News Analysis India

Tag: Lord Krishna

  • ‘Stopped from entering Taj Mahal with Krishna’s idol’: Tourist from Jaipur

    By PTI

    AGRA: A tourist from Jaipur in Rajasthan has claimed that he was barred from entering the Taj Mahal with the idol of the young Lord Krishna.

    The incident got the attention of local Hindu bodies, whose activists said they will protest against the authorities if action is not taken against those who stopped the tourist.

    An official from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Agra circle, said he will enquire about the matter with the CISF officials.

    The tourist, Gautam, told reporters at the Taj Mahal that the official cited security reasons for stopping him from entering with the idol.

    “Laddu Gopal is like a family member and I always carry him,” he said.

    “I have visited Mathura and Vrindavan with the lord. But here they asked me to enter without the god’s idol,” he said.

    “I will ask any devout shopkeeper to keep the idol of the lord while we visit the monument,” he said.

    Prince Vajpayee, Conservation Assistant (CA) at Taj Mahal told PTI: “I too have got a video in this regard. But I have no information whether the incident was on Monday or some other day. Will enquire about the incident from the CISF.”

    Govind Parashar, national president of the Rashtriya Hindu Parishad Bharat, said, “Strict action should be taken against those who have insulted the lord. If action is not taken, we will protest.”

    AGRA: A tourist from Jaipur in Rajasthan has claimed that he was barred from entering the Taj Mahal with the idol of the young Lord Krishna.

    The incident got the attention of local Hindu bodies, whose activists said they will protest against the authorities if action is not taken against those who stopped the tourist.

    An official from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Agra circle, said he will enquire about the matter with the CISF officials.

    The tourist, Gautam, told reporters at the Taj Mahal that the official cited security reasons for stopping him from entering with the idol.

    “Laddu Gopal is like a family member and I always carry him,” he said.

    “I have visited Mathura and Vrindavan with the lord. But here they asked me to enter without the god’s idol,” he said.

    “I will ask any devout shopkeeper to keep the idol of the lord while we visit the monument,” he said.

    Prince Vajpayee, Conservation Assistant (CA) at Taj Mahal told PTI: “I too have got a video in this regard. But I have no information whether the incident was on Monday or some other day. Will enquire about the incident from the CISF.”

    Govind Parashar, national president of the Rashtriya Hindu Parishad Bharat, said, “Strict action should be taken against those who have insulted the lord. If action is not taken, we will protest.”

  • Chhattisgarh government launches green drive on Janmashtami

    Express News Service

    RAIPUR:  The Bhupesh Baghel government in Chhattisgarh on Friday invoked the sentiment associated with Lord Krishna on Janmashtami, and launched a drive on tree plantation. The campaign, called ‘Krishna Kunj’, was launched in all urban areas of the state. 

    The government has earmarked a minimum of one acre in each urban municipal body to begin the environment-friendly initiative on the plantation of select venerated trees having traditional values.

    With works continuing on the state’s ‘Ram Van Gaman Path’ (the route undertaken by Lord Ram’s 14 years of exile in Chhattisgarh) and evolving as key religious tourism, the Congress government is now going ahead to create ‘Krishna Kunj’ land where trees like Banyan, Peepal, Neem, Burflower (Kadam), Babul, mulberry, custard apple among others will be planted in all urban areas.

    “India has an ancient tradition of worshipping trees like Banyan, Peepal, Neem, Kadam and others that have gained a significant space in our cultural history as they remain beneficial to mankind. Their existence is now endangered in the name of development of urban areas and if such a tendency persists, our future generations would be unaware of the cultural values of these plants”, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said.

    RAIPUR:  The Bhupesh Baghel government in Chhattisgarh on Friday invoked the sentiment associated with Lord Krishna on Janmashtami, and launched a drive on tree plantation. The campaign, called ‘Krishna Kunj’, was launched in all urban areas of the state. 

    The government has earmarked a minimum of one acre in each urban municipal body to begin the environment-friendly initiative on the plantation of select venerated trees having traditional values.

    With works continuing on the state’s ‘Ram Van Gaman Path’ (the route undertaken by Lord Ram’s 14 years of exile in Chhattisgarh) and evolving as key religious tourism, the Congress government is now going ahead to create ‘Krishna Kunj’ land where trees like Banyan, Peepal, Neem, Burflower (Kadam), Babul, mulberry, custard apple among others will be planted in all urban areas.

    “India has an ancient tradition of worshipping trees like Banyan, Peepal, Neem, Kadam and others that have gained a significant space in our cultural history as they remain beneficial to mankind. Their existence is now endangered in the name of development of urban areas and if such a tendency persists, our future generations would be unaware of the cultural values of these plants”, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said.

