Latest news with #Mela
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Nashik civic body to acquire 250 acres more for Sadhugram; readies compensation model
Nashik: The Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) has decided to acquire additional 250 acres at Sadhugram in Tapovan area of the city for the upcoming Simhastha Kumbh Mela — slated to be held between 2026 and 2028. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now With 100 acres of the current 350-acre no-development zone at Sadhugram already under NMC's possession, the remaining land is typically leased from landowners for the duration of the Mela. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has also affirmed the acquisition of this land for Sadhugram. This move is significant given the projected increase in visitors. Around 2.5 lakh sadhus attended the 2015 Kumbh Mela in Nashik, but an estimated 10 lakh sadhus are expected in 2027. Initially, the NMC had envisioned developing Sadhugram on 500 acres. However, to accommodate the anticipated surge in sadhus, the plan was expanded to 1,000 acres in Tapovan — a substantial increase from the 350 acres used for the 2015 Kumbh Mela. Civic chief Manisha Khatri, while talking to TOI, said the municipal corporation plans to acquire additional 250 acres at Tapovan before the Kumbh Mela begins. "We have plans to develop Sadhugram on around 1,000 acres. The remaining land will be taken on lease for the Kumbh Mela period. We are also preparing the proposal seeking funds from the state govt for acquisition of the 250 acres," she said. An NMC official said they have prepared the compensation model for the acquisition of the land at Tapovan in the city. "As per the formula, 50% compensation will be given in cash and 50% as Transfer of Development Rights (TDR)," the official said.
NDTV
3 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Hundreds Of Kashmiri Pandits Gather At Annual J&K Mela Under Tight Security
Srinagar: Hundreds of Kashmiri Pandits have gathered at Tulmulla in Jammu and Kashmir's Ganderbal district to participate in the annual Kheer Bhawani Mela, an age-old festival symbolising Kashmir's rich cultural and spiritual heritage. Despite a weather advisory and security concerns after the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, faith has brought the Kashmiri pandits back to their roots for the annual reunion that follows over three decades of separation and displacement. After the outbreak of terrorist attacks in 1990, thousands of Pandit families had migrated from the Valley to Jammu and other parts of the country. Official records show over 64,000 Kashmiri Pandit families are living outside Kashmir Valley - among them 43,000 in migrant camps in Jammu and over 19,000 in Delhi.' Dedicated to Goddess Ragnya Devi, the Kheer Bhawani Mela is one of the largest Hindu gatherings in the Valley, second only to the Amarnath Yatra. For many years, local Muslims looked after her temple located in the middle of a spring, where devotees offer milk and rice pudding. Kashmiri Pandits believe that the water at the spring shrine changes colour and it can foretell the future. If the colour of the water changes back, it's considered a bad omen. "The Mela is a symbol of communal harmony. All arrangements here have been made by local Muslims. Despite efforts to sow discord between the two communities, no one could break this centuries-old bond," said a Kashmiri Pandit leading prayers at the spring shrine. Elaborate security arrangements have been made for the Mela. Hundreds of Jammu and Kashmir police and CRPF personnel have been deployed in and around the temple. All roads leading to Kheer Bhawani have been sanitised to ensure a hassle-free moment for the devotees. Lt Governor Manoj Sinha visited the shrine today and offered prayers. Recently, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had also visited Tulmulla and reviewed preparations for the Mela.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Nashik Simhastha Kumbh Mela to go on for over 21 months
MUMBAI: The Simhastha Kumbh Mela in Nashik and Trimbakeshwar will go on for over 21 months between October 2026 and July 2028, as per the schedule announced after a review meeting chaired by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis in Nashik on Sunday. The government has floated bids for infrastructure works of over ₹4,000 crore while more works of ₹2,000 crore are in the pipeline for the once-in-12-years religious festival to be held in Nashik. The Mela will begin on October 21, 2026 with the Dhwajarohan or flag hoisting at Trimbakeshwar as well as Ramkund and Panchvati in Nashik. The Nagar Pradakshina will be held at Nashik on July 29, 2027, while the first Amrut Snaan will be held on August 2, 2027. The second Amrut Snaan will be held on August 31, 2027, while the third and last one will be held on September 11, 2027 in Nashik and September 12, 2027 in Trimbakeshwar. The announcement of the dates was done after the meeting chaired by the CM and attended by key government officials, key seers and mahants of 13 akharas. 'We have discussed the steps to be taken for the preparation of the grand event and apprised the representatives of akharas, sadhus and sants and Purohit Sanghs,' said Fadnavis. 'Bids worth ₹4,000 crore for infrastructure facilities have already floated, while more bids worth ₹2,000 are in the last leg of the process. The works include cleaning the Godavari, setting up sewage treatment plants, water purification and release of more water among others. We have earmarked land for the Sadhugram and it will soon be acquired.' The CM said that since the mela was happening for a prolonged period, crowd management would be easier for the administration. 'Kushavart in Trimbakeshwar has a narrow space so we have chalked out alternative plans to avoid a stampede-like situation,' he said. According to officials from the Nashik collectorate, the area availability was a constraint, as the Kumbh in Nashik and Trimbakeshwar are held in the heart of the city unlike Prayagraj, Ujjain or Haridwar. 'Against an area of over 10,000 acres available in Prayagraj, our Sadhugram is on just 350 acres while the Ramkund where the Amrut Snaan happens is just a few hundred metres,' said an official. 