Varanasi silk industry trying to regain foreign markets

Tue, 01 Jan 2008 ANI                                            By Girish Kumar Dubey

Varanasi, July 18 (ANI): Silk industry in Varanasi is trying to regain foothold in international markets as China imposes restrictions on the export of silk products.China has reportedly imposed restrictions on the export of silk products as the recent earthquake in Sichuan province destroyed the majority of mulberry gardens in the area and China is unable to meet eve its domestic requirements.  The traditional silk sarees makers in Varanasi are upbeat about their business and hope to capture the foreign markets.

"The moment we received the news that China has banned its silk exports, we thought we could regain the markets we had lost out due to the adverse rupee-dollar equation coupled with the attractive rates of the Chinese products. We are trying to capture the American and the European markets," said Arun Agarwal, a silk exporter.Other exporters feel that they can now make their presence felt in the South Asian markets where China has been dominating.

"China used to dominate the South Asian markets completely. If we export like some 1000 items, they export 100,000 items. This is a very good time for us to reverse the situation so that people recognize our quality and do not fall for the cheaper prices of Chinese silk products," said Mukund Agarwal, another exporter.According to latest reports in India, the country's silk exports comprising mainly natural silk, readymade garments and carpets registered a 25 per cent growth at 897.01 million dollars in 2007-08, against 716.45 million dollars in2006-07.Reports suggest that Indian silk is being exported to around 200 countries and the demand is increasing steadily particularly from the American and the European countries.

India stands second only to China in silk production.Varanasi is known for its silk a time-tested icon of craftsmanship. The Banarsee silk saree industry is the mainstay of the holy city. According to traders, synthetic-mixed silk sarees available at cheaper rates in the market. Consumers are often dissuaded to buy pure silk sarees, as they are unsure of the quality. (ANI) 

Varanasi astrologers predict recession free 2010

Varanasi, Thu, 31 Dec 2009 ANI                                   By Girish Kumar Dubey

Varanasi, Dec 31 (ANI): Varanasi has astrologers predicted that recession would be over in the year 2010.

 The recession, which began to recede in 2008-2009, is expected to bring respite to global business. 

"Not only India but the world will come out of financial meltdown because the three planets-Jupiter, Venus and Mars, responsible for bringing out the world from recession, are better placed," said Kameshwar Upadhyay, an astrologer.

Astrologers also predicted that 2010 would see a downturn in rising prices of essential commodities. 

"The era of financial meltdown will finally end. People would have ample wealth, but there would be relatively high prices because...weaker sections of society would be hit. But by February 2010, the rising prices will begin to recede," said Prasad Dikshit, another astrologer.

 India's food price index rose 18.65 percent in the 12 months to December 12, from 19.95 a week earlier. 

Food prices are jumping because of shortages after crops were hit by the weakest monsoon rains in 37 years and then floods in parts of the country. (ANI)

 

Tibetan robes in great demand in Varanasi

Varanasi, Thu, 11 Dec 2008 ANI                                         By Girish Kumar Dubey                                                                                                            

Varanasi, Dec 11 (ANI) Varanasi, famous for silk, is fast emerging as a market for the traditional Tibetan robes.

 

Tibetan robes made of brocket cloth and peacock feather has been given a special place in Buddhist religion. The Buddhist monks consider it as a holy cloth and use it in every religious activity and ceremony.

According to the exporters, the demand of robes made of peacock feathers is high in foreign countries and fetch a good deal of foreign clients. 

"Peacock feather is in great demand in foreign countries and the Tibetan use it in their religious works also," said Badruddin Ansari, an exporter.

 The main source of income for the weavers involved in the making of these robes comes from the sale of brocket cloth and regular export helps them to earn their livelihood.According to the Buddhist monks, the cloth is so pristine that to wear it, a man has to prove his qualities. Only monks of high status in Buddhist religion can use it. 

"Varanasi silk cloth is very famous and it has been given high status in our religion, so a common man can't use it. There should be some merits for a man to use it. It is mainly used in Chatpadu, Tibetan Lohsan, religious functions and programmes," said Karma, a Buddhist monk.

 Tibetan exiles set up makeshift shops every year for two months at various places in India as winter approaches and make brisk sales at reasonable prices. (ANI)

Devotees throng Hindu temples in northern India on last

Devotees throng Hindu temples in northern India on last

                                            By Girish Kumar Dubey
Devotees turned out in large numbers to offer prayers at the Lord Shiva (Hindu god) temple in Varanasi of India's northern Uttar Pradesh state on the last Monday (August 08) of the ongoing holy month of Shravan (monsoon), which is regarded to be an auspicious period in the Hindu calendar.

