63rd Bengaluru Ganesh Utsava from Aug 27 to Sep 6
Bengaluru (PTI): One of the city's most cherished cultural festivals, Bengaluru Ganesh Utsava (BGU), returns for its 63rd edition from August 27 to September 6.
Organised by Sri Vidyaranya Yuvaka Sangha, the festival blends devotion, music, food, and culture across APS College Grounds and National College Grounds at Basavanagudi.
The inauguration on August 27 will be marked by a grand Pushpa Alankara Seve and Ganapati Homam, followed by devotional concerts, according to a press release issued by the organisers.
The evening will feature M D Pallavi's Bhakti Sangeetha and a dance performance by Aayana Dance Company, setting the perfect spiritual and cultural tone for the 11-day celebration, the release added.
Over the following days, audiences can look forward to performances by Crazy Star Ravichandran, Vijay Prakash, Raghu Dixit, Vijay Yesudas, Praveen Godkhindi, and devotional renditions by Lakshmi & Indu Nagaraj, Soorya Gayathri, Pandit Venkatesh Kumar, among others.
Evening Arathi every day will be led by Beat Gurus, an ensemble with 200 drummers, from 5 pm onwards.
Special highlights also include the women's mass 'Ganesha Pancharatna' recital on August 31 and the thematic dance productions.
Staying true to its eco-conscious tradition, BGU continues as a plastic-free festival, with recyclable mantapas and eco-friendly idols.
The festivities will conclude with the grand Ganapati Visarjane procession on September 6.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Separate nodal officer in all districts to prevent female foeticides in Karnataka: Minister
Belagavi (PTI): Accepting that the female foeticide has not stopped in the state, Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Tuesday said that the government is taking strict measures to prevent it.
The minister said the government is appointing separate nodal officers in all districts and tightening measures to prevent foeticide, which he called a "social evil".
He also assured that the government will consider strengthening legislation to control such activities.
The minister was responding to a question by BJP MLC C T Ravi in the Legislative Council.
"Female foeticides have certainly not stopped. If you look at the sex ratio, there is a lot of difference. I accept that this is happening," Rao said.
"Foeticides are not happening under pressure; voluntarily, it is happening, for not wanting a girl child. These things are happening based on the sex determination of the foetus at some hospitals. Sex determination is illegal, but with the advancement in technology, portable ultrasound machines have been developed, which can be easily carried anywhere, and scans and tests can be done. This needs to be controlled. We will bring it to the notice of the central government," he said.
In some districts and in a few hospitals, a higher number of male child births is happening. It is found with the help of intelligence input, the minister said.
"Information is being gathered on the taluk in which the male-female ratio is worsening, what is happening in which hospital, and appropriate action is being taken to crack down on such a network, after proper evaluation."
Decoy operations have been done at seven places in the last two years, to identify those involved in illegal activities linked to female foeticides, and actions have been taken against officials and hospitals involved, he said, adding that more needs to be done on priority.
Responding to a question by Ravi about whether any stringent legislation is being brought, Rao said, the government will consider strengthening the legislation and making it stricter to control this.
"Some amendments have been made to the existing laws in the last two years....advanced technology and the internet is being used to carry out such things, also oral medicines for abortions are available over the counter.
We need to look into bringing legislation to control them. The Food and Drug Administration has issued instructions to pharmacists that the sale of such drugs should be documented."
The minister also said that measures are also being taken for the effective implementation of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC & PNDT) Act, and awareness is being created against the identification of female foetuses and female foeticide.
