Mangaluru: In Bible, according to Matthew 25: 31-40 it says, For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me . When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

Drinking Water Facility at the Bishops House, Kodialbail

Then the King will say to those on his right, Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. The King will reply, I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.

Drinking Water Facility at the Milagres Church., Hampankatta

Following these words from the Bible, a few Catholic churches and religious institutions have provided DRINKING WATER FACILITY for the public, to quench their thirst, especially now during the treacherous hot summer days. I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, thats right- passing by pedestrians and motorists can quench their thirst by using these pure filtered water installed at few Catholic Churches/religious institutions, like in front of Mangaluru Diocese Bishops House; Milagres Church., Fatima Retreat House; St Anthony Charitable Institutions (St Anthony Ashram), Jeppu, among others.

Drinking Water Facility at St Anthonys Ashram, Jeppu

Ms Nagamma, a pourakarmika of Antony Waste Handling Cell who was quenching her thirst using water from the drinking water facility at Bishops house speaking to Team Mangalorean said, When we dont have money to buy bottled water from stores, I appreciate and thank the kind gesture of the Mangaluru Bishop towards the general public, by providing this purified water. Every morning few of the pourakarmikas use this facility, to quench their thirst. Once again I thank the Bishop for his generosity towards the people.

Drinking Water facility at Fatima Retreat House, Valencia

Shanker Bhat, who resides a few blocks from Bishops House said, I am very thankful to the Bishop and management here, for providing clean and safe drinking water since at home I get dirty water from MCC. Every morning, I collect two-three one-litre bottles of purified water from this facility at Bishops House, for drinking and cooking purposes. Truly appreciate the kind gesture from the Bishop. The Bishops House purified water facility was inaugurated in March 2016, by the then Bishop Rev Dr Aloysius Paul DSouza.

The drinking water facility at St Anthonys Ashram was launched in 2016, at Milagres Church in 2016, and at Fatima Retreat House on 25 October 2020.. (Ref: Pure Drinking Water Purifier for Public launched at Fatima Retreat House). In conclusion, Water resources are sources of water that are useful or potentially useful to humans. It is important because it is needed for life to exist. Virtually all of these human uses require fresh water. Therefore, all these Purified Drinking Water facilities provided indeed shows the kind gesture of the Catholic Churches/institutions for the benefit of the public, without any discrimination of caste or creed.

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For I Was Thirsty & You Gave Me Something to Drink! Churches Provide Drinking Water Facility - Mangalorean.com

While official records of his life remain sparse for the most part, the Sikkimese government recognised Trilochan Pokhrels contributions with the LD Kazi Award for Democratic Movement in 2018.

In 1861, the erstwhile Kingdom of Sikkim and the British Empire signed the Treaty of Tumlong. This treaty effectively made the present-day Northeastern state a de facto protectorate of the British Indian government.

(Image above: Trilochan Pokhrel courtesy Wikimedia Commons)

Their objective in bringing Sikkim under their purview was to establish a trade route into Tibet. Within the context of The Great Game against the Russian Empire, the British colonialists sought to increase their influence in the region.

Nearly three decades later, however, the British established a formal protectorate over Sikkim, which the Chinese recognised in the Anglo-Chinese Treaty of 1890. As a consequence of these events, the British assumed responsibility of the Sikkimese kingdoms defence and external affairs, while its subjects were subject to the same protections as Indians travelling abroad and restrictions when it came to dealing in foreign exchange.

Its within this context of growing British influence on Sikkimese affairs that Trilochan Pokhrel, a forgotten freedom fighter from the state, was born sometime in the last decade of the 19th century, according to scholars Dr. Binod Bhattarai, an Assistant Professor of sociology at Sikkim University, and his senior colleague Dr. Rajen Upadhyay.

Emulating Gandhi

Popularly known as Gandhi Pokhrel, stemming from his love of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhis ideals of non-violence and Satyagraha, he was born and raised in Tareythang region of Pakyong subdivision, East Sikkim. Growing up in a rural area, Trilochen was heavily influenced by Gandhis actions, particularly during the Non Cooperation and Civil Disobedience movements through the early 1920s and 1930s.

However, there are no concrete historical records to ascertain his participation in these movements. His participation in the freedom struggle kicked off during the Quit India Movement of 1942, when he lived with Gandhi at Sabarmati Ashram in Gujarat and Sarvodaya Ashram in Bihar, and learned his philosophy from close quarters.

During his stay there, Pokhrel is known to have spent his time spinning the charkha (spinning wheel) and rendering his services for the ashrams along with assisting Gandhi in his daily affairs. He had immense faith in the teachings of the simple life led by Mahatma Gandhi. It is acknowledged that late Pokhrel was highly influenced by Gandhi Jis teaching and his lifestyle. His contemporaries in Tareythang village inform us that he used to visit his native village donning similar clothing as the naked fakir Gandhi, notes Binod and Rajen in this article.

Bande Pokhrel

There are various accounts of how during his regular visits back home, Pokhrel began propagating the boycott of British-made goods and promoting the concept of Swadeshi or indigenously made goods among the Sikkimese peasantry.

As Dr. Binod notes for East Mojo, during his leisure time Pokhrel, used to visit local hatt-bazar (such as Rongli, Rhenock, Pakyong, Rangpo etc) and sit there with his charkha to make cotton threads. In fact, he would even dress up as Gandhi wearing a piece of cotton dhoti and wooden slippers, and would often greet elders in his village with the Bande Mataram salutations. This is what also got him the Bande Pokhrel moniker.

He used to convey the message of Vande Mataram and inculcate the spirit of Swadeshi Movement i.e. to spin and wear swadeshi cloths, to establish Khadi and village industries etc. so that the villages could be developed and income generation for the poor, he adds.

