Author: Bhakti Narayanan

On the occasion of Ram Navami, a significant event unfolded at Ayodhya’s Ram Temple. Ram Lalla, who was ceremoniously welcomed to the temple in January, experienced a divine occurrence known as Surya Tilak or Surya Abhishek. During this ritual, sunrays illuminated the forehead of the deity, symbolizing a divine blessing. It is believed that Lord Ram, belonging to the Ishvaku clan, is a descendant of the Sun God, or Suryavanshis. The scientific explanation behind this phenomenon involves meticulous planning and engineering. Scientists from IIT-Roorkee collaborated to design the Surya Tilak mechanism. This apparatus utilizes high-quality mirrors and lenses to precisely…

Boston University School of Hospitality Administration (BU SHA) is delighted to announce that the fourth annual ICON award will be bestowed upon Padma Lakshmi, an acclaimed producer, TV host, culinary expert, and bestselling author, recognized as one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in 2023. The ICON award, presented annually by BU School of Hospitality Administration, celebrates visionaries who redefine the landscape of hospitality. The award ceremony will mark the culmination of the Hospitality Leadership Summit on April 4, 2024, held at Boston University’s Computing and Data Sciences Center, known for its sustainability initiatives. The Summit, a flagship event…

India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission team has been honored with the prestigious 2024 John L. ‘Jack’ Swigert Jr. Award for Space Exploration, recognizing their efforts in advancing space exploration. This acknowledgment comes in the wake of the successful Chandrayaan-3 mission last August, marking India’s historic achievement as the first country to land on the moon’s south pole. Crafted by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), this milestone in lunar exploration has been hailed for expanding humanity’s understanding of space and fostering collaboration. The award ceremony took place at the annual Space Symposium in Colorado, where India’s Consul General in Houston, D C…

Bollywood stars Akshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff, accompanied by prominent film producer Vashu Bhagnani, paid a visit to the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi on April 8, 2024, to seek darshan, prayers, and blessings. They were warmly welcomed by Brahmaviharidas Swami, who adorned them with flower garlands at the Wall of Harmony, where iconic monuments of the world symbolize unity through the word ‘harmony’ in various languages. Following this, the trio ascended the Prayer Dune, representing the desert landscapes of Sharjah, where the Mandir’s story originated with a historic prayer by His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj in 1997. They…

Over the past decade, India has ascended to become the world’s fifth-largest economy, a notable leap from its 11th position just ten years ago. Minister for External Affairs, S. Jaishankar, attributed this transformation to a series of decisions and Atma Nirbhar (self-reliant) initiatives undertaken by the Central government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Speaking at the inauguration of KLE Society’s English Medium School (CBSE) in Chikkodi, Jaishankar emphasized India’s remarkable progress across various sectors, particularly in the digital realm, which has propelled advancements in industry, healthcare, and education. Under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, India has witnessed the implementation of…

Many students inquire about the calorie-burning potential of yoga asanas. Calorie burn is often associated with profuse sweating, a mechanism for eliminating toxins. High endurance poses demand energy expenditure, complemented by steady breathing for oxygenation and warming up. Research conducted by the University of Pittsburgh, Duke University Medical Center, and University of Zurich implemented a six-month weight-loss program involving yoga sessions. Participants gradually increased from 20 to 60 minutes daily, resulting in significant weight loss and improved cardiovascular health. Harvard’s study indicated calorie burns ranging from 120 to 168 for varying body weights during 30 minutes of Hatha yoga. Another…

Mindy Kaling, the Indian American actor, writer, and comedian, returns to Hulu with a fresh single-camera comedy titled ‘Murray Hill,’ marking her comeback six and a half years post the conclusion of ‘The Mindy Project’ on the platform. Under an overall deal with Warner Bros. TV, Kaling’s latest project gained traction at the beginning of the year, attracting multiple buyers amidst a competitive landscape. Ultimately, Hulu secured the series with a script-to-series commitment, highlighting the high demand for Kaling’s creative endeavors. Scripted by Kaling herself, ‘Murray Hill’ delves into the lives of five ambitious twenty-somethings consumed by their professional aspirations,…

RegulatingAI, spearheaded by Indian American Sanjay Puri, convened a congressional briefing on global AI governance, urging US Congress to confront pivotal issues surrounding AI regulation. The event, held on Capitol Hill on March 29, emphasized the critical need to address diverse perspectives, ethical considerations, transparency, privacy, and international alignment in AI governance. Highlighting the urgency of these concerns, the briefing stressed collaboration among stakeholders to advocate for responsible AI practices. Featuring two panel discussions with global experts, including representatives from the US, EU, India, and Africa, the event aimed to foster dialogue on harmonizing AI regulation across borders. Sanjay Puri,…

Bechan Baba, a 72-year-old Hindu caretaker, has devoted his life to tending to the Anarwali mosque in Varanasi, a city steeped in spirituality where the Ganges flows serenely alongside. For over four decades, he has been a steadfast presence at the entrance of this ancient mosque, which holds significance as a symbol of unity in a city grappling with historical disputes. In the heart of Varanasi, Bechan sits amidst the incense-infused air, reflecting on his 45 years of service to the mosque. Following in his father’s footsteps, he took on the responsibility from a young age, embracing it as his…

Amitabh Misra, an IIT Kanpur graduate, is appointed as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Sprinklr, a global enterprise software company headquartered in New York. Effective April 1, Misra will oversee all research and development (R&D) teams worldwide, encompassing product and engineering. With over 25 years of experience, Misra brings a wealth of expertise, having previously served as Vice President of Engineering at Adobe, where he led a global R&D organization for Adobe’s Experience Cloud Platform. Prior to that, he founded GOFro.com and held leadership positions at Snapdeal.com. Misra holds an MBA from the University of California, Berkeley, and a BTech…