Latest news with #Sarojini
The Hindu
14 hours ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Cervical vaccination camp organised in Visakhapatnam
Retired medical officer Sarojini has said that administering of Cervavac vaccine to girls between the age of nine and 14 years is the remedy to prevent cervical cancer. She launched a camp held to administer second dose of the vaccine to the girl children of journalists in the city on Monday. The camp was organised jointly by the Chaitanya Sravanthi voluntary organisation and the A.P. Working Journalists Federation. She said there will not be any side effects after vaccination and it is the only way to prevent cervical cancer.
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Festive fervour grips Jama Masjid's Bakra Mandi ahead of Eid-al-Adha
NEW DELHI: With Eid-al-Adha just around the corner, the narrow lanes around Delhi's Jama Masjid are bursting with energy, excitement, and extravagance. At the heart of it all is the famous Bakra Mandi, where goats named after Bollywood superstars like Salman Khan and Shahrukh Khan are commanding prices ranging from Rs 8,000 to a staggering Rs 15 lakh. These prized animals, raised with care and devotion over years, are more than just livestock — they are symbols of pride, patience, and faith. 'It takes three years for goats to grow up... It feels really good. Here, we raise animals and watch them grow. May the Almighty bless humans with the same reward too,' says an assistant at Zaif Quereshi. This year, sellers are celebrating record profits, with earnings soaring to Rs 15 lakh — nearly four times higher than last year's Rs 4 lakh mark — making this one of the most lucrative seasons in recent memory. Bargaining is as normal here as in the Sarojini market, just with bigger numbers. 'One customer tried to bring a Rs 95,000 goat down to Rs 70,000,' said another seller, Asif. 'They ask what we fed it, where it came from, and then quote their own price — but not all deals close.' For many, negotiating is as much a tradition as the sacrifice itself. This time, 'Gangapari' — white in color and in excellent health — is in the spotlight and high in demand. Breeds varying from Totapuri, Jamnagar Bam Doli, Barbari, Malabar, Mewati, etc., are available in the market, brought in from Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and farther regions. 'At our farm, we feed them grains, cashews, chana, and more. We raise them with care and love. My favourite is Sultan Pahalwan. We have Salman, Shahrukh, Rahamuddin, and many more,' said Jaif, a 13-year-old caretaker. Members of the Muslim community have begun arriving at livestock mandis to purchase goats for Qurbani, the sacred ritual of sacrifice that forms the heart of the festival. In India, Eid-al-Adha will be observed on June 7 this year. The festival is often referred to as the Festival of Sacrifice.
The Hindu
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Actor Khushbu Sundar returns to small screen with Sarojini
Actor-politician Khushbu Sundar has made a comeback to the Tamil small screen after some years. This time doing the lead role in Sarojini, which airs on DD Tamil at 9.05 p.m. daily. Ms. Khushbu, an active politician of the Bharatiya Janata Party, was last seen in the Tamil serial Meera that was broadcast on Colors TV in 2022. She had debuted as the writer of the serial then. Though actively engaged in silver screen, she had taken a brief hiatus from daily soaps. Her return to television through Sarojini is garnering attention from fans and critics, particularly when the channel is celebrating its golden jubilee year. A glimpse into the plot She recently took to social media to share her new venture and gave a glimpse into the plot. In her post, Ms. Khushbu noted that it was 'a story of every woman who defies the rulebook made to suppress her growth'. The promos too highlight a compelling narrative centred around a resilient woman who deals with personal and societal battles. Television is not a new forte for Ms. Khushbu, who has hosted memorable game shows like Jackpot, been part of the jury in reality shows in various languages, and played pivotal characters in daily serials. Actor Niyaz, who has paired with Ms. Khushbu for the serial, describes sharing the screen space with her as special. Television buffs who miss night episodes may catch up with the repeat telecast the next morning, at 11.30 a.m. Fresh flavours Cook with Comali Season 6, the much-loved reality show that combined cooking and humour, is back to enthral audiences on Vijay TV, with fresh contestants and a new judge. Chef Koushik Shankar, popularly known as 'Mad Chef', who was previously part of the jury in the Master Chef India-Tamil Seasons 1 and 2 that premiered in Sun TV, has joined the show. His arrival has raised expectations of fans with promises of sharp critiques, creative gourmet flair, and elevated culinary standards. He has joined the jury that includes Padma Shri awardee Chef Damu and Madhampatty Rangaraj. The show, which is being telecast from May 4, would have celebrity cooks paired with comedians to add a layer of humour to the culinary competition. Besides seasoned television comedians such as Pugazh, Ramar, Sharath, and Sunitha, this season has new 'comalis', including 'Big Boss' fame Soundarya. The fresh batch of celebrity cooks who are ready to stir up the kitchen include actors Lakshmy Ramakrishnan, Priya Raman, Madhumitha, Raju Mohan, and television actor Shabana Shajahan. With its tag line, 'New school, new rules', the new season promises to bring a platter filled with a perfect blend of comedy and culinary magic.
