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Schools in Delhi shut down till further orders due to pollution

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Due to ‘very poor’ air quality, all schools in Delhi will remain closed from December 3 onwards till further order, Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on Thursday.

Earlier on November 13, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced to shut down physical classes in schools for a week, adding that education will continue in virtual mode. After a gap of almost two weeks, all schools in the national capital were reopening on November 29.

This move of the Delhi government came after the Supreme Court of India gave a 24-hour ultimatum to the Centre, Delhi and its neighbouring states to act against rising air pollution. Despite the ban, CBSE exams would go ahead with necessary precautions and safety measures.

The state government took a similar decision on Monday when it announced a blanket ban on all the construction and demolition (C&D) activities in the city until further orders. Besides, the entry of non-CNG and non-electric trucks from outside of Delhi was also prohibited on the same date till December 7 to reduce vehicular emission.

While stubble burning in the neighbouring states of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab is reported to be a major source of pollution in the capital, dust from the construction and demolition activities, vehicular emission and pollution from open burning contribute as the city’s own source of pollution.

On Thursday, Delhi’s overall AQI at 9.30 a.m. stood at 382 with the level of PM2.5 and PM10 standing at 227 and 401, respectively, as per System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR).

According to the Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi, the air quality is likely to remain in the ‘Very Poor’ category on December 3 and December 4. “Winds are likely to remain slow/calm during December 3 to 5 which are unfavourable for dispersion of pollutants. The Outlook for subsequent five days: The air quality is likely to remain in Very Poor category with PM2.5 to be the predominant pollutant,” It added.

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‘Spider-Man’ Spotted Begging At Kalyan Railway Station

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An influencer posed as a man begging in a Spiderman costume at Kalyan Junction. The incident was staged for a reel, which the influencer posted on Instagram sooner. It showed ‘Spiderman From Mumbai’ sitting outside the railway station and seeking money from passersby. The caption of the reel, read in a beggar tone’s, “Spider-Man ko dedo bhai koi.”

The video opened showing the man sitting below the stairs of the railway station. He was seen wearing a Spider-Man costume to capture the attention of train passengers towards him. he repeatedly extended his hand forward begging for some money while being seated at the railway premises.

It wasn’t a real case of someone begging by wearing the superhero costume, but an act performed by the Instagram-based content creator for the craze of reels. As he performed as a beggar there, many people looked at him and one of them also approached him with some money. The reel recorded people at the railway station witnessing the reel act. One of the persons there stepped into the video to offer a coin to the ‘Spider-Man’ beggar.

This video is now going viral on Instagram. It was uploaded on the online platform in August, however, it has reached netizens and caught their attention in the recent days. So far, the reel, which shows the influencer posing as a beggar dressed up in a superhero costume, has attracted 2.8 million views and more than one lakh likes. People reacted to the video and hilariously wrote, “Spider man no money at home.” “We got Spider-Man in kalyan before GTA,” they added.

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Pongal 2024: Mumbai Celebrates Harvest Festival Reflecting Rich Tamil Culture

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Nearly 2000 people participated in Pongal festivities in and around Antop Hill on Monday. Mass Pongal celebration was carried out across various locations of the Sion Koliwada constituency and was facilitated by MLA Captain R Tamil Selvan who continues to organise these events embracing the harvest season and Tamil culture for more than a decade now.

In a beautiful display of cultural richness, locals dressed in traditional attires prepared Pongal reciting folk songs, raising the festival mood. The event saw them setting up their Pongal pots in the midst of sugarcane, flowers, and rangolis. The celebration was notably marked at the Antop Hill Cement Ground with about a thousand people lifting the festival spirit on the auspicious day. Other areas that observed Pongal on a grand scale included New 90 Feet Road, Kamaraj Nagar, Vijay Nagar, and the Malai Mariamman temple in Naik Nagar among a few others.

Captain Selvan was seen visiting the spots and joining the public in the celebration. “Pongal is associated with agriculture. Tamilians of various religious beliefs celebrate this festival together without any discrimination. This is the significance of Pongal,” he said while extending Pongal greetings.

The event was not confined to only the Tamil-speaking people celebrating the occasion as it saw women from diverse cultural backgrounds mark the festival. While Tamilians gathered there to celebrate Pongal, others enjoyed the Makar Sankranti festivities in the region with similar rituals involving boiling water and preparing food in their pots.

Pongalo Pongal” chants were heard during the celebration as women prayed to seek prosperity for their families while boiling and expecting their pots to overflow with the Pongal preparation.

Throwing more light on the harvest festival, the MLA acknowledged that the first dam built in the world was built by Karikala, a Tamilian. “Tamilians introduced the concept of building dams to stop running (river) water and distribute it for agricultural usage. Karikala from the Chola Dynasty constructed the Kallanai Dam over the Kaveri River running in Trichy.”

Several people admire the Tamil language and its treasurable culture, including PM Narendra Modi who recently inaugurated the Kashi Tamil Sangamam at Namo Ghat in Varanasi and mentioned about Pongal and remembered prominent Tamil personalities like Subramania Bharathiyar, Bharathidasan, and Thiruvalluvar.

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Ram Temple Consecration: Tailor Awaits Ram Lalla’s Measurements Causing Delay In Making Of Sacred Garments

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Lucknow: In the vicinity of Vashishtha Kund, the rhythmic hum of machines in the workshop of Bhagwat Prasad Pahadi, the tailor entrusted with the crafting of attire for Ram Lalla, kept playing out.

However, an unexpected hurdle has brought the needle and thread to a temporary pause. The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust is yet to provide the crucial measurements of the idol of Ram Lalla, and thereby, work on sewing the sacred clothing is pending.

Tailor Says, ‘All The Garments Will Be Ready In 2 Days’

Bhagwat Prasad Pahadi expresses his predicament, stating that without the necessary measurements from the trust, he cannot stitch the clothes of Ram Lalla. Once the green signal is received, he assures that all the garments for Ram Lalla will be ready within a maximum of two days.

Currently, Bhagwat has readied three distinct costumes for the revered idol one in white, another in yellow, and the third in red. Champat Rai has so far revealed that the idol will be 51 inches tall and ‘shyamvarna’ (dusky). But he is yet to reveal other specifications.

Sacred pause not with standing, Bhagwat is inundated with orders from devotees not only within the state but across the country. Calls are pouring in from Jaipur, places in Madhya Pradesh, Makrana, Gujarat, and Haridwar, highlighting the widespread demand for Ram Lalla’s attire.

“So far, I have made over 25,000 dresses and more orders are pouring in. This shows the devotion and faith of the people in Ram Lalla,” he said.

The meticulous work of crafting the wardrobe for Ram Lalla involves a budget of approximately Rs.10,000. This comprehensive set includes three curtains, a large bedsheet, six smaller bedsheets, six dupattas, and a quilt.

Bhagwat said that each day is dedicated to a specific colour for Ram Lalla’s attire. White on Monday, red on Tuesday, green on Wednesday, yellow on Thursday, cream on Fridays, blue on Saturday, and pink on Sunday. This adherence to a weekly colour code adds a symbolic and spiritual dimension to the attire.

Despite the challenges posed by the delay in measurements, Pahadi remains committed to his craft and awaits the necessary information from the trust. The intricate detailing and significance attached to each garment reflects the dedication of not only the tailor but also of the countless devotees, who eagerly anticipate the completion of the task.

As Ayodhya continues to be a focal point of spiritual and cultural significance, the meticulous preparation of every element associated with the revered deity stands as a testament to the devotion and reverence that abides in this sacred city.

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