New Delhi, Oct 25: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday extended greetings to the people of the state and the nation on the first day of Chhath Puja, praying to Lord ‘Bhaskar’ (Sun) for the progress, happiness, peace, and prosperity of the state.

CM Nitish took to the social media platform ‘X’ and wrote, “Greetings and best wishes to the people of the state and the country on the occasion of Chhath, the four-day grand festival of folk faith. This grand festival of folk faith is a festival of self-discipline, in which people offer oblations to the setting and rising Sun God with a pure conscience and a clean mind. On the occasion of the great festival of Chhath, we pray to Lord Bhaskar for the progress, happiness, peace, and prosperity of the state.”

Union Food Processing Industries Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan also greeted the people, saying, “Heartiest greetings to everyone on the occasion of ‘Nahay-Khaay’ of Chhath Puja, a celebration of tradition, faith, and social harmony. I pray to Chhathi Maiya for everyone’s happiness and prosperity.”

Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary also shared his message on ‘X’, writing, “Heartiest greetings to all Chhathvratis on the first day of Chhath Puja, the grand festival of folk faith, ‘Nahay-Khaay’. May everyone attain happiness, prosperity, and health by the grace of Chhathi Maiya. Jai Chhathi Maiya.”

Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha extended his wishes on social media, saying, “Heartiest wishes to you and your family on the first day of Chhath Puja, the grand festival of folk faith, world famous for worshipping nature. May Chhathi Maiya fulfil all your wishes.”

Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also extended greetings through ‘X’.

AAP chief Kejriwal posted, “The grand festival of Chhath, a festival of folk faith, begins today with Nahay-Khaay. Salutations to the devotion, dedication, and faith of all devotees. May Lord Bhaskar and Chhathi Maiya shower blessings of happiness, prosperity, and health in everyone’s lives.”

On the first day, devotees, known as ‘Vratis’ (people who are fasting), take a holy dip in rivers or ponds and consume a simple, ‘sattvic’ (having qualities of purity, harmony, and balance) meal of arwa chawal (plain rice) and lauki ki sabzi (bottle gourd curry) after offering prayers. Other traditional foods like chana dal, amla chutney, and papad are prepared and later served as ‘prasad (ritual food offering)’.

With roots tracing back to the Satyuga and Dwapara Yuga, Chhath Puja is regarded as one of the oldest forms of Sun worship. Devotees observe strict fasting, abstaining from food and water for extended periods to express devotion and seek blessings of prosperity, health, and happiness. Worshipping Surya during Chhath is believed to dispel negativity and usher in peace and positivity.

New Delhi, Oct 25: India will continue to engage constructively with the United Nations (UN) to advance peace, sustainable development and the voice of the Global South, according to Union Minister Manohar Lal.

In his address at the 80th United Nations Day celebrations as the chief guest at an event here, the minister highlighted the UN’s remarkable contributions over the past eight decades in preventing conflicts, promoting international law, and supporting the development of nations left behind.

Referring to the theme “One Earth, One Family, One Future” — a concept rooted in India’s G20 Presidency — Manohar Lal emphasised the importance of shared global responsibility and cooperation to address interconnected challenges.

The minister reaffirmed India’s deep partnership with the UN, citing initiatives such as the India-UN Development Partnership Fund and the India-UN Global Capacity Building Initiative as examples of India’s action-oriented approach and commitment to South–South cooperation.

Paying tribute to Indian peacekeepers who made the supreme sacrifice in UN missions, he reiterated India’s unwavering stand against terrorism and its call for reforms in the UN, particularly the expansion of the UN Security Council to make it more inclusive and representative.

Earlier, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said that ‘all is not well’ within the United Nations and that its decisions do not address global priorities. He pointed out how a UN Security Council member protected the terror group that claimed responsibility for the April 22 Pahalgam attack.

While launching a postage stamp to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the United Nations in New Delhi, EAM Jaishankar recalled the sacrifices of Indian UN peacekeepers and spoke about the recently hosted Chiefs of Army Staff conclave in the national capital, which witnessed participation from 30 troop-contributing countries.

He further said, “That said, we must also recognise that all is not well with the United Nations. Its decision-making neither reflects its membership nor addresses global priorities. Its debates have become increasingly polarised and its working visibly gridlocked.”

Mumbai: The tragic death of Dr. Sampada Mundhe, a young government medical officer posted at the Sub-District Hospital (SDH) in Phaltan, Satara district, has sent shockwaves across Maharashtra’s medical community.

Expressing deep anguish, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (BMC MARD) and the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) have strongly condemned the incident, calling for immediate justice, accountability, and urgent reforms to safeguard the mental health and working conditions of doctors.

According to reports, Dr. Mundhe had been under severe mental distress linked to a departmental inquiry and had repeatedly complained to her superiors about harassment and humiliation. Her alleged suicide note reportedly names two police officials and mentions both physical assault and mental harassment.

Despite her repeated appeals for help, no adequate measures were taken to ensure her safety, exposing glaring lapses in institutional oversight and empathy.

Both BMC MARD and FAIMA said the incident highlights the immense pressures and psychological burdens faced by doctors, particularly those serving in peripheral and sub-district hospitals where professional isolation, administrative indifference, and lack of support often compound mental distress.

The organisations expressed deep sorrow over the loss of a young and dedicated doctor who, despite her commitment to public service, was left without institutional protection.

Both associations have urged the Government of Maharashtra to immediately suspend the police officials named in the suicide note and initiate a fair, transparent, and time-bound judicial probe into all aspects of the case. They have also sought accountability from the health department and administrative officers who ignored Dr. Mundhe’s repeated complaints and warning signs.

Further, they have called for comprehensive reforms, including the creation of a robust grievance redressal mechanism and a state-level mental health support system for doctors and healthcare workers facing administrative or disciplinary stress. They also demanded psychological, financial, and legal support for Dr. Mundhe’s family.

“This is not an isolated case—it reflects the deep-rooted neglect of doctors’ mental health and workplace well-being. Those who dedicate their lives to public service deserve dignity, empathy, and protection, not despair,” said Dr Akshay Dongardive, President, FAIMA.