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Verul  (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district):  The intricate sculpture in multiple layers and patterns of the holy  Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga shrine is mesmerising, transporting you to a  world of its own, near the renowned Ellora caves. However, the maintenance, upkeep, and management are equally disgusting, as the area before entering the temple complex remains in shambles, with multiple rows of shops all along. A small entrance: To begin with, a small entrance greets you as you come close to the temple premises, and from the beginning and until close by, you are accosted by any number of hawkers, pestering you to buy puja materials and whatever else they have to sell! Lured to arrange special darshan: Despite a moderate crowd, some people give it a try to lure you under the guise of arranging special darshan. People come from far and near just to have a glimpse of the deity for a few seconds and cherish the moments of remaining in the premises for a few minutes. Yet...

Khuldabad  (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district):  The Bhadra Maruti temple, located in the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district (formerly known as Aurangabad district) in Maharashtra, attracts Hanuman devotees for the deity's unusual posture . Unlike elsewhere in the country, Lord Anjaneya is found here in a reclining or sleeping posture! Only three temples in the country: Interestingly, Pawan Putra idols can be seen in a retiring position at only three places in the country. On the banks of  Ganga, at Sangam, Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh, and Jam Sawali in Saunsar Tehsil of Pandhurna district(earlier part of the Chhindwara district, before Pandhurna became an independent district) in Madhya Pradesh, are the only two remaining shrines where Anjani Suta is found lying down majestically.   Just four kilometres from the Ellora Caves: Incidentally, the Mahabala temple is merely about four kilometres from the world-famous Ellora Caves. Due to its unique composition in st...

Bengaluru : Octogenarian Swamy Achar, well-known as M S Achar in close Gandhian circles of yesteryear, is an epitome of selfless service, honesty, commitment, and sacrifice, quite unfamiliar and equally strange words to the present generation. The paradox or tragedy of his life is that the "Gandhian institution", for which he dedicated the prime period of his life for a meagre or meaningless salary, disturbed his personal life, put him into a series of hardships, and literally threw him on the streets. A glistening white attire all along:  Thanks to his association with several organisations related to Gandhian principles, M S Achar started wearing a white Khadi shirt and trousers, right from a very young age. He continues to do so to date, and is often seen in glistening white attire, stitching his own undergarments as well! Native of Mandya district:  M S Achar was born in Hagaduru village of Malavalli Taluk in Mandya district, to Mrs Siddamma and Siddacharya. The couple ha...

DILI, TIMOR-LESTE: Nawab Mir Najaf Ali Khan, grandson of the last Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan, recently visited Timor-Leste as part of an Indian delegation exploring new opportunities for business, investment and bilateral cooperation. The visit assumes significance at a time when Timor-Leste is seeking to expand its international economic partnerships and strengthen engagement with countries such as India. Nawab Najaf Ali Khan’s participation brought together a distinctive combination of India’s historical legacy, business interests and people-to-people diplomacy. Nawab Najaf Ali Khan is a prominent member of the erstwhile Hyderabad royal family and has been associated with heritage conservation, social initiatives and the preservation of the legacy of the Nizam dynasty. He is also the President of the Nizam Family Welfare Association. His public engagements have frequently focused on Hyderabad’s cultural heritage and the contribution of the Nizam dynasty to education, he...

Dharwad:  Recently, was in Dharwad to attend the three-day exhibition, lecture cum demonstration, slides show and interaction program of Prof Babu Jattakar, veteran artist and former Principal College of Fine Arts, Karnataka Chitrakala Parishat, Bengaluru.  Gods become alive in   brass,   copper,   silver, and gold:  During an informal interaction, Prof S K Pattar, Principal of Government College of Fine Arts, Dharwad made a casual reference of his former student Naveen Shankarrao Kadlaskar, who has made a big name in sculpting the idols of Gods in brass, copper, silver, and gold. The way, he was dealt with made me curious to know more and meet him. However, repeated calls were reverted with switched off mode messages. This exercise went on for a couple of days. Work pressure compels to switch off the cell phone:  On the third day, Naveen Shankarrao Kadlaskar sprung a surprise and turned up and revealed the reasons behind switching off his cell ph...