Latest news with #MahakumbhMela
India.com
3 days ago
- Business
- India.com
Sanatan Path To Peace, Errol Musk Lauds Sanatan Dharmas Timeless Teachings
New Delhi: In a heartwarming display of cultural exchange, Errol Musk, father of Tesla CEO Elon Musk, has expressed his deep admiration for Sanatan Dharma, an ancient Indian philosophy. The 79-year-old businessman believes that following the principles of Lord Shiva could be the key to achieving world peace and well-being. Errol Musk's fascination with Indian heritage and spirituality is evident in his plans to visit the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, a sacred site for Hindus. This visit is a testament to his growing interest in the rich cultural legacy of India. "I think if the whole world followed Shiva, it would be all right," Musk said in an interview. "I'm not an expert, but I'm fascinated by it. It's so old, the religion is so ancient that it boggles my mind. It simply tells us how little we actually know." Errol Musk's remarks linking Sanatan Dharam with peace and well-being are sure to add to the growing global interest in Hinduism at a time when the Narendra Modi government is striving to invoke civilizational pride while leveraging the country's soft power. Musk senior's admiration for spirituality and Sanatan Dharam comes close to the Mahakumbh Mela, which served as a living showcase of India's civilizational legacy, attracting millions of visitors, including foreign dignitaries. In recent years, the Modi government has strived to use events like the Mahakumbh to nurture cross-cultural ties and demonstrate unity in diversity and to project India's spiritual and cultural vitality on the global stage. The South American businessman's adulation for Shiva and Hinduism is also an indication of how India has successfully used Sanatan Dharma for promoting its spiritual traditions, leveraging large-scale religious events, empowering its diaspora, and integrating cultural diplomacy into its foreign policy, thereby enhancing its global image and influence. In recent times, India's foreign policy has also increasingly integrated cultural and spiritual diplomacy, using its civilizational ethos as a tool to build goodwill, counter negative narratives, and position itself as a cultural superpower.
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Ixigo logs 128% rise in Q4 net profit; operating revenue up 72%
Le Travenues Technology , the parent company of online travel aggregator Ixigo, saw its net profit increase significantly by 128% year-on-year (YoY) to Rs 16.7 crore for the quarter ended March. The company reported operating revenue of Rs 284 crore for the quarter, up 72% from Rs 165 crore a year ago, on account of growth across all lines of business. The company's total expenses rose to Rs 263 crore in the March quarter from Rs 152 crore in the same period last year. A significant amount of the expenditure was attributed to employee benefits and other expenses. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Dubai villas | search ads Get Deals Undo With this, Ixigo's revenue for 2024-25 increased 39% to Rs 914 crore from Rs 656 crore in the previous fiscal. Its net profit went down 18% to Rs 60 crore from Rs 73 crore. 'In the flights and buses business, we are seeing material acceleration and some gains in market share as well. Buses, in fact, now have the largest share of contribution margin across our lines of business, so we are a much more diversified business in that sense,' said Aloke Bajpai, cofounder and chief executive, during a post-earnings analysts call on Wednesday. Live Events Revenue from train reservations stood at Rs 126 crore, up from Rs 94 crore a year ago. Revenue from airlines and buses stood at Rs 87 crore and Rs 66 crore, respectively. Discover the stories of your interest Blockchain 5 Stories Cyber-safety 7 Stories Fintech 9 Stories E-comm 9 Stories ML 8 Stories Edtech 6 Stories Founded in 2007 by Bajpai and Rajnish Kumar, Ixigo allows users to book train, flight, and bus tickets while offering various utility tools and services such as train PNR status and confirmation predictions and updates for train seat availability. It also provides personalised recommendations and automated customer support. According to the company, it has 544 million annual active users with 83 million monthly active users. According to Bajpai, macro developments also contributed to the company's growth. 'The Mahakumbh Mela in January and February 2025 saw a surge in searches and bookings for us across our three lines of businesses and not just for Prayagraj but also for nearby towns such as Varanasi , Lucknow, Kanpur, Ayodhya,' he said. Earlier, ET had reported that spiritual and devotional platforms along with travel and hospitality firms saw significant growth during the Mahakumbh festival. 'Our FY25 performance has proved that the market is evolving exactly how we expected it to, with flights and buses becoming our fastest-growing verticals, both in GTV (gross transaction value) terms and revenue terms,' Bajpai added. Commenting on the recent escalation in India-Pakistan tensions, Bajpai noted that the Pahalgam terror attacks occurred during a period when Jammu and Kashmir was experiencing a 70% YoY surge in bookings on the platform for April. Ixigo had suspended all bookings—both flights and accommodations—to Turkey, China, and Azerbaijan amid concerns over the perceived diplomatic leanings of Turkey and Azerbaijan towards Pakistan during the conflict. 'We remain dedicated to reviewing this position as the situation evolves. Should geopolitical equations change, we'll reassess the stance and we'll do what is right for the broader travel ecosystem,' he added. Ixigo was listed on the exchanges on June 18 last year at Rs 138, a premium of 48.5% over its issue price of Rs 93. It closed on Wednesday up 0.24% at Rs 165.90 on the BSE . The results were declared post-market hours.