The Kashi Vishwanath-Gyanvapi Complex in Varanasi acquired a blazing orange hue, when Kanwariyas (Hindu pilgrims) dressed in saffron attire recited religious hymns and performed rituals.

The district administration and police tightened the security, so as to avert any untoward incident.

"There is a lot of significance behind the last Monday of 'Shravan' (monsoon festival).This is the most important jyotirlingam (shrine)out of the 12 jyotirlingams in the country. If you visit this shrine once in your lifetime, everything would be prosperous in the future," said Ravi Shankar Shukla, a devotee.

Kanwariyas, devout worshippers of Lord Shiva performed various rituals and travelled several miles with an aim to take part in the celebrations that would be held at the Varanasi temple.

"Today is the last Monday of Sawan and it is considered to be a very auspicious day. This is the reason why we come here every year. In fact, we feel very good when we come here. People come here every year in large numbers, only to worship Lord Shiva," said Pramod, a Hindu pilgrim.

Meanwhile, people in other parts of the country have also geared up to celebrate the last Monday of the monsoon festival with fervour and gaiety.

A traditional ritual known as 'Bhoot ki Baraat' or a 'procession of ghostly spirits' is taken out every year during this period.

The devotees dance to religious tunes and offer prayers to Hindu God, Lord Shiva. This procession is organised by Kawar Sewa Samiti every year and several Hindu pilgrims take part in the procession.

It is believed that devotees can get an opportunity to see the spirits.

According to the Hindu almanac, the month of 'Shravan' usually falls between July and August. During this month, a large number of kanwariyas walk to the banks of the River Ganges in Haridwar town of northern Uttar Pradesh state to fetch the holy water.

They carry it back in their decorated pots to their hometowns, where it is offered to the Hindu deity, Lord Shiva at various temples and religious places.

Over the years, as the number of pilgrims increased manifold, so has the business of making 'kanwars.'

Intro

Devotees turn out in large numbers to offer prayers at the Lord Shiva (Hindu god) temple in India's northern Uttar Pradesh state on the last Monday of the ongoing holy month of Shravan (monsoon), regarded to be an auspicious period in the Hindu calendar.

PLEASE NOTE THIS EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL

Shotlist

VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (AUGUST 08, 2011) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC)

1. DEVOTEES STANDING

2. DEVOTEES PERFORMING A RITUAL

3. DEVOTEES TAKING A HOLY DIP IN THE GANGES RIVER

4. EXTERIOR OF A TEMPLE

5. DEVOTEES STANDING OUTSIDE A TEMPLE

6. DEVOTEES STANDING IN A QUEUE

7. KANWARIYAS (HINDU PILGRIMS) STANDING IN A QUEUE

8. DEVOTEES STANDING IN A QUEUE

9. DEVOTEES SHOUTING SLOGANS

10. HINDU PILGRIMS STANDING

11. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) RAVI SHANKAR SHUKLA, A DEVOTEE, SAYING:

"There is a lot of significance behind the last Monday of 'Shravan' (monsoon festival). This is the most important jyotirlingam (shrine) out of the 12 jyotirlingams in the country. If you visit this shrine once in your lifetime, everything would be prosperous in the future."

12. DEVOTEES WALKING ON A STREET

13. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) PRAMOD, A HINDU PILGRIM, SAYING:

"Today is the last Monday of Sawan and it is considered to be a very auspicious day. This is the reason why we come here every year. In fact, we feel very good when we come here. People come here every year in large numbers, only to worship Lord Shiva."

14. HINDU PILGRIMS STANDING

MORADABAD, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (AUGUST 07, 2011) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC)

15. A DEVOTEE DANCING

16. A DEVOTEE DRESSED UP AS LORD SHIVA

17. DEVOTEES DANCING

18. A WOMAN DANCING TO A SONG

19. A DEVOTEE PERFORMING A RITUAL

20. DEVOTEES DRESSED UP AS GHOSTS

Original Script Date

Aug 08 09:06 (8 hours ago)

Modified Script Date

Aug 08 09:06 (8 hours ago)

Script Version

1

Headline

Devotees throng Hindu temples in northern India on last.

