as an offering in this month. The kanwar should not be put down on the ground at any time during the journey, and so people often travel in groups, carrying the kanwar for each other when needed. Water has to be taken from the Ganga and offered to in the month of Saavan, so the dates for the Kanwar Yatra this year are July 11 to (beginning of Saavan) to July 23 (Saavan Shivratri). Popular sites to collect the Ganga water are Sultanganj in Bihar, Prayagraj, Ayodhya or Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, and Haridwar, Gaumukh and Gangotri in Uttarakhand. The Shiva temples considered of special importance are the 12 Jyotirlingas, the Baidyanath Dham in Jharkhand's Deoghar, the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi, Pura Mahadev temple in Baghpat, and the Augharnath Temple in Meerut. 'Some temples are more popular than others, but it is not necessary for a devotee to go to one of these. Ganga water can be offered to Lord Shiva in the local town or village temple. Traditionally, the journey was undertaken on foot. Lord Shiva is an ascetic, so during the Kanwar Yatra, his devotees are supposed to practise the ascetic values of abstention and discipline while undertaking the journey,' Dr Ramesh Kumar Upadhyay, president of the Bhartiya Jyotish Aadhyatm Parishad in Jamshedpur, said. Upadhyay added that along with the Samudra Manthan legend, there is also an astrological reason to worship Shiva in the month of Shravan. 'Saavan, or Shravan, takes its name from the Shravana nakshatra (alignment of stars). Worshipping Lord Shiva in this nakshatra is considered specially auspicious,' he said. Mentions of the Kanwar Yatra as we know it are scant in religious texts and history books, though there are legends of various mythological figures offering Ganga water to Lord Shiva, from the sage Parshuram to Lord Rama to Lanka's king Ravana. Then there is the legend of Shravan Kumar in the Ramayana, who took his parents to pilgrimage in what we understand as a kanwar, but he is not recorded as carrying Ganga water to Shiva. Prof DP Dubey, retired professor of ancient history at the University of Allahabad and General Secretary of the Society of Pilgrimage Studies, said, 'In history books, descriptions of a kanwar yatra as such are difficult to find. Even the British, who were good at documenting, have not described a Kanwar Yatra. A Maharashtrian brahmin, Vishnubhat Godse, wrote a memoir of his travels in central and North India during and after the Revolt of 1857 (Maza Pravas, published much later in 1907). He talks of carrying Ganga water back to his village in Maharashtra to bathe his parents with, and this description, of walking barefoot carrying the Ganga water in a sling, is the closest to Kanwar Yatra as seen today. From my analysis of various local texts and accounts, the Kanwar Yatra appears to have originated in Bihar's Sultanganj in the 1700s. From there, it spread.' However, this spread was slow and steady, and the major uptick seems to have come in the 1980s. Various scholars have written about it, and factors, while difficult to pinpoint, include better connectivity and infrastructure, rise of Hindu identity assertion, popularity and increased accessibility of devotional music in the form of cassettes, and increasing average income in North India. Vikash Singh, Associate Professor of Sociology at New Jersey's Montclair State University, in his book Uprising of the Fools: Pilgrimage as Moral Protest in Contemporary India (2017) about the Kanwar Yatra, has written that many of the kanwariyas are young, not-very-affluent men. 'At the margins of the economy, the religious phenomenon provided an open and freely accessible, yet challenging, stage—a definite and alternative field—for participants to practice and prove their talents, resolve, and moral sincerity…The religious event is also a means to contest the symbolic violence and social inequities of a hierarchical society now dominated by a neoliberal social ethic, as imposing as it is exclusive.' Prof Dubey pointed out that as with most things in India, in the popularity of certain types of religious activities too, caste plays a role. 'An important thing to note about pilgrimages, be it to the Kumbh Mela or the Kanwar Yatra, is that they are a way to break the rigid boundaries of caste. Historically, pilgrims trailed the caravans of traders or even soldiers for security. Pilgrimages create bonds of community that are more inclusive than the generally air-tight pockets of caste. State support also plays a role. With the UP government now literally showering kanwariyas with flowers, the draw is naturally greater,' Dubey said. Yashee is an Assistant Editor with the where she is a member of the Explained team. She is a journalist with over 10 years of experience, starting her career with the Mumbai edition of Hindustan Times. She has also worked with India Today, where she wrote opinion and analysis pieces for DailyO. Her articles break down complex issues for readers with context and insight. Yashee has a Bachelor's Degree in English Literature from Presidency College, Kolkata, and a postgraduate diploma in journalism from Asian College of Journalism, Chennai, one of the premier media institutes in the countr ... Read More
Time of India
7 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
Nag Panchami 2025: When is Nag Panchami? Know Exact Date and All You Need to Know
