As US President Donald Trump threatened to substantially raise tariffs on India over Russian oil purchase, the fact is that America has actively encouraged such imports by India in the past for strengthening global energy market stability.
In November 2022, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen remarked: “The United States is happy for India to continue buying as much Russian oil as it wants, including at prices above a G7-imposed price cap mechanism, if it steers clear of Western insurance, finance and maritime services bound by the cap.”
In March 2024, Amos Hochstein, former US President Joe Biden’s energy and global infrastructure adviser, said, “At the end of the day, my goal is not to take it off the market, I’m not looking to take these tankers, take the crude, the product, off the market”.
In February 2024, US Assistant Secretary of State Geoffrey Pyatt acknowledged India’s role in stabilising global energy markets, saying, “India has played a key role in efforts to stabilise global energy markets through its purchases of Russian crude.”
In May 2024, US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti admitted that India bought Russian oil because the US wanted somebody to buy Russian oil. “The US allowed the purchase to take place to ensure the prices did not go up globally,” he added. Garcetti also highlighted that due to this arrangement, global oil prices didn’t shoot up and “India delivered on that.”
Meanwhile, the Indian government has categorically said that the targeting of the country by the US over Russian oil purchase is unjustified and unreasonable, after American President Donald Trump threatened to impose hefty tariffs on New Delhi.
An official statement said that, like any major economy, “India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security”. India has been targeted by the United States and the European Union for importing oil from Russia after the commencement of the Ukraine conflict.
Where the United States is concerned, it continues to import from Russia uranium hexafluoride for its nuclear industry, palladium for its EV industry, fertilisers, as well as chemicals.
-IANS
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the NDA Parliamentary Party meeting on Tuesday, marking the first such gathering during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament.
The high-stakes meeting, being held in the Parliament complex, will see the participation of all Members of Parliament from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its alliance partners. Attendance has been made mandatory for all NDA MPs.
This NDA Parliamentary Party meeting comes at a crucial juncture, just two days ahead of the opening of nominations for the Vice-President’s election, scheduled to begin on August 7.
With the NDA holding a clear majority in the electoral college, the selection of its Vice-Presidential candidate is anticipated to be a formality. However, the alliance is expected to finalise and announce its nominee by August 21, the last date for filing nominations, aligning with the end of the current session.
PM Modi will be honoured during the meeting, particularly for the success of Operation Sindoor, a counter-terrorism mission launched in the aftermath of the recent Pahalgam terror attack.
The Prime Minister’s address is expected to address this critical operation, the nation’s security challenges, and several ongoing political issues that are dominating parliamentary discourse. The Monsoon Session has largely been disrupted so far, with the Opposition staging continuous protests, particularly over the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar.
The Opposition alleges that the revision exercise is politically motivated and biased in favour of the ruling party. PM Modi is also expected to respond to these accusations, reaffirm the government’s stance on the electoral process, and lay out the NDA’s legislative priorities for the remainder of the session.
-IANS
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Two people were killed and six others wounded in a mass shooting in downtown Los Angeles, the US state of California, local authorities said. The incident occurred around 1 a.m. (0800 GMT) on Monday, near 14th Place and Griffith Avenue, where several parties were underway, according to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD).
LAPD officers spotted someone entering what they believed was an unauthorised gathering of over 50 people late Sunday night. Officers shut down the party and arrested one attendee for gun possession, Xinhua news agency reported.
A few hours later, police returned to the same location after reports of gunfire and found eight people shot. A man was pronounced dead at the scene, while a 52-year-old woman died later in hospital. The six injured victims, aged between 26 and 62, included two in critical condition, police said. Authorities have not announced any arrests or identified a possible motive. The investigation is underway.
Earlier on Friday, four people were killed in a bar shooting in Anaconda, US state of Montana, local media reported, citing law enforcement officials. The shooting occurred at The Owl Bar in Anaconda, a city located in southwestern Montana. The suspect was identified as Michael Paul Brown, according to a Facebook post by the Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Law Enforcement Center.
“Be advised suspect in shooting is believed to be armed and dangerous,” said the post. Officials posted a photo of the suspect on Facebook and advised the public to stay out of the Stumptown area and surrounding areas.
-IANS
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On the sixth anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories, the valley was normal as it was a day like any other.
