How Pune rampage unfolded ST driver was finally caught after a 40-minute chase

How Pune rampage unfolded

ST driver was finally caught after a 40-minute chase




Pune was in shock on Wednesday after hearing the news of Santosh Mane, 41, driving a state transport bus from the Swargate depot on the wrong side of the busy Pune-Solapur Road, crushing all that came in his way — vehicles and people.
At least nine people died and 29 others were injured in the rampage.
Mane’s colleagues are still in a state of shock.
Mane, who hails from Solapur, lives alone at the Swargate depot restroom. He drives on the Gangapur-Swargate route and as his hometown , which is in Mohol taluka of Solapur district, falls on the same route, he would get tiffin from home.
Vijay Gulve, the conductor who usually accompanies Mane, said: “As usual, we plied on the Pune-Gangapur-Pune route on Tuesday. Mane behaved normally during the entire trip. On reaching Swargate, he retired to the restroom.”
Mane was to drive a bus to Vaduste village in Mulshi taluka on Wednesday and was to camp in Andhale village.

“Mane came to me at 8am on Wednesday and said he wanted to start early. I told him that two spare drivers were available and he could not adjust his duty hours,” said MSRTC’s senior depot manager Vijay Divate.
Just then a bus had come in from Satara (MH 14/BT 1532) and driver Santosh Hendre alighted to make an arrival entry. At 8.15am, Mane started the bus using a common key.
Hendre recalled, “I was talking to traffic controller Ajit Limaye when Mane took off. We both ran towards the bus shouting at Mane to stop.”
Heading towards the exit gate, Mane dashed into a man and a bus. Taking a right turn at the gate, Mane mowed down an autorickshaw and a fruit handcart. People tried stopping Mane, but he sped away.
Limaye said: “Two policemen also tried stopping him. Then Mane hit a pedestrian. We tried chasing him on bike but got stuck in a traffic jam.”

Mane took a left, went to Jedhe Chowk, again turned left and drove inside the stand and then out. He drove towards Golibar Maidan taking the wrong side of the road. By then, the police control room alerted all policemen on wireless sets and walkie-talkies.
Beat marshal constable Dipak Kakade said: “On receiving the message on the walkie-talkie, beat marshal constable Sandip Sutar and I rode towards Swargate and saw the bus changing lanes and hitting vehicles. I fired at it and the bullet hit the windshield, but he did not halt. Mane tried running over us, but we escaped and began chasing him.”
Mane drove towards Solapur Bazaar and returned to Golibar Maidan, Swargate and Sarasbaug.
After reaching the Parvati flyover, he took another right turn and defying the one-way curb, proceeded towards Neelayam theatre.
Here, the bus was blocked due to two-vehicle traffic and narrow lane. As Mane was manoeuvring the traffic, Sharif Ibrahim Kutti, a BCA student of Poona College who was chasing the bus on his motorbike, jumped into the bus.
Other passers-by and chasing policemen also intervened and Mane was dragged out.

Today a world record of Singing India's National Anthem ( Jan Gana Mana..... ) was made in the world famous historic City of Aurangabad , Maharashtra state.

Today a world record of Singing India's National Anthem ( Jan Gana Mana..... ) was made
in the world famous historic City of Aurangabad , Maharashtra state.

More than 10,000 people were present inside the stadium and more than 10,000 outside the stadium.

The Guinness Book of World Records has made a note of it.

The event took place at 8 AM on 25th Jan 2012.

Exciting things have happened to wedding photography. For one thing, it's become real ANDREW ADAMS Moved from Toronto to India to capture Indian weddings as “they are so colourful and emotionally rich.“ Doesn't offer fixed packages as each wedding is unique

Exciting things have happened to wedding photography. For one thing, it's become real 

ANDREW ADAMS Moved from Toronto to India to capture Indian weddings as “they are so colourful and emotionally rich.“ Doesn't offer fixed packages as each wedding is unique

AS KIDS, we all had those moments.

