September 18, 2025 12:42 PM

Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra resumes after temporary suspension

Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra resumed on Thursday in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district after being temporarily halted on Wednesday due to inclement weather. The pilgrimage had restarted on September 17 after a 22-day suspension but was briefly halted again as bad weather returned to the area. Officials of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) confirmed that all facilities are now fully operational, allowing pilgrims to move from the base camp in Katra towards the shrine. Helicopter ser...

July 19, 2025 9:37 AM

Amarnath Yatra proceeds peacefully, over 2.73 lakh pilgrims have had darshan

The annual Amarnath Yatra continues to progress smoothly, with over 2.73 lakh pilgrims having had darshan at the holy cave shrine in the last 16 days since the pilgrimage began on July 3, officials confirmed. On Saturday, a fresh batch of 6,365 pilgrims departed from Jammu’s Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in two escorted convoys. The first convoy, comprising 92 vehicles, left at 3:25 a.m. with 2,851 pilgrims heading to the Baltal base camp, while the second convoy of 119 vehicles departed at 3:53...

July 10, 2025 2:10 PM

Shravani Mela begins in Deoghar, lakhs of Kanwariyas embark on 108 km pilgrimage

Shravani Mela commenced on Thursday at Baba Baidyanath Dham in Deoghar, Jharkhand, with lakhs of Kanwariyas thronging the sacred town to begin their month-long pilgrimage during the holy month of Sawan. The fair was formally inaugurated at Dumma, on the Jharkhand–Bihar border, in a traditional ceremony marked by Vedic chants. Jharkhand ministers Sudivya Kumar Sonu, Deepika Pandey Singh, and Sanjay Prasad Yadav jointly inaugurated the event. Baba Baidyanath Dham, home to Kamna Mahadev, one of...

June 29, 2025 12:06 PM

Mann Ki Baat: PM Modi extends best wishes to devotees going on religious yatras, praises spirit of service

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday extended heartfelt wishes to devotees embarking on various religious yatras across the country through his monthly radio show 'Mann Ki Baat'. He also lauded those who, with a selfless spirit of service, contribute to the smooth and safe conduct of these spiritual journeys. "When one embarks on a pilgrimage, the first feeling that arises is 'Let's go, we have been called!' This emotion is the soul of our pilgrimage. These pilgrimages are a means of discipl...

June 4, 2025 10:00 AM

India’s cultural renaissance: A journey of heritage, unity and global influence

India’s cultural renaissance over the last eleven years has been guided by a vision that seeks to uphold the nation's deep-rooted heritage while embracing the modern world. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, this revival has blended spirituality, infrastructure, and inclusivity—bringing India’s timeless traditions into global focus. Culture has become a key pillar of national identity and international diplomacy. From restoring temples to reclaiming artefacts, from celebrat...