  • ‘Dahi Handi’ gets adventure sport tag in Maharashtra; payouts announced for injuries

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government has decided to accord adventure sport status to ‘Dahi Handi’, a popular festival in which a human pyramid is formed to break an earthen pot filled with curd hanging mid-air, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced in the Assembly on Thursday.

    The adventure sport tag will allow young participants (called govindas) in Dahi Handi events, organised to celebrate the birth of Lord Krishna, to apply for government jobs under the sports quota.

    Participants or their families will be provided with compensation in case of fatal or other injuries suffered by the players during the formation of human pyramids, the CM said on the eve of the festival which will be celebrated without any restrictions this year.

    “The Maharashtra government has decided to recognise formation of human towers as part of Dahi Handi celebrations as an adventure sport. With this recognition, the players will become eligible to apply for government jobs under the sports quota,” Shinde said in the Lower House.

    In case of unfortunate death of a participant during the formation of human pyramids, his/her kin would get Rs 10 lakh as compensation from the state government.

    A player suffering serious injuries would receive Rs 7 lakh, while one with fractures would be paid Rs 5 lakh, he said.

    The state government would also bear the medical treatment cost of ‘govindas’ (participants) in case they suffer injuries, Shinde said.

    After two years of subdued revelry, the Dahi Handi festival is likely to be celebrated on a grand scale like during the pre-pandemic times in the state, especially in Mumbai, on Friday as the government has lifted all coronavirus-related curbs.

    The festival sees groups of ‘govindas’ moving around in cities and vying with each other in breaking Dahi Handis (earthen pots filled with yogurt and suspended in mid-air) and winning prizes.

    MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government has decided to accord adventure sport status to ‘Dahi Handi’, a popular festival in which a human pyramid is formed to break an earthen pot filled with curd hanging mid-air, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced in the Assembly on Thursday.

    The adventure sport tag will allow young participants (called govindas) in Dahi Handi events, organised to celebrate the birth of Lord Krishna, to apply for government jobs under the sports quota.

    Participants or their families will be provided with compensation in case of fatal or other injuries suffered by the players during the formation of human pyramids, the CM said on the eve of the festival which will be celebrated without any restrictions this year.

    “The Maharashtra government has decided to recognise formation of human towers as part of Dahi Handi celebrations as an adventure sport. With this recognition, the players will become eligible to apply for government jobs under the sports quota,” Shinde said in the Lower House.

    In case of unfortunate death of a participant during the formation of human pyramids, his/her kin would get Rs 10 lakh as compensation from the state government.

    A player suffering serious injuries would receive Rs 7 lakh, while one with fractures would be paid Rs 5 lakh, he said.

    The state government would also bear the medical treatment cost of ‘govindas’ (participants) in case they suffer injuries, Shinde said.

    After two years of subdued revelry, the Dahi Handi festival is likely to be celebrated on a grand scale like during the pre-pandemic times in the state, especially in Mumbai, on Friday as the government has lifted all coronavirus-related curbs.

    The festival sees groups of ‘govindas’ moving around in cities and vying with each other in breaking Dahi Handis (earthen pots filled with yogurt and suspended in mid-air) and winning prizes.

  • PM Modi gifts Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida a ‘Krishna Pankhi’

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifted his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida, who is on an official visit to India, a ‘Krishna Pankhi’, a sandalwood artefact made in Rajasthan with intricate work with its windows depicting different poses of Lord Krishna, epitomising love, compassion and tenderness.

    Sharing details, official sources noted that the ‘Pankhi’ is intricately carved with traditional tools and has a hand carved peacock figure at top, India’s national bird.

    It has a small ‘ghungaroo’ (small traditional bells) on its edges which move with the flow of wind and has four concealed windows with more intricate carvings inside.

    The intricate carving on the sandalwood is done with precision by master artisans in Churu in Rajasthan, who carve the already impressive sandalwood artefact into a beautiful and elegant masterpiece of art.

    This artefact is made of pure sandalwood, which grows mainly in the forests of southern parts of India. It has hand carving along with a traditional ‘jali’ designs.

    Sandalwood is known for its distinctive fragrance that has been highly valued for centuries as it remains for decades.

    In India, the sandalwood is also used as a worship material and for its medicinal properties.

  • Krishna Janmabhoomi row: HC restores plea seeking removal of Mathura’s Shahi Idgah mosque

    By PTI

    PRAYAGRAJ: The Allahabad High Court has restored a petition seeking the removal of Mathura’s Shahi Idgah Mosque, which is claimed to be built on Krishna Janambhoomi, the birthplace of Lord Krishna.

    The main petition was dismissed in default on January 19, 2021, as the petitioner appeared in person and not through a lawyer. The application for restoration was filed immediately thereafter.

    In an order on February 17, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal and Justice Prakash Padia restored the plea on grounds that the application to restore it was filed without any delay.

