Ganga being used as swimming pool

Varanasi, Mon, 27 Apr 2009 ANI                                   By Girish Kumar Dubey

Varanasi, Apr 27 (ANI): With water level low in Ganga River in Varanasi, it is being used as a swimming pool by the children.Small children are being given training in swimming on the banks of Ganga instead of an artificial swimming pool. 

Ajit Yadav, a trainer said that training in River Ganga would prove more beneficial and fruitful for the students as compared to the training given in artificial swimming pools.  

"In River Ganga, the training for swimming is given in such a way so that the person can survive in any uncertain condition in a natural way. Whereas in swimming pools, there is an artificial compound where a particular child has to swim within a limited area. Confidence level of a person does not open up as well," said Yadav.River Ganga is believed to be the mother of all rivers.Children claim to feel safe while learning swimming in the lap of their mother.

Sonali Chatterjee, who is learning swimming on the banks of Ganga said that the training in the banks of Ganga is a must for today's generation."We don't receive proper training in the swimming pools as compared to the training given in near the banks of River Ganga. Nowadays, most of the accidents happen near these banks only so I think today's generation should learn swimming near the banks instead of the swimming pools," said hatterjee.The concept of swimming pools in India has been adopted from the Western and European culture which according to our climate and culture is not at all beneficial. (ANI)

Varanasi tourism hopes to capitalise on Delhi Commonwealth Games

Varanasi, Sat, 24 Apr 2010 ANI                                   By Girish Kumar Dubey

Varanasi, Apr 24 (ANI): Tourism and hospitality sectors in Varanasi are hoping to capitalise October 2010 Commonwealth Games 2010 in New Delhi.Tourists and devotees throng the holy city, every year to enjoy its pilgrimage spots and historical monuments.  

Laudera Nader, a travel agent, said advance bookings all in and he hopes to generate good business during the Games.  

"The Commonwealth Games is starting from October 13, So we are expecting an increase. In fact, from now only, we have started receiving bookings for the best beds to best cars, because obviously when the clients come to Delhi to watch the Commonwealth Games, they will visit Varanasi because it's a part of the heritage city.
They will visit Varanasi, Agra, Jaipur and Delhi, So, we are expecting an increase," said Nader.Jayant Pathak, Operations Manager with the city's Siddarth Hotel, said an increase of 20 to 30 percent over normal bookings could be expected. (ANI)

Senior citizens in Varanasi expect more social security from budget

Varanasi, Sun, 05 Jul 2009 ANI                              By Girish Kumar Dubey

Varanasi, July 5 (ANI): Senior citizens here are expecting more social security benefits from the Budget 2009-10.With the joint family system being phased out as nuclear families take root, the elder are being left on their own. The old age homes come as a last resort for those who once took an active part in the society, but are now left to fend for themselves.  

Though in current scenario, number of old-age homes has come up, but there is a need for many more such homes in India."We really hope and expect that government will look after us. This time again, the Congress has come to power. We really hope that the Manmohan Singh's Government will support helpless, poor and aged," said Roma Mazumdar, an elderly woman from the old age home.Older people are especially vulnerable due to their physical frailty and lack of mobility.

Most of the older persons in India have no social security, living in rural areas. While 30 per cent of them live without two square meals a day, an estimated 55 per cent of the older population consists of women, with no support whatsoever.Plagued by uncertainties of the future, the inmates of the old age home share a wonderful camaraderie amongst themselves.As of now, they eagerly await the budget to know what benefits it holds for them."The Government should pay attention towards us and take care of our needs, " said David Pal, an elderly from the old age home. (ANI) 

Varanasi residents buckle under soaring prices of essentials commodities

Varanasi, Tue, 15 Dec 2009 ANI                               By Girish Kumar Dubey

Varanasi, Dec 15 (ANI): Rising prices of essential commodities are weighing down the residents in Varanasi. The skyrocketing prices of commodities are making it difficult for people to make ends meet."These days, prices have risen so much that it has become difficult for common people to survive; leave aside affording clothing and a house, it has become difficult to even eat.," said Ajay Singh Bhargav, a customer.