Following Independence on 15 August 1947, Sikkim retained some semblance of its independence as Indias first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, agreed to maintain the erstwhile kingdoms special protectorate status. While the Sikkimese kingdom maintained internal autonomy, it let the Indian Union handle external affairs. However, things came to a head with the Chinese crackdown in the late 1950s and heavy immigration from Nepal.

Meanwhile, Pokhrel continued on his travels across India with his last visit home happening in 1957 when Nehru visited the erstwhile kingdom. As per official records, he passed away on 27 January 1969 in Purnia district, Bihar, while his descendents migrated to Assam. Only six years after his demise later did Sikkim become an official state of the Indian Union.

While official records of his life remain sparse for the most part, the Sikkimese government recognised his contributions to the Indian freedom struggle when it conferred the LD Kazi [first chief minister of Sikkim] Award for Democratic Movement during the 43rd State Celebration in May 2018. There is evidently a lot we dont know about his life, but recognitions like these do offer hope that one day it will inspire more scholars from Sikkim to learn more about this forgotten figure of the Indian freedom struggle.

(Edited by Yoshita Rao)

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Gandhi Pokhrel, The Unsung Freedom Fighter Who Pioneered Swadeshi In Sikkim - The Better India

Chinmay Mandal* For the past two decades, 75-year-old Swami Shivanand Saraswati has been an eco-champion, fighting for the cause of protecting the holy river Ganga, fasting with fellow seers of Matri Sadan, posing the right questions for the decision-makers. One who has fasted for the cause of Ganga, surviving on just five glasses of water, living at a small forest-ashram in Haridwar, Swami Shivanand Saraswati, along with environmental advocates of Matri Sadan, have raised serious concerns over the repercussions of actions taken against the laws of nature. Going back to the myths about the rivers origin, Swami Shivanand believes that the human race has offered nothing but their sins to the perennial, life-sustaining river. But one would think, why seers like Swami Shivanand have had to embark on several fasts unto death for saving the river when government authorities claim to have taken proactive steps for the river conservation and development. Recently, the fifth India Water Impact Summit 2020 was organised by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and its think tank, Centre for Ganga River Basin Management and Studies (cGanga), on the theme River Conservation Synchronised Human Settlement. This is just one of the many endeavours India has taken towards the mission of rejuvenating and cleaning the river Ganga. In 2014, an Integrated Conservation Mission called the Namami Gange Programme, was approved by the Union Government as a flagship programme with a budget outlay of Rs 20,000 crore to accomplish the twin objectives of effective abatement of pollution, conservation and rejuvenation of Ganga river. The programme is being implemented by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and its state counterparts -- State Programme Management Groups. Ever since 2014, several Central and state councils have been formed, involving chief ministers of the Ganga basin states and officials from local bodies and grass-root level organizations, numerous MoUs have been signed between institutions to synergise the activities under the programme, but these developments have been questioned time and again by experts and environmental activists like Swami Shivanand. Although initiatives to clean the Ganga began with the Ganga Action Plan I in 1986, till date problems have spiralled out of control for the river and the lives impacted by the river. The NMCG website talks about the impact of the river on the towns which belong to five states on the main Ganga basin -- Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal, which are considered for pollution abatement -- though not the ones which lie on the tributaries of the Ganga. To make matters worse, according to a report published by the Wildlife Institute of India in May 2018, 16 existing, 14 ongoing and 14 proposed hydroelectric projects on the Bhagirathi and Alaknanda river basins have turned the upper stretch of the Ganga into ecological desert in Uttarakhand. Increased water levels in different reservoirs have not only submerged vast areas in the Himalayan region but have also resulted in frequent landslides. Due to restrictions on the river flow, the velocity of the river decreased, siltation has deteriorated and therefore minerals of the water have settled down at the riverbed. Near the foothills of the Himalayas, the stretch of the river Ganga has become an epicentre of unsustainable ways of quarrying and illegal sand mining. And the problems are not limited to Uttarakhand. Indeed, in the 21st century, no river can satisfy the demands of the worlds biggest cities. The river Ganga flows through some of the most densely populated cities of the world like Kanpur, Allahabad, Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, Patna in Bihar and Howrah in West Bengal. The Central Pollution Control Boards (CPCB) March 2019 data show that water at only 13 of the 61 live monitoring stations in the Ganga was fit for bathing.

Whose demands should be met first fasting sanyasis of Matri Sadan, or millions of people in rural India who lack access to electricity?

Some recent data compiled by CPCB shows that the actual measured discharge of wastewater into Ganga is 6,087 MLD, 123 per cent higher than the estimated discharge of wastewater. The dysfunctional and low-capacity sewage treatment plants (STP) have led to faecal coliform levels far above the permissible limits. Domestic sewage and faecal sludge are not the only concern for the authorities. Industries, tanneries and factories along the river Ganga dispose harmful industrial waste into drains which flow into the river. And it goes without saying that these anthropogenic activities catalysed by increased population growth, industrial development and rapid urbanization have left an adverse impact of on the ecological health of the river, including its natural resources and biodiversity. Ganga impacts the lives of more than 400 million people. It is argued that the hydroelectric projects on Ganga are the best option for meeting energy requirements as they are renewable, sustainable and have a much lesser influence on climate change due to their minimal impact especially regarding the emission of green house gases. As per a report published by PWC and FICCI, India is projected to require around 7% annual growth in electricity supply to sustain a GDP growth of around 8.5% per annum over the next few years. To address the deficit and for meeting this demand growth for accelerating economic development while taking into account considerations of long-term sustainability, environmental and social aspects, hydroelectric projects appear to be winners. So, whose demands should be met first the fasting sanyasis of the Matri Sadan Ashram, who have offered their lives to safeguard the river? Or the millions of people in rural India who still lack access to electricity? While the government needs to plan and re-think on the promise of cleaning the Ganga, it also needs to strategize about the efforts to boost the economy through sustainable development. But several questions remain unanswered. Will Ganga ever be cleaned? And can India afford to take a step towards sustainability and be an advocate of environmental activism when basic needs like access to electricity is still a dream for millions of Indians? --- *MBA student at the Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad

