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2018 Chardham Yatra coming to an end

By
Tania Saili
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0

With winters long march around the corner, the 2018 Chardham Yatra is coming to an end.

Traditionally, the world-famous Chardham pilgrimage comes to a halt towards first week of November when the shrines become inaccessible due to heavy snowfall. Following spring, on Basant Panchami the dates for the re-opening of the shrines are announced as per ancient rites and rituals।

Along with the famous-four i.e. Gangotri, Yamnotri, Badrinath and Kedarnath,  the first to close its portals was Hemkund Sahib, the Sikh place of worship situated at an elevation of 15,197 feet in Chamoli, Uttarakhand. Hemkund, opened for pilgrimage on the 25th of May this year and closed on 10th of October amidst the chanting of Gurubani, in the interiors of Garhwal Himalaya.

Close on its heals are the shrines of Gangotri and Yamunotri, the source of the Ganga and the Yamuna River respectively which will close for winter on the 8th and 9th of November.

The dates for the closure of Badrinath and Kedarnath were announced on Vijaydashmi, in which it was announced that Badrinath Shrine, Vishnu’s abode in the hill-state will close for pilgrimage on the 20th of November and Kedarnath, Shiva’s highest temple will close on the 9th of November at 3:21 p.m.

Tradition has it, that the annual Chardham pilgrimage in Uttarakhand begins in the month of April/May and works in a west to east direction in a clockwise manner. It begins from Yamunotri onto Gangotri and then proceeds to Kedarnath temple, terminating at Badrinath.

To date, since 4th of March 2018 when the portals re-opened, a whooping seven lakh pilgrims and counting have made their way to the four-shrines including, Hemkund Sahib, a record pilgrimage.

The closing of Tungnath Temple on 29th of October and Madmaheshwar on 22nd November will toll the end of the Chardham Pilgrimage for the year 2018.

Stay tuned for ABRK’s latest Pahadi Dance Mash-up

By
Lucky Singh/Tania Saili
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0

If being praised by the likes of Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar and Urvashi Rautela wasnt enough, famous Rapper Abhishekh Bhatt aka ABRK is back with his latest song, to be launched on the 21st of October!

ABRK is no stranger to setting new milestones. The first to bring web-series to Dehradun, the young talent is coming out with Pahadi Dance Mash-up. The song, is an interesting, foot-tapping compilation of songs in Uttarakhand’s regional languages such as Garhwali, Kumaoni and Jaunsari, and aptly entitled Pahadi Dance Mash-up.

Telling us more about the song, Abhishekh says, “This is my first song in my mother-tongue in which you will hear amalgamation of a dozen famous regional songs, which I am sure, you have heard at parties and weddings, all from our hill-state.”

Pahadi Dance Mash-up is all set to rule the airwaves from 21st of October, “I dedicate my Pahadi Dance Mashup to my State and its hill-folks and I hope they enjoy listening and watching it on YouTube as much as I enjoyed making it,” adds Abhishekh Bhatt.

Asked, why now? Abhishekh Bhatt answers how at the back of his mind ABRK always wanted to do something off-beat and unique to bring to the forefront Uttarakhand’s varied musical heritage. His wait and watch policy worked and today Pahadi Dance Mash-up is a reality, “Mash-up is my way of making sure that the youth of our State is connected to their roots and its culture. I want to put Uttarakhand’s rich musical heritage onto an international platform.”

Along with ABRK, Naveen Dhyani lent music to the song, with videographer Krishna Dhyani and colour grading done by Bharat Gupta. Shot on-location in Maldevta, the song was completed within two days of pre and post shoot commitments.

For now, stay tuned to YouTube and Abhishekh’s FaceBook Page as Pahadi Dance Mash-up launch coincides with ABRK‘s birthday on the 21st of October @ 11:00 a.m.

Tiwari: The passing away of an era

By
newspost
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0

Veteran politician ND Tiwari, who suffered multiple organ failure in July, has died at a hospital in Delhi. It was Mr Tiwari’s 93rd birthday today.

“Mr Tiwari was admitted at the Max Super Speciality Hospital in Delhi and died at 2.50 pm,” the doctors said.

ND Tiwari, a Congress veteran, was shifted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital on October 26. He was suffering from fever and pneumonia. A team of doctors was monitoring his condition in the ICU round the clock.

