Over 3 lakh devotees perform Amarnath Yatra in 16 days

by Pabitra Mohan Senapaty

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

More than three lakh devotees performed the ongoing Amarnath Yatra during the last 16 days, as another batch of 4,875 Yatris left for the Valley on Monday, officials said.

Jammu, July 15: More than three lakh devotees performed the ongoing Amarnath Yatra during the last 16 days, as another batch of 4,875 Yatris left for the Valley on Monday, officials said.

Despite intermittent rain and thundershowers along both the Yatra routes, more than 15,000 enthusiastic pilgrims had 'Darshan' inside the holy cave on Sunday.

Officials said that another batch of 4,875 Yatris left Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu for the Valley on Monday in two escorted convoys.

"First escorted convoy left at 3:05 a.m. carrying 1,918 Yatris in 68 vehicles for north Kashmir Baltal base camp.

"Second escorted convoy left at 3:50 a.m. carrying 2,957 Yatris in 94 vehicles for south Kashmir Nunwan (Pahalgam) base camp," officials added.

Both escorted convoys reach the Valley by midday and no Yatri carrying vehicle is allowed beyond the two transit camps of Manigam in Ganderbal district and Mir Bazaar in Anantnag district to move towards the base camp after 5 p.m.

The cave shrine houses an ice stalagmite structure that wanes and waxes with the phases of the moon.

Devotees believe that this ice stalagmite structure symbolises the mythical powers of Lord Shiva.

The cave is situated at an altitude of 3,888 metres above sea level in the Kashmir Himalayas.

Devotees approach the cave shrine either from the traditional south Kashmir Pahalgam route or the north Kashmir Baltal route.

The Pahalgam cave shrine axis is 48 km long and it takes Yatris 4-5 days to reach the shrine.

The Baltal cave shrine axis is 14 km long and it takes one day for the pilgrims to have 'Darshan' and reach back to the base camp.

On Monday, 4,434 Yatris left Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu in two escorted convoys for the Valley.

The first escorted convoy carrying 1,721 pilgrims in 64 vehicles left at 3 a.m. for the north Kashmir Baltal base camp. The second escorted convoy carrying 2,713 pilgrims in 101 vehicles left at 3:35 a.m. for the south Kashmir Nunwan (Pahalgam) base camp.

This year's Yatra will conclude after 52 days on August 29 coinciding with festivals of Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan.

--IANS

Archana Kamath Quits Table Tennis For Academics After Historic Olympic Run

by Shambhu Datta Mishra

New Delhi, Aug 22: India’s top paddler, Archana Kamath, has quit table tennis to pursue her passion for academics. The 24-year-old Olympian, who was a key member of India’s history-making women’s team at the Paris Olympics, said that her decision was driven solely by her love for studying.

“If I have retired from competitive table tennis, it is only and only because of my passion for academics. Having been the recipient of extraordinary support, including financial, I can confidently say, that it wasn’t in any way a financial decision,” she told The Indian Express from Michigan, where she is currently studying.

Kamath was instrumental in helping India’s team reach the quarterfinals in Paris, a milestone for Indian table tennis. Despite a tough loss to Germany, Kamath was the lone bright spot, securing a victory against the higher-ranked Xiaona Shan.

Kamath’s exit raised questions about the financial viability of pursuing table tennis in India, but she clarified that financial concerns played no role in her decision.

"I have had a wonderful 15 years with table tennis, and there is no greater honour than getting an opportunity to give my best for my country," Kamath told The Indian Express. "The last thing I want to do is pull people away from table tennis. It is an amazing sport that I have had the privilege of playing for a long time and my love for it continues."

She emphasised the extensive support she received throughout her career, acknowledging organisations like OGQ, TOPS, and Indian Oil for backing her journey. “I neither have the right nor inclination to complain on that front – doing so would be extremely unfair to the athletes who have really struggled for want of support,” she said.

(IANS)

Read More: Sports News

RDC To Probe Chikiti Hooch Tragedy: Excise Minister Prithviraj Harichandan

by Shambhu Datta Mishra

Bhubaneswar, Aug 22: State Excise Minister Prithviraj Harichandan Thursday said that the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) will probe the Chikiti Hooch Tragedy in Ganjam district.

"The Chikiti Hooch Tragedy will be probed by the RDC. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi will pass the order soon and report will come within two months," said Harichandan while giving update on the issue.

Harichandan also said that raids are conducted across the state. "So far, 217 illicit country liquer factories have been identified. Police have arrested 117 people in connection with illegal trading of country liquor," informed Harichandan, who is also the Minister of Law & Works.

Speaking about the government's plans regarding the illegal factories, Harichandan said that all those liquor factories will be bulldozed and the Excise department has already passed the directive.

"There will be no more illegal liquor factories in the state," said Harchandan, adding, "Illegal liquor network will be closed permanently within a year."

Earlier, Berhampur Excise Superintendent Pradip Panigrahi has been suspended after a couple of deaths in Chikiti, allegedly due to the consumption of spurious country liquor.

Similarly, the Excise Inspector Ramesh Chandra Mohanty and Sub Inspector Prasanna Kumar Dhali have been handed transfer orders.

Notably, eight people have been arrested in the spurious liquor case. Around 7,274 litres of illegal liquor, including 385 litres from Ganjam, have been reportedly seized and 72 people have been arrested as of Tuesday evening in various parts of the state.

The excise department said that crackdowns will be intensified in the coming days and strict action will be taken against those involved in the illegal liquor trade.

Read More: Odisha News

How India And Poland Connected Through Kabaddi

by Shambhu Datta Mishra

Warsaw (Poland), Aug 22: India and Poland are more than 6000 kilometres apart from each other, separated by continents, seas and oceans but are connected by a single thread -- the sport of kabaddi.

The game that originated in the ruler hinterland of the country is now an upcoming sport that has caught the imagination of Polish youngsters and has resulted in the European nation winning titles in Europe and representing the continent in the Kabaddi World Cups.

The 'kabaddi connection' between the two countries was brought to light by Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday. PM Modi, who is on an official visit to Poland, revealed the connection between the countries through kabaddi during his address

"We are connected through the game of Kabaddi as well. This game reached Poland through India and they took it to great heights. Poland is going to host the Kabaddi championship for the first time. I want to wish good luck to their team," the Prime Minister said while delivering his keynote address at a function celebrating the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Poland.

To take forward the sport's connection between the two countries, PM Modi will be meeting the captains of Poland's men's and women's Kabaddi teams on Thursday.

Kabaddi is quite popular in Poland, as it resembles the European game of tag and wrestling, and they are the current European Champions. Michal Spickzo from Poland was the first European to play in the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL), the fastest-growing professional league in the country.

It was introduced in Poland when a sportsperson from India, Abhishek Sharma, decided to start a club. With the support of the International Kabaddi Federation (IKF) member Ashok Das, Abhishek Sharma, who moved to Poland in 2007 after completing his MS course in Bio-Technology, started the 'Kabaddi Project' in 2010. Since then, Sharma has poured all the money he earned into popularising kabaddi and has brought the sport to this stage.

The Poland men's national team qualified and played in the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup in Ahmedabad, India, and caused a sensation by defeating the then World Champions Iran in a preliminary group match.