Excerpt from:

Will Swami Shivanand, other eco-champions' drive to clean Ganga ever succeed? - COUNTERVIEW

I Wish I Could Sing by George Bongo Joe Coleman

I am a music writer and radio broadcaster, so my travels are punctuated by record shop visits. Montreal is one of the finest cities for record shopping. I picked up this odd, amazing, remarkable album by Bongo Joe Coleman a character who made his own kit from oil drums at a now-defunct store on the outskirts of the city. On a pilgrimage there, I knocked on what looked like someones front door pushchair and childrens shoes in the porch expecting to be in the wrong place. Greeted by someone holding a beer, we were invited into a wood-panelled back room that smelled like dust and discovery, the walls plastered with posters and stacks of tapes on the windowsill and under the record bins. I left with a stack of gems, including this.

For me, driving music is a genre in itself. It is no small thing to get a driving licence as a teenager the world expands instantly and exponentially by the new possibilities offered by a borrowed car. I grew up between Manchester and the Peak District and would blaze over the moors in my mums Ford Fiesta with the music turned up as loud as it would go, high on my new freedom. Most of all, I loved driving Snake Pass at night, riding the road fast and alone as the asphalt coursed beneath me, and the soundtrack to those teenage drives was PJ Harveys Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea. I would sing along at the top of my voice, arriving home hoarse and aglow with all the new experiences that were hurtling towards me.

Shots of pure pleasure can come from serendipitous collisions of sound. At St Pauls carnival in Bristol in 2018, we were moving between sound systems in school playgrounds, front gardens, city squares and street corners playing dub, dancehall, soca, and reggae. On a run of terraces off the main carnival route, one household had set up their massive telly outside to show the England v Sweden World Cup game, while the people next door blasted out dancehall hits by Vybz Kartel, Spice, and Popcaan on a mushy PA. When Englands second goal was scored, the dancers roared and the footie chants fused with the dancehall in a perfect soundclash, as we danced and cheered on the pavement clutching warm cans of Red Stripe under a hot afternoon sun.

For my 30th birthday I saved up to go to Japan and on the actual day I sang Peg by Steely Dan six times in a row in a karaoke booth in Osaka because we couldnt work out how to change the song. I went to gigs and trawled record shops, but my memories from that trip are overwhelmingly visual: I remember feeling that my eyes were saturated in colour. Moments of wonder came in glorious hues: a small temple in a fairytale garden of emerald green moss; the intense vermilion of the Fushimi-Inari-Taisha shinto shrine gates; the candy-pink boiler suits of service workers on the bullet train and the reflective red enamel of a bento box containing baby squid, curled ferns and tofu in gold-painted shells.

When my partner and I first got together, he was living in a boring town in Sweden. I would get the cheapest, early-morning Ryanair flight to visit, and on the weekend we would get the train to Stockholm. My favourite shop there, An Ideal for Living, has a shopfront full of 1960s homewares and a basement full of records, with a special box in the corner of rare LPs. It included the first album by Trd, Grs Och Stenar, a Swedish psych band I adore. I could not afford it, but their tripped-out cover of All Along The Watchtower still takes me back to those weekends where we were newly in love, strolling around the city, sitting on benches eating cardamom buns and drinking strong Swedish filter coffee, as the pale-gold glow of Nordic sunlight bounced off the icy water that surrounds the citys islands.

Two years ago, I toured around the UK with musician Beatrice Dillon and artist Keith Harrison, a sound technician called Alan Burgess, a duo called Copper Sounds and my friend and co-producer Al Cameron. Beatrice and Keith had devised Ecstatic Material a performance and artwork played on a soundsystem built from industrial crates. The upturned speakers were filled with salt, cream of tartar, and pink goo, which moved and splashed and formed patterns when activated with Beatrices music. Every night after the show we would stay late in these chilly venues a Digbeth warehouse space; a tiny art gallery in Bradford; a cold storage unit in Salford to empty the goo and powder from the speakers and clean them up ready for the next nights show. We developed a ritual: crack a beer, dole out mops, blue roll and the Henry vacuum cleaner we had put on the rider, and yell for Alan to cue up Albatross on the PA.

Until recently, I lived mostly alone in Southend-on-Sea. For a few years I hired a desk in an office in a Methodist church down the coast in Leigh-on-Sea, and so my daily commute was a cycle along the coast. I would ride past the amusement arcades New York New York, Electric Avenue, Monte Carlo and The Sunspot just as they were opening and switching on the games. For years, all the claw machines in the front, where you could win fake Elsa dolls, stuffed unicorns and plush Angry Birds, would play a lo-fi version of Oxygene Pt 4 by Jean-Michel Jarre. Hearing it takes me back to those hazy morning commutes along the estuary, pedalling against the wind to the sound of 100 machines playing the same song.

Alice Coltrane is one of my favourite musicians. Years ago, before I knew much about her, I found myself in New York during an extravagant press trip whose purpose was to hard-sell lame wifi speakers. So, I went on a long walk through the city, to clear my head and try to get hold of one of her books that was not available in the UK. I thought I was making a pilgrimage to a branch of her ashram, and found what I thought was the place. They had the text a hard-bound volume of spiritual prose with florid gold-embossed titling but I later found out the place had nothing to do with Alices ashram. Hers was in California! I have no idea where I went, nor why they had a copy of that text, but it will be forever locked to a few hours carved out for myself on the streets of New York.