Bored, we'd wander to our parents' cupboards, root about the shelves, and emerge triumphantly with big, fat, ornately decorated photo albums ­ the pictorial proof of our parents' and relatives' wedding days.
Going through the albums was a blast. We'd chortle over those outdated fashions, exercise our wits over the sizes and shapes of the wedding guests, make rude remarks about mandap decorations, but most of all, comment on one particular thing ­ the poses and compositions those old-time wedding photographers insisted on. Every photo looked the same as every other photo. Only the faces and outfits changed.
You wouldn't see wedding photos like those often these days. In fact, if young couples had their way, you'd never see photographs like that again. What's cool now is candid shots. Wedding pictures are now keeping it real.
“There is no denying the fact that weddings are a kind of family reunion,“ says corporate communications executive Aroma, who recently got married. “But at the same time, I wanted my wedding pictures to tell a story about my husband and I as a couple. I wasn't keen on pictures of who came for my wedding and who wore what. It was my special day and I wanted to capture those memories forever.“
Parents, at this time, are not too thrilled about this new photo trend. But well-travelled couples love it. “Candid photography or a documentary style of wedding pictures has been trendy internationally for a few years,“ says Andrew Adams, a wedding photographer from Toronto now shooting in India. “A lot of NRIs who are used to seeing this want a similar experience for their own weddings. It's a more contemporary approach and young people prefer it.“
Here's a look at some new wedding photography.
veenus@hindustantimes.com R aised in a non-religious Canadian household, Andrew Adams was not exposed much to world culture until he moved away from home to study photography. “After my schooling I wanted to travel and explore the world. I have always been fascinated with South Asian culture, so naturally I became very interested in photographing Indian weddings,“ says Andrew.
Why weddings? Because, according to Andrew, they allow him full creative freedom, something not often found in other types of commercial photography.
Candid photography is Andrew's forte, something that he feels very strongly about. “My style is unobtrusive and my goal is to tell the true story of your day, as seen through the lens of a sensitive, documentary photographer. And candid shots are real,“ he says.
This means that planning isn't possible. Shooting a wedding documentary style, Andrew must just g with the flow.

PHOTOS WITH GRANDPARENTS COULD BECOME HEIRLOOMS MY WORK GIVES ME THE CHANCE TO MEET PEOPLE AND TRAVEL AS WELL

“I capture what happens as it happens, naturally,“ he explains.
“For posed photos, yes, I do instruct the bride and groom and family when it's appropriate to do so, but NEVER during a ceremony! I would never interfere with the religious portion of the wedding.“
Since some parents are not 100 per cent certain of the results of candid photography, Andrew alway suggests that they hire another pho tographer to do the posed pictures, so everyone is happy. Meanwhile, he himself is happy shooting at all kinds of weddings in all kinds of places. He prefers shooting in colour, since Indian weddings tend to be bright, but when it comes to emotional moments, he'd rather do black and white.
Having shot Indian weddings for 12 years, Andrew naturally has a lo of memories. “My most favourite moments are often during the vidai ceremony, when it's all about raw emotions,“ he says. “These are the best moments to capture. By this time the family is used to me and my camera and often let their guard down, so I am able to captur the real, heartfelt moments. These will be family treasures to keep for generations to come.“
He also focuses on the larger fami ly, especially the grandparents. “It may be the last photograph ever taken of the whole family together and these photographs will become cherished family heirlooms,“ he says S ome people would seriously envy 24-year-old Sharik Verma, once an engineer with Wipro, now a photographer of weddings ­ and more.
“During my tenure at Wipro, I bought a camera and went about clicking for fun. Then, I decided to take a trip to Zanskar and came back with lots of photos, including some of the Dalai Lama,“ says Sharik. “Two of my best pictures of the Dalai Lama were sold for charity by an NGO, which made me think about photography seriously. And then I realised that I could combine that with travel. Two of my favourite things at one shot. I was decided.“
But even a travelling photographer can't survive without money, and Sharik desperately needed a portfolio. “So I decided to try shooting products and did some fashion assignments as well. But I missed the creative satisfaction I was looking for.“
Then a chance meeting with Atul Pratap Chauhan, who not only did commercial photography but had made a mark in the field of wedding photography, showed Sharik the way. “Atul looked at my work and inspired me to take up wedding photography which would not just give me a chance to showcase my creative side, but also let me travel,“ says Sharik.
But Sharik doesn't like being called a wedding photographer. He prefers to be referred to as a photojournalist. “I don't just click pictures, I get involved with the family in every moment of the celebration and then try to capture their moods and emotions from an insider's point of view,“ he explains. “I interact with every important person of the family, understand their personalities and remain with them during the preparations as well as the final celebrations. I dance with them, eat with them and feel as sad as everyone else when the wedding is over.“
A large number of his clients are NRIs who are used to seeing this kind of involvement among photographers abroad and want the same style to be adopted here. Sharik is a big fan of minimalism and that's how he shoots wedding photos too.
“The best thing about Indian weddings is the fact that there is a riot of colours everywhere and I prefer to capture those real colours with as little use of photoshop as possible,“ says Sharik.
So are there any favourite weddings moments that he'll remember forever? “I really feel that destination weddings are much more fun as the gathering is small, the location is usually fantastic and you are able to capture the emotional moments in a much better way,“ he says. “Besides this, intercultural or interreligious weddings are also favourites as you get to see all kinds of different ceremonies and rituals.“
One great memory is of a wedding in Udaipur between two UKborn Indians.
“It was a very close family affair that gave me the chance to capture some great moments, and I developed a great rapport with the families,“ says Sharik. And once the wedding season comes to an end, he'll take his earnings on a road trip through Europe ­ taking pictures all the way.