News18
04-05-2025
- Business
- News18
Anant Ambani, Wife Radhika Merchant Offer Prayers At Haridwar's Har Ki Pauri
Last Updated: Anant Amban and his wife, Radhika Merchant, performed the Ganga pujan with purohits of the Ganga Sabha Anant Ambani, who recently became a whole-time director of Reliance Industries Limited, visited Haridwar's Har Ki Pauri with his wife, Radhika Merchant, on Sunday. Ambani performed the Ganga pujan with purohits of the Ganga Sabha. Har ki Pauri is a pilgrimage site in Uttarakhand. Har ki Pauri or Brahmakund is the main ghat of Haridwar. It is believed that this is the place from where Ganga river leaves the mountains and takes the direction of the plains. Last month, Ambani completed his 170-kilometre padyatra from Jamnagar to Shree Dwarkadhish Temple to mark his 30th birthday. Ambani started the padyatra to the temple on March 29. 'It's my religious yatra. I begin this yatra with the name of God, and I am completing it with his name. I thank Bhagawan Dwarkadhish. I also thank the people for joining me on this yatra," he told ANI. The younger son of Mukesh Ambani is a devoted pilgrim and philanthropist who often visits India's revered temples and generously supports their causes. His contributions have helped restore and maintain iconic temples such as the Kalighat Temple in Kolkata, the Shrinathji Temple in Nathdwara, and the Kamakhya Temple in Assam. In February, Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, along with his family, attended the Mahakumbh Mela and took a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam. He was accompanied by his mother, Kokilaben Ambani, and other family members, including his sons Akash and Anant, daughters-in-law Shloka and Radhika, grandchildren Prithvi and Veda, and sisters Dipti Salgaocar and Nina Kothari. During the Maha Kumbh, Anant Ambani also extended his support to several Akharas. Additionally, he serves as a trustee at the sacred Badrinath and Kedarnath Dham, further solidifying his commitment to India's spiritual heritage. Reliance had launched Teerth Yatri Seva for the Maha Kumbh, which began on January 13 and ends on February 26, taking forward its 'We Care' philosophy. As part of the Seva, Reliance provided the pilgrims with a wide spectrum of services – from nourishing meals and essential healthcare to safe transportation and seamless connectivity. 'It is said that when we serve Teerth Yatris, we too are blessed. Our services to the pilgrims who are on a spiritual journey, in a once-in-a-millennium event, aim to meet the needs of the most vulnerable among them," Anant Ambani, Director, Reliance Industries Limited, had said, announcing the launch. The Ambani family, which attended the Ram Lalla pran pratishtha at Ayodhya, also made a donation of Rs 2.51 crore to the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. Anant Ambani also serves on the boards of several Reliance group companies, including Jio Platforms since March 2020, Reliance Retail Ventures since May 2022, and Reliance New Energy and Reliance New Solar Energy since June 2021. He has also been a board member of Reliance Foundation since September 2022. Ambani, who has a Bachelor's degree from Brown University in the US, is also very passionate about animal welfare and has spearheaded several initiatives, including Jamnagar's Vantara, focused on rehabilitating at-risk animals. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : anant ambani Radhika Merchant Reliance foundation Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: May 04, 2025, 17:15 IST News india Anant Ambani, Wife Radhika Merchant Offer Prayers At Haridwar's Har Ki Pauri
New Indian Express
29-04-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Coca-Cola reports double-digit volume growth in Q1 in India, helped by Thums UP
NEW DELHI: Soft drinks major The Coca-Cola Company witnessed "double-digit volume growth" in the Indian market in the March quarter, helped by home-grown brand Thums Up and Coca-Cola. Moreover, markets, including India, China, and Brazil, also helped the Coca-Cola company to log 2 percent unit case volume globally in the March quarter, according to the latest earnings statement from the Atlanta-headquartered beverages major. "In India, trademark Coca-Cola and Thums Up, a cherished regional brand, are fuelling consumers and contributing to double-digit volume growth for the market in the first quarter," it said. The global earnings statement also drew attention to the Mahakumbh Mela held in Prayagraj, where the beverage major had a historic integrated activation of its brands, like never before. During the investors' call, James Quincey, Chairman and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company, called out India as a market that has demonstrated a strong volume growth of global and local brands. "In India, we have strong volume growth of global and local brands," he said. Quincey further added, "Our system added nearly 350,000 outlets and increased household penetration. Also our system increased cooler basement and added approximately 100,000 customers to its digital customer platforms." However, the Indian market had a decline in the NARTD beverages (non-alcoholic ready-to-drink), which includes fruit juices, energy drinks, sports beverages, and dairy alternatives. "Value share in total NARTD beverages for the company was even as gains in the Philippines and Japan were offset by declines in Indonesia and India," it said. India is the fifth largest market for The Coca-Cola Company Unit case volume means the number of unit cases of company beverages directly or indirectly sold by the company and its bottling partners to customers. In the Asia Pacific market, in which India is included, unit case volume grew 6 per cent, driven by growth across all global beverage categories. However, Coca-Cola's net operating revenue in the Asia Pacific zone was down 4.05 per cent to USD 1.42 billion