In a public rally, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath challenges Delhi CM Kejriwal and his ministers to take a bath in the highly polluted Yamuna river, highlighting the poor condition of the river. Adityanath and his ministers have taken a holy dip in the clean waters of Triveni Sangam at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj. Adityanath also takes a dig at Kejriwal's unfulfilled promise to clean the river, criticizing Delhi's poor infrastructure and presence of Bangladeshi infiltrators in the city. In a quick response, Kejriwal suggests Adityanath to focus on improving education in UP instead of taking a dip in Yamuna.
On the auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti in 2025, thousands of devotees across India braved the cold weather to gather at various holy sites on the banks of the Ganga and Yamuna. From Kolkata's Babughat to Varanasi's Ganga ghats and Haridwar's Har Ki Pauri, devotees took holy dips and offered prayers, while in Prayagraj, the first Amrit Snan of Maha Kumbh 2025 commenced. This festival, marking the Sun's transition into Capricorn, is celebrated with great enthusiasm and faith in God, inspiring people to face the cold weather for a chance at spiritual merit.
The world's largest spiritual and cultural gathering, the Mahakumbh Mela, began on Monday in the holy city of Prayagraj, India. More than 40 lakh people from different backgrounds came together to take a holy dip at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati rivers. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed the significance of this ancient tradition in a modern world and welcomed devotees and saints to the event.
The eagerly awaited Maha Kumbh festival has begun in Prayagraj, India, with the auspicious Paush Purnima being celebrated on Monday. Millions of devotees took a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam - where the Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati rivers converge - to seek spiritual blessings and cleanse their sins. The 45-day long event is estimated to attract a record-breaking 40 crore people from all over the world, making it the largest ever gathering of its kind. Tight security measures are being implemented to ensure the peaceful conduct of rituals and the safety of devotees.
With the Delhi Assembly elections just around the corner, AICC Delhi in-charge Qazi Nizamuddin believes that the Congress party will successfully appeal to voters by focusing on key issues affecting citizens. He emphasized that the party only makes promises that have been fulfilled in Congress-ruled states and will prioritize cleaning the Yamuna, improving women's safety, reducing corruption, and addressing unemployment, all of which have been neglected by the current AAP government.
In a shocking move, former Delhi minister Kailash Gahlot joined the BJP after quitting Aam Aadmi Party, citing "grave challenges" within the party. He accused the party of prioritizing their own political agenda over fulfilling promises made to the people, including the transformation of Yamuna river. He also took a dig at AAP's leader Arvind Kejriwal, referring to controversies like the Sheeshmahal. Gahlot's move has raised doubts on whether the party still stands for the "aam aadmi" or common man.
Senior AAP leader Kailash Gahlot resigned from the party, citing unfulfilled promises and controversies. His resignation was accepted by Delhi Chief Minister Atishi and comes as a major blow for the party ahead of next year's Assembly election. In response, Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva launched a scathing attack on AAP, stating that Gahlot's allegations have validated the BJP's claims of the party's dishonesty and failure to deliver on key commitments. Sachdeva also questioned the handling of funds allocated for cleaning the Yamuna River, a key promise of the AAP government.
Over 3.5 lakh earthen lamps will be lit at Vasudev Ghat on the banks of the Yamuna river in New Delhi next week as part of the city's celebration of Dev Deepawali, Guru Purab, and the birth anniversary of tribal icon Birsa Munda. Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena will attend the event and perform a Yamuna Aarti, while a captivating drone and laser show will also be part of the festivities. The recently redeveloped Vasudev Ghat serves as a testament to the L-G's commitment to rejuvenating the Yamuna and involving the people of the city in its conservation.
The Chhath puja celebration in Delhi's Geeta Colony took a disappointing turn as devotees were met with a dry ghat. Outraged by the lack of water, devotees staged a protest and demanded answers from the government. In response, the Delhi government made arrangements for puja at 1,000 different spots in the city, but did not allow the Chhat puja to be performed at the polluted Yamuna ghats. Amidst the chaos, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, JP Nadda, and Lalu Yadav were seen offering prayers at the Ganga ghats.
The Delhi High Court has dismissed a PIL challenging the Delhi government's ban on Chhath Puja celebrations at the Yamuna river banks. The court cited the high levels of pollution in the river and expressed concern for the health of devotees. Chhath Puja is a significant event for the Purvanchali community in Delhi, but the court stated that the river cannot be cleaned in one day and dismissed the PIL.