Bhubaneswar: Renovation and beautification works at the Gundicha Temple are progressing rapidly, with the Shri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) aiming to complete all restoration projects before the upcoming Ratha Yatra. SJTA Chief Administrator Arabinda Padhee reviewed the ongoing development works at the temple premises along with senior officials on Tuesday. The team inspected various infrastructure…
BHUBANESWAR: As the scorching summer gradually gives way to the monsoon, Odisha is preparing for two of its most cherished cultural celebrations—Raja Parba and Ratha Yatra—marking the beginning of what many consider the state’s most vibrant and festive period of the year. The season begins with the celebration of Raja Parba, a unique festival that…
Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s rich Jagannath tradition is set to reach a wider national and global audience through an ambitious animated feature film titled Mahaprabhu Jagannath, which will release across more than 300 screens in India. The multilingual film, scheduled for release in Hindi, Odia, and Telugu, will mark the launch of the proposed “Sanatan Universe” —…
Bhubaneswar: Amit Shah has gifted more than 40 kilograms of special sandalwood to the revered Pashupatinath Temple for use in sacred rituals and worship ceremonies associated with the Shree Yantra. The sandalwood was formally handed over to temple authorities in Kathmandu through officials linked to the Pashupati Area Development Trust. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the…
Bhubaneswar: The Government of India has issued a clarification dismissing reports and social media claims suggesting that the Centre is planning to monetise gold held by temples and religious institutions across the country. According to the clarification, certain media reports and online posts falsely claimed that the government was preparing to issue gold bonds to…
Bhubaneswar: In a major political shift, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has secured a historic victory in the 2026 Assembly elections in West Bengal, forming the government in the state for the first time. The result brings an end to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s 15-year tenure and marks a significant setback for the All India…
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha State Law Commission has recommended amendments to the Shri Jagannath Temple Act, 1955 to introduce a formal dress code for devotees visiting the Jagannath Temple. As per the proposal, women may be restricted from wearing jeans or trousers inside the temple premises, while traditional attire has been suggested for male devotees. Male…
Bhubaneswar: Security agencies across India have issued a nationwide alert following intelligence inputs about potential militant attacks on key installations, including the Parliament House. According to officials, the alert has been marked as urgent and confidential. A communication from Police Headquarters (PHQ) has warned of possible coordinated attacks targeting high-value and sensitive locations such as…
Bhubaneswar: Odisha has entered the next phase of its digital census exercise, with large-scale door-to-door data collection commencing across the state on Thursday. Over 90,200 officials, including enumerators and 15,140 supervisors, have been deployed for the survey. Each enumerator is tasked with covering around 800 individuals across 200 to 220 households, collecting detailed demographic information…
Bhubaneswar: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday informed the Lok Sabha that the census process in the country has begun and will include caste-based data collection. Addressing the House, Shah said the government has decided to conduct a caste census alongside the general enumeration exercise. “I want to inform the entire country that the…