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Abhidhamma Divas commemorates the descent of Lord Buddha from the celestial realm after teaching Abhidhamma. The recent recognition of Pali as a classical language, along with four other languages, enhances the significance of this year's Abhidhamma Divas celebrations as Lord Buddha’s teachings on Abhidhamma are originally available in Pali language.

The International Abhidhamma Divas celebration, organised by the Central government and the International Buddhist Confederation, will see the participation of academicians and monks from 14 countries and a significant number of young experts on Buddha Dhamma from various universities across India.

On October 3 the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved to confer the status of Classical Language to Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali languages.

The Classical Languages serve as a custodian of Bharat’s profound and ancient cultural heritage, embodying the essence of each community’s historical and cultural milestone.

The Union Cabinet approved the recognition of five more languages as "classical", Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, adding Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali have been included in the prestigious category.

"PM Modi has always focused on Indian languages…Today, five languages – Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali have been approved as classical languages," Vaishnaw said.

These languages join six others that have already been recognised as classical: Tamil, Sanskrit, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Odia.

The central government decided to create a new category of languages as “Classical Languages” on October 12, 2004, declaring Tamil as a Classical Language and setting the following as criteria for the status of Classical Language: High Antiquity of its early texts/recorded history over a thousand years. Secondly, a body of ancient literature/ texts is considered a valuable heritage by generations of speakers. Third, the literary tradition must be original and not borrowed from another speech community.

A Linguistic Experts Committee (LEC) was constituted by the Ministry of Culture under the Sahitya Akademi in November 2004 to examine the proposed languages for the status of Classical Language. The criteria were revised in November 2005 as follows: First, the high antiquity of its early texts/recorded history over a period of 1,500-2,000 years. Second, a body of ancient literature/texts is considered a valuable heritage by generations of speakers. Third, the literary tradition is original and not borrowed from another speech community. Fourth, the classical language and literature being distinct from modern, there may also be a discontinuity between the classical language and its later forms or its offshoots. Sanskrit was declared a Classical Language then. (IANS)

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According to a government release, the Union Cabinet chaired by PM Modi, on Wednesday, approved construction of Varanasi-Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya multitracking including a new Rail-cum-Road Bridge across Ganga River traversing through Varanasi and Chandauli districts in Uttar Pradesh.

"The Union Cabinet led by Prime Minister @narendramodi ji approved the Varanasi-Pt. Deendayal Upadhyaya Multi-Tracking Project at a cost of Rs 2642 crores, which also includes the construction of a road bridge over the Ganga river. Under this project, the railway network will be expanded by 30 km. Thanks to Modi ji for continuously promoting connectivity in the country," Shah said in a post on X.

The proposed multi-tracking project will ease operations and reduce congestion, providing the much-required infrastructural development on the busiest sections across Indian Railways, the release mentioned.

Varanasi Railway Station, a crucial hub in Indian Railways, connects key zones and serves as a gateway for pilgrims, tourists, and the local population. The Varanasi-Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya (DDU) Junction route, vital for both passenger and freight traffic, faces heavy congestion due to its role in transporting goods like coal, cement, and food grains, as well as serving growing tourism and industrial demands.

To address this issue, infrastructure upgrades are needed, including a new rail-road bridge over the Ganga River and the addition of 3rd and 4th railway lines, the release said.

As per the release, the project is in line with the PM Modi's Vision of a New India which will make people of the region "Atmanirbhar" by way of comprehensive development in the area which will enhance their employment/ self-employment opportunities.

The project is result of PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan for multi-modal connectivity which has been possible through integrated planning and will provide seamless connectivity for movement of people, goods and services, it read.

The project covering two Districts in Uttar Pradesh will increase the existing network of Indian Railways by about 30 Kms. The Railways being environment friendly and energy efficient mode of transportation, will help both in achieving climate goals and minimizing logistics cost of the country and lower CO2 emissions (149 Crore Kg) which is equivalent to plantation of 6 crore trees, it added. (ANI)

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Set to enter the global sporting landscape, the inaugural edition of the tournament will take place between January 13 and January 19, in New Delhi. The groundbreaking tournament promises to showcase India's indigenous sport on the global stage.

The announcement ceremony featured a spectacular exhibition match between Team Maharashtra and the Rest Of India. The match ended 26-24 in Maharashtra's favour as the crowd were left on the edge of their seats.

This was followed by the unveiling of the World Cup's official logo and tagline #TheWorldGoesKho. The air was charged with enthusiasm as hundreds of young aspiring athletes and school students witnessed what could be the dawn of their sporting dreams.

Making this ancient Indian game truly international, the tournament will feature an impressive lineup of 24 nations, with both men's and women's teams competing for world supremacy. The championship structure includes 16 teams in each division, setting the stage for an intense battle.

KKFI president Sudhanshu Mittal captured the spirit of the moment with his passionate declaration, "Kho Kho is a sport of our country's mud. So, we are very proud to bring this sport to the mat. A big thank you to the federation which has worked hard to ensure that Kho Kho becomes an international sport. We first brought the sport to its fans through the Ultimate Kho Kho League, and now, it is time to take things to the next step with the First Kho Kho World Cup."

Raksha Nikhil Khadse, Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, graced the event and said, "Kho kho has been a part of our country's history from the time of the Mahabharata. The government of India has been promoting as many indigenous games, and hosting the inaugural edition of the Kho Kho World Cup in 2025 is a step in that direction. A big congratulations to the KKFI for their endeavours in different fields, especially sports science, as this takes the level of the game to another level."

"We are excited to be the official partner for the inaugural Kho Kho World Cup in 2025. This event marks a significant step not only in showcasing the dynamic spirit of Kho Kho but also in promoting its inclusion on the global stage, with aspirations to bring it to the Olympics and Asian Games. Just as EaseMyTrip strives for excellence in the travel industry, we are committed to supporting the sport's journey to international prominence," said Nishant Pitti, CEO and Co-founder of EaseMyTrip.

This historic championship represents a massive leap for Kho Kho, transforming it from a beloved local sport to a global phenomenon. With India leading this sporting revolution, the 2025 World Cup promises to be an unforgettable celebration of speed, strategy, and sporting excellence. (ANI)

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