PRIYANKA SACHAR A project manager in the IT industry and an enthusiastic photographer, Priyanka `marries fine art with photography'. She's one of the very few female wedding photographers in India S he works as a manager in the IT industry, but Priyanka has always been passionate about phoography. “Being a `memories' erson, photography started as requirement to document my ravels, but that soon became a form of metaphorical expression and symbolism through images,“ she says. Her work, which “marries fine art with photography,“ has won her much recognition, but in October 2010, Priyanka decided to take on commercial wedding photography. “Marrying (no pun intended) `Fine Art' with wedding photography was only natural,“ she says. “It involves clicking the same situation artistically and without turning the subjects into bunnies caught in the glare of headlights. It is probably one of the most challenging forms of photography ever.“
That's because there's a lot going on at every given moment. “So one needs to be alert for what `may' come next in terms of emotions and candid moments,“ explains Priyanka. “Unlike traditional studio photographers, I prefer using ambient or naturally available light to create my pictures. I avoid harsh lights and flashes directly popping into the faces of the subjects.“ The keys to getting that perfect candid shot, she says, lie in spotting moments as they unfold and being almost invisible so that people are not conscious of being clicked. Priyanka loves what she does, particularly weddings that have some sort of twist to them. “I can't wait for gay weddings to be legalised in India so I can do something different,“ she grins.
As one of the very few female wedding photographers in India, Priyanka is much in demand with brides, who are more comfortable with a woman taking photographs while they are dressing for the ceremony. “Moreover, I am a person from their generation, with a similar kind of background, so that puts them at their ease instantly, because it's starkly different from a `studio' photographer bhaiya-ji experience,“ says Priyanka with a chuckle. ATUL PRATAP CHAUHAN Left a job in the hospitality industry to pursue his passion for photography. Does commercial photography but wedding photography lets him be at his creative best A tul Pratap Chauhan, a commercial photographer, stumbled into wedding photography by sheer chance. “I came to Delhi in 2009 and was assisting Sephi Bergersen, a well-known name in wedding photography. He was shooting a Pakistani wedding and I was helping him with some interior shots,“ he remembers of that fateful day. “While doing that, I took some candid shots of the wedding ceremonies that Sephi saw later and liked.
He advised me to follow it up seriously and I decided to give it a shot.“
For a commercial photographer constrained by working to a client's specifications, wedding photography often means complete creative freedom. While destination weddings are what Atul prefers the most, he is open to covering weddings anywhere in India. And his favourite weddings are the intercultural ones, which offer a wide range of emotions, colour, drama and action.
“Although, I'm usually hired by the bride, meeting the bride and groom together is essential to understand the level of comfort between the two,“ he says. “This is important while doing pre or post wedding shoots with them. “In fact, for couple shots like these, I usually prefer to take them to locations like Corbett National Park, where the two of them get comfortable with one other.“
Since Indian weddings are colourful, Atul naturally prefers to shoot in colour. But emotional moments, such as the vidai, almost demand black and white, he says, because that kind of photograph enhances the emotion.
“And in fact, it's the vidai moments that are my favourites at all the weddings I shoot,“ Atul adds. “The range of emotions you see is so wide.“
That he loves what he does is obvious ­ the 30-year-old's plans for the immediate future include an exhibition on village weddings.

