Tamil Nadu: Chithirai festival to begin on April 19

by Swati Sucharita

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

The 'ethir sevai' will take place at Moondru Maavadi on April 22, followed by the deity's entry into the Vaigai River on April 23 between 5:51 a.m. and 6:10 a.m.

Madurai, Mar 21 : The annual Chithirai Festival in Madurai's Alagar kovil is set to commence on April 19, according to the temple administration.

During the annual festival, Lord Kallazhagar, the presiding deity of the Sundararaja Perumal Temple will take a holy dip in the Vaigai River on April 23.

The deity will depart for Madurai from the abode at the auspicious time set between 6:10 p.m. and 6:25 p.m. on April 21 from the Kondappa Naicker Mandapam.

The 'ethir sevai' will take place at Moondru Maavadi on April 22, followed by the deity's entry into the Vaigai River on April 23 between 5:51 a.m. and 6:10 a.m.

The Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple, located in Tamil Nadu, is a revered temple and Shiva shrine, highly esteemed by devotees.

This festival holds great cultural and religious significance for the people of Madurai.

Around one million people, including tourists, come to witness the event that takes place in Madurai, south Tamil Nadu's biggest temple.

The last days of the festivals are celebrated in Kallazhagar temple, in the Alagar Hills in Madurai. Lord Kallazhagar is considered to be Goddess Meenakshi's brother, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.

The Chithirai Festival, also known as the Meenakshi Kalyanam or Meenakshi Thirukalyanam, is an annual Tamil Hindu celebration that takes place at the Meenakshi Temple in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, during April.

The festival celebrates the union of Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar, and the first 15 days mark the coronation of Meenakshi as the divine ruler of Madurai and her marriage to Sundareshvara. The next 15 days mark the journey of Kallalagar (a form of the god Vishnu) from his temple to Meenakshi Amman Temple.

(ANI)

Foreign Portfolio Investments Drop To Rs 2,916 Cr On Back Of High Valuations, Capital Gain Tax Hike

by Shambhu Datta Mishra

New Delhi, July 27: Net investments by Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) in the Indian equity market declined to Rs 2,916 crore for the week ending July 26, due to investor selling amid budget uncertainty.

As per data from the National Securities Depository Limited, last week foreign investors injected Rs 15,420 crore into Indian markets, but their buying declined significantly for the week July 22-26.

So far in July, the net investment by FPIs in the equity market stands at Rs 33,688 crore. This year's total investment by foreign investors has now surged to Rs 1,39,010 crore.

"The Budget 2024-25 has not sparked any significant excitement in the market, while it was both populist and prudent. The increase in short- and long-term capital gains taxes added to the volatility on budget day. Although the government's emphasis on fiscal discipline and growth is appealing, FIIs are cautious due to current high valuations and muted expectations for Q1FY25 results" said Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services.

He further added, "Meanwhile, DIIs continue to employ a 'buy on dips' strategy, which contributed to market gains on the week's last trading day, particularly in the pharma, auto, metal, IT, and FMCG sectors."

The volatility of FPI flows extends beyond India, affecting other markets as well. Countries like Brazil, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, and South Korea have witnessed FPI inflows this week while the markets in Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam have experienced outflows.

"Market focus has swiftly moved on from the Union Budget, unveiled in the week, to the ongoing Q1FY25 earnings season. The FY2025 Union Budget delivered a judicious balance between capital expenditure, fiscal prudence, and welfarism. FPI flows are expected to remain volatile" said Shrikant Chouhan, Head of Equity Research, Kotak Securities.

This year's trend in foreign investment has been erratic. Foreign investors were net sellers in January, April, and May, cumulatively selling equities worth around Rs 60,000 crore. However, they turned into net buyers in February, March, and June, with cumulative purchases amounting to Rs 63,200 crore.

(ANI)

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Raj & DK To Bring Action Fantasy Drama 'Rakt Bramhand'; Call It 'Uncharted Territory'

by Shambhu Datta Mishra

Mumbai, July 27: Filmmaker duo Raj & DK are gearing up to bring their first action-fantasy series, 'Rakt Bramhand - The Bloody Kingdom', which they describe as 'uncharted territory', making it all the more thrilling for them.

The makers took to social media and shared the announcement, dropping an intriguing poster featuring a massive bejeweled throne with blood spots.

The post was captioned: "We've got BIGGGGG news that'll stir your blood! We're pumped to announce our first ever action-fantasy series... now filming."

The series promises a gripping, edgy narrative set against the backdrop of a fantastical kingdom, complete with bloody action and spectacular visuals.

For this project, Raj & DK have partnered with director Rahi Anil Barve and long-time collaborator Sita R. Menon, under their production company, D2R Films.

In a statement, Raj & DK said: "This is uncharted territory, which makes it all the more thrilling for us. Our goal is to develop a fictional world that is both original and reminiscent of the fantastical tales we have heard in our childhood."

"We are having an amazing time working with the very talented Rahi and our uber versatile partner Sita to bring this unique vision to life. Working with Netflix has been excellent, and we have their enthusiastic support to back the unconventional vision for Rakt Bramhand," they added.

Monika Shergill, Vice President of Content at Netflix India, added: "After the outstanding success of the genre-bending 'Guns & Gulaabs', we're thrilled to team up with the masterful duo of Raj & DK for another defining series. 'Rakt Bramhand - The Bloody Kingdom' will be Netflix India’s first-ever mega action-fantasy series and is set to redefine the genre by combining grand-scale action with a thrilling storyline."