The soaring prices have taken a beating on the shopkeepers as well, as they have been experiencing a dip in their business."Due to this price hike, we are also facing a tough time along with the customers. A few days ago, the customer used to get a bag full of vegetables for 100 rupees, but nowadays, they are hardly able to purchase two to three vegetables for that amount.

The customers seem reluctant to purchase vegetables," said Satya Prakash, a vegetable seller.India's annual wholesale price inflation was 1.34 percent in October, but the benign numbers just reflect the high base effect of prices a year ago, and hide the real rise in the prices of food articles. The WPI has already risen to over six percent from the beginning of the 2009-10 financial year that started in April.Economists have said the inflation could rise to as much as eight percent by the end of the financial year-above the central bank's perceived comfort zone of around five percent. (ANI)

Sale of miniature Quran books up in Varanasi during Ramajan

Varanasi, Sun, 06 Sep 2009 ANI                                           By Girish Kumar Dubey

Varanasi, Sep. 6 (ANI): The copies of a one-inch miniature Quran are selling like hot cakes in Varanasi during the holy month of Ramajan.The miniature of the Quran, available in different colour covers, are being curiously lapped up by the customers.They are in big demand not only in India but also overseas.  

"The Holy Quran sells in a big way at our shop during Ramajan. This time one inch-Quran is in big demand. This is the Quran... It is exported to Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. People wear it around their necks like lockets," says Ramjan Ali, a shopkeeper.People say these miniature copies have the same virtue and value of the Quran.

 Apart from its unique size, people say the miniature copies can be handy while traveling and have the same healing power and spiritual power of the Quran."If we are travelling and we don't have the Quran then we can take the small one with us. If we get scared of any thing then the Quran protects us," said Taqir Hussain, a buyer.The scriptures written on the miniature book are hardly legible, but the book does make a nice souvenir to present and for the 'faithful' it acts a protective cover during a crisis. (ANI) 

Varanasi hosts all-religion meet

Varanasi, Mon, 20 Apr 2009ANI                                       By Girish Kumar Dubey

Varanasi, Apr 20 (ANI): Buddhist monks and other religious leaders from all across the country gathered here for an all-faith meeting.The one-day conference on Sunday mainly deliberated on the similarities between Buddhist and Vedic cultures."The Buddhist and the Vedic are from the same culture.These two traditions have a lot of similarities as far as the religious and cultural aspects are concerned. If we see from the philosophical point also they complement each other from time immemorial,"

said Romonov, a Buddhist philosopher.Tibetan scholar, Tenzin said that he hoped the conference would spread the message of goodness across the world."The conference will spread the message of goodness across the world. This will further strengthen the relations between Tibet and India," said Tenzin.Tibetans recently celebrated a 'Thank You' festival aimed at showing their appreciation towards the Indian Government and people for providing them shelter since their flight to India in 1959. (ANI)

Protest over 2010 Commonwealth Games in Varanasi

Varanasi, Mon, 12 Jul 2010 ANI                                       By Girish Kumar Dubey

Varanasi, July 12 (ANI): The members of 'Paharuaa Jann Sangathan', a voluntary organisation, staged a highly charged protest against the Queen's Baton and the hosting of the 2010 Commonwealth Games in India in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi city on Monday.The protestors raised slogans against the Queen's Baton and burnt posters and an effigy of Shera, the mascot of the Commonwealth Games.  

They said the Queen's Baton is a symbol of slavery and has no meaning for independent countries. 

"We are protesting Queen's Baton because it is a symbol of pure slavery. Queen's Baton means the punishment stick of the queen. It has no meaning in any independent and democratic country. The Commonwealth Games are organised for countries, which were the slaves of the British Government at some point of time," said Rajeev Singh, a member of the Paharuaa Jann Sangathan.

 "We are protesting these Commonwealth Games in the name of nationalism, and we are protesting because almost 300,000 slum houses were displaced in Delhi, and were not given any shelter by the government," he added.The protestors further said the money spent on the preparations for the Commonwealth Games should have been spent on the country's development, and in solving problems like the Maoists and militancy.The initial budget for the Games passed by the Central Government put the total expenditure at Rs 35.66 billion, but with rising costs, the official figure stood at Rs 100 billion as of March 2010. (ANI)