WHY DO some diets work, and then after some time just stop working? What is the perfect diet that actually works all the time? How can you lose weight and keep it off? These are some of the questions on everyone's mind. So we shall try to unravel these mysteries.

WHY DO some diets work, and then after some time just stop working? What is the perfect diet that actually works all the time? How can you lose weight and keep it off? These are some of the questions on everyone's mind. So we shall try to unravel these mysteries.
Why do diets work and then stop working? Most fad diets are based on removing cereal from the meal plan and replacing it with a high source of protein or some fancy fruit, vegetable or beverage. The fancy element could be as exotic as wine and cheese or a fruit like pineapple or a single element like bacon. When you are attracted to such a diet, you follow it strictly for a week and notice the weight loss. But as the weight loss tapers off, so does your enthusiasm.
Why do people want to follow fad diets? There are three factors involved. One is the hidden belief that this might be the miracle quick fix! People love miracles, especially if they can quickly fix a weight problem without having to change any habits.
The second factor is the fact that fad diets provide novelty. A diet equals deprivation, so a fad diet holds the magic of novelty diet holds the magic of novelty and a quick fix. But alas, the affair with fad diets is short-lived.
The third factor is the belief that you can get results quickly with a fad diet. We lack the patience to get slim. A fad diet holds the (mistaken) apparition or dream of quick results.
Why do people regain all the weight they lost? Simply, it is because permanent weight loss needs habits to be changed.
Not diets. Most people who go on a diet lose some weight, feel happy about it, get lax, return to their old habits and put on weight again.
Most people avoid changing habits because they think it is a tedious process. But to put things in perspective, if you count the number of times you have gone on a diet (say you lost 10 kilos four times over) and multiply the time taken to achieve that (six months is the average time multiplied by four = 24 months or two years), then you can see that fad diets are not quick at all.
Like the proverbial hare and turtle race, a fad diet is like the hare that keeps running the race every year, while the turtle enters the race once and wins it forever.

Can you giggle yourself fit? Some doctors believe that you can

Can you giggle yourself fit? Some doctors believe that you can
A LTHOUGH THE idea that laughter improves health has been around for centuries, the modern therapeutic use of humour originated in the 1970s when American journalist Norman Cousins documented laughing as a major curative factor during his prolonged ailment. He stated that 10 minutes of laughing gave him two hours of drug-free relief from pain. Cousins was laughed at then (ironic, isn't it?). But today science seems to have proved him right.
A good sense of humour means all is well.
SO WHAT IS HUMOUR, REALLY?
“Humour consists of laughter (the physiological component), wit (the cognitive component), and mirth (the emotional component),“ explains Dr Ashima Puri, consultant psychologist, New Delhi. “Humour can actually change our feelings, thoughts, behaviours and biochemistry. It is a perfect self-care tool to cope with stress.
We know that there is a connection between stress and high blood pressure, muscle tension, suppressed immunity and other diseases. Now studies have proven that laughter is the perfect antidote for stress,“ she adds.
So while stress is inevitable in life, it doesn't have to take a physiological toll on us. You just need a good belly laugh to drive it away.
SPLIT YOUR SIDES Besides its psychological benefits, laughter gives your body direct boost too. In fact, it has been found that intense and regular laughter increases the flow of oxygen through your body.
Dr Puri quotes a study conducted in the US. A group of people were given a funny video to watch, while another group watched a documentary. Afterwards, both groups were tested and those who had watched the comedy had higher levels of immunoglobulin A ­ a substance found in saliva and the first defence the body has against viruses and bacteria. Laughter provides exercise too. Hearty laughter can burn calories equivalent to several minutes on the rowing machine.
And here's the clincher. Laughter can make you look younger. It tones facial muscles and leads to an increase of blood supply to the area, which nourishes facial skin. MAKE IT A HABIT No one believes that laughter can cure a disease all by itself. But it can be used to strengthen both the mind and the body. Create a laughter first aid kit with humorous videos, books and cartoons and use it when you want to feel better. Or join a laughter club. Make aughter a priority. After all, it is free.

