Must Read News

9th Anniversary (Patotsav) Celebration.

On August 30, 2023, the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Robbinsville, NJ, marked its 9th anniversary. This special occasion, coinciding with the auspicious day of Rakshabandhan, was graced by the divine presence of HH Mahant Swami Maharaj. The Pãtotsav is a traditional sacred ceremony celebrating the anniversaries of murti consecration (pran pratishtha) in mandirs. The term “Pãtotsav” is a combination of “paat” and “utsav,” where “utsav” means festival. “Paat” originates from “patti,” referring to a strip of garment tied on a murti’s head, fr ..... Read More

BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham Kalash Pujan Ceremony.

For hundreds of volunteers, August 30, 2023, marked a momentous occasion in the building of BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham in Robbinsville, New Jersey. The Kalash, or topmost part of the mandir’s pinnacle, was sanctified during the sacred Kalash Pujan. With joyous tears, the volunteers watched as their years of hard work and anticipation culminated in the pinnacle point of the mahamandir by His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj. Senior swamis joined the auspicious ceremony to sanctify 18 kalashes for the spires of Akshardham. The kalash is the peak ..... Read More

Bal – Balika Din | Akshardham Na Balak Ame.

Centered on the theme of “Akshardham Na Balak Ame,” young children performed in a cultural program on September 2, 2023, at the BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham in Robbinsville, NJ. The two-part program was part of the Festival of Inspirations, a three-month-long celebration of the timeless values that BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham will inspire for generations to come. Akshardham will stand as a testament to the preservation of ancient Hindu traditions and a bridge between these age-old Indian values in a modern world. The first part of the progra ..... Read More

Shri Krishna Janmashtami Celebration.

The festival of Janmashtami, marking the earthly arrival of Bhagwan Shri Krishna and, whose very existence is a fountain of inspiration, was celebrated in a program at the Festival of Inspirations in Robbinsville, New Jersey, on the evening of September 7, 2023. The Festival of Inspirations is a three-month-long festival celebrating the grand opening of the BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham in Robbinsville, New Jersey, which stands as an inspiration of ancient Hindu values in a modernized world. Each story filled with playful innocence, profound wis ..... Read More

BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham Dhaja Dand Pujan Ceremony.

On September 13, 2023, His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj performed the sacred ceremony of Dhaja Dand Pujan (sanctification of the flagstaff) at BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham in Robbinsville, NJ. The 22 magnificent dhaja dands will sit atop the BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham, infusing the entire campus with a heightened sense of divinity. Flags will fly high on the glimmering staff, a tangible reminder that where there is God and faith, there is victory. This special pujan was a part of the Festival of Inspirations leading up to the Akshardham dedi ..... Read More

Mahant Swami Maharaj’s 90th Birthday Celebration.

“Yours Forever, Sadhu Keshavjivandas”: these words have completed hundreds of thousands of letters written by His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj to people around the world. Inked in these letters are his compassion, love, and respect for all. On September 13, 2023, hundreds of devotees gathered to celebrate the 90th birthday of His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj in his divine presence in Robbinsville, New Jersey. The celebrations centered around his humility and love, showcasing how Mahant Swami Maharaj touched the lives of millions across the gl ..... Read More

Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – The World is One Family.

An inspirational program held in Robbinsville, New Jersey, on September 16, 2023, centered around the theme Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam: The World Is One Family, encouraged the audience to look beyond surface-level differences and understand what unites humanity. This message, which has been echoed through the ancient scriptures of Sanatan Dharma, urges us to seek out the divinity in others to create a world of harmony and compassion. Overcoming differences in background, culture, and beliefs – this sentiment of spiritual oneness links humans around ..... Read More

Yuvak-Yuvati Din | Mahima.

On Thursday, September 21, 2023, youths gathered at the BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham in Robbinsville, New Jersey, to explore the theme of “Mahima” as part of the Festival of Inspirations. This three-month celebration aims to perpetuate the timeless values championed by BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham for future generations. Yuvaks and yuvatis from North America presented a two-segment program that delved into understanding the glory of God, Guru, and devotees of God. The key message was that while money drives the world, in the spiritual community ..... Read More

New Parliament Signifies India’s Progress – PM Modi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the paramount role of Parliament in serving the nation, underlining that it exists not for the benefit of any political party but solely for the development of the country. During the inaugural session in the New Parliament building, he referred to this moment as the beginning of the ‘Amrit Kaal,’ signifying India’s forward march into the new Parliament structure. Prime Minister Modi highlighted recent achievements, including the success of Chandrayaan 3 and India’s role in organizing the G20. He emphasi ..... Read More

Aditya-L1’s 110-day journey to L1 begins.

