Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu wished Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the global Jewish community a happy Hanukkah, a festival that celebrates hope and freedom. In his message posted on X in English and Hebrew, PM Modi expressed his hope that the radiance of Hanukkah would bring peace, strength, and hope to everyone's lives. President Murmu also extended her warmest greetings to Israel President Isaac Herzog on this auspicious occasion.
Hanukkah: A Festival of Hope and Freedom
Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish festival that commemorates the victory of the Maccabees over the Greek Seleucid Empire in the 2nd century BCE. The festival is celebrated with the lighting of the menorah, a candelabrum with nine branches, one for each day of the festival.
Significance of Hanukkah
Hanukkah is a symbol of hope and freedom for Jewish people around the world. It celebrates the victory of good over evil and the indomitable spirit of the Jewish people. The festival is also a time for family gatherings and the sharing of traditional foods and customs.
Indian Prime Minister and President's Hanukkah Wishes
In keeping with the spirit of interfaith harmony, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu expressed their best wishes to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the global Jewish community on the occasion of Hanukkah. In their messages, they expressed their hope that the festival would bring peace, strength, and hope to everyone's lives.
Top 5 FAQs Related to Hanukkah
Hanukkah commemorates the victory of the Maccabees over the Greek Seleucid Empire in the 2nd century BCE.
The menorah is a candelabrum with nine branches, one for each day of Hanukkah. It represents the victory of light over darkness.
Traditional Hanukkah foods include latkes (potato pancakes), sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts), and hamantaschen (triangular pastries filled with fruit or cheese).
Customs associated with Hanukkah include lighting the menorah, reciting the Hanukkah blessings, playing the dreidel (a spinning top), and singing Hanukkah songs.
Hanukkah is celebrated differently around the world, but it is typically observed with family gatherings, the sharing of food and traditions, and the lighting of the menorah.
The Indian National Congress (INC) has announced its plans to launch a month-and-a-half-long campaign in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22. The purpose of the campaign is to demand the restoration of statehood and to further the “Save the Constitution” movement. With the recent appointment of Syed Naseer Hussain as the new J&K in-charge, the party hopes to regain its lost support in the Union Territory. This campaign comes at a crucial time, as former supporters of the Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad have recently dissolved their party, raising questions about their political future. The Congress hopes to use this opportunity to highlight the BJP's failures in empowering elected governments and its betrayal over statehood.
Thousands of citizens in Pune are rallying together through an online petition to demand the protection of their city's hills and hill slopes from any construction. The petition is addressed to the former Pune Municipal Commissioner and Chairman of the state-appointed Committee on Bio-Diversity Park and Hill Top Hill Slopes. The citizens are concerned that the committee's review may result in allowing construction on the hills, while strict measures have already been mandated by the government to prevent it. The citizens stress the importance of preserving these natural areas for the city's ecological balance and urge the government to uphold its promise to future generations.
After the devastating terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, India has suspended the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan. This decision was made during a key meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, with discussions on potential actions being taken against Pakistan. As tensions between the two countries continue to escalate, Indian leaders have condemned Pakistan for their involvement in the attack and have vowed to take strong measures in response.
The Indian Army made its first major move since the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, as they killed top Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander Altaf Lalli in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Bandipora district. The security forces are on the hunt for the terrorists responsible for the brutal killing of 26 civilians and have launched a massive anti-terror operation. In other developments, Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi visited Srinagar for a security review meeting and the authorities demolished the houses of two suspected terrorists involved in the Pahalgam attack.
In a hearing at the Supreme Court, the bench rebuked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his "irresponsible" comments about freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. The judges highlighted the need to show respect for India's freedom fighters and questioned whether Gandhi was aware of his grandmother and Mahatma Gandhi praising Savarkar. The court also stayed an Allahabad High Court order that refused to dismiss a lower court's summons against Gandhi over his alleged remarks about Savarkar.
The Supreme Court has stepped in to warn Congress MP Rahul Gandhi over his comments about India's independence activist Veer Savarkar, staying a trial court's summons to the politician. The top court emphasized that Savarkar is a highly respected figure in Maharashtra and stated that no one would be allowed to make derogatory remarks about freedom fighters. The court also pointed out that Gandhi's family has had a history of praising Savarkar and Gandhi himself has been warned that the court will take suo motu cognizance of any such remarks. Additionally, the article also mentions an attack in Jammu and Kashmir that has led to heightened tensions between India and Pakistan.
In a successful operation by the security forces, a Lashkar-e-Taliba (LeT) terrorist associate, identified as Altaf Lalli, was killed in an ongoing encounter in the Bandipora district of Jammu and Kashmir. The encounter began after the security forces received intelligence about the presence of terrorists in the area. Two security personnel have also been injured in the exchange of fire and are currently undergoing treatment at a nearby hospital. The clash highlights the continued efforts of the security forces to combat terrorism in the region.
The Telangana-Chhattisgarh border is a hotbed of tension as security forces step up their efforts to root out Maoist activity from the region. Top Maoist leader Hidma is the target of current high-security operations, with forces strategically advancing through previously inaccessible areas. With mounting pressure, sources indicate that the hold of the Maoists in the region is gradually weakening, making for a tense and critical situation.
As the nation grapples with the aftermath of a terror attack in Pahalgam, security forces are undertaking a massive operation in the dense Karregutta hills forest to eliminate the heart of Naxal command. This operation, involving 7,000 personnel and cutting-edge technology, aims to strike a blow at Naxalism by targeting top leaders of the PLGA Battalion No. 1. This bold move by the CRPF, with the Director General personally overseeing the operation, marks a turning point in the fight against Maoist insurgency. With five Naxals already killed and more likely to come, the operation is being hailed as a decisive victory and could potentially spell the end of Naxalism in India.
The US Government has publicly criticized The New York Times for its reporting on the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, calling attention to the difference between the newspaper's use of "militant" instead of "terrorist." This choice of words is not only misleading but also minimizes the severity of the attack, which was claimed by a Pakistan-based group with links to Lashkar-e-Taiba. The US House Foreign Affairs Committee took to social media to point out the error and highlight the real nature of the attack, noting that it has significant implications for regional security.