RID YOURSELF OF THE MULTIPLEX HABIT. THE POPCORN AND SODA COMBO OFFERS TEND TO ADD UP

RID YOURSELF OF THE MULTIPLEX HABIT. THE POPCORN AND SODA COMBO OFFERS TEND TO ADD UP

Now that it's time to tighten our belts a little, which luxuries are you willing to give up? RID YOURSELF OF THE MULTIPLEX HABIT. THE POPCORN AND SODA COMBO OFFERS TEND TO ADD UP
IT'S THAT time of the year again. When the office grapevine begins to buzz with how the raise scenario will play itself out this year. If you are one of God's chosen creatures, you will probably end up scoring a decent raise. But if you're not ­ and given the state of the economy, I'm guessing this is far more likely ­ you will be fobbed off by a token increase that is risible given the rate of inflation. And if the Fates truly have it in for you, then you will be sent a sad little form letter from the HR department telling you this is the time for all good men and women to come to the aid of the company by sacrificing their salary hikes at the altar of corporate profitability.
In that case, like millions of other hapless souls, you will be forced to live on a wage that buys much less than it did and doesn't, in fact, go very far. And that means those dreaded words that strike terror in every middle-class heart: budget cuts.
Cuts. How cruel it sounds! Cuts: as in something that hurts, causes you pain, injures you and leaves you less than whole. But however traumatic we find it, cuts are something that all of us will have to make as our salaries fail to keep up with our expenses. And the first thing to go will be the little luxuries that make life a bit more fun.
But when it comes right down to it, what luxuries would you be willing to forgo? And which of them would you find impossible to live without? In other words, which of your luxuries do you need rather than just want? Which of them are just luxuries; and which of them have become that dangerous thing called Luxecessities ­ luxuries that have turned into necessities as you try to cope with your daily grind.
Speaking for myself, there are some things that I simply refuse to forgo, no matter how frivolous they may seem to the rest of the world.
And on top of that list is hair-styling: highlighting, trimming, conditioning, blow-drying. The rituals just add up every year ­ as indeed, does the expense. But I don't grudge a rupee that I drop at my friendly neighbourhood hair salon because it is simply the best pick-me-up in the world. Fine, go ahead and judge me (as I am sure are!) but I consider the money spent here the best inves ment ever. It makes me feel good about myself, and there' no substitute for that in an increasingly gloomy world.
To make up for this profligate spending, I have given u on my coffee habit ­ well, after a fashion anyway. I no longe drop by Barista for an early morning cappucciespresso shots in the late afternoon; I don't buy a tall glass of creamy cold coffee when I'm feeling a bit peckish. Instead, I've invested in a coffeemaker which is considerably less complicated to operate than it looks and spews forth coffee that would do any Italian restaurant proud.
It makes espresso, it serves Americanos and froths up a mean cappuccino. (Word to the wise: use south Indian roasted beans; they're a fraction of the price of Illy and Co and just as good.)
Another luxecessity I find hard to give up is boo buying. There is something so supremely addictive about the high that I get from browsing through book shops that I find it hard to go cold turkey. I love the smell of freshly-bound books, the clutter on the shelves, the colourful covers, the juxtaposition of the sublime with the ridiculous. I love the inevitable dithering between two equalling compelling volumes and then heading home, warm with the anticipation of spending the evening curled up with my latest purchase.
To fund this addiction, I've given up on magazines. I've always been a bit of a mag hag, devouring everything from shaming gossip rags to elevated publications that lecture me about the state of the world. But of late, I've begun to feel that the expense is simply not worth it. There's nothing here that I can't get for free on the Internet.
And if there's some really compelling content then it's easier and cheaper to download the app on my iPad anyway.
Don't ask me if any of my cuts have made the slightest difference to my household budget. I haven't the foggiest.
But just the thought that I'm trying to cut down on frivolous expenses does make me a little better.
If you're looking to make a few economies of your own, here are some ideas.
Cut down on eating out; restaurant bills have a way of piling up. And if you're paying by credit card you may not even notice until it's too late. Instead, tap into your inner Domestic Goddess (or whatever the male equivalent is) and turn cooking into a fun, family activity.
Rid yourself of the multiplex habit. The expensive tickets, the popcorn and soda combo offers begin to add up after a while. Discover the joys of ordering movies on Showcase or the delights of DVD box sets. Forget about exploring exotic, foreign locales on your vacations. Revive those oldstyle home-stays you enjoyed as a child when you spent holidays in the houses of family and friends. Who knows, you may just end up gaining much more than the money saved.