Indian Express
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Is Gen Z dressing for themselves or the algorithm?
Step into Delhi Metro on a weekend and you'll see it all: a corset top thrifted from an Instagram store, big, gold jhumkas with cargo pants and a chikankari kurta, and a friend group headed to Sarojini Nagar market, armed in oversized sunnies and baseball caps (think K-pop idol incognito). This chaos and charisma is Gen Z style in India – bold, borrowed, and in search of belonging. Raised on Instagram reels, Zara hauls, and Pinterest boards, Gen Z's wardrobe is shaped as much by dopamine from likes as by mom's old saris repurposed into crop tops. But somewhere between trend cycles that move faster than Delhi 's AQI during Diwali and the ever-homogenising scroll of social media, a deeper question surfaces — is what we wear truly ours? What once took years to become mainstream now takes a moment — a single viral reel, a trending hashtag, or a celebrity airport look. (Source: Freepik) As leading stylist Rishi Raj puts it: 'Personal style today starts where the trend ends.' But finding that point in a world built on algorithms is easier said than done. What once took years to become mainstream now takes a moment – a viral reel, a trending hashtag, or a celebrity look. A loop of likes, reels, and recommendations Bhavya Aggarwal, 26, recalled how her style was once shaped by fast fashion. 'When I was in Gurgaon and too lazy to come to Sarojini, I'd buy from H&M or Zara because I could afford only those brands. Seeing the same things again and again, I started liking them,' she said. Her reflection isn't unique. Many Gen Zs find their choices guided by what's visible, affordable, and trending. 'Pinterest pe woh cheezein dikhti hain jo easily milti nahi ya budget mein nahi hoti,' (On Pinterest, you see what is either not easily available or out of budget), she said. On Instagram, it's a different game. 'Everyone's an influencer getting paid PRs from luxury brands. What's trending becomes the template,' she said. She is not wrong. A study by Sprout Social found nearly 90% of Gen Z consumers consider a brand's social media crucial to their trust. This constant exposure often leads to a sameness in style — oversized shirts, parachute pants, slicked buns, and bows — an assembly line of 'individual' looks. However, Raj pointed out this isn't unique to Gen Z. 'Every generation had defining silhouettes — bell-bottoms in the 70s, acid-wash denim in the 90s. What's different now is the speed.' Algorithms aren't just predicting trends, they're directing them. Are we all just templates in trendy clothes? Aditi Giri, 26, captures the contradiction: 'Gen Z wants to stand out. Style, makeup, even hair; it's all performance, expression, rebellion, but most end up looking like wannabes.' The desire to be unique is real, but the execution often follows the same script. Scrolling through reels, she sees a sameness that contradicts the hunger for individuality. 'Even when a style doesn't suit them, people still wear it. They just want acceptance,' Giri said. It's a modern kind of peer pressure, driven less by people you know and more by people you follow. Mohit Nakra, assistant professor of fashion styling at Pearl Academy, believes Gen Z is navigating identity in a world that rewards familiarity. 'It's not that Gen Z lacks personal style; it's that algorithms reward the familiar.' Viral aesthetics like 'clean girl' or 'electric grandpa' go from niche to mainstream in weeks. A post shared by Kritika Khurana (@thatbohogirl) Meanwhile, fashion's supply chain is so reactive it's almost predictive. 'What starts as a creative idea becomes mass knockoffs,' Nakra said. This replication dilutes originality, making even 'alternative' styles feel mass-produced. So, what is personal style then? Kabir Jain, 23, said, 'I don't think any of us have a personal style we've created completely. Personal style today is less invention, more interpretation.' Raj described it poetically: 'Personal style is a lived-in narrative… it's what you return to even when trends change. It's about asking if all brands disappeared tomorrow, would you still know how to dress like yourself?' For many, personal style has become a tightrope between expressing one's selfhood and conforming to an already established look. When everyone is styled to stand out, who is really standing true? How to opt out of the algorithm The experts are unanimous: slow down. 'You look local. You value story over scrollability,' Raj said. It might mean reworking your dad's kurta, rummaging through your grandmother's trunk, or discovering a little-known Indian label that isn't algorithm-approved. 'Personal style starts where the trend ends.' Nakra agrees: 'Look beyond the obvious. Remix something regional with something modern. Wear your story.' You can start by asking- what are the styles or pieces you keep reaching for? Are there colours, cuts, or textures that reflect your energy? Maybe you are into 90s minimalism or maybe you love the chaotic layering of Indian streetwear. Document your outfits. Save references. Comfort is always a good look. Consider why you buy what you buy and find meaning, stories and anecdotes in every piece of clothing. Look at designers or stylists like Raf Simson's, Shantanu and Nikhil, even pop culture icons like Zendaya, Diljit Dosanjh, whose styling evolves but always feels personal, Nakra said. Fashion isn't just about what we wear — it's about why we wear it (Source: Instagram) Style isn't just for the now — it can be legacy too. The idea of a generational wardrobe, both Nakra and Raj believe, involves patience, memory, and emotional durability. It's the opposite of fast fashion. It's the leather jacket you wore through your twenties, a kanjeevaram sari that's been in your family for decades, the white shirt you keep repairing because nothing else fits quite like it. Fashion isn't just about what we wear, it's about why we wear it. Gen Z, like every generation before us, is just trying to make sense of who we are in a world that keeps telling us what to be. And maybe that's what makes our journey with style all the more real. To truly dress like yourself in a world that's telling you who to be every millisecond — now that is style.