Twitter : @isro India’s inaugural space-based solar observatory, Aditya-L1, has initiated its journey to the Lagrangian 1 (L1) point through the Trans-Lagrangian 1 Insertion (TL1I) maneuver executed by ISRO on September 19. This milestone maneuver signifies the commencement of Aditya-L1’s 110-day voyage toward the L1 point, positioned between the Earth and the Sun, approximately 1.5 million km away, representing a mere 1% of the Earth-Sun distance. ISRO announced the successful execution of the TL1I maneuver with excitement, stating that the ..... Read More

Vivek Ramaswamy Now 2nd, Trump Leading Presidential Race.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, once regarded as a significant competitor to former President Donald Trump, is facing a decline in popularity in the latest Republican polls conducted in the crucial early primary state of New Hampshire, as per a CNN survey. In the CNN/University of New Hampshire poll, Trump remains the preferred choice of 39 percent of potential GOP primary voters in this state, a performance somewhat trailing his national support, where he routinely garners a majority of Republican backing. Notably, the drop in DeSantis’s stand ..... Read More

Nihar Malaviya takes the helm at Penguin Random House as CEO.

Twitter : @ThomasRabe Penguin Random House, the world’s largest trade book publisher, has made an official announcement appointing Nihar Malaviya as the permanent CEO. Malaviya, an experienced figure in the publishing industry, had been serving as the interim CEO since January 1, 2023, and held the positions of president and chief operating officer since 2014. Thomas Rabe, Chairman & CEO of Bertelsmann, expressed strong confidence in Malaviya’s leadership, affirming that he is the right leader for Penguin Random House at this critical junctur ..... Read More

Shallu Jindal conferred with International Woman of the Year Award

The International Women of the Year Award was bestowed upon Shallu Jindal during the Swadeshi Mela Indian American Trade Fair, a collaborative effort by the DTribals Foundation and the Consulate General of India in Chicago. This recognition celebrated Jindal’s tireless work in uplifting rural and tribal communities not only in states like Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand but also beyond India’s borders. Somnath Ghosh, the Indian Consul General in Chicago, graced the event’s opening ceremony as the chief guest. Expressing her gratitude, Jind ..... Read More

India Focuses on Global South Issues: UN Envoy Ruchira Kamboj at UNGA

The 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly commenced with the arrival of Heads of State and numerous global leaders at the UN headquarters in New York. India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ruchira Kamboj, addressed the assembly during this high-level session. She emphasized India’s commitment to addressing crucial issues for Global South countries as the current President of the G20, following India’s successful hosting of the high-level G20 Summit in New Delhi. Kamboj underscored India’s dedication to key conce ..... Read More

Indian Directors Shine at Toronto International Film Festival

Two Indian directors achieved recognition at the 48th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) closing ceremony. Jayant Digambar Somalkar’s debut Marathi film, “Sthal,” earned an award from the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema (NETPAC), while Tarsem Singh Dhandwar’s “Dear Jassi” received the Platform Award. “Sthal” narrates the story of a young woman’s battle against oppressive patriarchy, and Somalkar dedicated his award to courageous women worldwide. “Dear Jassi” garnered praise for its candid portrayal of the impact of caste syste ..... Read More

PM Modi praises India’s strong banking sector.

In his address to the Central Hall of Parliament on September 19, 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the thriving state of India’s banking industry, positioning it as a focal point of national discourse. He commended his government’s efforts in restoring the country’s financial well-being, resulting in India gaining recognition for the strength of its banking sector. Subsequently, during a Rozgar Mela where he virtually distributed appointment letters to more than 70,000 recruits, Prime Minister Narendra Modi underscored that a sig ..... Read More

India’s Li-Ion market to grow at 14.8% CAGR by ’28: IMARC.

