Latest news with #ShaktiPeethas
Hans India
2 days ago
- General
- Hans India
Jogulamba Shakti Peetha: A Heritage Site in Desperate Need of Attention
Gadwal: The Jogulamba Temple—recognized as the fifth among the revered 18 Shakti Peethas in the country—continues to draw devotees in large numbers. However, despite significant donations pouring in regularly, the temple suffers from inadequate facilities and underdeveloped infrastructure, raising serious concerns among visitors and locals alike. Located in the newly-formed Jogulamba Gadwal district, the temple gained prominence following the reorganization of districts in Telangana. The presiding deity, Goddess Jogulamba, is enshrined in a vast and spiritually significant location that holds immense potential for tourism development. Yet, despite these advantages, the temple has not seen the infrastructural progress it deserves, largely due to the apathy of political leadership—both past and present. Leadership Apathy & Political Neglect Locals and observers note that successive Chief Ministers have failed to prioritize the temple's development. Moreover, the lack of initiative from local elected representatives has also contributed to the stagnation. Some analysts argue that the fact that the Alampur constituency is reserved for Scheduled Castes has led to political sidelining, impacting developmental efforts. Glorious Past, Present Neglect Alampur is often referred to as the "Dakshina Kashi" (Southern Kashi), and it boasts a rich heritage including the famous Nava Brahma temples. These temples, dedicated to various forms of Lord Shiva, were once architectural marvels. However, during the rule of the Nawabs, many of these structures were destroyed and have yet to be restored to their original glory. Many temples today remain in a dilapidated condition, much to the dismay of visiting devotees. Where Are the Donations Going? Despite the influx of donations from devotees and prominent personalities across states, allegations have emerged that these funds are being mismanaged or diverted. Devotees complain that the benefits of their contributions are not reflected in the on-ground development or in the enhancement of pilgrim facilities. Poor Facilities: A Deep Disappointment One of the most pressing concerns is the poor state of the 'Anna Prasadam' distribution system. Despite daily offerings of large donations, the temple can only accommodate around 40 people at a time in its prasadam hall. This forces many pilgrims to wait for hours to receive free meals. This is particularly disheartening given the volume of visitors the temple attracts. Stalled Progress Under the Prasad Scheme To address such issues, the central government had sanctioned the construction of modern facilities under the PRASAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation And Spiritual Augmentation Drive) scheme. Prime Minister Narendra Modi even virtually inaugurated these buildings. However, to date, these facilities have not been made operational, leaving devotees questioning the efficiency of the implementation process. Call for Immediate Action Being the only Shakti Peetha in Telangana, and the fifth in the country, Jogulamba Temple holds immense religious and cultural importance. Visitors, locals, and devotees are now urging temple authorities, district administrators, and political leaders to wake up to the needs of the temple and take immediate corrective action to restore its sanctity and service standards.
Hans India
4 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
Annamalai hails BrahMos impact, says many countries showing interest
Senior BJP leader K. Annamalai on Sunday underscored India's rising global stature in defence manufacturing and praised the country's civilizational values as its most enduring strength. Speaking at a public forum here, Annamalai pointed to the increasing global interest in India's defence technologies, particularly the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile. 'Every single day -- of course, you all know -- the greatest spokesperson for the BrahMos missile is the Prime Minister of Pakistan. He has practically become our ambassador,' Annamalai said, drawing applause from the audience. He referred to a recent statement of Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Shariff in Azerbaijan, and said, 'They were reportedly planning an attack after their prayers -- something similar to what JD Vance had referenced. But India acted one or two hours ahead of time, and the BrahMos strike significantly damaged their credibility. After Operation Sindoor, reports suggest that 16 countries have expressed interest in procuring BrahMos missiles for their defence forces.' The BJP leader lauded the Modi government's push for self-reliance in defence, citing record-breaking production figures. 'For a long time, we were enamoured by Western countries, believing their military technologies were far superior. As a result, Indian defence firms were overlooked. But under Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, the defence sector has been opened like never before. In the financial year 2024-25, India's defence production has touched Rs 1.46 lakh crore,' he said. Shifting from defence to deeper civilizational themes, Annamalai reflected on India's spiritual geography. 'In our tradition, we link the human being to the cosmos. Our civilizational strength is rooted in the fact that no single sacred site claims exclusivity. That is why we have 51 Shakti Peethas and 12 Jyotirlingas across the land. Every region is sacred, every place is unique,' he said. Concluding his remarks, Annamalai added, 'This civilizational unity-- woven through our culture and spirituality -- is India's greatest strength, even more so than our borders guarded by drones, armies, and powerful weapons.'
