Devotees observe fast to celebrate Hindu festival in northern India.

Devotees observe fast to celebrate Hindu festival in northern India.
                                                    By Girish Kumar Dubey

Devotes in Varanasi city of India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh observed fast to celebrate the Hindu festival, Nirjala Ekadasi on Sunday (June 12).

Nirajala Ekadasi is one of the most popular and toughest 'Ekadasi' (11th day) fasting days. Nirjala Ekadasi is also known as Pandav Bhim ekadasi fast.

In Nirjala Ekadasi, people abstain even from consuming water.

Nirjala Ekadasi is dedicated to Hindu lord Vishnu, preserver of the Universe, and is observed on the 11th day of a fortnight in a traditional Hindu calendar.

"On the day of Nirjala Ekadasi (the eleventh day of a fortnight in a traditional Hindu calendar), devotees from all over the country visit Rajendra Prasad ghat (in Varanasi). Thousands of devotees carry kalash (mud pot) filled with pure holy waters from all over the country. They would offer the holy water in Kashi Viswanath Temple (a famous temple in Varanasi). This year holy waters from Chitrakoot Dham (a place in Uttar Pradesh), river Bagmati of Nepal and from other important rivers of the country have been brought, which would be consecrated," said Sudama Tiwari, a devotee.

Legend goes the way that the second brother of Pandavas (the five acknowledged sons of King Pandu from the Hindu epic Mahabharata) wanted to fast on Ekadasi but still ate food. So, sage Vyas advised him to observe Nirjala Ekadasi fasting, which falls during shukla paksha in Jyeshtha month (third month of a traditional Hindu calendar).

Nirjala refers to 'without water'; hence on this day staunch Vishnu devotees who undertake this fast do not drink water or eat food for the day.

"Today, we are observing this fast for those who are hungry, unhappy and thirsty in India as well as in the world and so with this medium (by observing this fast), we will provide water and food so that peace, harmony and prosperity prevails in the country," said Dharmasheel Chaturvedi, a devotee.

The observation of vows on this day has references in the Indian epic Mahabharata which says that Bhima, one of the protagonists of the epic, observed fast on this day.

The fast begins on ekadasi sunrise and ends on dwadasi (next day) sunrise.

Intro

Devotes in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh observe fast to celebrate Hindu festival of Nirjala Ekadasi.

Shotlist

VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (JUNE 12, 2011) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC)

1. DEVOTEES WALKING ON THE ROAD

2. DEVOTEES CARRYING ORANGE COLOUR FLAGS

3. DEVOTEES PLAYING CONCH SHELL ON THE ROAD

4. A KALASH (MUD POT)

5. A MUSICIAN PLAYING SHEHNAI (AN INDIAN OBOE)

6. DEVOTEES CARRYING KALASH IN THEIR HANDS

7. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) SUDAMA TIWARI, A DEVOTEE, SAYING:

"On the day of Nirjala Ekadasi (the eleventh day of a fortnight in a traditional Hindu calendar), devotees from all over the country visit Rajendra Prasad ghat (in Varanasi). Thousands of devotees carry kalash (mud pot) filled with pure holy waters from all over the country. They would offer the holy water in Kashi Viswanath Temple (a famous temple in Varanasi). This year holy waters from Chitrakoot Dham (a place in Uttar Pradesh), river Bagmati of Nepal and from other important rivers of the country have been brought, which would be consecrated."

8. TWO MEN CARRYING A BANNER

9. MEN CARRYING KALASH IN THEIR HANDS

10. DEVOTEES CARRYING YELLOW KALASH

11.A DEVOTEE CARRYING A YELLOW KALASH

12. A MAN IN THE ATTIRE OF LORD SHIVA, THE HINDU GOD OF DISTRUCTION AND RESURRECTION

13. DEVOTEES

14. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) DHARMASHEEL CHATURVEDI, A DEVOTEE, SAYING:

"Today, we are observing this fast for those who are hungry, unhappy and thirsty in India as well as in the world and so with this medium (by observing this fast), we will provide water and food so that peace, harmony and prosperity prevails in the country."

15. DEVOTEES PLAYING CONCH SHELL OUTSIDE A TEMPLE

16. DEVOTES WALKING INSIDE A TEMPLE

17. DEVOTEES CARRYING KALASH

18. WOMEN IN YELLOW ATTIRE CARRYING KALASH

19. MEN IN WHITE ATTIRE CARRYING KALASH

Original Script Date

Jun 12 12:01

Modified Script Date

Jun 12 12:01

Script Version

1

Headline

Devotees observe fast to celebrate Hindu festival in northern India.

