Bachchi Devi from Sultanpur in Uttar Pradesh sleeps next to Srija from Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu. The two women, both in their seventies, cannot understand each other’s languages but they have formed a unique bond between themselves in the past one week. The two women, along with three others, are Kalpvasis at the Kumbh Mela and are undergoing penance on the banks of Ganga.

In view of the hanging of terror convict Afzal Guru, security in the Kumbh Mela is being further tightened. Sources said that IB reports have warned of possible terror attack on one of the main bathing days when the Kumbh Mela draws maximum crowds.

When the Kumbh Mela ends in March, it will mark the beginning of a new chapter overseas.
A large number of foreign tourists, who have spent a few days in this biggest holy congregation in the world, will have turned over a new leaf — almost literally.

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s “dharma sansad” and “sant sammelan” here Thursday queered the pitch for the BJP by raising the demand for Gujarat CM Narendra Modi as PM candidate.

On the banks of Ganga and Yamuna, history was written silently and unobtrusively on Thursday when around 100 scavengers performed puja and took a holy dip at Sangam.

BJP president Rajnath Singh said on Wednesday the BJP’s commitment to the Ram Mandir issue was unwavering. “It is our sincere wish the Ram temple (is) built at the Ram Janambhoomi site. There’s no question of our going back on this.

The incessant rains in Lucknow dampened much more than what they normally do. They dampened the spirits of thousands of BJP workers who had made extensive preparations for the welcome of BJP president Rajnath Singh on Tuesday.

The Bhartiya Janata Party is on the horns of dilemma once again. The party, now led by a moderate Rajnath Singh, cannot decide whether it needs to focus on Hindutva to regain lost ground in Uttar Pradesh or adhere to its moderate position which will help in keeping the NDA allies together.

Ms K. Dhanlakshmi, an IAS officer of 2002 batch, presently posted as district magistrate in Sultanpur, has moved the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court, alleging harassment by the CBI investigators in a disproportionate assets (DA) case registered against her and her mother.

The All-India Muslim Personal Law Board has asked Central and all state governments to immediately release Muslim youth who have been arrested on “unsubstantiated” terror charges.