One of the most well-known Hindu festivals is Nag Panchami. In India, people commemorate this day with great fervor. On this auspicious day, snakes are worshipped by people. According to Drik Panchang, on Panchami Tithi, the fifth day of Shukla Paksha in the month of Sawan, Nag Panchami is observed throughout India. It is going to be celebrated on July 29, 2025, this year. Nag Panchami 2025 : Date and Time Panchami Tithi Begins - July 28, 2025 - 11:24 PM Panchami Tithi Ends - July 30, 2025 - 12:46 AM Nag Panchami Puja Muhurat - July 29, 2025 - 05:41 AM to 08:23 AM In Gujrat, Nag Pancham festival will be celebrated on August 13, 2025. Nag Panchami 2025: Significance For Hindus, Nag Panchami is considered an auspicious festival. This day is dedicated to worship snakes. Because of their venomous nature, snakes are revered as deities and regarded as one of the most powerful animals. According to Hindu Hindu Scriptures, Nagas are considered as Gods of Patal Loka and this is a home to all the snakes. Additionally, it is believed that worshiping snakes on this day eliminates Kaal Sarpa Dosha and the fear of snakes. The Naga king Vasuki, who clings to Lord Shiva's neck. Many devotees worship the goddess Mansa, who is the sister of Vasuki and is regarded as the daughter of Lord Shiva. Nag Panchami 2025: Puja Rituals 1. Before beginning puja rites, devotees take a bath after waking up early. 2. Devotees use coal to create images of snakes on paper or walls. 3. They offer sweets, haldi, kumkum, and flowers. 4. In order to honor snakes, devotees present them with kheer and milk. 5. With the aid of a snake charmer, some people even give milk to actual snakes. 6. In addition to offering silver Nag Nagin Joda (a snake pair), one must perform Abhishekam to Shivlingam. Mantra 1. Om Sarpebhyo Namah..!! 2. Om Namah Shivaye..!! 3. Om Trayambhakam Yajamahe Sugandhim Pushti Vardhanam, Urvarukmiv Bandhanan Mrityor Mukshiya Mamritaat..!!
Time of India
10 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
Golden Shiva Kanwad weighing 1,000 Kg stuns devotees during Kanwar Yatra
In a breathtaking display of devotion, Kanwad Yatris from Gurugram are pulling an 800–1,000 kg golden Shiva Kanwad on wheels during this year's Kanwar Yatra. Crafted in Sonipat, the intricately designed Kanwad holds about 40 litres of sacred Gangajal. Covering nearly 250 kilometres, the devotees chant prayers and inspire onlookers along the route. Watch this shining symbol of faith and strength on the road to Lord Shiva's temple. Show more Show less
New Indian Express
18 hours ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Dog's Day Out: Bengaluru's Midday Meal Scheme
If the Lord works in mysterious ways, his representatives on earth – politicians – aren't very far off. Last week, an announcement for a midday meal scheme was made – not for humans, but for stray dogs of the Garden City of India. The news, like every other in the country, brought up a string of opinions from both sides – from jubilation to outrage. Thankfully, no dogs were invited to TV studios, but when has that ever stopped some humans from howling on camera? If X is a fire, I'm the soggy towel left in the rain. Some people hailed the decision as a landmark move for animal rights. Others bemoaned the lack of basic human rights before we move on to trickier frontiers like animal rights. Personally, I'm learning NOT to have opinions on every topic. That being said, I admit I have always gotten along fabulously with stray dogs. It all began when I was in Himachal Pradesh, a state where everything and everybody is beautiful. We were trekking up a hill, and a dog joined us silently. Like the final story in the Mahabharata, as the Pandavas walk up to heaven with a dog in tow, we climbed up the hill, and the dog was content to give us company. We had no snacks or biscuits to offer, only pats and love. That is when I understood that dogs aren't just man's best friend, they're also man's greatest acquaintances. Since then, I have been friends with the local strays in every city I have lived in or visited. It's the cheapest therapy available. You get to play with the local dogs, your brain releases oxytocin, and you get a friend whose stories you don't have to ignore on Instagram. People often ask me –Why stray dogs? I think it's because they're the last creatures who've stuck with us through our concrete-jungle madness. We cut down forests, drove out wildlife, filled the skies with smog, and these chaps just shrugged and said, 'Alright, we'll sit next to your dosae cart and bark at your SUVs.' You've got to respect that. They're survivors. Crows, too, by the way. They never get the same PR as dogs, but they're just as smart, social, and judgmental. If we ever build a society from scratch after the apocalypse, it'll be led by stray dogs and crows, while humans argue about which filter to use for their disaster selfies. That said, the stray dog issue in India is undeniably serious. Unchecked populations, poor vaccination, and occasional aggressive behaviour have turned them from companions to controversies. So when the stray dog feeding scheme was announced, I braced myself for chaos. But I must admit – I was impressed by the menu. Chicken and rice. Not biryani, mind you. We are not monsters. I imagine a group of strays sitting around like old uncles at a canteen, discussing politics over their midday meal. 'The quality of chicken is not so great, da. I told you to move to Indiranagar.'. Of course, critics will argue: Shouldn't we fix potholes, traffic, and garbage before feeding dogs gourmet lunches? To them, I say – have you ever tried fixing traffic in Bengaluru? Feeding dogs is the easier option. And arguably more effective. Every dog has its day. And in Bengaluru, that day now includes a hearty lunch. As for me, I will continue to vibe with the strays while not having an opinion. Unless they ever launch a breakfast scheme for cats. Then, we riot. (The writer's views are personal)