Rumours and counter-rumours battled in the minds of locals as WhatsApp groups went agog with speculations of statehood restoration or further division of the UT. The grapevine has always had strong elements of credibility in Kashmir.
Rumours have, most of the time, remained ahead of hard news, and this is the main reason that the rumour mill starts moving fast as events on the occasion provide grist to the fertile minds of the rumour mongers.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said on X that he would stick his neck out to bet that nothing bad was going to happen on August 5. He hastened to add that nothing good was expected today. The calling of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the President, followed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday, plus a high-level meeting in Delhi to discuss the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir on the eve of August 5, the day when six years ago J&K lost its special status, gave fuel to speculations.
Those in power, including the National Conference supporters, said a bill would be tabled in Parliament to restore statehood to JK. Detractors said JK was in for another division that would give statehood to the Jammu division and retain the Valley as a UT without a legislature.
Everybody claimed to know what he said without any material basis except speculation. Those proclaiming to be Kashmir experts said nothing should be done in haste, as the prevailing peace needed to be consolidated.
Others claiming to be on-ground reporters said any further division of J&K would fuel further alienation among the youth. The common man started worrying about the availability of food and medicine if anything big development takes place, while the affluent ones topped the fuel tanks of their private cars and SUVs.
While rumours have their place in Kashmir and this space gets credibility the moment an official denial is issued, the good news is that Kashmir rose normally on Tuesday, school buses came to collect children, shops and transport started as usual with office goers rushing through a modest breakfast to reach places of duty on time.
Except for some preventive house arrests to maintain law and order on the 6th anniversary of 5 August 2019, everything started normally in the Valley as it was business as usual. Better luck to rumour mongers next time, they at least keep idle minds busy so that these don’t become the devil’s workshop.
-IANS
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A chilling wave of violence has gripped Nattangudi, a small village in Tamil Nadu’s Sivaganga district, following a series of brutal murders that have left the local community deeply shaken.
The fear began to spread after Sonai Muthu, a resident of the village, was found beheaded under mysterious circumstances. His shocking death appears to be part of a disturbing pattern of killings, sparking widespread panic.
Nattangudi, home to around 50 families and already struggling with the lack of even basic amenities, has now become a ghost village. Fearing for their lives, residents fled en masse overnight, abandoning their homes and livelihoods. As per current reports, only one elderly man remains in the otherwise deserted settlement.
The scale and brutality of the crimes have sent shockwaves through the region, prompting the local police to launch an intensified investigation into the murders and the circumstances surrounding them.
இரவோடு இரவாக ஊரை காலி செய்த மக்கள்
சிவகங்கை மாவட்டம் நாட்டாகுடி கிராமத்தில், சமீபத்தில் நடந்த கொலை சம்பவங்கள் மற்றும் அடிப்படை வசதிகள் எதுவும் இல்லை என கூறி, ஊரை காலி செய்த மக்கள்
50 குடும்பங்கள் வசித்து வந்த நிலையில் தற்போது ஒரே ஒரு முதியவர் மட்டுமே வசிக்கும் ஊராக மாறிய… pic.twitter.com/hhDkBDf79q
In a tragic incident, a Class 11 student was found dead under mysterious circumstances inside a well located on the premises of a government-aided school in Tirupattur on 3 August 2025. The deceased, identified as Mugilan, was a resident student at the Dominic Savio Higher Secondary School and hailed from Kothur village in Natrampalli taluk.
Although the well had been mostly secured with an iron grille, it featured a narrow opening large enough for a person to pass through. Police have initiated an investigation to determine the circumstances that led to the boy’s death.
Mugilan had been reported missing since 1 August, when his absence in class prompted teachers to contact his family. Unable to trace him, his parents lodged a missing person’s complaint at the Tirupattur Town police station. Following this, a search was launched, and on 3 August, with the assistance of a dog squad, the boy’s body was discovered floating in the well near the hostel.
Emergency services, including the fire department, were called in to recover the body, which was then sent to the Tirupattur Government Hospital for autopsy. Police have registered a case under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nyay Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), relating to death by drowning.
ADSP Govindaraju, who inspected the location, stated that the well is approximately 600 meters away from the main school building and located in a remote corner of the playground. “While the well is largely sealed off, it has a small entry point and a ladder inside, which could allow someone small to enter,” he explained. Based on current evidence, police suspect it could be a suicide, though they await the postmortem findings to draw any conclusions.
