Latest news with #SunGod
Time of India
3 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Ganga Dussehra 2025: Date, puja timings, and why this day holds deep spiritual meaning
Ganga Dussehra, a significant Hindu festival, will be celebrated on June 5, 2025, marking Goddess Ganga's descent to Earth. Devotees believe bathing in the Ganga on this day washes away sins and brings peace. Celebrations include visiting holy places like Haridwar, offering prayers, lighting diyas, and participating in the Ganga Aarti. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Dashami Tithi Begins: 4 June 2025 at 11:54 PM Dashami Tithi Ends: 6 June 2025 at 2:15 AM Vyatipata Yoga: 5 June 2025, 9:14 AM, 6 June 2025, 10:13 AM Hasta Nakshatra: 5 June 2025, 3:35 AM, 6 June 2025, 6:34 AM Why is Ganga Dussehra Celebrated? How Do People Celebrate? Ganga Dussehra is one of the most important festivals in Hinduism. In 2025, it will be celebrated across India on Thursday, 5 June. This day holds deep religious and spiritual meaning, as it marks the arrival of Goddess Ganga on Dussehra is celebrated to honour the day when Goddess Ganga came down to Earth. This event is also called Gangavataran. She is considered a living goddess who flows as the holy river Ganga. On this day, people believe that bathing in the Ganga can wash away sins, remove negative energy, and bring peace to the mind and go to holy places like Haridwar, Rishikesh, and Prayagraj. They take a bath in the Ganga river early in the morning, offer prayers to the Sun God, and then worship Gang Maiya (Mother Ganga). People offer flowers, sweets, and sometimes clothes to the river as a sign of the evening, people return to the riverbanks for a special ritual. They perform deep daan by lighting earthen lamps (diyas) filled with desi ghee and setting them afloat on the river. The day ends with the famous Ganga Aarti, a beautiful ceremony with chants, lights, and decorations at the Ganga from agencies
Time of India
14-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Uttar Pradesh: 14 temples within Ram Mandir complex to be consecrated on June 5
The holy city of Ayodhya is set for another spiritual event as the consecration of 14 temples within the Ram Temple complex is scheduled to take place on June 5, coinciding with the Ganga Dussehra festival. According to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust , the consecration will be marked by an elaborate three-day festival from June 3 to June 5. However, the rituals are set to commence on May 30, beginning with the installation of the Shiva Lingam in the Shiv Temple located within the complex. A total of 101 Vedic scholars from Kashi and Ayodhya will oversee the rituals, including the worship of the 'Yagyashala', recitation of the Valmiki Ramayana, chanting of mantras, readings from the four Vedas, and other traditional ceremonies. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like How Telidesk Saved My Business Undo Marble thrones, each two feet in height, have been specially crafted for the installation of the deities in the respective temples. The idols will be placed on these thrones during the consecration ceremonies, trust officials said. The temples slated for consecration include six located within the main precinct -- dedicated to Lord Shiva, the Sun God, Ganapati, Hanuman, Goddess Bhagwati, and Goddess Annapurna. Live Events Additionally, seven temples situated in the Sapt Mandapam area will be consecrated, housing deities and revered figures such as Sage Vashistha, Valmiki, Agastya, Vishwamitra, Ahalya, Shabari, and Nishadraj. An idol of Lakshman, in the form of Sheshavatar, will also be consecrated in the Sheshavatar Temple as part of the ceremonies. Officials from the trust said the event is expected to draw a large number of devotees and will further enhance the spiritual and cultural significance of the Ram Temple complex. The consecration ceremony of Ram temple was held on January 22, 2024 in presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Forbes
05-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Rethinking Retail: How SunGod Is Building Sustainable Community Spaces In Covent Garden
SunGod, a UK-based performance eyewear company, positions itself in stark contrast to traditional urban retail. Its latest move, the opening of 'Basecamp London' in London's bustling Covent Garden aims to foster direct engagement, hands-on product experience, and sustainable design thinking. In recent years, consumer awareness around sustainability has grown, but the eyewear industry remains plagued by short product lifecycles, disposable trends, and opaque supply chains, with up to 75% of cellulose acetate—the primary material for many glasses—regularly discarded. Moreover, each year in North America alone, more than four million pairs of reading glasses end up in landfills, resulting in approximately 250 metric tons of non-biodegradable waste. The amount of waste is expected to increase due to increased screen time and related vision issues. As a certified B Corp with carbon-neutral operations and a lifetime guarantee on all products, SunGod has taken a fundamentally different approach—centering repairability, durability, and accountability. I spoke with Ali Watkiss, co-founder of SunGod, about the company's holistic approach to sustainability and community engagement. Building on my previous interview with Zoe Watkiss, the company's co-founder and co-CEO, Ali and I explored what sets Basecamp London apart: its novel approach to retail infrastructure by employing modular and reusable design elements, significantly reducing the waste typically associated with retail fit-outs. This is crucial, considering that the retail sector generates 1.1 million tonnes of waste each year in the UK. Globally, the urgency to address retail and consumer waste is underscored by projections from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), which projects that municipal solid waste could nearly double from 2.1 billion tonnes in 2023 to 3.8 billion tonnes by 2050. Our discussion also focused on specific community initiatives hosted at Basecamp London. With a growing cohort of athlete-ambassadors, thousands of crowd-investors, and weekly run clubs, SunGod has built a network that is as much about values as it is about vision. As more companies look to demonstrate authentic environmental and social leadership, SunGod's model offers insights into how physical retail can serve as a tool for