Services

Subcon

Locations  VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA

Dates Shot

JUNE 12, 2011

Sound

NATURAL WITH HINDI SPEECH

Duration

2:28

Indian astrologers blame horoscope of yoga guru for failure of anti-corruption stir.

Indian astrologers blame horoscope of yoga guru for failure of anti-corruption stir.
                                                                                                      By Girish Kumar Dubey

Astrologers in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh have claimed that the anti-corruption stir called by yoga guru Baba Ramdev failed because of the presence of Rahu (a nodal planet in Indian astrology) in his horoscope.

Ramdev began an indefinite hunger strike in New Delhi on June 4 in a bid to trigger government action on the repatriation of an estimated Rs. 400 trillion ($8.94 trillion) worth of black money stashed in offshore accounts.

However, he was forcefully evicted by brutal police action during pre-dawn hours on Sunday (June 5).

The astrologers said Ramdev began his campaign at the wrong time.

"As per our astrologic science, it is written that no one should begin any good things during Rahu's (a nodal planet in Indian astrology) ascendance. If somebody begins anything on this day, definitely he will fail in it, and this has happened in Baba's (Baba Ramdev) case as well," said Prasad Dikshit, an astrologer.

The soothsayers advised him to keep a low profile for at least one-and-a-half years to avoid any untoward incident.

"The time at which he began his campaign, it was sure that he would have to face trouble. And there would always be obstacles in his path. He did not get success because the starting itself was wrong," added Deen Mani Pandey, another astrologer.

Ramdev later continued his hunger strike in northern Haridwar but was forced to call-off his fast after his health deteriorated.

Source

ANI                                                                                             

Restrictions

NO ACCESS BBC

Intro

Astrologers in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh say the anti-corruption stir called by yoga guru Baba Ramdev failed because of problems in his horoscope.

Shotlist

VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (JUNE 15, 2011) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC)

1. PRASAD DIKSHIT, AN ASTROLOGER, WORKING ON A LAPTOP

2. SCREEN OF THE LAPTOP

3. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) PRASAD DIKSHIT, AN ASTROLOGER, SAYING:

"As per our astrologic science, it is written that no one should begin any good things during Rahu's (a nodal planet in Indian astrology) ascendance. If somebody begins anything on this day, definitely he will fail in it, and this has happened in Baba's (Baba Ramdev) case as well."

DEHRADUN, UTTARAKHAND, INDIA (RECENT) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC)

4. RAMDEV SITING

5. RAMDEV SPEAKING

6. SUPPORTERS OF RAMDEV STANDING

VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (JUNE 15, 2011) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC)

7. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) DEEN MANI PANDEY, AN ASTOLOGER, SAYING:

"The time at which he began his campaign, it was sure that he would have to face trouble. And there would always be obstacles in his path. He did not get success because the starting itself was wrong."

DEHRADUN, UTTARAKHAND, INDIA (RECENT) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC)

8. RAMDEV SITTING WITH HIS AIDES

9. SUPPORTERS OF RAMDEV CLAPPING

10. RAMDEV SPEAKING

Original Script Date

Jun 16 09:16

Modified Script Date

Jun 16 09:16

Script Version

1

Headline

Indian astrologers blame horoscope of yoga guru for failure of anti-corruption stir.

Services

Subcon Extra

Locations

VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA

Dates Shot

JUNE 15, 2011, /RECENT

Sound

NATURAL WITH HINDI SPEECH

Duration

1:35

Teenage boy paints to fight corruption in northern India.

Teenage boy paints to fight corruption in northern India.

Source

ANI                                                                           (By Girish Kumar Dubey)

Restrictions

NO ACCESS BBC

Intro

Prithvi Mishra, a student of 8th class in India's northern Uttar Pradesh, makes paintings depicting anti-corruption activists Anna Hazare and yoga guru Baba Ramdev in various avatars.

Shotlist

VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (JUNE 18, 2011) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC)

1. PRITHVI MISHRA, A 13-YEAR-OLD BOY, PAINTING ON A CANVAS

2. MISHRA MAKING A SKETCH

3. MISHRA MAKING A SKETCH OF ANNA HAZARE, SOCIAL ACTIVIST AND CIVIL SOCIETY REPRESENTATIVE ON THE LOKPAL (OMBUDSMAN) BILL DRAFTING COMMITTEE

4. A PAINTING

5. A PAINTING OF BABA RAMDEV, INDIAN YOGA GURU

6. (SOUNDBITE)(Hindi) PRITHVI MISHRA, A 13-YEAR-OLD PAINTER, SAYING:

"The things that I am witnessing these days give me inspiration and I make an image of that in my mind, and then I try to paint that on a canvas. Ramdev and Anna Hazare are my source of inspiration so I am making their sketches."