The tragedy took an emotional toll on the family. Mugilan’s father, devastated by the news, reportedly attempted to jump into the same well but was saved by the police. Mugilan leaves behind his parents and four sisters.
In the aftermath, grief turned into anger as the boy’s family, along with members of political parties including the TVK and AIADMK, held a protest demanding the school’s closure and accountability from the school authorities. Vellore Superintendent of Police Mayilvaganan met with the demonstrators to address their concerns. Mugilan’s sister, speaking to the media, dismissed the possibility of suicide, “He always informed us about everything, even trivial matters. He would never take such a step.”
Criticism also mounted over the delayed discovery of the body. ADSP Govindaraju defended the initial search efforts, noting that the well is located in a locked and secluded area of the campus, and hence, the search had been focused elsewhere at first. “It was only when the dog squad was brought in that the body was found,” he said.
Reacting to the incident, BJP state president Nainar Nagenthran posted on X (formerly Twitter), expressing deep sorrow and questioning why the school administration failed to thoroughly check the entire campus, especially since the student had been missing for two days.
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The Telangana High Court recently quashed criminal proceedings against Tamil actor Siddharth, who was accused of posting a sexist and defamatory tweet about badminton champion Saina Nehwal in January 2022.
Justice Juvvadi Sridevi, presiding over the case, ruled in favour of Siddharth’s petition filed under Section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code, stating that the core elements required to establish offences under Section 67 of the Information Technology Act and Section 509 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) were absent.
The controversy stemmed from a tweet Siddharth posted in response to Nehwal’s remarks on a security lapse involving the Prime Minister. His tweet read, “Subtle cock champion of the world…Thank God we have protectors of India. (Sic) Shame on you #Rihanna.”
This triggered a social media storm following which the National Commission for Women has taken cognizance of the matter. Later, writing a letter to the DGP of Tamil Nadu
@NCWIndia has taken cognisance. Chairperson @sharmarekha has written to @DGPMaharashtra for investigating & registering FIR in the matter. NCW has also written to @TwitterIndia for blocking the actor’s account & to take appropriate action against him for posting such remarks. https://t.co/pW1hT9zz6W
Despite several women leaders and activists calling out Siddharth for his tweet, the actor has put another tweet justified his remark during the period.
Although, the court observed that the statement meant humorously was misinterpreted, and did not meet the threshold for criminal action under the alleged provisions.
The complaint was initially lodged in the XII Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court in Nampally, Hyderabad, by a third party, who claimed the tweet was derogatory and harmed Nehwal’s reputation. However, the High Court clarified that the complainant had no direct connection to the matter, rendering the case procedurally flawed due to lack of locus standi.
Siddharth defended his post by stating it was made in good faith and in exercise of free speech, without malicious intent. He further explained that the tweet referenced the common idiom “cock-and-bull story” and not intended as a personal insult. He also issued a clarification and apology four days after the post.
Notably, Saina Nehwal herself acknowledged Siddharth’s apology in a press statement dated 13 January 2022, and expressed satisfaction with his explanation.
Despite arguments by the state’s Assistant Public Prosecutor that the matter involved triable issues better suited for trial, the court emphasized that the investigation lacked substance. It pointed out that no witnesses, including Nehwal or Twitter representatives, had been examined to support the accusations.
The court further ruled that Section 67 of the IT Act which deals with sexually explicit content online did not apply, as the tweet lacked any sexual undertone or intent. Similarly, the alleged act did not qualify under Section 509 IPC, which requires intent to insult a woman’s modesty.
After reviewing the FIR and charge sheet, the court concluded that, even if all allegations were taken at face value, no cognizable offence had been committed. Consequently, the case against Siddharth was dismissed.
This is not the first time Siddharth has indulged in cyber-bullying and online harassment. Earlier in September 2021, the controversial actor unleashed abuses on a netizen who had questioned him.
The DMK’s door-to-door membership campaign, Oraniyil Tamil Nadu, has been under increasing scrutiny, with a growing list of controversies and allegations of misuse of public trust. Initially launched as an ambitious mass-mobilisation effort, the campaign’s credibility took a hit after the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court issued a temporary injunction barring the party from using OTP-based verification for enrolling members citing concerns over data privacy and personal information misuse.
