Assam on Tuesday celebrated Magh Bihu, the annual harvest festival, with traditional fervour.


Assam celebrates Magh Bihu


IANS Automatic

Thousands of devotees in Bihar took a dip in the holy Ganga and other rivers on Tuesday to mark the annual harvest festival of Makar Sankranti.


Devotees take holy dip as Bihar celebrates Makar Sankranti


People across Karnataka on Tuesday celebrated the harvest festival of Sankranti with thousands of Hindus thronging temples.


Karnataka celebrates Sankranti harvest festival


Hundreds of hoardings carrying the images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath dotted the streets of the holy town as millions from across India  and abroad have descended here for the religious, spiritual and cultural congregation taking place barely three months ahead of the 2019 general elections.


Modi-Yogi bonhomie on full display in politically-charged Kumbh Mela (IANS Special)


Over three million devotees from across India and abroad, braved the icy cold water to take a holy dip in the confluence of river Ganga on Tuesday at the annual Gangasagar Fair in West Bengal's Sagar Island on Makar Sankranti.


Over 3mn take holy dip in Bengal's Gangasagar MelA


Tamil Nadu celebrated Pongal, a major harvest festival, on Tuesday with traditional fervour.


Pongal celebrated in Tamil Nadu with traditional fervour


Thousands of devotees took a holy dip here at the Sangam -- the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna and the mystical Saraswati rivers -- on Tuesday morning, on the auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti and marking the onset of the Kumbh Mela.


Devotees take holy dip on Makar Sankranti as Kumbh Mela opens


On the wee hours of Tuesday, thousands of faithful thronged the Kumbh Mela site here and took the holy dip at Sangam -- the confluence of Ganga and Yamuna rivers and the mystical Saraswati -- to mark the onset of the Kumbh Mela on the auspicious day of Makar Sankranti.


Thousands of devotees take holy dip on Makar Sankranti


Thousands of faithful descended on this historic city, renamed by the BJP government from Allahabad, for the first 'Shahi Snan (royal bath) on Tuesday to mark the start of Kumbh Mela, where the devout from within and abroad will mingle over the course of the next 45 days for the mega religious, spiritual and cultural congregation that is expected to attract more than 15 crore people.


All roads lead to Sangam as Kumbh Mela opens on Tuesday (Curtain Raiser)


Union Minister of Earth Sciences and Environment Harsh Vardhan on Monday launched special weather services for people visiting Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj during Kumbh Mela between January and March.


Special weather services for Kumbh Mela


The Supreme Court on Monday kept in abeyance a challenge to two notifications on the Passport Act and the Foreigners Act that permitted religious minorities facing persecution in the neighbouring countries, except Muslims, to stay in India even if they had entered without valid documents.


SC keeps pending petitions challenging notification on entry of minorities


Security was tightened across West Bengal ahead of the Gangasagar Mela to mark the occasion of Makar Sankranti, when close to 16 lakh devotees come for a holy dip at the confluence of the Ganga and the Bay of Bengal, an official said on Monday.


Security heightened in Bengal for Gangasagar Mela


A fire broke out in the Kumbh premises here on Monday, destroying a large part of the tented area, officials said. But no loss of life was reported.


Cylinder blast sparks fire at Kumbh Mela



Fire at Kumbh destroys tents, none injured


The Telugu states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh on Monday celebrated Sankranti, a major harvest festival, with traditional fervour.


Andhra, Telangana celebrate Sankranti


Preparations were underway on Monday for the installation a goddess idol made of 2,500 kg of clarified butter in a famous temple in this Himachal Pradesh town, officials said.


Himachal temple to have clarified butter goddess idol


Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the BJP government is committed to ensuring justice to the 1984 anti-Sikh riot victims and asked why the Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara was allowed to go to Pakistan during partition when it was close to the border.


Why was Kartarpur allowed to go to Pakistan: Modi


Thousands of devotees thronged gurdwaras across Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Patna and other places across the country on Sunday to offer prayers on the occasion of 352nd birth anniversary of tenth Sikh master, Guru Gobind Singh.


Devotees throng gurdwaras to mark Guru Gobind Singh's birth anniversary


With thousands of families living in Hyderabad heading to their native places in both the Telugu states for Sankranti, the Telangana government on Saturday decided to waive toll tax for commuters on national highways.


Telangana waives toll tax as thousands head home for Sankranti


Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Sunday release a commemorative coin on the 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, to mark his birth anniversary. Modi will also address a select gathering.


Modi to release commemorative coin on Guru Gobind Singh


Himachal Pradesh, whose economy largely relies on tourism, is praying for blessings from Tibetan spiritual leaders to improve their business.

Page 35 -