accountability and connection—not just commerce. Read more about SunGod's innovative approach to sustainable retail and community building in the interview below. Christopher Marquis: Congrats on launching a new store in London. Can you say a bit about why you chose the location you did and what your goals are? Ali Watkiss, co-founder of SunGod SunGod Ali Watkiss: Firstly, as a challenger brand, by choosing Covent Garden we're proving that we can do things differently - offering better products, with a better customer experience, that are better for the planet - and still compete with the industry giants. The surge of premium sports and athleisure brands in the Covent Garden area highlights the exciting trajectory of our industry, and by choosing this location, we're leading the charge for independent brands. Secondly, our customers wanted it. With eyewear products, people want to try before they buy - we've heard this from our customers since Day 1. Starting life as an eCommerce brand made that a challenge. Now that we're ready to open a UK store, it makes sense to do it in the heart of London, where we can connect with our biggest and most engaged customer base. We know the demand in London is huge because our customers (and future customers!) have told us - and now, we can meet the demand and offer them the chance to get hands-on with our products before they buy. And finally, being in Covent Garden allows Basecamp London to be a true brand hub. Our products are designed in our London HQ just a short walk away in Waterloo, and Basecamp London offers our athletes, ambassadors, team members and customers the chance to come together in one, easily accessible space in the beating heart of London. Marquis: The store is positioned as community-focused, could you explain this concept in more detail? Watkiss: We're a community-built brand, and that means the SunGod community is woven through every aspect of our business. From our athletes and ambassadors shaping our product design through R+D, to our 4000-strong community of customer-investors who have fuelled our growth through crowdfunding, to our sold-out run clubs where you can come and test our products to find your perfect pair - Basecamp London will become the new beating heart of our brand this summer, that hosts all this and more. We can't wait to open the doors on a space where our community can connect, get inspired and experience SunGod at a whole new level. Marquis: With sustainability at the core of all you do, how are you ensuring a responsible approach to the Basecamp London store? Watkiss: As Basecamp London is a seasonal store, our focus has been on minimising our impact through either sourcing recycled units and furniture, or creating new elements that can be re-used in any setting. This ethos has fed into our display and point-of-sale design - I drew on my architecture background to inform a display unit design that will feel at home in any space. This means that when Basecamp London moves to a new home, our interior will come with us! Beyond this, Basecamp London lives up to the high standards of sustainable business practices we hold ourselves to, including our Lifetime Guarantee service - which will be offered in-store - our Carbon Neutral products and operations, and our commitment to recycled and recyclable materials and packaging. Marquis: What can we expect from the new Basecamp London store over the coming months? Watkiss: We're so excited to take our tried-and-tested Basecamp formula from our flagship store in Verbier, Switzerland, and bring it to the next level in London. That means offering our world-class in-store experience, such as our complete customisation service and Lifetime Guarantee, plus a whole host of community events to take Basecamp London to the next level. For example, in April London's running scene will reach fever pitch thanks to the London Marathon, and we'll be hosting a busy programme of running-focused events - think athlete Q&As, signings, and product demos - as well as our weekly run clubs for 100+ people - to get the running community amped up for the Marathon and beyond.
Shafaq News
11-02-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraq's Mesopotamian heritage: Reclaimed and restored
Shafaq News/ Iraq has successfully recovered a collection of ancient artifacts from Japan and Switzerland, the country's Foreign and Culture Ministries announced on Tuesday. 'The artifacts, which include a statue of the Sun God and centuries-old woven textiles, were retrieved as part of intensive government efforts,' Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said during a joint press conference with Minister of Culture Ahmed Fakak Al-Badrani. Hussein stressed that 'these relics are not just historical remnants but a vital part of Iraq's national heritage.' The foreign minister credited diplomatic negotiations and persistent follow-ups in Japan and Switzerland for the 'successful recovery.' He reiterated Iraq's commitment to retrieving more lost artifacts, emphasizing the coordinated efforts of both ministries. Al-Badrani, in turn, thanked the Foreign Ministry for its extensive work in tracking and reclaiming Iraq's cultural heritage across multiple countries. He noted that 'the recovered artifacts, now returned to the Iraqi Museum, were wrongfully taken and belong to ancient Mesopotamian civilizations.' Mesopotamia, one of the world's earliest civilizations, is a key to the Sumerian civilization, which introduced cuneiform script, the earliest known form of writing, around 3100 BCE. Iraq's cultural heritage has been severely impacted by looting and conflict, particularly after ISIS seized large areas of the country in 2014, including key archaeological sites. Iraqi and Western officials reported at the time that ISIS militants were trafficking priceless artifacts through intermediaries on the black market. ISIS militants also developed expertise in the illicit antiquities trade after taking control of large parts of Syria. When they captured Mosul in northern Iraq, they seized roughly 2,000 archaeological sites. For years, Iraq has been working to reclaim its looted cultural property. Since 2008, the United States has returned more than 1,200 artifacts to Iraq, which suffered extensive looting following the 2003 invasion. In May 2023, President Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid announced the recovery of 6,000 artifacts that had been on loan to the United Kingdom for a century.