Now, fresh allegations have emerged from parts of Chennai, where individuals posing as civic officials are allegedly misleading residents under the guise of electoral roll verification.
According to several residents, individuals one wearing a Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) identity card are going door-to-door claiming to work with the civic body. Residents say they were asked to provide their mobile numbers, believing it to be part of an official election-related update. Once the number is provided, another person accompanying the supposed official inputs the number into an app and instructs the resident to give a missed call to a particular number.
Soon after, people receive a call featuring a pre-recorded message from Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, thanking them for joining the Oraniyil Tamil Nadu campaign.
Entire neighbourhoods have reportedly gone through this process. Many residents say they felt pressured to comply, fearing backlash or not wanting to appear uncooperative. Most believed the interaction was an official Election Commission activity.
The Election Commission of India (ECI), however, has issued no such directive requiring OTPs, missed calls, or phone verification as part of any ongoing electoral verification effort. This has raised serious concerns about the blurring of lines between party outreach and civic processes, and the exploitation of public trust for political gains.
Critics argue that the local DMK leaders appears to be pushing local functionaries to boost membership numbers by any means necessary particularly as the 2026 Assembly elections draw near. What was promoted as a campaign to unify Tamil Nadu and challenge central policies, now risks being overshadowed by accusations of deception, data misuse, and coercion.
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In what can be seen as an attempt to whitewash missionary conversion, The News Minute recently platformed Supreme Court advocate and ‘activist’ Colin Gonsalves on their podcast, “South Central”. They were discussing the topic of the Malayali nuns arrested in Chhattisgarh for conversion.
The arrest of two Catholic nuns from Kerala and a tribal woman in Chhattisgarh on charges related to religious conversion shocked all the leftists and Congress supporters (as well as the parties) across the board.
What Was The Case?
Sister Preeti Mary and Sister Vandana Francis, both hailing from Kerala, were taken into custody on 25 July 2025, along with Sukaman Mandavi, a tribal woman. The arrests were made at Durg railway station after a Train Ticket Examiner (TTE) flagged the group for not having platform tickets. The women were subsequently booked under Section 143 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for alleged human trafficking and under Section 4 of the Chhattisgarh Religious Freedom Act, 1968, both of which carry penalties of up to 10 years in prison. A local court has remanded all three in custody for 14 days, with their remand set to expire on 8 August 2025.
Colin Gonsalves Says Conversion Is Not A Crime
Gonsalves’ opening remarks in the episode were, “It’s not a crime to pray. It’s not a crime to talk to people. It’s not even a crime to convert. But the crime is forced conversion, and they don’t have any evidence of forced.”
Then he goes on to throw mud at the judiciary saying, “…there is a creeping saffronization within our judiciary and there is a lack of spine with judges not being able to stand up to the powerful central government. What a shame. We had the finest judiciary in the country in the world and now look what a pathetic state it has been reduced to.”
Then he goes on to mumble some numbers that “indicate” at “persecution of Christians.”
He then said, “They know the Christian conversion rate is very minor… their intention is to stop peaceful Christian activities. So, prayer meetings… are being stopped.”
Then he blames the police force for being “communalised”. He also labelled the government as “It’s a government of gundas, a government of totally violent people full of hate speech. But we must gather our own forces around us.”
He further alleged, “The police go with Bajrang Dal… the police are the assailants. They fabricate crimes… the FIR is signed by Bajrang Dal activists.”
He also said “Why are we as Christians so pathetic in fighting back? Why are we so quiet? Why is our leadership so quiet? Nobody takes them to task.” in an inflammatory tone.
TNM’s Pooja Prasanna added her fangirl moment words by saying, “In Karnataka, the fight back I saw on ground were by young and old women and it was so heartening to see, we saw video after video where when Bajrang Dal goons would barge into these houses asking why you holding prayer meetings these women would yell, shoo them out of their houses saying don’t you dare come to my house again so that was u something else, I get goosebumps thinking about it.”
And when Gonsalves was asked why missionaries convert, he nonchalantly replied, “There’s nothing wrong with conversion. It’s perfectly legitimate. It’s perfectly legal as long as you do it with love and cooperation and volunteerism. There’s nothing wrong with conversion. I would not back down and step back and say, “Oh, I’m not converting. If I help people, if I assist people, if I’m there when they are in in trouble times, there’s nothing wrong in a person saying, “I have seen you in your work and I have seen you in your community and I have seen you in your day-to-day lives and I want to abide by the practices and principles of Christianity” nothing wrong, right?”
