A suspect involved in the Amritsar temple blast was killed in a police encounter, while another suspect managed to escape, Punjab Police confirmed on Monday. The encounter took place after officers tracked down the accused in the Rajasansi area of Amritsar. The incident stems from the March 15 explosion outside the Thakur Dwara Temple in Amritsar, where an unidentified individual hurled an explosive device toward the temple premises. The blast caused damage to the temple’s wall and shat

In a significant update, the Moinabad police arrested five additional individuals, including two women, in connection with the attack on CS Rangarajan, the head priest of Chilkur Balaji Temple. Kovvuri Veer Raghava Reddy, the founder of the Rama Rajyam organization, had already been arrested and remanded in the case. The police investigation revealed that Raghava Reddy had been demanding financial support from Rangarajan and sought his involvement in recruiting people for the "Rama Rajya

 Tirumala Tirupati seers have initiated a hunger strike to protest the development of the Mumtaz Hotel near the holy Tirumala temple, claiming it would compromise the sanctity of the sacred seven hills. The protest is aimed at Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrabu Naidu and Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan, as the seers seek answers regarding the hotel project.   The Mumtaz Hotel is planned to be a 100-room, 5-star facility, with a total investment of Rs 250 crore. Located

Special Arrangements for Ratha Saptami: The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) is all set for the grand celebration of Ratha Saptami on February 4. TTD Chairman BR Naidu confirmed that the Trust Board has made extensive arrangements for the occasion. Notably, all arjita sevas (special services) will be performed in Ekantham (isolated worship), which will ensure the sanctity of

The newly appointed Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) board, under the leadership of Chairman BR Naidu, held its first meeting on Monday at the Annamayya Bhavan in Tirumala. During this meeting, the board passed several resolutions, one of which was a strong request to the Andhra Pradesh government to cancel the allotment of 20 acres of land near Alipiri for the proposed Mumtaz Hotel. The decision comes after growing concerns that the hotel project could hurt the religious sentiments of de

The recent tragic stampede during the Vaikuntha Ekadashi celebrations in Tirupati has left the community in grief. In response to the crisis, the government has announced an ex-gratia of ₹25 lakh to the families of the deceased. This announcement was made following the incident at the token distribution centers for the Vaikuntha Dwara Darshan. Revenue Minister Anagani Satyaprasad, alongside other state ministers, including Home Minister Anita and Anam Ramanayana Reddy, visited the

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has reported an impressive Rs. 1,365 crore in Hundi donations for the year 2024. The temple saw a significant number of pilgrims, with 2.55 crore devotees visiting the holy site. A remarkable 99 lakh devotees participated in the tradition of tonsuring their heads as an offering to Lord Venkateswara. TTD also ensured the spiritual nourishment of the devotees, with 6.30 crore serving of Anna Prasadam, a free meal provided to pilgrims. In addition, 12.14 cror

A Budaun court will decide on January 18, 2025, whether to hear a plea that claims the existence of a Neelkanth temple at the site of the Jama Masjid Shamsi mosque. The case, which began in 2022, arose when Mukesh Patel, then convener of Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha, claimed that a temple existed at the site and sought permission to worship there. Lawyers from both sides presented their arguments on December 17, but the court did not pass a decision and postponed it to January 18 due to the o

The Pakistan High Commission announced on Wednesday that it has issued 84 visas to Indian pilgrims for a visit to the Shree Katas Raj temples in Chakwal district, Punjab, Pakistan. The pilgrimage, scheduled from December 19 to 25, will allow Hindu pilgrims to visit this sacred complex of temples, also known as Qila Katas. The temples are a significant religious site for Hindus and are linked by walkways. These visits are part of the long-standing Pakistan-India bilateral protocol on

In a politically charged move, the West Bengal BJP's Murshidabad unit has announced plans to construct a Ram temple in Berhampore, following a proposal by TMC MLA Humayun Kabir to build a mosque in Beldanga, located in the same district. The BJP's proposed Ram temple, which will be modeled after the Ram temple in Ayodhya, is scheduled to begin construction on January 22, 2025, marking exactly one year after the inauguration of the Ayodhya temple. Shakharav Sarkar, the BJP&rs

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) board, under the leadership of BR Naidu, has brought in notable improvements to the operations and management of the Tirumala temple. From cleaner pathways and better quality of services to addressing long-standing concerns like non-Hindu workers in Tirumala, the board has been making strides in maintaining the temple's sanctity. However, one major issue remains unresolved: the rise of Instagram reels and dance videos filmed in front of t

The Sanwaliya Seth Temple in Rajasthan's Chittorgarh recently witnessed an extraordinary wave of donations, making headlines for its record-breaking collection. Among the remarkable gifts were ₹23 crore in cash, a 1kg gold biscuit, and several smaller gold biscuits. Devotees also contributed unique silver items, including a silver pistol, silver handcuffs, and even a pure silver lock and key. Thes

This morning, an attempted assassination of Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal took place at the Golden Temple, but quick action by security personnel prevented any harm. Badal, who was performing sewadar duties after being punished by Akal Takht for mistakes during the Akali Dal's tenure, was approached by a man identified as Narain Singh. Singh, who had concealed a firearm in his pocket, tried to shoot Badal but was stopped just in time. Alert sewadar personnel noticed the sh

BR Naidu, the newly appointed Chairman of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), has taken an unexpected and refreshing approach to his new role. Traditionally, TTD chairmen have been known to enjoy a range of perks, including TTD-sponsored vehicles, lavish accommodations at Tirumala, and other elite privileges. However, BR Naidu has chosen to forgo these benefits and adopt a more modest and transparent approach to leadership. During his inaugural visit to Tirumala, BR Naidu shoc

Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and YSRCP president Jagan Mohan Reddy is currently facing significant backlash for allegedly hurting Hindu sentiments by failing to uphold the sanctity of the Tirupati temple. The controversy erupted following a statement from current Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, who raised concerns about the adulteration of the temple's famous Laddu prasadam. The sensitive issue has sparked outrage nationwide, with many Hindu

The recent revelation regarding the adulteration of the sacred Tirupati laddus has ignited outrage among devotees and various community members alike. Reports indicating the inclusion of animal fat in the ghee used for making these revered sweets have particularly drawn the ire of the faithful. Acharya Satyendra Das, the chief priest of the Ayodhya Ram Temple, expressed his dismay over this troubling news. He highlighted that over three quintals of Tirupati laddus were sent to Ayodh

Recent media reports suggesting new restrictions on laddu distribution at the Tirumala temple have sparked confusion among devotees. A prominent news channel claimed that pilgrims would soon face limits on the number of laddus they could receive, causing widespread concern. However, Tirumala Executive Officer (EO) Venkaiah Chowdary has swiftly addressed these claims, labeling them as unfounded rumors. Chowdary explained that there has been no drastic change in the laddu distribution