Aged 92, Narayan Dutt Tiwari bid farewell to the world. With the passing away of ND Tiwari a golden era in the politics of the country and more so, Uttarakhand comes to an end. A veteran politician, ND Tiwari was revered by all, even his opponents. He leaves behind a glorious trail in the politics of the hill-state, for many saw him as a visionary and go-getter.

Born in 1925, in Baluti a small village outside Nainital, Tiwari moved his way up the ladder in politics Initiated into the world of politics as the President of the Union of the Allahabad University, the octogenarian politician never looked back. He was thrice the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh (1976–77, 1984–85, 1988–89), the largest State in India and later Uttarakhand that was carved out of Uttar Pradesh.

He was the first elected Chief Minister of Uttarakhand who enjoyed a full-term from 2002 to 2007. ND Tiwari also served in Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi‘s cabinet as Minister for External Affairs with his last stint at politics being the Governor of Andhra Pradesh from 2007 until 2009, when he was forced to resign following a sex scandal.

An elected member to the 7th Lok Sabha in 1980,1996 and 1999 Tiwari ji held several important portfolios. He married twice, first to Sushila Tiwari, and then to Ujjwala Tiwari on 14 May 2014, the mother of his biological son Rohit Shekhar with whom the veteran fought a paternity battle that ruled the headlines towards the end of his political career.

Paying his condolence to the departed leader Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendre Singh rawat said “He played an important role in Indian politics. He will be remembered as an able administrator, diplomat and for working towards the progress of Uttarakhand just after the state was formed.”

Since 20th September last year, the leader had been in and out of hospital with various health issues. He was admitted to a private hospital in New Delhi, a few days back with stomach infection and kidney failure and was being treated for the same.

Soundproof classrooms for schools near Kedarnath

By
Lucky Singh/Tania Saili
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1

Rudraprayag; Some forty five kilometers from Shiva’s highest shrine Kedarnath, the students of Primary School in Bhitsaim find it difficult to concentrate on their studies. Every half hour, the children have to stop their classes mid-lesson and wait for the thrum of the helicopter landing or taking off with pilgrims, to subside.The chop-chop-chop of the chopper rotors, from close vicinity makes it difficult for students to concentrate on their lessons.

Complaints came pouring in from all quarters. Students, parents and teacher’s alike put their grievances across to the District Administration who soon found the state-of-the-art solution. “After rounds of meeting, it was suggested that the chopper companies hired to ferry pilgrims, would from their CSR funds build sound-proof rooms for the students of the nine primary schools located close to the helipads at Phata, Guptkashi, Gaurikund, Sonprayag and Narayankoti,” informs District Magistrate Rudraprayag, Mangesh Ghildiyal.

Working on war footing, seven out of the nine chopper companies worked over a period of two months and finished their assignment.  With double-glazed windows, sound-proof doors, roofs re-done to minimise any kind of disturbance from outside, these rooms have made life easy for teachers and students as well.

 

A relieved Headmaster of the Primary School in  Siri, Shri Sanjay Prasad, tells us, “Every half hour we have a helicopter ferrying pilgrims to and fro from Kedarnath shrine, this  routine would invariably disrupt lessons, but now these newly constructed sound-proof rooms have made it easier for us to continue our lessons without any disruptions.”

“Now two more chopper companies have to meet their target, which they promise to, as soon as they resume flying in the region,” assures Mangesh Ghildyal, DM, Rudraprayag.

So, for now, the only sound that you can hear in these sound-proof rooms is that of the tiny-tots working hard, in pin-drop silence.

Weaving a future for Uttarakhand’s bamboo weavers

By
Tania Saili
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0

Dehradun: Uttarakhand, like any other mountain-state is known for its varied handicraft, which once forgotten, has now found wings due to individual and collective efforts by sons  and daughters of the soil. Today we talk about Designer Upender Rawat, employed in an IT company in Dehradun, whose efforts have given a fresh lease of life to Bamboo baskets, with his initiative, Honey Handicrafts.

Inspired by his wife Udesh Rawat’s handicraft skills, Upender started his search for bamboo weavers, a memory from his childhood spent in the hills.   Lady luck struck! Within  two three months of looking around, Upender search ended in Sahaspur Laanga area, in the outskirts of Dehradun. Here, he came across a family of seven to eight weavers, who had, despite the onslaught of modernisation, kept alive the dying art of ringaal (bamboo) baskets with intricate weaving in all sizes.

Upender tells Newspost, “I belong to the hills and have grown up in a village where two to three families were dedicated to the art of weaving, but as it dint get them any financial help, the art was soon buried in wooden trunks.“

Today Gopal and his family have restarted the art solely due to Upender’s constant encouragement. The first few samples were delivered to Upender a few months back and he decided to put them on Facebook to reach a wider client-base, to ensure that his family of weavers would soon make monetary benefits from it.

