Mangaluru Dasara: Gyanvapi's Muslim family weaves saree for goddess Sharada
Mangaluru, Sep 21: While Gyanvapi in Uttar Pradesh is in the news for the Hindu-Muslim rift over right to pray, a Muslim family there is presently engaged in weaving a green silk sari with golden embroidery for the idol of goddess Sharada here.
The idol will be installed on the Acharya mutt premises of Sri Venkataramana temple in Car Street here.
The goddess will be draped in the saree, costing about Rs 8 lakh, on the day of 'Shobha Yatra' to be held here on October 6, Sharada Mahotsav Samithi media coordinator Manju Neereshwalya said.
He said the saree is sponsored every year by Sudheer Pai of the Kulyadikars textiles. The embroidery is handmade by the fifth-generation weavers of a Muslim family in Gyanvapi.
Though the goddess is usually adorned with a Benares silk saree with silver zari (thread made of silver) which costs around Rs 2 lakh, this year the sponsor decided to weave golden zari embroidery work for the saree, as this happens to be the centenary year of Sharada Mahotsava, Neereshwalya said.
Sharada Mahotsava was started in 1922 to bring together people during the independence movement.
Devotees and well-wishers are donating a veena and peacock made of gold this year. The goddess will be seen carrying the veena and the peacock placed next to the idol. A silver pedestal will also be dedicated to the goddess during the occasion.
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13 lakh litres of 'Rail Neer' supplied to train passengers daily: Government
New Delhi (PTI): Approximately 13 lakh litres of packaged drinking water -- 'Rail Neer' -- are being supplied to train passengers across the railway network daily, the government informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply on Wednesday.
Apprising the Lower House about the Indian Railways' endeavour to provide safe and potable drinking water facilities at all stations, the government also provided zone-wise details of the water vending machines (WVMs) installed there.
"To ensure the quality of drinking water being made available at the railway stations, instructions exist for periodical checking and required corrective action to be taken.
"Regular inspection and maintenance of drinking water facilities is carried out and complaints are attended to promptly," Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said while responding to a question raised by BJP MP Anup Sanjay Dhotre seeking to know the supply of drinking water at railway stations across the country
"Complaints regarding deficiency in services, including water supply, are received through various channels such as public complaints, web portals, social media, etc. These complaints are received at various levels, including the Railway Board, zonal railways, division office, etc.," Vaishnaw said.
"The complaints so received are forwarded to the concerned wings of Railways and necessary action is taken to check and address them. As receipt of such complaints and action taken thereon is a continuous and dynamic process, a centralised compendium of these is not maintained," he added.
Providing zone-wise details of water vending machines, the minister said 954 such machines have been installed across railway stations.
"The Indian Railways also provides safe and affordable packaged drinking water bottles -- Rail Neer -- approved by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in trains and at stations," Vaishnaw said.
"Approximately, 13 lakh litres of Rail Neer are being supplied per day to the travelling passengers in trains and at stations across the Indian Railways network," he added.
