Resignation Chief Minister Gulam Nabi Azad had to resign after PDP pulled the rug from under his feet. It was the land row issue for which Azad had to pay the price. State government had order the transfer of forest land to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board where it had planned to make arrangements for the Amarnath pilgrims. But people of Kashmir took to streets against the State government’s orders. After nine days’ relentless mass protests and violence the state government had to revoke its order. During these nine days everything got changed in Kashmir. PDP, which was the coalition’s partner, parted ways with the Congress reducing the state government to minority. Politics During these two weeks every J&K political party was busy playing political games to increase their support. PDP though was the part of the government that has taken the decision of transfer of land, instead of defusing the situation added more fuel to the fire by using it as an election plank for the upcoming elections. Even NC changed their stand on the seeing the intensity of the public anger. PDP People fought pitched battles with the police and the security forces in the streets in witch some people died and got injured. Politicians exploited the public sentiments to maximize their political gains. Every political party fueled the agitations aiming the coming assembly elections. During whole of the controversy PDP’s stand was solely guided by its hunger for power. It lost on both grounds. First public held them responsible for whole of the crisis and on the other hand they had to loose the power. Anti-National Except Congress the conduct of all the state political parties was anti-India. They only helped the separatists by turning a non issue into an issue. All this forced the Chief Minister to resign. He paid the price for the act for which he was not solely responsible and J&K has been placed once again under Governor’s rule. Azad had stunned everyone on Monday when he resigned without facing the confidence vote after PDP’s withdrawal of support to his government. No party was willing or in a position to form a government, following which governor’s rule has been imposed in the state.
Archive for July 14th, 2008
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Festival of ‘Puri Rath Yatra’
July 14th, 2008 
Aman Festival The famous festival of Puri Rath Yatra (Chariots of Lord Jagannatha) is celebrated every year at the sacred coastal town of Puri, in the state of Orrisa. It is one of the biggest festivals during the monsoon season. According to the Indian solar calendar, it falls two days after the new moon day of the month of Asadh. This annual festival commemorates the journey of Krishna from Gokul to Mathura. It also symbolizes a journey to light from the dark. Throughout whole of the year all the deities Jagannath (Krishna), Baladeva and Subhadra remain inside the temple but on the day of the Rath festival they are taken through the streets so that everyone can have the fortune of seeing them. Chariots Three richly decorated gigantic chariots, resembling the 12th century Jagannath temple in shape are pulled through the streets of Puri. On the day of journey the three chariots the Lord Jagannath’s yellow coloured Nandighosa, Balabhadra’s blue colored Taladwaja and Subhadra’s Deviratha are lined up in front of the temple and then the deities are brought on to their respective Chariots. Once the king of Puri the living symbol of Lord Jagannath sweeps the chariots with scented water and golden broom, the pilgrims lined up with the rope pull the chariots on the Badadanda to Gundicha Ghar which is situated at a distance of 2 km from their temple. Since non-Hindus are not allowed to enter the Jagannath temple it is the only day when non-Hindu devotees get their glimpse of the deities. A spiritual ambience pervades the whole scene as bells chime; conch shells blow and the saffron robed sadhus dance with abandon. It is fascinating to watch the delirious masses paying homage to the Lord as the chariots move on almost as if propelled by a divine force. Procession The procession is led by Balabhadra’s chariot, followed by Subhadra,s with the Lord Jagannath’s bringing up the rear, dragged by about 4000 honored devotees to their garden house, the Gundicha Ghar. On the way deities are treated to special Cake, Podapitha offered at the shrine of goddess Aradhamsini (aunt) of Lord Jagannath. Once the chariots reach Gundicha Ghar of Mandir, the deities give darshan to devotees every day. After a rest of 8 days, they return to Jagannath Temple with a similar procession. Every year new chariots are constructed to rigid specifications [...]