“The customised baskets are completed within two to three days. The family is in the process of passing on their talent to the next generation, which for me is a personal reward,” beams Upender.

He adds, “Though there are plenty of artisans in the State, they lack a proper platform to showcase their skill. These hand-woven bamboo baskets are eco-friendly, durable and organic. They can be used for multi-purposes and should be encouraged at all levels.“

Keeping the festive season in mind, Upender has given a 70% discount on all the baskets for now, hoping that it will bring the much-sort-after Goddess Lakshmi to the homes of those who need it the most.

Profixerz – one stop-shop for all your maintenance issues

By
Lucky Singh/Tania Saili
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0

If Dehradun is home to you, then Profixerz HAS TO BE on your quick dial! Need a reliable electrician, plumber, appliance repairer, carpenter or the latest addition, a henna artist, dial Profixerz. This team in Yellow has made life in the valley easy for those who juggle with day-to-day home or office maintenance issues.

Started by three like-minded youngsters, within a year, the company has grown into a team of fifteen young men within the age group of 20-30. Experts in their field, the company does a complete background check before hiring them.

Co-founder Istedad Muteeb tells us, “Neeraj Kumar Singh, Sahibe Aalam  and I did our B.Tech together. Post our graduation we three  went our own way, working in various cities such as Delhi, Noida and Gurgaon. The passion to do something of our own made us give up promising careers. We set base in Dehradun and Profixerz became a reality.”

There were plenty of teething trouble, new place, new people, lack of funds but soon those shortcomings have become a thing of the past.

Looking back, Sahibe Aalam tells us, “It was an uphill task for us. We started with plumbing and went from home-to-home, shop-to-shop handing out services and trying to build a brand. Today we are proud to say that we have added more services to our group.“

Not limiting themselves to home-maintenance the company wants to diversify into waste-management and daily services as well, the ground work for which is already underway.

“This is an initiative to spread awareness about waste management,” adds Neeraj, “We will collect waste material such as paper, metal,  newspapers, plastic and e-waste to generate e-points which will then work as e-cash for the services that Profixerz provide.“

Keeping their services at par with India’s metropolitan cities, Profixerz boast of giving professional services to over one thousand households within Dehradun district and promise to add more services.

Contact at 9927344344/ Or visit www.profixerz.com

Unruly mob attack on lady entrepreneur

By
newspost
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0

Dehradun, Senior Vice President FICCI FLO and woman entrepreneur Nazia Izuddin held a press conference earlier in the day where she brought to the notice that her house was attacked by an unruly mob of 150 people yesterday evening. She claimed that the attack at her residence in village Challang, Rajpur, Dehradun was led by Pankaj Aggarwal, Yogesh Bhatt, Mukesh Joshi and Ajay Dabral, well-known names in media and business fraternity.

According to her, the mob of men and women ran a mock the above said property with arms and ammunitions, physically assaulted her house help, guard and demolished her guard house with a JCB brought to the spot. Nazia added that despite repeated requests to the police, no security was given to her and though the police had taken a written complaint naming three,  they had not yet filed an FIR.

Speaking on the occasion, she said, “This reflects that the Dehradun Police does not take the safety of women seriously. Is this how daughters and daughter in laws of the State are treated? We could have even been killed. I feel insecure and threatened.”

Nazia also disclosed that in the recent past she had issued a defamation notice against Mukesh Joshi who had tried to malign her business image.

Taking cognisance of the matter, SSP Dehradun, Nivedita Kukreti updated Newspost stating, “actually this is a property dispute. We have asked both the parties in question to show us their ownership papers (land in dispute), to first determine whose land it is. I have asked SDM and Revenue Department to look into it as well.”

1993 Manorite Batch Silver Jubilee celebrations galore

By
Tania Saili
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0

Over the weekend, Mussoorie, the queen of hills, was the perfect hostess to the 1993 Manorite Batch who together to celebrate their Silver Jubilee.

Close to 50 classmates, some with their families, travelled across the globe to come back to their Alma Mater. Celebrating 25 years of when the batch walked out of the iconic iron gates of St. Georges College’s, Mussoorie, an institution which prepared the young lads for the unfolding future.

