Devotees throng temples on first Monday of Shravan

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by Utkalika Mohanty

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On the first Monday of the Shravan month, long queues of devotees were witnessed outside temples.

Ghaziabad, July 22: On the first Monday of the Shravan month, long queues of devotees were witnessed outside temples.

Shravan, also known as Sawan, is a sacred month in the Hindu calendar dedicated to Lord Shiva.

At the Dudheshwar Nath Temple in Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad, devotees began lining up as early as 4 a.m. Under tight security arrangements to prevent any disorder, they performed the ritual of 'Jalabhishek' for Lord Shiva.

This year, the holy month of Shravan lasts from July 22 to August 19. While the entire month is auspicious, Mondays hold special significance. This time, both the starting and ending days of Shravan are Mondays, with a total of five in the month.

This auspicious month begins under the constellation 'Shravan', indicating that Lord Shiva's blessings will be especially abundant, and many problems will be alleviated due to the influence of the Moon.

Earlier, the Ghaziabad police issued a route diversion plan in anticipation of the thousands of devotees visiting the Dudheswar Nath Temple. The police have barricaded the area, completely closing off to vehicular traffic, and created a pathway for the devotees.

Additionally, the entire area is under CCTV surveillance, monitored by the police control room.

Starting this day, the movement of Kanwar Yatris, also known as Kanwariyas, will significantly increase.

Strict security and traffic arrangements have been made as thousands of Kanwariyas travel to Haridwar and Rishikesh to collect water from the Ganga River and then offer the same in Lord Shiva temples upon returning home.

--IANS

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Maoist Camp Busted In Odisha’s Nuapada; Explosives Recovered

by Hemanta Pande

Nuapada, Nov 2: Security personnel busted a Maoist camp in a forest in Odisha’s Nuapada district and recovered huge quantity of explosive materials from the spot, police said on Saturday.

Based on intelligence inputs about the movement of CPI (Maoist) cadres, two special operation groups (SOG) launched a search and destroy operation in Patdhara and Sunabeda reserve forests in Nuapada district on the night of October 30.

“On November 1, one SOG Assault team identified a suspected Maoist camp associated with the DGN divisional committee of the CPI (Maoist) in a dense forest near Bhainsamundi (Bahadurpani) village under Boden police station limits,” a senior Police officer said.

A huge quantity of explosive materials was recovered during the search operation at the camp, he added.

The recovered materials include 500 electric detonators, five reels of safety fuse, five improvised IED switches, two SBGL rounds, one gelatin stick (decomposed) and various Naxalite literatures.

“This recovery suggests that the site served as a temporary hideout for CPI (Maoist) cadres, which was raided by security forces,” he said.

In addition, another SOG team was deployed on November 1 evening to intensify the search operation, the police added.

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3rd Test: India Grab The Initiative, Reduce NZ to 171/9 At Stumps On Day 2

by Pabitra Mohan Senapaty

Mumbai, Nov 2: Ravindra Jadeja (4-52) and R Ashwin (3-63) helped India reduce New Zealand to 171/9 in their second innings at the end of Day 2 in the third Test in Mumbai. New Zealand, who scored 235 in their first innings were leading by 143 runs after they rode on Ajaz Patel's 5-103 to bowl out India for 263, restricting the hosts to only a 28-run lead.

On a crumbling pitch on which offered sharp turn and variable bounce, the spinners continued to rule the roost as they had another productive day.

After New Zealand had restricted India to 263 in their first innings and lead of just 28 runs despite contrasting half-centuries by Shubman Gill (90) and Rishabh Pant (60), the hosts roared back into contention thanks to Ashwin and Jadeja.

Akash Deep, opening the bowling, gave India the breakthrough once again by bowling Tom Latham for one as the ball nipped back in to sneak through the gap between the bat and pad.

Washing Sundar then accounted for Devon Conway (22) and Ashwin sent back Rachin Ravindra for 4 but Will Young and Daryl Mitchell, who had saved New Zealand in their first innings, raised a half-century partnership to keep New Zealand's hopes alive.

But Ashwin pulled off a brilliant catch off a skier, running a long distance to poach a diving catch from Ravindra Jadeja's bowling, to dismiss Mitchell for 21 off 41 balls. New Zealand lost their fourth wicket with 94 runs on the board, just 66 runs ahead.

Jadeja grabbed his seventh wicket of the match when he had Tim Blundell chopping onto his wicket with a full-length delivery that rushed onto the batter. He made it eight wickets for the match by sending back Ish Sodhi as India took control of the match.

Glenn Phillips struck Ashwin for a couple of sixes in an over but the seasoned off-spinner had the last laugh knocking back the off-stump with a sensational carrom ball that the batter failed to read and played the wrong line. Phillips scored 26 off 14 balls (1x4, 3x6) and New Zealand were down to 131/6.

But Young kept their hopes alive with his second half-century of the match before spooning a catch back to Ashwin off another carrom ball tossed up which drifted towards the leg-stump. Young showed lots of patience as he scored 51 off 100 balls, hitting two fours and a six.

Matt Henry, who had scored one six over long-off on Jadeja’s bowling, was clean bowled by Jadeja on 10 runs following which stumps were called. Patel, batting on seven and new batter on the crease William ORourke will continue things on Day three as India look to register their first win of the series.

Brief scores:

New Zealand 235 and 171/9 in 43.3 overs (Will Young 51; Ravindra Jadeja 4-52, R Ashwin 3-63) lead India 263 all out in 59.4 overs (Shubman Gill 90, Rishabh Pant 60, Washington Sundar 38 not out; Ajaz Patel 5-103) by 143 runs

--IANS

Devotees throng temples on first Monday of Shravan

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