7. BOTTLES OF PASTEL COLOURS

8. MISHRA WITH HIS MOTHER

9. A PAINTBRUSH

10. A DRAWING BOOK

11. A SKETCH OF RAMDEV

12. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) MANISHA MISHRA, PRITHVI MISHRA'S MOTHER, SAYING:

"Since childhood he had interest in making sketches and we noticed because of his interest. He started practicing making sketches and we also supported him. This is how he started making paintings professionally."

13. MISHRA READING A NEWSPAPER

14. RAMDEV'S PHOTO IN A NEWSPAPER

Story

Teenager Prithvi Mishra is carrying on the anti-corruption cry in Varanasi of northern India's Uttar Pradesh by making paintings depicting anti-graft activists.

Mishra raises the issues of corruption and black money through his paintings, which show anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare and yoga guru Baba Ramdev in various avatars.

Since childhood, Mishra was interested in painting, but told reporters on Saturday (June 18) he found his real inspiration in Baba Ramdev and Hazare, who were recently seen sitting on indefinite hunger strikes to protest corruption and demand the repatriation of black money stashed in offshore accounts.

"The things that I am witnessing these days give me inspiration and I make an image of that in my mind, and then I try to paint that on a canvas. Ramdev and Anna Hazare are my source of inspiration so I am making their sketches," he said.

Mishra added he took ideas from newspapers, magazines and TV channels and had followed coverage of Hazare and Ramdev's fasts-unto-death every day.

The teenager said he has full support of his parents who want him to pursue his art professionally.

"Since childhood he had interest in making sketches and we noticed because of his interest. He started practicing making sketches and we also supported him. This is how he started making paintings professionally," said Manisha Mishra, Pritvhi Mishra's mother.

The 13-year-old hopes to be able to display his paintings in an exhibition.

Original Script Date

Jun 18 11:49 (3 days ago)

Modified Script Date

Jun 18 11:49 (3 days ago)

Script Version

1

Headline

Teenage boy paints to fight corruption in northern India.

Services

Subcon

Locations

VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA

Dates Shot

JUNE 18, 2011

Sound

NATURAL WITH HINDI SPEECH

Duration

2:26

A sea of devotees for a holy dip in Ganges to mark 'Makar Sankranti'

Allahabad, Thu, 14 Jan 2010 ANI                                                                                       By Girish Kumar Dubey

Allahabad/Varanasi, Jan.14 (ANI): Hundreds of thousands of devotees took holy dip in the sacred water of River Ganges on the occasion of 'Makar Sankranti', one of the most auspicious occasions for Hindus, when the sun begins to move northwards and days begin to increase in duration than the night time, and to herald Maha Kumbh, a religious fair that occurs once in 12 years

 Makar Sankrati marks the northward journey of the sun as it enters a new zodiac, which coincides with the beginning of longer days. 

Devotees braving freezing temperatures thronged the banks to take a dip at the Sangam, a confluence of Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati rivers, in Allahabad at dawn on Thursday.

 "Prayag (place of the confluences), this holiest place in India is considered to be very sacred. And the holy men come here uninvited on this day to take dip here in Ganges on the day of Makar Sankranti," said Talukdar Yadav, a devotee. 

Upstream the Ganges at another holy city at Varanasi devotees thronged the its famous Ghats (bathing places on riverbank) amidst tight security.

 "It's a festival of Kichri (porridge). It's a big day for the Hindus to make offerings." Ramesh Tiwari, another devotee. 

Eating porridge is on this occasion is considered auspicious among Hindus.

 Devotees believe that a holy dip during Makar Sankranti cleanse them of all their sins.. 

Makar Sankrati also heralds the coming of spring and the excitement of it is celebrated in a number of ways: with food, family gatherings, street fairs, music and kite flying. As the winds change to herald the northward advancement of the sun, the winter sky in western Gujarat bursts into colour with thousands of paper kites.

 The festival, which coincides with the winter harvest, is celebrated widely across the country and is known by different names. 