Last year I travelled to Caracas in Venezuela to teach, and my students all recommended this track. Caracas is one of the most dangerous cities in the world, and I wasnt allowed to walk around the city, so only really saw it from a car window where I remember gazing up at its bold concrete architecture dripping with tropical plants, bright macaws soaring between skyscrapers. I couldnt go out at night because of security restrictions, so would take lists of Venezuelan music from my students back to my hotel room and look them up online. Tonada De Luna Llena is one I can never play just once it is raw and intimate, impossibly tender a song about the moon, milking cows, and the plains, which transports me to being alone in that hotel room with little to do except listen to music and watch the pink evening sky turn to night over the city.

The first time I ever sang (and enjoyed it) was with the musician Laura Cannell, at an English Heritage site called Mistley Towers, a midpoint we found between our homes. Mistley is on the estuary of the River Stour in north Essex and the towers are now all that remains of a grandiose and unconventional Georgian church designed by Robert Adam in 1776. A politician called Richard Rigby later attempted to turn the town into a spa retreat, and although he failed, a painted swan fountain and these two porticoed towers remain. To get inside you borrow the key from the hotel and restaurant down the road, and let yourself in. Theres not much to see, just small square rooms and some stonework, but the acoustics mean that singing a note any note will gather in a cumulus of resonant sound above your head. I remember that chilly, wondrous moment every time I hear Lauras music.

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10 songs that bring back great travel memories: Jennifer Lucy Allans playlist - The Guardian

Bhubaneswar: Ama Pathaagaara, aims to re-ignite the library movement in the state and was inaugurated in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday.

This drive was launched at an event and was hosted by Barsha Priyadarshini.

It was attended by several dignitaries, including Dash Benhur, eminent writer, Dr. Sanghamitra Mishra, eminent writer, Banoj Tripathy, publisher, Pakhighar, and Bijaya Malla, eminent lyricist and writer, who consented to give their blessings for its success.

Actor and activist Barsha Priyadarshini, is trying to re-ignite the library movement pioneered by Dasia Aja, through the initiative Ama Pathaagaara.

As part of the above initiative, Varsha donated two cabinets of books ranging from school textbooks and reference books to famed novels and biographies, collected from willing donors, to the children at Jeevan Jyoti Ashram, Khandagiri, Bhubaneswar, earlier in the day on Wednesday.

The actress has also decided to collect books and magazines from enthusiastic donors across the state and beyond, and donate them to needy children all over the state.

Dileswari Dharua, hailing from Phuljharan village in Balangir, was felicitated in the event. She won acclaim from across the country due to her selfless efforts to teach the children of her village during the Covid-19 pandemic to ensure that they did not lag behind due to the temporary shutdown of the government school in the village.

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'Ama Pathaagaara' An Initiative To Re-Ignite Library Movement In Odisha - Kalinga TV

Situated at the heart of India with its rich biodiversity and distinct culture, Chhattisgarh has always stood out as an appealing force for Tourism Sector. The 9th largest state of India with a plethora of mythological tales and epics, Archaeological and heritage sites dating back to the Era of Kalchuris and the unique tribal relevance in the state, has always created a special place for Chhattisgarh, as a religious, cultural and an incredible tourism destination of historical importance. A divine state in tune with its old age traditions and a state of prosperity amidst the toughest times. A land blessed with the presence of Gods and Goddesses and their epic tales.

Chhattisgarh- A land blessed with Mythological tales dating back to the Era of Ramayana and Mahabharata

Chhattisgarh

The Mythological tales date back to the period of Ramayana and Mahabharata. The state is renowned for its significant role in the life of Lord Rama. Chhattisgarh used to be the Maternal Home of Lord Rama and the birthplace of her Mother- Mata Kaushalya. Lord Rama along with his wife Sita and younger brother Lakshaman had started their exile in the Dandakaranya region of Bastar in Chhattisgarh. It is also said, that they spent more than 10 years of their 14 year exile period, in Chhattisgarh itself.

A multidimensional approach: Development of forest dwellers from remote regions of the state

The Bhupesh Baghel led state government is forging a new pathway for tourism development in Chhattisgarh with a fresh vision and strategy for a state blessed with an abundance of raw and unexplored potential.

This new roadmap of tourism development passes through areas which were neglected and left unexplored despite being, a junction of nature's beauty and cultural wealth. The major objective behind this multi-dimensional project is to bring the development of forest dwellers residing in remote regions of the state, into the centre of the economy with the promotion and development of tourism sector in these regions.

Therefore, the state government is linking the cultural development of the state with its tourism development. The project of Ram Van Gaman tourism Circuit was chalked out to highlight the mythological and historical background of Chhattisgarh and its close association with the life of Lord Rama. It not only emphasizes on the places which are associated with the exile period of Ram but will additionally aid in the development of areas surrounding the sites.

Tourism rally organised on 14th December to promote the objectives behind Ram Van Gaman Path

To promote the objective behind the Ram Van Gaman Path, a tourism chariot and a vehicle rally are being organized from December 14th. The rally will commence from two belts simultaneously, from Koriya in the North Chhattisgarh belt and Sukma in the South Chhattisgarh belt. The two sides will come together on 17th December at Chandkuri near Raipur. Chandkuri is the residence of Mata Kaushalya, creating it a place of maternal importance for Lord Rama. Saplings will be planted to mark the spirit of the occasion, and the celebration will also underline the completion of two years of Bhupesh Baghel led state government.