for the quarter ended on March 28, 2025. "Operating income declined 5 per cent, which included items impacting comparability and an 11-point currency headwind. Comparable currency-neutral operating income (non-GAAP) grew 7 per cent, primarily driven by organic revenue (non-GAAP) growth and the timing of marketing investments," it said. The Atlanta-headquartered company reported a decline of 1.5 per cent growth in its consolidated net operating revenue to USD 11.13 billion. Commenting on the results, Chairman and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company James Quincey said, "Despite some pressure in key developed markets, the power of our global footprint allowed us to successfully navigate a complex external environment. By remaining true to our purpose and staying close to the consumer, we are confident in our ability to create enduring long-term value." The Coca-Cola company in its earning statement made a special mention of Mahakumbha mela in India, which took place in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, held from January 13 to February 26, 2025. "The Maha Kumbh Mela festival in India occurs every 144 years and is considered the world's largest in-person gathering with an estimated 660 million attendees in 2025. For the first time in the company's history, the system intensified an integrated activation consisting of hundreds of refreshment zones, approximately 1,400 mobile stations and a world-record-long 100 cooler-door wall, leading to over 180 million servings consumed during the gathering," said Coca-Cola. This is as per strategy capturing compelling geographic opportunities with a local approach "to capitalise on the vast opportunities in developing and emerging markets, where approximately 80 per cent of the world's population resides".
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Business Standard
29-04-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Coca-Cola reports double-digit volume growth in India, helped by Thums Up
Soft drinks major The Coca-Cola Company witnessed "double-digit volume growth" in the Indian market in the March quarter, helped by home-grown brand Thums Up and Coca-Cola. Moreover, markets, including India, China, and Brazil, also helped the Coca-Cola company to log 2 per cent unit case volume globally in the March quarter, according to the latest earnings statement from the Atlanta-headquartered beverages major. "In India, trademark Coca-Cola and Thums Up, a cherished regional brand, are fuelling consumers and contributing to double-digit volume growth for the market in the first quarter," it said. The global earnings statement also drew attention to the Mahakumbh Mela held in Prayagraj, where the beverage major had a historic integrated activation of its brands, like never before. During the investors' call, James Quincey, Chairman and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company, called out India as a market that has demonstrated a strong volume growth of global and local brands. "In India, we have strong volume growth of global and local brands," he said. Quincey further added, "Our system added nearly 350,000 outlets and increased household penetration. Also our system increased cooler basement and added approximately 100,000 customers to its digital customer platforms." However, the Indian market had a decline in the NARTD beverages (non-alcoholic ready-to-drink), which includes fruit juices, energy drinks, sports beverages, and dairy alternatives. "Value share in total NARTD beverages for the company was even as gains in the Philippines and Japan were offset by declines in Indonesia and India," it said. India is the fifth largest market for The Coca-Cola Company. Unit case volume means the number of unit cases of company beverages directly or indirectly sold by the company and its bottling partners to customers. In the Asia Pacific market, in which India is included, unit case volume grew 6 per cent, driven by growth across all global beverage categories. However, Coca-Cola's net operating revenue in the Asia Pacific zone was down 4.05 per cent to USD 1.42 billion for the quarter ended on March 28, 2025. "Operating income declined 5 per cent, which included items impacting comparability and an 11-point currency headwind. Comparable currency-neutral operating income (non-GAAP) grew 7 per cent, primarily driven by organic revenue (non-GAAP) growth and the timing of marketing investments," it said. The Atlanta-headquartered company reported a decline of 1.5 per cent growth in its consolidated net operating revenue to USD 11.13 billion. Commenting on the results, Chairman and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company James Quincey said, "Despite some pressure in key developed markets, the power of our global footprint allowed us to successfully navigate a complex external environment. By remaining true to our purpose and staying close to the consumer, we are confident in our ability to create enduring long-term value." The Coca-Cola company in its earning statement made a special mention of Mahakumbha mela in India, which took place in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, held from January 13 to February 26, 2025. "The Maha Kumbh Mela festival in India occurs every 144 years and is considered the world's largest in-person gathering with an estimated 660 million attendees in 2025. For the first time in the company's history, the system intensified an integrated activation consisting of hundreds of refreshment zones, approximately 1,400 mobile stations and a world-record-long 100 cooler-door wall, leading to over 180 million servings consumed during the gathering," said Coca-Cola. This is as per strategy capturing compelling geographic opportunities with a local approach "to capitalise on the vast opportunities in developing and emerging markets, where approximately 80 per cent of the world's population resides".