While the festival is known as Makar Sankranti in parts of north and northwest India, it is celebrated as "Pongal" in the south and as "Bihu" in the northeast. By Virender Pathak / Girish Kr. Dubey(ANI)

Novel campaign by self-help group to create awareness on Ganges river pollution

Varanasi, Sat, 23 May 2009 ANI                                                                                  By Girish Kumar Dubey                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

Varanasi, May 23 (ANI): A self-help group from Varanasi on Friday sent 543 utensils filled with water of river Ganges to the national capital to raise awareness on river pollution Ganga, which is revered as holy, also happens to be one of the most polluted rivers in the world. Organisers said that the 'Save the River Ganga' campaign was to enlist support of the 543 newly elected lawmakers in parliament

"To purify water you will have to undertake steps because if we don't look towards this direction at this time then the water of rivers, ponds and lakes will get polluted. How long we will survive like this on mineral water? We have to draw everyone's attention towards this thing and at the same time the purity of Ganges, for which our country is known, we have to safeguard it," said Swami Abhimukhteshwara Nand Saraswati. 

"We don't just hope but we are fully confident that we will achieve success in our campaign of pollution free Ganga," said Girish, a volunteer.evered as goddess by Hindus, the River Ganga is believed to cleanse people off their sins.

 Though the Central Government set up a Ganga Action Plan in 1985 to cleanse the river, much of the action seems to have been confined only on paper. 

The Ganga runs its course of over 2,500 kilometres from Gangotri in the Himalayas to Ganga Sagar in the Bay of Bengal through 29 cities.

 In 1996, the apex court banned the discharge of effluents from various tanneries located on its banks in Kanpur. 

However, with one billion tonnes of waste being dumped into it everyday, the River Ganga, unfortunately, remains one of the most polluted rivers in the world. (ANI)

 

Tallest Buddha statue coming up in Sarnath

Tallest Buddha statue coming up in Sarnath
                                                        

                                                           By Girish Kumar Dubey

-Its height will be second only to the Bamiyan Buddhas

SARNATH (UTTAR PRADESH): A number of sculptors in Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh are busy chiselling an eighty feet tall statue of the Buddha, which will be the world's tallest Buddha statue after the ones demolished in Afganistan's Bamiyan valley under the Taliban regime. Thailand support The tallest Buddha statue is part of an old project, which started ten years ago but had to be put on hold in the wake of financial problems. The work was resumed three years ago with the assistance after the Government of Thailand extended its help for the project. It will take three more years to complete the statue.

``We are making a statue of Lord Buddha with the help of Thailand government. It will be the tallest statue of Buddha in a standing position and it comes second in height only to the Bamiyan Buddhas [statues]. It has been more than 10 years since we began work, and now we are also creating awareness about its construction,'' said Mohan Lal, designer of the statue.

 
``At least 20- 25 artisans are working on this statue for over three years.... it will take three to four more years to complete. Right now, we are through with the stomach, feet and the face. Two or three months will be taken for the finishing work,'' said Jyoti Singh Khushwaha, the contactor undertaking the construction of the statue.

Workers at the site said the statue would use over 635 blocks of sandstone and would be made in the Gandharva style, which laid great significance to it. The Buddha attained enlightenment at the age of 35 in Bodh Gaya in Bihar and finally departed from the world at the age of 80 in Kushinagar. Situated 10 kilometres away from Varanasi, Sarnath is the place where the Buddha is believed to have delivered his first sermon in 500 B.C. The place has a number of stupas (hemispherical domes) and monasteries. In the early days of Buddhism, stupas were built to honour important events including Buddha's enlightenment — ANI

Uttar Pradesh artists take up to eco-friendly idols for Durga Puja

Uttar Pradesh artists take up to eco-friendly idols for Durga Puja

By Girish Kumar Dubey

Varanasi, Sep. 29 : Ahead of Durga Puja idols of gods are being made here from environment-friendly materials to save the River Ganga from pollution. The idols are immersed in it at the culmination of the festival.

"This year we started using natural colours. We use turmeric for yellow colour and leaf for green colour. We are using natural colours to prevent our holy river Ganga from getting polluted," said Chitranjan Pal, an artist.

Earlier, the idols used to be made from materials like plaster of Paris, which do not dissolve easily and reduced the oxygen level in the water, resulting in the deaths of fish and other aquatic animals.

But the idols this year are being made of clay, and they are also being colored with natural colours, which are safe and will not pollute the River Ganga.

"We make colours out of natural things so that there are no chances of pollution or infection," said Sushant Kumar Pal, an artist. By Girish Dubey (ANI)