The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Strict security measures at temples
Dehradun, March 2
Amid tight police security arrangements, the festival of Maha Shivratri passed off peacefully in the state capital today. Fairs were organised at several places, including temples, to celebrate Maha Shivratri. Devotees thronged the temples in large numbers.

The Lord’s wedding draws big crowds

(1) Devotees at a temple in Pithoragarh on Wednesday. (2) The Daksh Prajapati temple at Kankhal in Haridwar on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Rameshwar Gaur (3) Devotees offer prayers at the Tapkeshwar Mahadev temple in Dehradun on Wednesday. A Tribune photograph (4) A view of the Tapkeshwar mela in Dehradun on Wednesday. A Tribune photograph

Boy’s body found burning in heap of cow dung cakes
Dehradun, March 2
Under mysterious circumstances, a body was found burning under a heap of dry cow dung last night. The incident took place at Manakpur village, under the Jhabrera police station, 20 km from Roorkee.

Health Dept persuades nurses to defer stir
Seeks time till March 13 to look into demands
Dr Asha Mathur, Director-General, Health and Family Welfare, in conversation with nurses in Dehradun on Wednesday. Dehradun, March 2
Even before the agitation launched by nurses could take a serious turn, the Health Department reached out to them and forced them to defer their agitation till March 13. As part of their plan, nurses in government hospitals at Dehradun and Rishikesh had decided to discharge single-shift duties as a mark of protest against the non-fulfilment of their demands.

Dr Asha Mathur, Director-General, Health and Family Welfare, in conversation with nurses in Dehradun on Wednesday. A Tribune photograph

1-run win for Al Fateh
Dehradun, March 2
Institute of Technology and Management (ITM) defeated New Indian Star by 34 runs in a league match of the Uttarakhand Cup Beehive Challenger League at Matawala Bagh here today. ITM set a target of 127 runs before getting all out. Shazad (21), Amit Ghai (17) and Ranjit (13) were the main scorers. Shakti of New Indian Star was the pick of the bowlers as he got four batsmen out.

A batsman in action in a match of the Uttarakhand Cup Beehive Challenger League at Matawala Bagh in Dehradun on Wednesday. A Tribune photograph

Kamal’s knock in vain
Dehradun, March 2
Graphic Era got the better of Vidhan Sabha by four wickets during the 60th District Cricket League at the Survey Stadium here today.

Maha Shivratri celebrated with fervour
Tribune News Service

Traditional dancers from Kumaon perform at DL Road in Dehradun on Wednesday. A Tribune photograph

Dehradun/Haridwar, March 2
Maha Shivratri was celebrated with fervour in and around the state capital here today. Thousands of devotees thronged various temples to worship Lord Shiva and Parvati. But it was the famous Tapkeshwar temple of Lord Shiva that witnessed the maximum number of devotees.

All the temples were beautifully decorated with lights and flowers. Devotees had started thronging the temples in the wee hours. Serpentine queues were seen outside all the temples and people had to wait for their turn for as long as two or three hours.

A large quantity of milk was offered at the Tapkeshwar temple and about 11,000 dozen bananas, along with kesar milk, were distributed as prasad among the devotees by the Shri Tapkeshwar Mandir Seva Dal.

A mela also kicked off near the temple. Various kinds of swings and stalls, which were put up at the mela, attracted a large number of people from adjoining areas.

Similarly, the Prithvi Nath Mahadev temple at Saharanpur, Jangam Shivalya at Paltan Bazar, Nageshwar Mahadev temple at Gari Cantt, Raipur Shiv Mandir and the Pracheen Bavdi Sidh Shiv temple witnessed huge crowds. A mela was also organised near the Shiv temple at Raipur.

Meanwhile, in Haridwar, thousands of devotees gathered at the Kankhal-situated Daksh Prajapati temple. It was the Kanwariyas who first offered the holy water at the Shivlingams. Other than this, it was the Bilkeshwar Mahadev, Pashupati Nath Mahadev, Pataleshwar Mahadev and Neeleshwar Mahadev temples where devotees gathered in large numbers to worship Lord Shiva.

Around 50 children, who were dressed as “ganas”, walked around as part of the Shiva’s barat that began from Subash Ghat and passed through Shiv Murti Chowk and the main market.

Meanwhile, a large number of devotees took a dip in the Ganga.