The Hindu
21-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
PM to inaugurate 103 Amrit Bharat railway stations on May 22
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate 103 Amrit railway stations through video conference at an event in Bikaner, Rajasthan, on May 22. These stations, located in 86 districts across 18 States and Union Territories, have been developed at a cost of over ₹1,100 crore. 'Over 1,300 stations are being redeveloped with modern facilities, designed to reflect regional architecture and enhance passenger amenities under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS),' a Railways Ministry spokesperson stated. Mr. Modi will inaugurate the Deshnoke railway station in Bikaner, Rajasthan, redeveloped under ABSS and flag off Bikaner-Mumbai express train service (21903) from the station. The station serves pilgrims and tourists visiting the Karni Mata Temple here, and its construction is inspired by temple architecture with an arch and column theme. Begumpet station in Telangana is inspired by the architecture of the Kakatiya empire. Thawe station in Bihar incorporates various murals and art works representing Maa Thawewali, the presiding deity at the temple here, which is one of the 52 sites known as Shakti Peethas, and depicting Madhubani paintings. Dakor station in Gujarat is inspired by Ranchhodrai Ji Maharaj, a form of Lord Krishna. Among the revamped stations which will be inaugurated, five are from Karnataka: Gadag, completed at a cost of ₹23.24 crore, Dharwad (₹17.1 crore), Bagalkot (₹16.06 crore), Munirabad (₹18.40 crore) and Gokak (₹16.98 crore), Railways officials said. The redeveloped Amrit stations across India integrate modern infrastructure with cultural heritage as well as passenger-centric amenities, the Railways Ministry spokesperson said. Mr. Modi will also lay the foundation stone of Churu-Sadulpur rail line (58 km) and dedicate to the Nation the electrified rail lines of Suratgarh-Phalodi (336 km), Phulera-Degana (109 km), Udaipur-Himmatnagar (210 km), Phalodi-Jaisalmer (157 km) and Samdari-Barmer (129 km). The PM will also inaugurate projects of road infrastructure, medical education and solar power during the visit. Bikaner-Mumbai express service The Bikaner-Mumbai express train service (21903) will run between Bandra Terminus and Bikaner on a weekly basis. The train is scheduled to leave Bandra Terminus every Monday (May 19, 2025) at 11.25 p.m. and reach Bikaner at 8.40 p.m. on Tuesday (May 20, 2025). On the return journey, the train (21904) will leave Bikaner on Wednesday (May 21, 2025) at 8.50 a.m. and reach Bandra Terminus on Thursday (May 22, 2025) at 6.45 a.m. The train will stop at Borivali, Vapi, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand Nadiad, Sabarmati, Mehsana, Palanpur, Abu Road, Phalna, Marwad, Pali Marwad, Jodhpur, Merta Road, Nagaur, Nokha, and Deshnoke stations. The 22-coach train will include 18 3AC coaches, two 2AC coaches, two coaches for luggage, and two General Brake Vans.
India Gazette
20-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
PM Modi to visit Bikaner on May 22; to dedicate multiple development projects worth over Rs 26,000 cr
New Delhi [India], May 20 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Rajasthan on May 22 and will lay the foundation stone, inaugurate and dedicate to the nation multiple development projects worth over Rs 26,000 crore in Bikaner's Deshnoke. According to the Prime Minister's Office, PM Modi will travel to Bikaner and will undertake darshan at Karni Mata temple in Deshnoke. The Prime Minister will inaugurate the redeveloped Deshnoke Station under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme and flag off the Bikaner-Mumbai express train. Thereafter, he will lay the foundation stone, inaugurate and dedicate to the nation multiple development projects worth over Rs 26,000 crore and also address a public function in Deshnoke, the PMO release stated. In line with his commitment to constantly improve and enhance the rail infrastructure in the country, Prime Minister will inaugurate 103 redeveloped Amrit Stations in 86 districts across 18 States and Union Territories of India, developed at a cost of over Rs 1,100 crore. 'Over 1,300 stations are being redeveloped with modern facilities, designed to reflect regional architecture and enhance passenger amenities under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. Deshnoke railway station, serving pilgrims and tourists visiting the Karni Mata Temple among others, is inspired with temple architecture and arch and column theme. Begumpet railway station in Telangana is inspired by the architecture of the Kakatiya empire. Thawe station in Bihar incorporates various murals and art works representing Maa Thawewali, one of the 52 Shakti Peethas and depicting Madhubani paintings. Dakor station in Gujarat is inspired by Ranchhodrai Ji Maharaj,' the PMO stated. The redeveloped Amrit stations across India integrate modern infrastructure with cultural heritage, passenger-centric amenities, including those for Divyangjan and sustainable practices to enhance the travel experience. Indian Railway is marching towards 100 per cent electrification of its network, making railway operations more efficient and environment-friendly. In line with this, the Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone of the