The Cultural Values linked with Lord Rama

Spending 10 years of his exile period in Chhattisgarh itself, an entire range of ancient relics can be connected from Sarguja in the north of Chhattisgarh to Sukma in the south belt, which has been a source of cultural values in the state. The Ram Van Gaman tourism circuit is an ambitious project which aims at the development of such places by connecting them. 75 places linked with Lord Ram have been identified in Chhattisgarh. Out of which, Nine locations are being developed and beautified in the first phase of the project, with a budget provision of 137 crores 45 lakhs Rs.

In the first phase of this project, Seemamarhi-Harchauka District Koriya, Ramgarh District Sarguja, Shivrinarayan District Janjgir Champa, Turturiya District Balodabazar, Chandkhuri District Raipur, Rajim District Gariyaband, Sihawa-Saptarishi Ashram District Dhamtari, Jagdalpur District Bastar and Ramaram District Sukma has been selected. Let's unveil the mystery behind the association of Lord Rama with these 9 locations specifically.

SITAMARHI-HARCHAUKA- The Divine Rasoi of Sita Maiya, Lordess Sita

Lord Rama made his appearance into Chhattisgarh from Koriya District. The Sitamarhi-Harchauka, which is located in Janakpur of Bharatpur tehsil, is renowned as his first stop. The Sitamarhi-Harchauka's cave, which is located on the banks of Mawai River has 17 chambers inside it. This auspicious place is widely renowned as Sita's kitchen. The inscription with the footprint of Lord Rama is of utmost mythological importance. The cave situated on the banks of the Mawai River has been divided and split into 17 chambers, with a Shivaling. This place is known as the Harchauka (kitchen). Lord Rama arrived at the Sitamarhi-Ghaghra on the banks of river Rapa from Harchauka. A Shivalinga is nestled in the middle of the four chambers of the cave at a height of 20 feet.

RAMGARH: a site of relevance in Meghdootam of the great poet Kalidasa

Progressing further with his journey, Ram left Ghaghra and reached Kotgarh via Ramgarh hills in Sarguja district, which is located at the Ambikapur-Bilaspur road, known as Ramgiri. Scenes from this location, have found a special mention in Meghdootam of the great poet Kalidasa. Lord Rama spent a few days of his exile period along with Lakshmana and Sita here, which lead to the caves being renowned by their names. With the ascetic disguise of Rama, one cave was named Jogimara, the other is profoundly known as the Sita Bengra and the Laxman Cave.

SHIVRINARAYAN: The unforgettable tale of Shabari feeding sweet plums to Rama

Shivrinarayan is situated at the Triveni Sangam (or the intersection of 3 rivers), Shivnath, Jonk and Mahanadi in the Janjgir Champa district. The word Shivrinarayan is an amalgam of two words: Shabri and Narayana. This is the same place known for its pure unconditional love, with Mata Shabari being an epitome of Motherhood and simplicity. She handpicked the plums and tasted them one by one, to feed the sweetest ones to Lord Rama, and the tale has never lost its emotional sync since then. The Nar-Narayana and Mata Shabari temple with a Vat tree adjoining them, have a peculiar feature with its leaves naturally occurring in the shape of a bowl.

TURTURIYA: The Birthplace of Luv,- Kush & the Saga of Struggle, Pain and Heroism

Turturiya is a small village, situated on the banks of the Balamdevi River surrounded by dense forests in the Balodabazar district. Maharishi Balmiki's ashram has been believed to be in existence here and therefore is renowned as the Birthplace of Luv and Kush. The water streaming through the river makes a Tutur sound and therefore this place was named as Turturiya. The State Government has drafted a project outline, concerning the development of the Balmiki Ashram of Turturiya as a tourist-pilgrimage.

CHANDKURI- Birthplace of Mata Kaushalya- Mother of Lord Ram

Chandkuri, a small village from Raipur derives its name from Chandrapuri, ruled by the Chandravanshi kings in the ancient times. This is the home of Lord Ram's mother- Mata Kaushalya.

Keeping the authenticity of the ancient Mata Kaushalya temple situated near Raipur alive, the task of beautification of the entire complex is undertaken, with a budget provision of 15 Crore 75 lakh Rs. The task of beautification and campus development of the Chandkuri temple will be completed in two phases. 6 crore 70 lakhs Rs are allocated for the first phase, while 9 crores 8 lakh rupees will be allocated in the second phase. To establish Chandkuri as a tourist-pilgrimage destination, civic amenities will be developed along with the traditional task of Temple beautification. The pond will undergo beautification, with the organisation of the temple present in the middle of the pond. The architecture of the entire complex has been designed in a manner to highlight Chandkhuri's mythological connection. Additionally, a bridge will be constructed for the devotees to arrive at the pond temple. The ghats and four other circumambulation paths will be built across the pond. Parking facility and beautiful lightening will be ensured.

PRAYAGRAJ- Lord Rama spent some time of his exile period in the ashram of Lomash Rishi

Due to its strategic location at the the confluence of the Rajim Mahanadi, Sondhur and Pari rivers identified under the Ram Van gaman tourism circuit, the place is widely acknowledged as Prayagraj. In ancient times, it was renowned as Kamal Kshetra Padiamavatipura. Lord Rama spent some time of his exile period in the ashram of Lomash Rishi situated here and made his trip to Panchakoshi to worship Kuleshwar Mahadev along with Mata Sita and Lakshman.

SIHAWA: The Sacred place of Shringya Rishi

Sihawa is a sacred unexplored place surrounded by dense forests and hills, located 65 km away from the district headquarters of Dhamtari. Sihawa is the place of origin of the Divine Mahanadi river, which is considered sacred in Chhattisgarh and Odisha. The Ashram of Shringya Rishi is situated here and therefore the place derives its name as Sihawa. King Dasharatha had called Shringya Rishi to Ayodhya to perform the Putraeshti Yagya to possess sons from his three queens. As a result of this sacrifice, Lord Rama was born.