Services

Subcon Extra

Locations

VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA

Dates Shot

AUGUST 08, + 07, 2011

Sound

NATURAL WITH HINDI SPEECH

Duration

2:25

People protest against Australian radio in northern India for dubbing river Ganga as 'junkyard'.

People protest against Australian radio in northern India for dubbing river Ganga as 'junkyard;
                                                             
                                              By Girish Kumar Dubey
People in northern India's Uttar Pradesh state protested against an Australian radio station on Tuesday (August 02) where a popular radio host reportedly termed river Ganga as 'junkyard' and India a 'shit hole'.

Members of the local organisation called Vishal Bharat Sansthan of the state's Varanasi city protested against the remarks of the radio show.

In a recent episode of the "Kyle and Jackie O Show" at "2dayFM 104.1", which was aired in Australia's Sydney city, host Kyle Sandilands reportedly made these derogatory remarks, ridiculing Ganga and India.

"Our culture has relations with the Ganga. How can they not hurt our feelings when they call our Ganga as an impure river? All the students who go to Australia from here face violence as they are beaten up. So today the members of the Vishal Bharat Sansthan have burned an effigy of Australia keeping the Indian sentiments in mind," said Puja Bharat Vanshi, one of the protestors.

The members of the organisation led groups of young children in the protest march, most of whom were local rag picking children.

The protestors were demanding that the radio show hosts should formally apologise to the Indian people.

"The people of Australia have called Ganga as a junkyard. We will keep on burning their effigies and continue our protests until they apologise," said Tazim Ahmed, one of the protesting children.

Ganga is considered one of the holiest rivers in the Hindu religion and it is believed that a bath in the river purifies a person of one's sins.

The remarks of the radio show hosts have evoked strong reactions from Indians staying in Australia and many more in India.

The attacks on Indian students had been a matter of serious concern in past diplomatic talks between India and Australia and now this controversy has added a new row to the scenario.

Intro

People in northern India's Uttar Pradesh state protest against an Australian radio station where a popular radio host reportedly termed river Ganga as 'junkyard' and India a 'shit hole'.

PLEASE NOTE THIS EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIALS

Shotlist

VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (AUGUST 02, 2011) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC)

1. A GROUP OF CHILDREN PROTESTING WITH BANNERS AND PLACARDS

2. A YOUNG GIRL WITH A PLACARD READING 'AUSTRALIA MURDABAD'

3. PROTESTORS HOLDING AN EFFIGY TITLED 'BAD AUSTRALIA'

4. A GROUP OF CHILDREN PROTESTING

5. CHILDREN STANDING WITH PLACARDS

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) PUJA BHARAT VANSHI, A MEMBER OF VISHAL BHARAT SANSTHAN, AN ORGANIZATION, SAYING:

"Our culture has relations with the Ganga. How can they not hurt our feelings when they call our Ganga as an impure river? All the students who go to Australia from here face violence as they are beaten up. So today the members of the Vishal Bharat Sansthan have burned an effigy of Australia keeping the Indian sentiments in mind."

7. PROTESTORS SETTING FIRE TO THE EFFIGY

8. EFFIGY BURNING

9. PROTESTORS SLOGANEERING BEFORE THE BURNING EFFIGY

10. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) TAZIM AHMED, A CHILD PROTESTOR, SAYING:

"The people of Australia have called Ganga as a junkyard. We will keep on burning their effigies and continue our protests until they apologise."

FILE (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC)

11. PEOPLE OFFERING RITUAL PRAYERS ON THE BANKS OF THE GANGA RIVER

12. A GROUP OF WOMEN PRAYING IN THE GANGA

13. A MAN PRAYING IN THE RIVER WATER

14. RIVER GANGA FLOWING

Original Script Date

Aug 02 17:58 (1 day ago)

Modified Script Date

Aug 02 17:58 (1 day ago)

Script Version

1

Headline

Original Script Date

Aug 02 17:58 (1 day ago)

Modified Script Date

Aug 02 17:58 (1 day ago)

Script Version

1

Headline

People protest against Australian radio in northern India for dubbing river Ganga as 'junkyard'.

Services

Subcon Extra

Locations

VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA

Dates Shot

AUGUST 02, 2011, /FILE

Sound

NATURAL WITH HINDI SPEECH

Duration

1:39

Services

Subcon Extra

Locations

VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA

Dates Shot

AUGUST 02, 2011, /FILE

Sound

NATURAL WITH HINDI SPEECH

Duration

1:39

Hindu devotees deposit handwritten chants at a unique religious bank in north India

Hindu devotees deposit handwritten chants at a unique religious bank in north India
                                                                ByGirish Kumar Dubey
Varanasi, the temple city in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh boasts of a unique bank where Hindu devotees deposit their prayers dedicated to Lord Shiva!