Churu-Sadulpur rail line (58 km) and dedicate to the Nation Suratgarh-Phalodi (336 km); Phulera-Degana (109 km); Udaipur-Himmatnagar (210 km); Phalodi-Jaisalmer (157 km) and Samdari-Barmer (129 km) rail line electrification. In a major boost to road infrastructure in the state, the Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for the construction of 3 Vehicle Underpasses, widening and strengthening of National highways. He will also dedicate 7 roadways projects in Rajasthan. The roadways projects, worth over Rs 4850 crore, will facilitate smoother movement of goods and people. The highways extend up to the Indo-Pak border, enhancing accessibility for security forces and strengthening India's defence infrastructure. Furthering the vision of electricity for all and green and clean energy, the Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone of power projects, including Solar projects at Bikaner and Nawa in Didwana Kuchaman, and Transmission Systems for Evacuation of Power Part B PowerGrid Sirohi Transmission Ltd and Part E PowerGrid Mewar Transmission Ltd. PM Modi will also inaugurate power projects, including the Solar project at Bikaner, the Transmission system for Evacuation of PowerGrid Neemuch and from Bikaner Complex, Augmentation of transformation capacity at Fatehgarh-II Power Station, which will provide clean energy and reduce carbon emission. The Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone, inaugurate and dedicate 25 important state government projects across Rajasthan to enhance infrastructure, connectivity, power supply, health services, and water availability in the state. These include laying of foundation stone and dedication to the nation of projects for upgrading and maintaining 12 State Highways covering a total length of over 750 km, worth over Rs 3,240 crore; further expansion under the program includes an additional 900 km of new highways. The Prime Minister will inaugurate power projects at Bikaner and Udaipur, the PMO stated. He will also inaugurate Nursing Colleges in Rajsamand, Pratapgarh, Bhilwara, Dholpur which will play a key role in enhancing health infrastructure in the state. PM Modi will also lay the foundation stone and dedicate to the nation various water infrastructure projects in the region, including Rural Water Supply and Fluorosis Mitigation Project in Jhunjhunu District, Restructuring of Urban Water Supply Schemes in 7 Towns of Pali District under AMRUT 2.0, among others. (ANI)
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
PM Modi to launch multiple development projects across sectors in Rajasthan
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch a number of development projects across railways, roadways, power, water, and new and renewable energy sectors during his visit to Bikaner in Rajasthan on Thursday. An official statement said Modi will also inaugurate 103 redeveloped 'Amrit Stations' in 86 districts across 18 states and Union Territories, which have been built at a cost of ₹1,100 crore, besides launching other development projects costing over ₹26,000 crore. The prime minister will inaugurate the redeveloped Deshnoke Station under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme and flag-off Bikaner-Mumbai express train. He will then lay the foundation stone, inaugurate and dedicate to the nation multiple development projects worth over ₹26,000 crore and also address a public function in Palana, the statement said. In line with Modi's commitment to constantly improve and enhance the rail infrastructure in the country, it said over 1,300 stations are being redeveloped with modern facilities, designed to reflect regional architecture and enhance passenger amenities under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. Deshnoke railway station, serving pilgrims and tourists visiting the Karni Mata temple among others, is inspired with temple architecture and arch and column theme. Begumpet railway station in Telangana is inspired by the architecture of the Kakatiya empire, while Thawe station in Bihar incorporates various murals and art works representing Maa Thawewali, one of the 52 Shakti Peethas and depicting Madhubani paintings. The statement said Indian Railways is marching towards 100 per cent electrification of its network, making railway operations more efficient and environment friendly. In line with this, Modi will lay the foundation stone of Churu-Sadulpur rail line (58 km) and dedicate to the nation Suratgarh-Phalodi (336 km), Phulera-Degana (109 km), Udaipur-Himmatnagar (210 km), Phalodi-Jaisalmer (157 km) and Samdari-Barmer (129 km) rail line electrification. In a major boost to road infrastructure in the state, Modi will lay the foundation stone for construction of three vehicle underpasses, widening and strengthening of national highways. He will also dedicate seven roadways projects in Rajasthan. Furthering the vision of electricity for all and green and clean energy, the statement said, Modi will lay the foundation stone of power projects, including solar projects at Bikaner and Nawa in Didwana Kuchaman, and transmission systems among several other projects. He will also lay the foundation stone, inaugurate and dedicate 25 important state government projects across Rajasthan to enhance infrastructure, connectivity, power supply, health services, and water availability in the state, it said.
