General
Pongal 2024: Mumbai Celebrates Harvest Festival Reflecting Rich Tamil Culture
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.
Maharashtra
Dharavi Rehabilitation Project: Raj Thackeray has also organized a public meeting on December 7 against the shortcomings of the project with Dharavi.

Mumbai: MNS chief Raj Thackeray has also started opposing the Dharavi development project. Earlier, Uddhav Thackeray had opened a front against Adani, but now Raj Thackeray has also joined the ranks. Now both the brothers have united against the Adani project. The political atmosphere has heated up over the Dharavi rehabilitation project, Asia’s largest slum. Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray has opposed the Dharavi project. Now MNS president Raj Thackeray has also joined it. A public meeting has been organized at Kamaraj Ground on December 7. In this meeting, Raj Thackeray can take some important steps with Dharavi. Everyone’s attention is on this rally. Dharavi Bachao Samiti has organized an all-party meeting at Kamaraj School Ground on December 7. The main objective of this meeting is to raise voice against the shortcomings of the Adani Group’s survey. The committee has alleged that in the name of redevelopment, old residents were included in the survey. And the eligible residents are being ignored, due to which the eligible residents are at risk of losing their homes. The local people have organized this meeting to bring all party leaders on one platform. It is expected that the Thackeray family will be seen together in this meeting. Earlier, Aditya Phakre has also opposed this project. The Dharavi Bachao Committee has also invited Raj Thackeray in the meeting. If the two brothers unite and rise against this project, then it is a challenge for the Adani Group and the government. To change the face of Dharavi, this project has been started on a 600-acre plot of land in the middle of Mumbai. The government claims to provide better houses and facilities to the residents of this place. The contract for this complete redevelopment project has been given to a company of the Adani Group. The current plan is to provide free houses of 405 square feet to the slum dwellers.
Mumbai Press Exclusive News
Cyclone Ditwah Triggers Heavy Rain, Flight Cancellations in Tamil Nadu

MUMBAI — Severe cyclonic storm Ditwah is significantly impacting the southern state of Tamil Nadu, bringing torrential rainfall, high winds, and widespread disruptions to air travel.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red alerts for several districts in Tamil Nadu as the cyclone tracks closer to the coastline. Authorities are urging residents in coastal areas to remain indoors and take necessary precautions as conditions deteriorate.
The heavy rainfall has led to waterlogging in several major cities and towns, affecting daily life and causing traffic gridlock. Disaster response teams have been deployed to assist with any flood-related emergencies.
In Mumbai, officials are monitoring the situation in the south, although the immediate weather impact on Maharashtra is minimal. However, airlines operating out of Mumbai have confirmed numerous flight cancellations and delays for services bound for Chennai and other affected southern airports. Passengers are strongly advised to check with their respective airlines for the latest updates on flight status before traveling to the airport.
State disaster management units in Tamil Nadu remain on high alert, coordinating relief efforts and preparing for potential evacuation operations if the situation escalates further.
Mumbai Press Exclusive News
Jogeshwari POCSO case: Accused out on bail arrested again

Mumbai: A fugitive accused involved in the Mumbai Pisco case has been arrested again by the Jogeshwari police after 6 years. In Jogeshwari, Mumbai, accused Pankaj Panchal, 27, was arrested in 2019 in the Pisco child abuse and exploitation case and was on bail but was absent from court proceedings and had been hiding his identity for the last 6 years. The police received information that the accused had come near the SRA building, on which the police laid a trap and succeeded in arresting the accused from Jogeshwari. The court had also issued a non-bailable warrant against him, after which the police complied with it and arrested him and presented him in the court and the court has sent him on remand. The police are investigating further. This information has been given by DCP Datta Nalawade of Mumbai Police Zone 10.
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