In accordance with a study conducted by the IMARC Group titled, “Indian Lithium-Ion Market: Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity, and Forecast 2023-28,” the Indian lithium-ion (Li-Ion) market achieved a total valuation of US$ 2.5 billion in the previous year. The study anticipates that this market will expand significantly and reach US$ 5.9 billion by the year 2028, reflecting an impressive compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.8% during the period of 2023-28. The report highlights the prevalence of lithium cobalt oxide in th ..... Read More

President Murmu addresses Asia-Pacific Human Rights Conference

Twitter : @rashtrapatibhvn President Droupadi Murmu emphasized the transformative power of the Indian Constitution in promoting gender justice and safeguarding human dignity. Speaking at a conference of National Human Rights Institutions in New Delhi, she cited the government’s initiatives, such as providing housing, education, and healthcare to the underprivileged, as essential for preserving dignity. President Murmu highlighted India’s commitment to women’s representation, with a minimum 33 percent reservation in local body elections, and t ..... Read More

Sahith Theegala: PGA Tour Maiden Win at Fortinet Championship

Sahith Theegala Reddy, a young Indian-American golfer, achieved a significant milestone on September 18 by securing his first PGA Tour title at the Fortinet Championship. He hopes this victory will inspire other young Indian athletes to dream big. The 25-year-old delivered an impressive final round, scoring a 4-under 68 at Silverado Resort in Napa, California, ultimately winning by two strokes over Korea’s S.H. Kim. Theegala now joins fellow Indian-American golfer Akshay Bhatia, who claimed victory at the Barracuda Championship in July. Theeg ..... Read More

SS Rajamouli’s ‘Made in India’ biopic on Dadasaheb Phalke and dreams of Mahabharat on screen.

Acclaimed director-producer SS Rajamouli, after the massive success of RRR, has unveiled his next ambitious project, ‘Made in India.’ This upcoming film will be a biopic chronicling the life of the Father of Indian Cinema, Dadasaheb Phalke. Rajamouli expressed deep emotional resonance with the biopic’s script, acknowledging the inherent challenge in creating a biopic and raising the stakes even higher when portraying the Father of Indian Cinema. He enthusiastically introduced ‘MADE IN INDIA,’ affirming his commitment to the project. The biopi ..... Read More

Samir Shah part of panel reviewing Leicester unrest.

The United Kingdom government has appointed Dr. Samir Shah, an Indian-born race relations expert, to join a three-person panel responsible for independently reviewing the unrest that occurred in Leicester last year. This unrest stemmed from clashes between community groups following an India-Pakistan Asia Cup cricket match in Dubai. Dr. Samir Shah, who received a CBE honor in 2019 for his contributions to heritage and television, will work alongside other expert panel members to present their findings by the upcoming year. This decision was an ..... Read More

Raja Krishnamoorthi: 2023 Roosevelt Leadership Award Recipient

Raja Krishnamoorthi (left) at Mount Rushmore with his congressional colleagues Joyce Beatty (D-second left), Adrian Smith (third from left) and Kelly Armstrong (R-ND) after receiving the Roosevelt Leadership Award(Image : @CongressmanRaja) Illinois Democrat Raja Krishnamoorthi received the 2023 Roosevelt Leadership Award during an event near Mount Rushmore in South Dakota. This honor, presented by the Franklin Center for Global Policy Exchange and the Ripon Society, draws inspiration from President Theodore Roosevelt’s legacy and is bestowed u ..... Read More

Vicky Kaushal: Katrina Kaif, the family’s fashion police, ‘has given up on me.’

Vicky Kaushal’s marriage to actress Katrina Kaif in December 2021 made headlines in the Bollywood industry and among their fans. The couple received widespread praise, and their wedding visuals from Rajasthan quickly went viral. Since then, Vicky has openly discussed his wife in various public forums. Recently, the actor known for his role in “Sardar Udham” confessed that Katrina plays the role of the fashion police in their family. When it comes to Katrina Kaif’s impeccable fashion sense and public appearances, she rare ..... Read More

The Finance Ministry greenlights welfare measures for LIC agents and staff.

On September 18, 2023, the Ministry of Finance gave its approval to a set of welfare measures aimed at benefiting both Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) agents and employees. These measures encompass modifications to the Enhancement of Gratuity Limit, the Uniform Rate of Family Pension, and the LIC (Agents) Regulations, 2017, among others. Specifically, these welfare measures for LIC agents and employees include: 1. Increasing the gratuity limit for LIC agents from INR 3 lakh (equivalent to USD 3,600.28) to INR 5 lakh (USD 6,000.47). Th ..... Read More

India debuts ‘Skills on Wheels’ mobile lab for widespread digital literacy.

In pursuit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to transform India into a digital nation and equip rural youth for employment opportunities, a series of initiatives are being implemented. One noteworthy endeavor, known as “Skills on Wheels,” is geared towards providing essential digital skills to youngsters in remote areas, with a special focus on empowering women. This initiative aims to not only prepare them for the future but also enhance their employability by imparting specific vocational skills. The innovative “ ..... Read More