He further said, “Conversion is not a crime. And if it’s done voluntarily, it’s not a crime at all.”
Now comes the kicker. He says, “Atrocious legislation. Somebody gives you an allurement. What is allurement for God’s sake? What is an allurement? And all right, suppose I have a hospital, and I treat you and I show you the work that we’re doing and this goes for any community. I speak as if I’m a Christian or Hindu or whatever and you see my work among the poor and you are attracted allurement; you are attracted by my work. What’s wrong with that? That’s not a that’s not a crime at all. And we don’t have a single one of our leaders fighting unitedly against these anti-conversion boys.”
The co-panelists also buttress Gonsalves stating that there’s a concerted campaign by right-wing groups to demonize missionaries and Christians and what is happening is a criminalization of faith in India and justified that missionaries are often the only ones who help Dalits and tribals, so obviously they convert. One of them also justified missionary work by saying, “Different congregations went for missionary purposes… especially to northeast and tribal belts… Education was their way of giving knowledge.” Another said, “It is a heartwarming sight to see Malayali nuns in tribal belts… but they are being silenced while trying to help the poor.”
Towards the end, Gonsalves gave a clarion call for organizing lawyers, activists and journalists to organize themselves every Sunday and plan on ‘using the law’ to take Bajrang Dal activists to task, which can be construed as a threat to file false cases against the Hindu activists.
“I advise people. All of us… all of you journalists, everybody. We should have a prior program to fan out in the country. I told people.. every Sunday, I’ll travel early morning to a particular state. We’ll organize a meeting. Speak on how the law can be used. We’ll use the law against these characters (Hindu activists). Because if you catch these guys in the beginning, the Bajrang Dal fellows. File a case against them and take the case up to the High Court and Supreme Court. They stop that activity completely.“, he said in a threatening tone.
Who Is Colin Gonsalves?
Gonsalves’ casual remark, “It’s not a crime to convert” actually stands for in light of his work. Let’s take a look at what he does.
Defending The Right To Convert – Even Through Coercion and Deceit
Gonsalves’ NGO, the Human Rights Law Network (HRLN), has repeatedly filed petitions opposing anti-conversion laws in states like Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh, laws which mandate prior declaration of religious conversion, penalize conversion through fraud, inducement or marriage, and aim to protect tribal communities from predatory evangelism.
When Gonsalves says “it’s not a crime to convert”, what he omits is that even coercive or fraudulent conversions of vulnerable tribals, impoverished Dalits, or underage girls are defended by his legal team under the banner of “freedom.”
Funded By Foreign Churches
HRLN and its parent body, Socio-Legal Information Centre (SLIC), received nearly ₹50 crore from Christian evangelical organizations including:
These funds were not used for “legal awareness camps” but for litigating against anti-conversion laws, obstructing deportation of illegal immigrants, and defending “activists” arrested during riots and anti-national protests.
So, when Gonsalves appears on TNM and says, “it’s not a crime to convert”, he is not just expressing a legal opinion. He is justifying the very objective of the foreign funders who prop up his legal empire.
Conversion, Courts & Collusion: What Colin Gonsalves & HRLN Have Fought For
Let’s take a look at what/who Gonsalves and his “NGO” have been “fighting” for.
Opposed Char Dham Road Project:Filed PIL to halt road expansion to the Indo-China border, essential for Indian military logistics. Argument? “Army can take the air route.”
Defended Rohingyas’ Rights to Indian Welfare:Filed PIL asking free education, healthcare, ration for illegal Rohingya migrants.
Defended Safoora Zargar & Anti-CAA Rioters: Gonsalves’ lawyers represented stone-pelters and violent agitators who led Delhi into flames with foreign money backing their court fees.
HRLN also defended AltNews’ Mohammad Zubair (accused of sharing a minor girl’s image) and Maoist-linked Stan Swamy.
Tried to Influence Judiciary via Retired Judges: HRLN stacked its boards with retired SC judges to create undue pressure in litigation across High Courts and SC.
Protected Evangelical NGOs with FCRA Violations: When SLIC’s FCRA license was cancelled, HRLN simply rebranded and routed funds through different trusts continuing to provide legal protection to NGOs accused of mass tribal conversions.