The first day of the 45th Annual Nirankari Sant Samagam at the vast MIDC, Knowledge Park in Airoli witnessed a large number of devotees coming in from all parts of Maharashtra.

Devotees flock to Airoli for Samagam



The first day of the 45th Annual Nirankari Sant Samagam at the vast MIDC, Knowledge Park in Airoli witnessed a large number of devotees coming in from all parts of Maharashtra.
The day began with thousands of devotees marching in colorful procession from Ganesh Mandir at Sector -17 of Airoli. All the followers waited eagerly with joy to see Baba Hardev Singh Maharaj- head of the Sant Nirankari Mission coming in. They expressed their feelings through loud slogans, traditional dances and devotional songs. Several items which were presented were seen reflecting the theme of unity in diversity as also religious harmony. One could see the young devotees expressing their joy with loud music instruments. The devotees marched past the flower-bedecked open vehicle parked near the entrance of the Samagam complex with his holiness Baba Hardev Singh Maharaj, his mother Nirankari Rajmata Kulwant Kar and his wife Mata Sawinder being seated on the same. The holy trio blessed the devotees as they passed by from the front of their vehicle. The procession was marked by a number of slogans like: ‘Religion Unites, Never Divides’, ‘Know one, believe one and be one’, ‘Manavta Hai Dharm Hamara, Ham Kewal Insan Hain’ and so on. In a brief message to Mankind, His Holiness said that whether we refer to Kabir, Ravidas, Meerabai, Tukaram, Namdev, Samarth Guru Ramdas and Sant Gyaneshwar, all of them first attained this wealth of divine name and then only called upon the world to unite with truth.
This means that one can attain happiness during lifetime here and get salvaged from the cycle of birth and death hereafter. He also pointed out that man is reading and reciting the teachings of saints, gurus and prophets and even worshipping Holy Scriptures, but he is not trying to understand or adopt what they seek to convey. Ignorance continues to prevail everywhere. Every thought and action is overwhelmed with ego, self-esteem and narrow mindedness. Man is discriminating against man in the name of religion, caste, region, language and culture. There is jealousy, hatred and violence all around. He further added, “All this can end if everyone attains God-knowledge and follows the path of devotion. This will usher in love in place of hatred, broad vision in place of narrow-mindedness and peace in place of bloodshed.”

Sri Vari Brahmostavam begins on a grand note at Balaji temple Brahmotsavam festival started in the presence of several devotees. It is going to be held over 5 days

Sri Vari Brahmostavam begins on a grand note at Balaji temple

Brahmotsavam festival started in the presence of several devotees. It is going to be held over 5 days

The Srivari Brahmotsavam at Sri Balaji temple in Nerul began on January 19, on a grand note. The Brahmotsavam, considered as the most important “Kalolsavam”(annual festival) of the temple, will be conducted over a period of five days as per the ‘Pancharatra Agama’.
The festival was commenced by hoisting of the ceremonial flag ‘Dwajarohanam’ with ‘Garuda’ (the celestial bird) illustrated on it, at an auspicious time in the morning of the first day of the event. The same evening, a unique function called ‘Beri Tadanam’ was conducted where the devotees invited all celestial gods to participate in the festival by beating drums.
During the festival, the Lord will be worshipped twice a day through ‘Chatusthana Aradhana’ in form of ‘Kumbam’, ‘Mandalam’, ‘Agni’ and ‘Vigraha’. The festive statue of Lord Sri Balaji is carried for rounds amidst the chanting of Veda and Divya Prabandha on various vehicles such as, ‘Sesha’, ‘Hamsa’, ‘Garuda’, ‘Simha’, ‘Ashva’, and ‘Hanumantha’ that represent certain values. Thus, the Lord’s six qualities - ‘gnana’, ‘bala’, ‘aishwarya’, ‘virya’, ‘shakti’ and ‘tejas’ are brought out by these values.

The concluding day would start with the abhishekam of the statue of Lord Sri Sudarshana by dipping it in the Pushkarini Theerthagiri. In the evening, ‘dwadasa aradhana’ and ‘pushpa yagam’, would be conducted for the atonement for commissions and omissions occurred during the performance of the rituals associated with the festival. Finally, the festival would be concluded by lowering of the ‘garuda dhwaja’ and ‘kumbha prokshanam’ for blessing the devotees.
“This festival is a very important event. ‘Brahmotsavam’ has been mentioned in ‘Mahotsavam’ in ‘Agamic’ texts. It is believed that Sri Brahma conducted this festival for peace, prosperity, joy and good governance. Hence, it is known as ‘Brahmotsavam’,” said K R Santhanam, a temple trustee.

