Indian Navy officer sets sail for global circumnavigation race
New Delhi, July 1: Commander Abhilash Tomy of the Indian Navy, who has solo circumnavigation of the globe to his credit, set sail on a unique voyage on Sunday as the only invitee from Asia to participate in the Golden Globe Race (GGR).
It is the first time that India is participating in the race which commenced from Les Sables d'Olonne harbour in France and is expected to complete at the same location in April 2019.
According to an official statement from the Indian Navy, the participants are required to sail around the world, single-handed and non-stop.
"The uniqueness of the race is that boat designs and technology newer than 1968 is not permitted, hence use of Global Positioning System (GPS), satellite communication, navigational aids, etc is forbidden," the statement said.
The GGR is being conducted by Sir Robin Knox Johnston of UK to commemorate 50 years since the world's first solo non-stop circumnavigation was undertaken by him in 1968 on-board the Indian built boat, Suhaili.
One of India's most prominent sailors, Cdr Tomy will be sailing on the indigenously built sailing vessel 'Thuriya' which is a replica of Suhaili.
"The boat showcases India's boat building capability on the world forum and promotes the 'Make in India' initiative," the statement said.
Cdr Tomy has covered 53,000 nautical miles under sail, including a solo non-stop circumnavigation of the globe in 2012-13 on-board Indian Naval Sailing Vessel (INSV) Mhadei.
He is also a recipient of the Kirti Chakra, MacGregor and Tenzing Norgay awards.
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Tirupati laddu row: Samples of Ayodhya Ram temple 'prasad' sent for testing
Ayodhya, Sep 27: The Food Safety and Drug Administration Department on Friday collected samples of 'elaichi daana' or cardamom seeds being distributed as 'prasad' at the Ram Janmabhoomi temple here and sent them for testing, officials said.
The action was taken following a complaint lodged through the Integrated Grievance Redressal System (IGRS), Assistant Food Commissioner Manik Chand Singh said.
Singh said the samples were procured from Haiderganj, where the cardamom seed offerings are prepared and sent to the Jhansi State Laboratory for comprehensive testing and evaluation.
Prakash Gupta, the officer in charge of the Ram Temple trust, revealed that on average, around 80,000 packets of cardamom seeds are distributed daily as a sacred offering.
Amid a row over the alleged presence of animal fat in laddus at the Tirupati Temple in Andhra Pradesh, the chief priest of the Ram temple here on Thursday questioned the purity of ghee being sold nationwide and said 'prasad' should be prepared under the supervision of temple priests only.