'Kushawart Kund (the sacred pond considered the symbolic origin of Godavari river near the Trimbakeshwar temple) is 75x75 ft and needs an alternative. The representatives of the Akharas have agreed to prepare an alternative ghat of over 1.5 km on the banks of the Godavari in Trimbakeshwar to avoid any untoward incident at Kushawart. The congested area in which the Kumbh is held is a major challenge for the administration.' Even as preparations for the Sinhastha are in full swing, the Mahayuti government has not yet announced the name of the Nashik guardian minister, given the tussle among the three ruling parties for the post. Fadnavis said that the issue should not be politicised. 'We have appointed water resources minister (BJP leader) Girish Mahajan as Kumbh minister, an authority has been announced to oversee the preparations and appointments to it will soon be finalised,' he said. 'There are other ministers like Dada Bhuse (Shiv Sena) and Chhagan Bhujbal (NCP) to work with the Kumbh minister. The Mela is a cultural and religious event and should not be linked with political appointments.' The government, on the suggestion of Mahant Rajendradas Maharaj, admitted to renaming Shahi Snaan as Amrut Snaan, the way it was done during the recently concluded Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh. 'We will ensure that the Simhastha Kumbh Mela is held in a well-planned manner and be memorable,' said Fadnavis.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'Film was trolled due to nepotism': Aamir Khan defends son Junaid Khan's Loveyapa debacle
Bollywood's renowned actor and filmmaker Aamir Khan recently spoke candidly about the box office performance of his son Junaid Khan's debut romantic comedy, 'Loveyapa', which co-starred Khushi Kapoor. In a revealing interview with Raj Shamani, Khan not only defended his son's work but also shared his strong views on the ongoing nepotism debate in Bollywood. A father's support and praise for Junaid's performance During the conversation, Aamir expressed that his children's lives and futures hold more importance to him than his own. Discussing Loveyapa, he admitted, "Loveyapa aayi, nahin chali. Mujhe to film achi lagi thi (Loveyapa didn't work, but I liked it)." He further praised his son's performance, noting that Junaid did a commendable job. The Mr. Perfectionist of Bollywood, particularly highlighted what he called the "amazing quality" of his son's ability to embody a character distinctly different from his real-life persona. Blaming "nepotism" for Loveyapa's poor reception When asked about the reasons behind Loveyapa's struggle at the box office, Aamir argued that the film faced a significant "negative backlash." He explicitly pointed to the nepotism debate as a major factor. "Vo troll bahut hui film... nepotism mein bahut chali gayi ki yaar nepotism, ye nepokids hain... jabki Junaid aur main aise hain hi nahin (The film was widely trolled. It got into a nepotism debate that they're nepo-kids while me and Junaid are not like that)," he stated. Khan elaborated on his stance by citing his sister, Nikhat Khan, as an example, emphasizing that she began acting at the age of 50 and consistently secured roles based on screen tests, without his intervention. He stressed that providing work to close relatives is something he simply "can't do" if it compromises the film's integrity. "Up till now, I have not interfered in Junaid's career, nor do I want to," the 60-year-old actor affirmed. On nepotism and limits of support The superstar also reflected on his earlier attempts to support his brother, Faisal Khan, in his career. He recalled working with Faisal in Mela after his brother's debut film flopped. Despite his immense efforts, Khan admitted that he ultimately realized he couldn't genuinely help someone succeed in the film industry unless they possessed the innate talent and destiny for it. He concluded on a poignant note, acknowledging the limits of his influence: "Main upar wale se prarthna kar sakta hoon ki mera success usko (Junaid) de do iske aage main kuch nahin kar sakta hoon (I can only pray to God to give all my success to Junaid and nothing more than that)." This statement underscores his belief that true success in cinema is beyond mere connections and ultimately rests on individual merit and fate. Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
Hans India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
J&K Chief Secy, DGP review security for Mata Kheer Bhawani festival in Ganderbal
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo and Director General of Police (DGP), Nalin Prabhat on Sunday reviewed the security ahead of the annual Mata Kheer Bhawani festival in Tullamulla town of Ganderbal district. Officials said that in preparation for the upcoming Mata Kheer Bhawani Mela at Tullamulla town of Ganderbal, DGP, Nalin Prabhat visited the deity's temple on Sunday to assess the security arrangements. The annual festival starts on June 3. Accompanied by the DIG (Central Kashmir), SSP Ganderbal, and SSP Traffic Rural, the DGP reviewed the on-ground situation to ensure a peaceful and incident-free pilgrimage. Later in the day, Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo also arrived at the temple to inspect the preparations. Speaking to media persons, the chief secretary said: "All the arrangements have been put in place. Adequate security measures have also been ensured for the safe and peaceful commencement of the Mata Kheer Bhawani Mela." Both the DGP and the Chief Secretary offered prayers at the temple, highlighting the cultural and spiritual significance of the event. Officials reiterated their commitment to providing a smooth and secure experience for all devotees attending the annual pilgrimage. The Mela, one of the most important religious gatherings for the Kashmiri Pandit community, attracts devotees from across the country. Dedicated to Mata Ragnya, believed to be the reincarnation of goddess Durga, the temple shrine has a sacred spring. Devotees believe that the colour of the spring water on the annual festival foretells the coming events of the year. Elders in Tullamulla town say that in 1947, when the tribal raiders invaded Kashmir, the colour of the spring water was dark black. Pink or milky colour are believed to be auspicious. Legend has it that, annoyed by the licentious deeds of Ravana, Mata Ragnya directed Hanuman to relocate her deity to Tullamulla town from Sri Lanka. Muslims of Tullamulla town serve milk in earthen pots to the Kashmiri Pandit devotees on their arrival at the temple shrine.