The TNM–HRLN Symbiosis: Platform Meets Legal Muscle
It is not coincidental that TNM and Gonsalves find each other. Read more on how Gonsalves’ NGO is connected to Soros’ Open Society Foundation. TNM’s chief editor Dhanya Rajendran is the chairperson of DIGIPUB, a platform of all leftist news media/organizations including Alt News, Newslaundry, etc
TNM paves the narrative road by branding tribal conversions as “social upliftment” and calling anti-conversion laws “draconian.” Gonsalves paves the legal road, filing petitions, defending foreign-funded NGOs, and weaponizing constitutional freedoms against national cohesion.
TNM is complicit with Gonsalves and the conversion mafia. Instead of scrutinizing his conflicts of interest, TNM gave him a one-sided platform to vilify Hindu groups (Bajrang Dal, VHP) as “violent” while ignoring documented cases of forced conversions. They avoid the uncomfortable questions on why foreign churches fund Indian NGOs like HRLN if their goal isn’t religious expansion.
TNM will never investigate the billions spent by churches on Indian conversions nor will it take cognizance of the exploitation of tribals, they would only cry “persecution” for missionaries.
Gonsalves’ activism follows a clear pattern. Foreign funds flow into HRLN from evangelical groups, legal defence is provided to anti-India elements (rioters, Naxals, illegal immigrants) and media platforms (like TNM) amplify his narrative, painting Hindu resistance as “persecution.”
Anti-conversion laws are attacked, enabling missionaries to continue exploiting vulnerable communities. Both Gonsalves and TNM are tools of soft insurgency, one in the courtroom, the other in the newsroom.
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Devotees across the country thronged prominent Shiva temples to mark the last Monday of the holy Sawan month, performing ‘jalabhishek’, participating in special ‘aartis’, and seeking the blessings of Lord Shiva.
At Baba Baidyanath Jyotirlinga Temple in Deoghar, Jharkhand, thousands of devotees gathered from early morning to offer sacred water and prayers. The temple witnessed a continuous stream of worshippers.
“This Monday marks the last Monday of Sawan. Devotees are arriving continuously in large numbers. The administration is actively involved in managing the arrangements and ensuring smooth conduct of the rituals,” said a temple priest.
A devotee, after offering prayers at Baidyanath Dham, shared, “Today is the last Monday of Sawan, which holds great significance for devotees of Lord Shiva. The Somwari Jalabhishek performed today is especially powerful. As it also coincides with Ekadashi, the spiritual significance of the day is even greater.” In Varanasi, the sacred Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Uttar Pradesh, saw massive footfall. A grand ‘Mangala Aarti’ and special floral decorations were followed by a shower of flowers on devotees, enhancing the divine atmosphere. “Every Monday sees a large crowd of devotees here, and since today is the last Monday of Sawan, the turnout is even bigger,” said DCP Gaurav Banswal.
“To manage the situation, proper barricading has been arranged, and drone surveillance is also being carried out.” A devotee added, “Thanks to the administration for the commendable way they’ve managed the crowd. Despite the heavy rush, we had darshan within 2-3 hours. Everything is well organised.” In Haridwar, worshippers crowded the Daksheshwar Mahadev Temple in Kankhal, believed to be the in-laws’ home of Lord Shiva, to offer holy Ganga water.
At Pashupatinath Temple, priest Kailash Bhatt noted, “Today marks the fourth Monday of Sawan, and since early morning, large numbers of devotees have been arriving to offer water, milk, and belpatra to Lord Shiva.” Similar scenes were witnessed at Aundha Nagnath Temple, where devotees performed jalabhishek at the Nageshwar Jyotirlinga.
“We’ve been coming here for the past five years, every Sawan Monday. Whatever we wish for gets fulfilled,” said a regular pilgrim. Meanwhile, in Ujjain, the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga Temple hosted a special ‘bhasma aarti’, followed by jalabhishek and ritualistic aartis.
In Prabhas Patan, Gujarat, a large crowd gathered at the Somnath Jyotirlinga, and in Uttarakhand, devotees visited the ancient Koteshwar Mahadev Temple to attend the aarti and seek divine blessings. With the last Monday of Sawan holding immense religious significance, devotees across the country turned out in massive numbers, reflecting their deep faith and devotion to Lord Shiva.
-IANS
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