CHITRAKOOT: The Divine place where Lord Rama met Lord Shiva

Chitrakoot is considered to be a major site of historical and religious importance of Ram Van gaman in the Bastar region. The scenic beauty of Chitrakoot with its magnificent waterfalls of River Indravati make it a tourist delight. As the tales depict, Lord Shiva and Parvati arrived from the Himgiri mountain to meet Lord Ram at this place only. Rampal is another place near Jagdalpur, linked with Lord Rama. It is believed that Lord Rama had installed a Shivalinga and performed prayers at Rampal to mark his arrival from North to South India, just like he performed prayers in Rameshwaram by installing the Shivalinga before the Lanka battle.

SUKMA: Ramaram houses the footprints of Lord Rama

There is a popular belief among the folk of South Bastar, that Ramaram in the Sukma district, houses the footprints of Lord Rama. He worshipped Bhumi Devi here itself. Ramaram houses the famous Chittamittin temple. The villagers celebrate the birthday of Lord Ramchandra with great zeal and enthusiasm. A mega fair flocks the place on the occasion of Ramnavami.

The Ram Van Gaman circuit will be a tourist delight in each step

The Ram Van Gaman tourism circuit to be commenced from Koriya district till Sukma district will be filled with the essence of Lord Rama in every step. Special emphasis is laid on the beautification of doors of pilgrimage and tourist places, lamp-posts and benches in the action plan prepared by the Chhattisgarh Government. The

Devotees and tourists will be able to witness the presence of Lord Ram on every foot-step, during their journey of Ram Van Gaman Path. The total length of the subways, including the main route of the Path, is approximately 2260 km. Additionally, display boards with information about a particular region and it's mythological importance will be stated and one can watch and hear stories of Lord Rama's Exile at these places of pilgrimage. Different species of plants are being cultivated on both sides of the pathway, generating a feeling of Lord Ram's Vanvas in the minds and hearts of devotees. The fragrance of flowers surrounding the beautiful gardens will seize the tourists into a zone of complete mindfulness. The Forest Department has been enforced with the responsibility to plant more than one and a half lakh saplings on both sides of the 528 km route of the path. The department has already accomplished 90 percent of its work, even before the work on the original project started.

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Reviving the heritage and history of Chhattisgarh - Mid-day

Chandan Roy Sanyal Shed Lights On Insider-Outsider Debate

The insider-outsider debate keeps finding momentum in mainstream time and again. The most recent actor to talk about the same is Chandan Roy Sanyal. But the actor feels that the debate does not exist at all. He also expressed that he has not lost on any roles because he was an outsider. Below is all you need to know what the actor exactly has to say about the same. Read on!

Chandan was last seen in Bobby Deol led Ashram where his work was appreciated by the audience. The actor who made his debut with Rang De Basanti, has done films like Kaminey, D-Day and Prague. Sanyal feels that no insider would have done roles that he did.

Talking to ETimes, Chandan Roy Sanyal said, I dont think I have lost out on roles or films because I am an outsider, especially because someone like me is not considered for such roles. No insider would have played the roles that I did. Having said that, I feel there is no insider-outsider as such. Everybody is looking for their next job here. Even if you are the biggest superstar, you had two bad films and no one wants to invest money in you.

Chandan Roy Sanyal added, I feel I am in a much safer space. I am not a very expensive actor. No millions are riding on me. I am at ease as compared to someone who has millions invested in them and then they have to deliver millions back to them. I am acting without any pressure. I am not a brand or a commodity where I have to keep running my logo and my brand to sustain. For me, acting is a holiday and I want to keep it that way.

The actor in the chat further opened up on working in Kaminey and how he got the part after an audition. Chandan Roy Sanyal said, Kaminey was a full-fledged role, a serious character. It made difference to the story. Vishal Bhardwaj had just made Omkara which I loved and Shahid Kapoor was and even is a huge star. It was a big-budget film. I made many friends on the sets. I am in touch with most of them even now. Vishal sir and his wife Rekha Bhardwaj are like family to me. I still speak to them quite regularly.

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Chandan Roy Sanyal On Insider Vs Outsider Debate: No Insider Would Have Played The Roles That I Did - Koimoi

Dec 11, 2020, 07:30AM ISTSource: TOI.in

Rajneesh was born as Chandra Mohan Jain in Bhopal on December 11, 1931. He is also known as Acharya Rajneesh, Bhagwan Shri Rajneesh and Osho. Godman Osho was viewed as a controversial new religious movement leader and mystic. In 1960s, he travelled across India as a public speaker and he was a vocal critic of socialism. Rajneesh also criticised Mahatma Gandhi and orthodoxy of mainstream religions. Rajneesh main focus was on: importance of meditation, mindfulness and love, celebration and courage, creativity and humour-qualities. Rajneesh advocated a more open attitude towards sexuality. Osho became popular as 'the sex guru'. In 1970, Rajneesh spent time in Mumbai initiating followers known as 'neo-sannyasins'. Rajneesh expanded his spiritual teachings and commented extensively on religious traditions. In 1974, Rajneesh relocated to Pune, where an ashram was established. Various therapies developed by Human Potential Movement were offered at his Pune ashram. By late 1970s, a back tax claim estimated at $5 million was served on him. In 1981, Rajneesh movement's efforts refocused on activities in the US. Thereafter, Osho relocated to a facility known as Rajneeshpuram in Oregon's Wasco County. Almost immediately, the movement ran into conflict with county residents and Oregon administration. This was followed by a series of serious crimes allegedly by Oshos followers. Osho was deported from the US in accordance with an Alford plea bargain. Alford plea is a guilty plea under US law, whereby a defendant does not admit to criminal act and asserts innocence. After his deportation, 21 countries had denied him entry. Then Osho returned to India and revived the Pune ashram. Osho passed away at the Pune ashram on January 19, 1990. His ashram is now known as OSHO International Meditation Resort. The ashram and related intellectual property is managed by Osho International Foundation.