The humble pani puri, the spiritual salt of the earth

The humble pani puri, the spiritual salt of the earth


When people ask me for a health tip, I close my eyes, take a deep breath, channel the spiritual gnome inside me, put on the voice of one of those blademaster sage types on Aastha channel and tell them that in an ideal world, I’d end every day with a healthy serving of pani puri. Note that I did not say gol gappa. Pani puri is a spiritual experience. Gol Gappa is a crime against humanity. The former is imbued with all that is good about this world. The latter comes from Delhi.
How many pani puris do you normally get served in one portion? Six, you would think. You would think wrong. The seventh is the one designed to soothe your spice ravaged mouth from the pleasurable devastation of the pani. Seven. That’s a spiritual number. Seven Wonders. Seven notes in music. It’s cosmic.
Gol gappa, on the other hand, is spiritual in the way illicit arrack is spiritual. It’s crude and at best, a compromise. It’s like coming home at the end of a tiring day and eating a micro-waved meal. Pani puri is filled with the wholesomeness of warm potato and chickpea gravy. Gol gappa slaps the insides of your mouth with all the tastelessness of cold potato.
Pani puri represents the principles of cosmopolitanism. It’s hot, cold, spicy, sweet, tangy in the kind of harmony that brings strength. It is the symbol of tolerance. Gol gappa marries the violence of spice with the arctic cold of potato. It is showy and shallow. It’s airy and filled with gas. It’s all style and no substance.
Pani puri is the salt of the earth, all humility, hard work and contentment. Gol gappa is served with arrogance, stuffed with a lack of hospitality and makes one angry. The former is resilient. The latter is corrupt. Pani puri is honest. The very name screams honesty. It is water and fried bread. Nothing more. Under-promise and over-deliver. Gol gappa is the epitome of dishonesty. For starters, while it claims to be spherical, it is not. It’s typical of it to take a rough spheroid shape and pass it off as a sphere and I don’t even know what gappa means.
When people eat pani puri, they elevate their minds to another plane. They are prone to hug each other and even do impromptu dances as flash mobs. When people eat gol gappa, they become listless, plan badly and end up being dispersed by cops.
So yes, I love pani puri and hate the fact that my city Chennai serves gol gappa in reality and calls it pani puri.
And oh, any symbolic similarity of pani puri to Mumbai and gol gappa to Delhi is wholly coincidental and completely unintended and accidental.

The Lord’s wedding in city on Jan 28, 29 Tirupati Balaji priests are travelling in state, holding Kalyanotsav

The Lord’s wedding in city on Jan 28, 29

Tirupati Balaji priests are travelling in state, holding Kalyanotsav

Devotees of Tirupati Balaji will be able to witness the celestial wedding of the lord in Mumbai next weekend at the Bandra-Kurla Complex. They will also get the famous Ladoo prasad offered at the temple. The Kalyanotsav or the wedding ceremony of the lord with his consorts Sridevi and Bhudevi is a daily ritual at the Tirumala Tirupati shrine in Andhra Pradesh. But the ceremony has been recently travelling to places outside Tirupati. Idols from the Tirupati temple accompanied by priests from the shrine are now travelling in Maharashtra to celebrate Kalyanotsav in different cities. On January 20, the ritual was celebrated in Satara; today (Jan 21), the 100th Kalyanotsav outside Tirupati will be held at Kolhapur. In Mumbai, the event will be held on January 28 and 29; the idols will be in Kalyan on January 26 for the ritual. Navi Mumbai will host the function on January 30. Devotees of Balaji believe that places which have a temple dedicated to the deity are protected from natural and man-made disasters. “We believe that he wards off evil. He protects people from the evil forces of Kalyug,” said Samir Mehta, member of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams Mumbai Advisory Committee, which is organising the Kalyanotsav series in Maharastra. A facility in Pune is preparing around 10 lakh ladoos that will be taken to all the venues of the Kalyanotsav. The Tirupati trust recently inaugurated a centre in Sion where devotees can book travel, puja and accommodation at the temple town. There are also plans to set up a Balaji temple in Mumbai.