Mumbai: Amid heavy rainfall, the Mumbai Metro had an significant achievement. The Metro 2A and 7 Lines connecting Andheri to Dahisar surpassed highest daily ridership, reaching to 2,87,073 number of passengers the Maha Mumbai Metro Operations Corporation Limited (MMOCL) informed on Thursday.

“We are thrilled to share that Maha Mumbai Metro has proudly surpassed highest daily ridership, reaching an incredible 2,87,073 passengers on Mumbai Metro Line 2A & 7! Even amidst heavy rain, Maha Mumbai Metro remained your steadfast companion, ensuring seamless journeys for all.” the MMOCL posted on its official X handle.

MMOCL also said that it operated two extra services one each from Gundavali & Andheri West, whereas, Monorail operated six services to accommodate and effectively manage the surge in ridership.

However, the activist continue to highlight that the ridership of Mumbai Metro is at least 50 per cent less than planned and expected by the authorities.

In August this year, Mumbai’s first Metro line- the Ghatkopar-Andheri-Versova route achieved a record of carrying more thann 500,000 commuters in a single day. On August 13, 2024, Mumbai Metro One carried 500,385 commuters, surpassing the pre-covid ridership, the authorities informed.

“This is the first time ridership of Mumbai Metro One has crossed milestone figure of 500,000 without impact of external factors. There is only one occasion when ridership of Mumbai Metro One had crossed 5 lakh when BEST buses went on strike for 9 days (8 January to 16 January 2019)”, the Metro One had said in its press statement.

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.

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.