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Osho and his controversial life: All you need to know about Acharya Rajneesh - Times of India

Raipur: Universal Public Distribution Scheme is being implemented in Chhattisgarh state from October 2, 2019 i.e. the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. With this initiative of State Government, each every person of the state has access to ration card and ration. Now all the families of the state are eligible for ration card. Under Universal Public Distribution System, food grain entitlement of priority ration card holders has been increased and ration is being allotted to them as per the revised entitlement from August 2019. With implementation of this scheme, priority ration card holding single member families are being provided 10 kg rice, two-member families are being provided 20 kgs of rice, 3-5 member families are being provided 35 kg rice and families with 5 or more members are being provided 7kg rice per member per month at the rate of Rs 1/kg. Under the new PDS, families of general category (income tax payers and non-income tax payers) are also being provided food grains. On general category ration cards, rice is being allotted as following- 10 kg for 01-member family, 20 kg for 2-member family, 35 kg of food grains for 3 or more than 3-member family at the fixed rate of Rs. 10 per kg month. Presently, food grains are being provided to 9.39 lakh general ration card holder families. After the implementation of universal PDS in the state, food security has been ensured to 97 percent of the population in the state. At present food grains are being distributed to 2 crore 48 lakh people registered under 67 lakh 10 thousand ration cards. During the last 2 years, about 11 lakh 15 thousand new ration cards have been issued in the state and the names of 5 lakh 52 thousand new members have been added to the ration cards. The state government provisioned a huge amount of Rs 4,000 crore in the previous financial year 2019-20 to ensure food security for each and every household of the state. This year, provision of Rs 3409 crore has been made for the same. To eradicate the problem of iron deficiency in peopleof Bastar division, 6 lakh 71 thousand Antyodaya, priority, Annapurna, single destitute and disabled ration card holders are being provided 02 kg jaggery at a discounted rate of Rs 17 per kg per month from January 2020, under the Public Distribution System.- State Government is providing rice to 43 thousand 640 beneficiaries through 471 registered institutions in the state at its own expense. Since October 2019, State Government has been supplying food grains to state-funded and private ashram-hostels as well as welfare institutions. It is to be noted that Government of India has discontinued the allocation of food grains for the funded and private ashram-hostels as well as for the welfare institutions from April 2019. To meet the shortage of protein in the food of Antyodaya and priority category families in Scheduled Areas and Mada region of the state, 2 kg chickpeas are being distributed every month at the rate of Rs. 5 per kg. At present, about 25 lakh Antyodaya and priority ration card holders are being benefited.

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Now 97 percent of the people in Chhattisgarh have food security under Universal PDS Scheme - Odisha Diary

Between Two HillsA hill home is a dream many mountain-loving people harbour, and I was no exception to the rule, but it never quite materialised. However, when our COVID-19 induced virtual lifestyle started stifling me and my near and dear ones, we hatched a plan to move home for a month. Airbnb came to the rescue popping up Surya Villa, Delhi-based, Amita Bhandaris hill home in the Nainital district of Kumaon. The three-bedroom furnished villa came with a cook, a caretaker and most importantly, the promised good wi-fi connectivity. Life had zoomed in on us in a strange way, with most interactions being online in nature. As school, college and work all became virtual, I, along with my extended family of eight headed for the hills, armed with our unlimited mobile data plans and additional dongles.

After over nine hours on the highway (with halts for e-pass and covid report verification) we turned into the easily missable Bhorakoon turn, a short detour off the main Bhimtal road, leading to our destination at Suryagaon. As we turned the final steep stretch of the five-kilometre road, Surya Villa came into view. It enjoyed a pretty perch with a large garden sit out, a hammock-studded nook to the other side and two terrace gardens. Right below the hill, approximately a hundred-odd metres, glimmered the serenity of the interconnected lakes. Sattal comprises seven freshwater lakes. the largest of the lot Ram, Sita and Bharat take up the bottom of the bowl. The other lakes, hidden within the nooks and smaller hills, were all short walks left for local explorations in the coming days.

To The Forested Estate The following morning on my walk up I bumped into my neighbour, Alka Budhraja, who invited me to Glenwood, her charming home. We sat at her lake-view sit out surrounded by her six dogs, one of whom she had rescued from a leopard trap cage.

Amita had mentioned that we were on a private hill, but I had not quite fathomed just how private and sequestered it was. Conversations with Alka revealed the labour that went behind what was today Naveens Glen, comprising not one but two private hilltops. Way back in 1991, Alkas husband Naveen, a young mountain loving civil engineer, had chanced upon Suryagaon and saw potential in a place that was a parched wasteland, abandoned by the villagers due to lack of water. The villagers were more than eager to sell the dry land, and slowly, the Budhrajas acquired a fair bit of it on the two hills. With no water, electricity, or connectivity, the situation was quite dismal. It required tremendous foresight and vision for anyone to carve out the estate that it is today. What started as a one-room tenement with Alka cooking meals on a wood-fired stove on their short vacations here, developed into 35 beautiful cottages spaced well apart, occupyingthe two hilltops of Ararda and Tincheo, connected by the ridge at Panch Raasta. Trees were planted by the thousands to reforest the land. While Ararda had bespoke views of the lake and forest, Tinchau with its ridge-top location offered 360-degree views of the lakes, the Khaan Valley and the Gola River meandering through the flatlands of Haldwani.