    “For the reason stated in the application, the same is allowed. Order dated January 19, 2021, dismissing the main petition in default is recalled. Let the main petition be now listed as per roster on July 25, 2022,” the court said.

    Earlier in 2020, a Mathura court had dismissed a plea seeking the removal of the mosque.

    ALSO READ | 10-sq-km area around Krishna Janmabhoomi now a pilgrimage site; liquor, non-veg sale banned

    A group of people had moved the Mathura court over the 17th-century mosque they claim was built at the birthplace of Lord Krishna, within the 13.37-acre premises of the Katra Keshav Dev temple.

    The suit had demanded the annulment of an earlier Mathura court ruling, ratifying a land deal reached between the Shri Krishna Janmasthan Seva Sansthan and the Shahi Idgah Management Committee on the mosque.

    The suit was filed on behalf of child deity Bhagwan Shrikrishna Virajman, through the “next friend” Ranjana Agnihotri and seven others.

    Next friend is a legal term for a person who represents someone directly unable to maintain a suit.

    The petition had named the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board; Shahi Masjid Idgah Trust; Shri Krishna Janambhoomi Trust; and Shri Krishna Janmasthan Seva Sansthan as defendants.

    The plaintiffs sought an order directing the mosque management to “remove the construction raised by them encroaching upon the land within the area of the Katra Ksehav Dev temple”.

    The plea demanded prohibitory injunctions restraining the defendants, their workers, supporters, men, attorneys and every person acting under them from entering the premises.

  • Lord Krishna must be cursing: Yogi Adityanath takes swipe at Akhilesh Yadav for his claim

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW:  Taking a jibe at the purported letter written by BJP MP Harnath Singh Yadav to BJP boss JP Nadda, Samajwadi Party chief  Akhilesh Yadav said that Lord Krishna “regularly appears in his dreams” to say that the SP would form the government in Uttar Pradesh.

    CM Yogi Adityanath was quick to retort saying that those who claim that Lord Krishna came into their dream must remember that he must be cursing them for the first ever riot in Kosikalan of Mathura in 2016.

    “These people are the worshippers of demon king ‘Kansa’ and not Lord Krishna. On getting power, they hardly did any development of Mathura, Vrindavan and Barsana instead produced Kansa and orchestrated the blood bath of Jawaharbagh in which 26 lives were lost,” said Yogi.

    Harnath had written to Nadda urging him to field Yogi from Mathura. The CM, however, has maintained that he would contest from wherever the party would want him to. Reacting to the letter, Akhilesh said no one can save the CM now.”

    “Even Lord Krishna tells me that we shall form the government in UP. Lord Krishna appears not only on one night but he comes into my dreams every night to tell me that I will be making the next government in UP,” he added.

    Under attack from the saffron brigade, the SP chief is about to visit Ayodhya to undertake the Phase 11 of his ambitious ‘Samajwadi Vijay Rath Yatra’, on January 8, 9.

  • Section 144 imposed in Mathura after Mahasabha threat to install Lord Krishna idol in mosque

    By PTI

    MATHURA: The Mathura district administration has imposed prohibitory orders under CrPC section 144 following an announcement by the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha that it will install a Lord Krishna idol at the deity’s “actual birthplace”, which it claims is in a mosque close to a prominent temple here.

    “Nobody will be allowed to disturb the peace and tranquillity in Mathura,” District Magistrate Navneet Singh Chahal said.

    The clampdown comes even as another right wing organisation, the Narayani Sena, has said it will take out a march from Vishram Ghat to Sri Krishna Janmasthan, demanding the “removal” of the mosque.

    Section 144 of the CrPC prohibits the assembly of four or more people in an area.

    Police said they have detained Narayani Sena secretary Amit Mishra in Mathura Kotwali, while the outfit claimed its national president Manish Yadav has been detained in Lucknow.

    Chahal said he, along with Senior Superintendent of Police Gaurav Grover, reviewed the security around both the religious places, the Katra Keshav Dev temple and the Shahi Idgah.

    He said the Mahasabha had requested permission to install the idol at the mosque but it was turned down.

    Question of granting permission to any event that may potentially disrupt peace does not arise, Chahal added.

    Hindu Mahasabha leader Rajyashri Choudhary had earlier said her organisation will install the idol of Lord Krishna in the Shahi Idgah after a “maha jalabhishek” to “purify” the place on December 6.

    The date marks the demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, the site of a temple-mosque dispute, in 1992.

    The Mahasabha’s threat to perform the ritual inside the Shahi Idgah comes at a time when the local courts are hearing a series of petitions seeking the “removal” of the 17th century mosque.

