Author: Bhakti Narayanan

The Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra is an annual festival that takes place in the city of Puri, Odisha, with a rich historical background spanning centuries. The festival originated from Devi Subhadra’s desire to visit Puri, prompting Lord Jagannath and Lord Balabhadra to embark on a chariot journey to fulfill her wish. Since then, the Rath Yatra has been observed annually according to the Hindu calendar. Apart from the well-known Puri Shri Jagannath Rath Yatra, there are several other notable Rath Yatra festivals celebrated across the country. Let’s explore some of these captivating events: 1. Puri Shri Jagannath Rath Yatra: The…

Meta has joined forces with the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) to provide training to one million traders on effectively utilizing the WhatsApp Business app. This collaborative effort aims to assist traders in expanding their customer base and enhancing their business operations over the next three years. In addition to this initiative, Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook, has introduced the Meta Small Business Academy. This program is designed to equip aspiring entrepreneurs with digital marketing skills and offer them a certification upon completion. The certification provided by the Meta Small Business Academy will prove particularly…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated five Vande Bharat Express trains from the Rani Kamalapati Railway Station in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. Before the flagging-off ceremony, the Prime Minister interacted with train crew members and children on board one of the Vande Bharat trains at the Rani Kamalapati railway station. The five Vande Bharat Express trains flagged off by the Prime Minister include the Rani Kamalapati-Jabalpur route, the Khajuraho-Bhopal-Indore route, the Madgaon (Goa)-Mumbai route, the Dharwad-Bengaluru route, and the Hatia-Patna route. Present at the event were Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Governor Mangubhai C Patel, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishaw,…

Indian software giant Infosys announced a major deal with Danske Bank worth $454 million. The agreement aims to accelerate Danske Bank’s digital transformation over a period of five years, with the possibility of extending it for an additional year. As part of the deal, Infosys will also acquire Danske Bank’s IT center in India, which currently employs over 1,400 professionals. The partnership will leverage Infosys’ expertise and industry-specific solutions, particularly through its AI-powered platform called Infosys Topaz. This collaboration aligns with Danske Bank’s goal of becoming a leading digital bank, with significant investments in digitalization and technology. Frans Woelders, the…

Seventeen elected officials of Indian-American descent at the state and local levels have urged President Joseph Biden to establish a collaborative initiative called the New Hindi Language Fund in partnership with the Asia Society. This proposed fund aims to facilitate the teaching of Hindi in middle and high schools across the United States. During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official visit to the United States, the group presented this request, with support from Indian American Impact, a national organization amplifying the voices of Indian Americans in government, and the Asia Society, a national organization focused on fostering shared futures for Asia…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented President Joe Biden with a unique and culturally significant gift during their meeting at the White House. The gift consisted of several items that hold deep symbolism in Vedic Hinduism and reflect ancient Indian wisdom. The gift included a small quantity of white sesame seeds, long-grained rice, salt, a piece of jaggery (a type of unrefined sugar), a few milliliters of ghee (clarified butter), an oil lamp, and an idol of Lord Ganesha, all arranged inside a beautifully crafted sandalwood box. Additionally, the gift contained a tamra-patra (copper plate), a silver coconut, a fragrant piece…

During his significant state visit to the United States, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting with Sanjay Mehrotra, the CEO of Micron Technology, on Wednesday. The purpose of the meeting was for Modi to extend an invitation to the American chip maker to establish semiconductor manufacturing operations in India. The meeting took place in Washington DC, as stated by the Prime Minister’s Office. According to the PMO’s statement, “Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi met Sanjay Mehrotra, CEO of Micron Technology, on 21 June 2023 in Washington DC. The Prime Minister invited Micron Technology to boost semiconductor manufacturing in India,…

Congressman Shri Thanedar, an Indian-American representative, has been chosen to accompany Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his historic joint address to the US Congress on June 22. This will be the second time that Prime Minister Modi addresses the joint session, marking a significant milestone for an Indian prime minister. In addition to escorting the prime minister, Congressman Thanedar has received a special invitation from President Joe Biden to attend the White House State Dinner held in honor of Prime Minister Modi on the same day. As a first-time Democratic Congressman representing Michigan’s 13th Congressional District, Thanedar and his spouse,…

On June 18, the Consulate General of India in Chicago organized a grand celebration at Navy Pier’s lakefront to commemorate the 9th International Day of Yoga, which falls on June 21. Over 300 yoga enthusiasts enthusiastically participated in the event. Consul General Somnath Ghosh delivered the inaugural remarks, setting the tone for the occasion. Following his speech, renowned yoga instructors Anu Malhotra, Mara Zimmerman, Saba Haider, and Yash Choudhary conducted a captivating session of the Common Yoga Protocol. Consul General Ghosh highlighted the significance of this year’s International Day of Yoga theme, “Yoga for Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,” and proudly presented yoga…

Following widespread criticism of its dialogues and visual effects, the film Adipurush has faced further scrutiny. Suresh Shyam Lal Gupta, the President of the All India Cine Workers Association, wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi calling for an immediate ban on the film due to alleged religious sentiments being hurt. Gupta also demanded an FIR to be filed against the film’s director Om Raut, co-writer Manoj Muntasir, and the producers.  The film has received backlash from critics and reviewers nationwide for specific dialogues, such as ‘marega bete’ (your son will die), ‘bua ka bagicha hain kya’ (is this…