One thing the Budhrajas were clear about was that they wanted a community of like-minded, nature-loving folks here. Friends and family bought into the idea, and Naveen, who was a great planner, went about designing and making idyllic hill cottages, all of them picturesquely nestled amid the forest. What was originally known as the Wooded Glen Estates has now been fondly renamed Naveens Glen after his untimely demise a few years back. The testimonials on their website by the various homeowners pay glowing tribute to the man who helped make their dream a reality.

Pro Tip: Be spoilt for choice at the Mall Road market in Bhimtal. PIck from an array of local items including handicrafts and paintings. Do not miss the fresh breads at Brownie Bakery.

Today, Alka and her children have taken the mantle forward. Upon deciding against building any more cottages, the focus shifted towards conservation and protection and the add ons that enhance the experience. Most of these projects were executed by planting more trees, prioritising cleanliness of the area, and organic farming to bring fresh produce for the denizens.

For a family that definitely loves food more than anything else in the world, a hearty meal is all that we could think of. Our meals were mostly home-cooked, doled out by Kailash, our man Friday, or one of us. Babs Caf In The Woods is the only eatery around run by Alka and her daughter Nitya. The succulent mutton patty burgers here are to die for. Top it up with the perfect crme brle and caramel chocolate mud pie for dessert.

Humming With the Locals The credit for the best pizza that I have ever sampled goes to Agnay, Alkas son. He used to run a successful pizza outlet called The Wood Fired Pizza Company. But for this homemade delight, you will need an invitation from the host. Thankfully, I made the cut and was invited to one such lunch at Alkas. With a mix of cheeses ranging from ricotta, feta, mozzarella and gouda, making their way onto the perfectly fluffy dough along with secret ingredients, it was an explosive blend of flavours. A candid chat with him revealed his plans to begin bee farming and hopefully create a model that villages in the district can emulate. Another evening stroll resulted in a chance encounter with Usha Upender, a passionate horticulturist and birder with the most exquisite garden. Usha and her husband Upender ran the Sattal Forest Resort, a set of four well-appointed beautiful cottages perched on the hill. On Tinchau, the adjoining hill, Nitya offered fully-equipped and furnished hill cottages and studios for guests.

Going Back to Nature As I was the only one relatively free in my hard-at-work family, I had pretty much covered most of the trails around Sattal. With a new walk every other day, I had explored the hillsides, walked through the forests, seen the lakes from all possible vantage points, encountered leeches and butterflies, snakes and saints, and above all kicked off my newfound birding hobby with much enthusiasm. With over 250 species of resident and migratory birds, Sattalalong with nearby Pangotare Kumaons top birding destinations.

Pro Tip: The Sattal-Pangot region is packed with many vibrant birds that migrate to the lower Himalaya during the winters. head to the woodpecker point to catch a glimpse.

While seasoned bird watchers talk of the rare species that they are yet to spot, for me, every new bird in sight was a beautiful rarity. I, along with Ankit Das, a fellow naturalist, roamed the entirety of Sattal for over six hours. However, the showstopper was spotted not on the trail but rather, when we halted midway, near an old water spout. They will come maam, Ankit assured me. And boy did they stick to his wordthe russet sparrow, rosefinch, oriental white eye, the powdery blue verditer flycatcher and many more frolicked in the stream, as I continued feasting my eyes, glued to the binoculars.

The walk to the Hadimba Temple in a forested groove above Suryagaon was lovely. I mistakenly forayed onto the jungle trail instead of the cemented path. Right opposite, at the far bottom near the main Sattal lake was the beautiful property of the Sattal Christian Ashram founded byDr E. Stanley Jones in 1930. Occupying the entire forested hill, the ashram consisted of two churches and a few quaint British- era bungalows. The Garuda Tal, perhaps the most charming of all the lakes mostly because of its quiet location and size, beckoned a dip. Sukha Tal was a tiny lake, and Nal Damyanti was the seventh lake with a rather gory old tale to its credit.

As we embraced autumn, the wafting clouds of the receding monsoons turned to crisp, clear skies and cooler temperatures. The chirping of birds became more prominent over the din of cicadas, and the skies blanketed us with stars looking upon. Sadly, all good things come to an end. It was time for us to pack our bags and return. I was reluctant to leave the paradise. A month of living like a local had suited me quite well. To quote Ruskin Bond, Once you have lived in the mountains, you belong to them. There is no escape.

Information

Nearest Airport: Delhi, 280 kms By Rail: The early morning Kathgodam Express is a great way to reach Sattal. Suryagaon is a 45-minute drive from the station

Where to Stay: Surya Villa: A quaint and quiet vacation home situated amid lush green landscape

Naveens Glen: A 3-bedroom Spanish villa, overlooking the Sattal lake. Head to Babs Caf in the woods, the only eatery that serves the guests at their cottageand studio units

Sattal Forest Resort: A boutique resort, set amid thick pine and oak forests that offer bird-watching experiences and nature trails

Vanatara:A hidden retreat with cosy cottages and a large meditation room. Do not miss out on the authentic Kumaoni fare

Under the Wing: A combined tour of Pangot-Sattal is recommended for an unparalleled birding experience

Visit the local Butterfly Museum where you can watch over 2,500 butterfly and moth specimens

Hire a guide for bird watching or take an experienced birder along to know more about resident and migratory birds that reside here

Out and About:Trek through the rhododendron and oak forests or take a stroll along the pristine lake

Rock climbing, rappelling, river crossing and mountain biking are some of the action-packed activities offered by the adventure camps

Paddle in the waters of Sattal if jungle adventures are not your calling

Local authorities must be contacted for permission and for hiring equipments for fishing

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Song of the Hills - Outlook India