Express Tribune
29-01-2025
- Express Tribune
Stampede at Maha Kumbh Mela in India claims 30 lives
Listen to article At least 30 people were killed and many more injured in a tragic stampede during the Maha Kumbh Mela in northern India on Wednesday, the world's largest religious gathering. Police reported that 60 others were rushed to hospitals following the incident in Prayagraj city, which occurred as millions of Hindu pilgrims gathered to take part in a sacred ritual bath at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati rivers. Wednesday was an important day in the six-week Hindu festival, with authorities expecting up to 100 million devotees to participate in the ritual as Hindus believe that a dip in the holy waters can cleanse them of past sins and help end the cycle of reincarnation. The stampede took place when pilgrims, eager to participate, tried to jump over barricades put up for a procession of holy men, causing a surge in the crowd, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said. The main attraction of the festival is the procession of thousands of ash-smeared Hindu ascetics, which draws large crowds. Photo: AFP Prime Minister Narendra Modi, acknowledging the loss of lives, expressed his condolences and called the incident "extremely sad." However, authorities delayed releasing casualty figures for over 16 hours. Survivor testimonies, including one from a pilgrim named Sarojini, described how the crowd suddenly turned chaotic. 'Suddenly there was pushing in the crowd, and we got trapped. A lot of us fell down and the crowd went uncontrolled,' Sarojini said. 'There was no chance for escape, there was pushing from all sides.' As authorities worked to control the situation, distressed families lined up outside a makeshift hospital, desperately seeking news of their missing loved ones where clothes, backpacks, and blankets were scattered around the stampede site. Despite the tragedy, millions continued to crowd the 4,000-hectare pilgrimage site, even as police urged them over megaphones to avoid the confluence. Uttar Pradesh's top official Adityanath urged pilgrims to bathe at other riverbanks instead. At 8 am on Wednesday, 30 million pilgrims had already completed the holy bath. Adityanath confirmed that the situation was under control, but warned that the crowd was still massive, with an estimated 90 million to 100 million people at the site. The Maha Kumbh festival, which began on January 13 and is held every 12 years, is expected to see more than 400 million people attend in total. Devotees stopped by policemen at a barricade following the crowd crush. Photo: Reuters Nearly 150 million have already participated, including prominent politicians like Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah, as well as international celebrities like Coldplay's Chris Martin. In response to the large crowds, a sprawling tent city has been set up along the riverbanks to accommodate the millions of visitors, with roads, electricity, water, 3,000 kitchens, and 11 hospitals. Authorities have also stationed 50,000 security personnel at the site and installed more than 2,500 cameras to monitor crowd movement. However, opposition leaders criticized both the federal and state government, both led by Modi's Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, for what they called "mismanagement" and "VIP culture." Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi took to social media, urging the government to improve arrangements for common pilgrims. The 45-day Maha Kumbh festival is a significant cultural and religious event for India's Hindus, who make up nearly 80% of the country's population. Hours after the crowd crush, devotees gather at the banks of the Sangam. Photo: AFP It also serves as a prestige event for Modi's government, which has promoted Hindu cultural symbols. Unfortunately, this is not the first time the festival has witnessed such a tragedy as in 2013, at least 40 pilgrims were killed in a stampede at a train station during the same event. Deadly stampedes are a recurring issue at religious gatherings in India, where large crowds often converge in small, confined spaces. In July, a similar incident occurred in Hathras town, where 116 people, mostly women and children, lost their lives in a stampede at a religious gathering.