Yes, these devotees deposit their books filled with chants 'Om Namah Shivaya' at this bank which functions during the month of Shravana (monsoon), regarded as an auspicious period.

The 'banking' temple close to the banks of River Ganga was set up in 2002 and it accepts deposits in form of handwritten chants Om Namah Shivaya.

Devotees believe they would be blessed by this exercise of depositing the handwritten Panchakshari Mantra (devotional hymn dedicated to Lord Shiva).

Rajendra Trivedi, a devotee said there is no fee for opening an account and paper is provided to the devotees by the bank.

"You just need to take a notebook and become a member of this religious bank. There is no fee to open an account; one has to merely write Panchakshari Mantra (devotional song dedicated to Lord Shiva) innumerable times. The difference between the two banks is that unlike the commercial bank it is not money oriented and does not take any deposit to open account. Here prayers and belief in Lord Shiva are accumulated. Well, there is no tax on anything," said Rajendra Trivedi.

Over the years millions of such handwritten papers have been deposited and these have been bundled and kept in shelves at the bank.

"I have been associated with this bank for the past one year and over this period I have been writing the chants. This makes one feel at peace and receive blessings of Lord Shiva protecting from all evils," said another devotee, Ankur Pandey.

According to Hindu scriptures Shiva Purana and Dashavatara (ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu), during the churning of the ocean known as Samundra Manthan, poison emerged out.

The venom was deadly for the entire mankind and divine entities were distraught, unaware how to destroy it.

At this juncture, Lord Shiva took a precarious step of drinking the venom to save his devotees.

He drank the poison but did not swallow it. He allowed it to remain in his throat, which turned his throat blue and the monsoon showers lent him immense relief. Hence Lord Shiva is referred as Neelakantha.

In Sanskrit, Neela means blue, Kantha means throat.

Intro

Devotees of Hindu God Shiva deposit their books filled with chants 'Om Namah Shivaya' at a unique bank that functions during the month of Shravana (monsoon), reckoned to be auspicious, at Varanasi in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL

Shotlist

VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (AUGUST 03, 2011) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC)

1. A DEVOTEE SITTING AT THE RELIGIOUS BANK

2. A DEVOTEE SCRIBBLING PRAYER CHANTS DEDICATED TO HINDU GOD, SHIVA

3. A DEVOTEE WRITING CHANTS ON A NOTEBOOK

4. A DEVOTEE

5. PAPERS WITH THE CHANTS WRITTEN ON THEM

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) RAJENDRA TRIVEDI, A DEVOTEE, SAYING:

"You just need to take a notebook and become a member of this religious bank. There is no fee to open an account; one has to merely write Panchakshari Mantra (devotional song dedicated to Lord Shiva) innumerable times. The difference between the two banks is that unlike the commercial bank it is not money oriented and does not take any deposit to open account. Here prayers and belief in Lord Shiva are accumulated. Well, there is no tax on anything."

7. SEVERAL NOTEBOOKS KEPT ON A SHELF

8. NOTEBOOKS BUNDLED IN CLOTH KEPT ON THE SHELVES

9. FILES KEPT ON THE TABLE

10. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) ANKUR PANDEY, ANOTHER DEVOTEE, SAYING:

"I have been associated with this bank for the past one year and over this period I have been writing the chants. This makes one feel at peace and receive blessings of Lord Shiva protecting from all evils."

11. DEVOTEES PRAYING

12. DEVOTEE PERFORMING 'AARTI' (HINDU RITUAL OF WORSHIP)

13. DEVOTEE PRAYING

Original Script Date

Aug 03 10:47 (1 day ago)

Modified Script Date

Aug 03 10:47 (1 day ago)

Script Version

1

Headline

Hindu devotees deposit handwritten chants at a unique religious bank in north India.

Services

Subcon Extra

Locations

VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA

Dates Shot

AUGUST 03, 2011

Sound

NATURAL WITH HINDI SPEECH

Duration

2:22

Senior Congress leader slams India’s veteran social activist Anna Hazare

Senior Congress leader slams India's veteran social activist Anna Hazare

AUGUST 01, 2011(ANI)                                                          By Girish Kumar Dubey

Senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh on Monday (August01) slammed India's veteran social activist Anna Hazare for trying to enforce his demands in the Ombudsman Bill by threatening to undertake an indefinite hunger strike at the Jantar Mantar, a protest site, in New Delhi.