 

With back-to-back programmes spread across three days, the former students left behind families and busy schedules to take time off and bond with childhood friends over music, bonfire and laughter, catching up on lost times. Recollecting their well-spent childhood in the hill station and a School that remains unchanged despite the onslaught of time, meant volumes to the former students.

Once again, donning their school uniforms, the well turned out men in black and grey, took part in the march past at the School’s Sports Day. A moment of pride not only for those who took part in the march but for those who witnessed the impressive line-up. Brother Carrol, the former Principal of the 1993 Batch made sure he was amongst his former students who were presented mementos  by Chief Guest, Major General Ashok Sheoran (VSM), himself a Manorite of the 1968 batch.

For the 1993 batch, rest assured, these past few days, spent together recollecting, reconnecting and bonding will surely see them through, until they all descend, once again in full-attendance, on the hill-station and their Alma Mater, for their Golden Jubilee.

Swami Sanand, Ganga Activist, passes away

By
Ashish Dobhal/Tania Saili
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0

Rishikesh: The man who single-handedly fought for ‘Ganga-Act‘ to preserve the uninterrupted flow of the Ganges, Swami Gyanswaroop Sanand, passed away in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, this evening. Environmentalist  G.D. Aggarwal aka Swami Gyanswaroop Sanand, had been on an indefinite fast for the last 109 days.

According to the team of doctors from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh tending to Swami Sanand, where he had been brought last evening said that the noted environmentalist died due to a heart attack. PRO AIIMS, Harish Thapliyal confirmed the same.

From 22nd June, 2018, the 87-year-old Swami Sanand had been surviving solely on lemon water, salt and honey. On 9th of October the octogenarian had stopped drinking even water. Post which, the Haridwar district administration cordoned off the Matrisadan Ashram where he was on fast and along with a team of medics from AIIMS moved him to the hospital.

He opposed all kinds of hydro-projects being built or proposed to be built on the river, which would pollute or come in the way of the uninterrupted flow of the Ganges. He demanded that the Ganga Act formulated in 2012 be turned into law.

Earlier, he worked was a Professor of Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, and served as a Member-Secretary of the Central Pollution Control Board.

The octogenarian environmentalist had earlier expressed the desire that his body be donated to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh for research purposes. The Dean of AIIMS, Dr. Vijendra Singh said: “When Swami ji was well he had sent a certified letter to us stating that he wished to donate his body to AIIMS, and we will be fulfilling his last wish.“

Chief Minister of the State, Shri Trivendra Singh Rawat, expressed grief on the passing away of Swami Sanand aka Prof. G.D Aggarwal.

Girl students made decision makers for a day

By
Tania Saili
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0

On the eve of International Girl Child Day, Shri Bhuvneshwari Mahila Ashram with the support of Plan India and USAID celebrated the day with students from their Swachh Bharat Swachh Vidyalaya Government Schools i.e. GGIC Rajpur Road and Samaya Sakshaya.

Three students from GGIC Rajpur Road Anjali Rana, Anjali and Shanti Rawat formerly took charge of the roles of Ms. Premlata Baudai (Principal), Smt. Anita Negi (Maths and Nodal WASH) and Smt. Vijaylakshmi Yadav (Psychology and NSS) respectively. Taking their duties seriously, Anjali Rana checked the Mid day meal, Class attendance, and inspected the premises. She also signed a proposal to get the KYC for a daily-labour employed for school construction. The other two teachers taught their respective classes and spoke about Gender Discrimination.

Km. Mani Singh of class 10th from GGIC Lakhi Bagh took charge as CEO Samaya Sakshaya. As well as two girls from SBMA-Plan India, Uttarkashi and Haridwar took over the reigns of the Spanish and Nigerian embassy for a day.

Back in Dehradun, the Chief Guest at the GGIC Rajpur Road, SMC President, Shri Sonu Bidla spoke about how, “girls should not feel weak and should pledge to overcome fear and start sharing pain and distress.”

Smt. Bhagwati Devi PTA President encouraged the girl to speak up against violence. The Principal of GGIC Rajpur Road, Smt. Premlata Baudai applauded the efforts of IDG and extended her support for the recommendations put forward by the Student Principal. She emphasised, “girl’s students who fail in examinations should not drop out. Girls should become smarter in judging people.”

Key recommendations forwarded by the student/principal included compulsory Gender and Legal Sensitisation efforts at school level, inclusion of boys in Gender Sensitisation Initiatives, Self Defence Training, making our streets safe and secure with proper lightning facilities and positioning of Gender Sensitive Police Patrol Units, issues that the adults promise to take up.t

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