  • Hindu Mahasabha threatens to install Krishna idol in Mathura mosque, says it’s deity’s birthplace

    By PTI

    MATHURA: The Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha has announced that it will install an idol of Lord Krishna at the deity’s ‘actual birthplace’, which it claims is in the mosque close to a prominent temple here.

    Hindu Mahasabha leader Rajyashri Choudhary said the idol will be installed after a ‘maha jalabhishek’ on December 6 to ‘purify’ the place.

    The date picked by the right-wing organisation marks the demolition in 1992 of Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, the site of a temple-mosque dispute.

    The Mahasabha threat to perform the ritual inside the Shahi Idgah comes at a time when the local courts are hearing a series of petitions seeking the “removal” of the 17th century mosque, close to the Katra Keshav Dev temple.

    Hindu Mahasabha leader Rajyashri Choudhary, however, denied there was any link between the 1992 event and organisation’s Mathura plan.

    Water from the holy rivers will be brought for the “maha jalabhishek”, she said.

    “We so far have got political freedom, but spiritual, economic and cultural freedom is yet to be achieved,” Choudhary said.

  • Row over Lord Krishna’s birthplace: Mathura court requested to reject plea against mosque

    By PTI
    MATHURA: A Muslim body on Monday requested a Mathura court to reject the plea seeking the removal of a mosque near a temple which the devouts believe marks the birthplace of Lord Krishna.

    The plea seeking the removal of the 17th century Shahi Idgah mosque from the 13.37-acre premises of the Katra Keshav Dev temple was filed by advocate Mahendra Pratap Singh and four others.

    Demanding that the plea be rejected, the Intazamia Shahi Masjid Committee in a written statement to the court of Civil Judge (Senior Division) cited provisions of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, which prohibits the filing of a lawsuit to reclaim a place of worship or seek a change in its character from what prevailed on August 15, 1947.

    “The suit deserves cancellation since the Shahi Idgah Masjid was constructed prior to August 15,1947,” the statement submitted by the committee said.

    The Muslim body through its counsel Neeraj Sharma said in the statement that neither the mosque was constructed on the land of the Keshav Dev temple nor any change could be made in the present position as it was constructed centuries ago.

    The construction of the structure cannot be challenged since it is the property of the Waqf Board and was constructed in 1669, the 31-point statement said, adding that it is incorrect to say that the mosque was constructed on a part of the land belonging to the temple.

    The court has fixed April 1 as the date for the hearing in the case.

  • Plea for removal of Mathura’s Shahi Idgah mosque: Court issues notices

    By PTI
    MAGTHURA: A Mathura court has issued notices to the Shahi Idgah Masjid management committee and others, seeking their stands on a fresh plea for the removal of a 17th-century mosque from near the birthplace of Lord Krishna in the Katra Keshav Dev temple complex here.

    Additional District and Sessions Judge Dev Kant Shukla on Saturday issued notices after admitting the plea, ruling that the suit is “maintainable and hence admissible” for detailed hearing, District Government Counsel (Civil) Sanjai Gaur said.

    After admitting the civil suit, the court also issued notices to three other respondents — the president of Sunni Waqf Board, Lucknow and the managing trustees of Sri Krishna Janmabhumi Trust Katra Keshav Dev temple and Sri Krishna Seva Sansthan, Katra Keshav Dev temple.

    The court sought the stands of the four respondents to the new plea by March 8, the next date of hearing, DGC Gaur said.

    The fresh plea has been filed by priest Pawan Kumar Shastri of the old Keshav Dev temple on behalf of the temple’s deity, Thakur Keshav Dev Ji Maharaj Virajman.

    ‘Sevayat’ Shastri has made three demands in his plea, firstly claiming the right to manage the entire 13.37 acres land of the Katra Keshav Dev temple complex, including the land on which the Shahi Idgah mosque stands.

    He sought the right to manage the entire temple complex claiming that his ancestors have been serving as priests of the deity for decades and he has inherited the right from them as the temple’s real ‘sevayat’ (priest).

    Shastri has also demanded the annulment of a 1967 ruling of Mathura court which has ratified a land deal between the Shri Krishna Janmasthan Seva Sansthan and Shahi Idgah Management Committee, allowing the existence of the mosque near the temple.

    In his third plea, Shastri has demanded a court direction to the Shahi Masjid Idgah’s management committee and Lucknow’s Sunni Waqf Board’s president to remove the mosque from its current location.

    Besides the present suit, three more suits are pending with Mathura courts on the issue.

    One suit, filed by advocate Mahendra Pratap Singh on behalf of five plaintiffs, has been admitted for the hearing by the court.

    The admissibility of two others, filed respectively by advocate Hari Shankar Jain for Sri Krishna Virajman through the deity’s “next friend” Ranjana Agnihotri and others and advocate Shailendra Singh for Hindu Army chief Manish Yadav, are yet to be decided, DGC (Civil) Gaur said.