Singh while talking to mediapersons in Varanasi town in northern India's Uttar Pradesh said that it is not the responsibility of government to decide whether Anna Hazare would sit on a fast or not.

"This is not my job to stop him (Anna Hazare, India's noted social activist) or to ask him to sit here (at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi).

Q: Anna Hazrae says that the Bill is not correct?

A: Tell me who will pass the Bill (Ombudsman Bill), Anna Hazare or the Parliament? Who has got more powers the Indian constitution or Anna Hazare? So, let the Parliament decide," said Singh.

The Delhi Police refused to grant permission to social activist Anna Hazare and his team from holding the hunger strike from August 16 to pressurize the federal government for passing the Lokpal (Ombudsman Bill).

The fast was scheduled to be held at the national capital's Jantar Mantar venue after the previous talks in the drafting committee of the Bill between the government and the activists failed.

Singh also criticised northern India's Uttar Pradesh state chief Mayawati for the recent upheaval in her own native village f Badalpur against land acquisition by the government.

Accusing the Mayawati government of robbing the people, the Congress party leader also said that if the state government returned back the looted money to the farmers a settlement would be reached.

"The money which Mayawati has forcibly looted from the farmers and filled her own pockets, if she returns that amount then we would reach a settlement," Singh added.

About 50 farmers of the village have petitioned the Allahabad High Court against acquisition of their land by the state government of Uttar Pradesh saying they were not paid adequate compensation when their land was snatched.

Singh further said the Congress party was not happy with the action taken by the state administration against the police officials who had brutally attacked the villagers in Bhatta-Parsaul village of Greater Noida.

"In the villages there was corruption prevalent in NREGA (National Rural Employment Generation Scheme). The state government has acted against 100 people but we are not happy with the process. We want an FIR (First Information Report) to be lodged against them," he added.

The government had to put an 'urgency clause' to take over 230 hectares of land in the village area after the state government revealed that the land would be used for laying out parks and roads instead of industrial purposes.

The regional Bahujan Samaj Party-led Uttar Pradesh government had taken over several hectares of farmers' land in the state under the provisions of the Land Acquisition Act for industrial projects, but later converted them to residential projects.

Earlier this year the state witnessed fierce altercation between the police and farmers of Bhatta-Parsaul village of Greater Noida over the acquisition of their land, which resulted in the death of four persons, including two policemen.

Intro

Senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh slams India's veteran social activist for trying to enforce his demands in the Ombudsman Bill by threatening to undertake an indefinite hunger strike at the Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL

Shotlist

VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (AUGUST 01, 2011) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC)

1. 'LAL BAHADUR SHASTRI AIRPORT VARANASI' WRITTEN ON A BOARD

2. DIGVIJAY SINGH, SENIOR CONGRESS LEADER ARRIVING TO ADDRESS MEDIAPERSONS

3. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) DIGVIJAY SINGH, SENIOR CONGRESS LEADER, SAYING:

"This is not my job to stop him (Anna Hazare, India's noted social activist) or to ask him to sit here (at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi).

Q: Anna Hazrae says that the Bill is not correct?

A: Tell me who will pass the Bill (Ombudsman Bill), Anna Hazare or the Parliament? Who has got more powers the Indian constitution or Anna Hazare? So, let the Parliament decide."

4. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) DIGVIJAY SINGH, SENIOR CONGRESS LEADER, SAYING:

"The money which Mayawati has forcibly looted from the farmers and filled her own pockets, if she returns that amount then we would reach a settlement."

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) DIGVIJAY SINGH, SENIOR CONGRESS LEADER, SAYING:

"In the villages there was corruption prevalent in NREGA (National Rural Employment Generation Scheme). The state government has acted against 100 people but we are not happy with the process. We want an FIR (First Information Report) to be lodged against them."

6. SINGH TALKING WITH PARTY MEMBERS

7. SINGH GETTING INSIDE A CAR

8. CARS LEAVING

Original Script Date

Aug 01 18:52 (22 hours ago)

Modified Script Date

Aug 01 18:52 (22 hours ago)

Script Version

1

Headline

Senior Congress leader slams India's veteran social activist Anna Hazare.

Services

Subcon Extra

Locations

VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA

Dates Shot

AUGUST 01, 2011

Sound

NATURAL WITH HINDI SPEECH

Duration

1:14