There’s no stopping bhaang lovers
Tribune News Service

Drinks laced with bhaang being sold on Maha Shivratri near Tapkeshwar Mahadev temple in Dehradun on Wednesday. A Tribune photograph

Dehradun, March 2
Devotees, who had come from adjoining and far-flung areas to worship Lord Shiva at the historic Tapkeshwar temple, couldn’t resist savouring bhaang, the products of which were being sold at a number of stalls at the mela near the temple today.

Be it bhaang pakoras or the drinks, people preferred to take it in the form of prasad. It seemed to be a flourishing business in the name of the Lord as the vendors were selling huge quantities of the bhaang drinks and pakoras.

People of all age groups, including children, were seen relishing the bhaang products. They were of the view that this is the only day when they could actually take the bhaang products as it is considered auspicious as Lord Shiva himself enjoyed it.

A glass of bhaang drink was priced at Rs 10, Rs 15 and Rs 20, according to the flavours and the quantity. The most wanted flavours included badam (almond), elaichi (cardamom) and magaz kheera (melon seeds).

“The bhaang ghotta is the one thing I wait for the whole year as I never take the drink otherwise,” stated Vikas Mohan, a student of DAV College. “I have heard that it takes over the mind and body, but when I tried I remained in my senses and enjoyed it a lot,” he added.

A group of friends, who had come from Mussoorie, were seen enjoying the bhaang pakoras and chanting “Bum Bum Bhole” and “Jai Jai Shiv Shankar”, etc.

“We have come here specially to enjoy the bhaang products as they are not as delicious back home. It has been the fourth consecutive year that we all are taking part in the mela,” said Sameer Raheja.

His friend Aman Malhotra stated, “What is theharm if we take this once a while? We stay away from intoxicants, but this day even our parents don’t stop us from taking bhaang as long as we are within our limits”.

The vendors did a brisk business. “I have done a sale of Rs 1,000 till now,” stated one of the vendors while grinding the bhaang leaves and seeds.

While the bhaang products kept the youngsters busy, it was rides and food stalls that captivated the little ones and their parents. Long queues were witnessed at the ticket counters of Columbus, roller coaster, giant wheel, merry-go-round, juggling and magic show stalls. The stalls of snacks and beverages also did good business.

Strict security measures at temples
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 2
Amid tight police security arrangements, the festival of Maha Shivratri passed off peacefully in the state capital today. Fairs were organised at several places, including temples, to celebrate Maha Shivratri. Devotees thronged the temples in large numbers.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ganesh Singh Martolia conducted a meeting of the SP (City) and Circle Officers yesterday to discuss the security arrangements. He asked the officers not to take the security measures leniently.

At all the main temples of the district, strict security measures were made by the police. Besides, the intelligence wing of the police was also deployed at Tapkeshvar Mahadev Mandir, Maldevta, Shiv Mandir at Kuthal Gate, Ganga Ghat and Neelkanth at Rishikesh.

Meanwhile, traffic cops were also assisted by the civil police in regulating traffic.

Boy’s body found burning in heap of cow dung cakes

Dehradun, March 2
Under mysterious circumstances, a body was found burning under a heap of dry cow dung last night. The incident took place at Manakpur village, under the Jhabrera police station, 20 km from Roorkee. The deceased was indentified as Akash, a 10-year-old boy.

According to the police, Akash, son of Om Singh Gujjar, went missing last evening. His parents, along with villagers, had started a search for him at night.

During the search operation, the villagers noticed smoke coming out of a pyramid of dry cow dung. This alarmed them and on their close investigation they found Akash’s body burning inside it.

The villagers informed the police. Sub-Inspector Rajeev Rothan reached the spot and recovered Akash’s half-burnt body.

Till now, the parents have not informed about any personal rivalry or any kind of threat to the family. The body has been sent for post mortem. — TNS

Health Dept persuades nurses to defer stir
Seeks time till March 13 to look into demands
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 2
Even before the agitation launched by nurses could take a serious turn, the Health Department reached out to them and forced them to defer their agitation till March 13. As part of their plan, nurses in government hospitals at Dehradun and Rishikesh had decided to discharge single-shift duties as a mark of protest against the non-fulfilment of their demands.

But the emissaries from the Health Department asked the nurses to give them some more time for their demands to be fulfilled.

“We have postponed our agitation till March 13 after holding talks with the DG, Health, and other officials today. They needed time to look into our demands. So, we have decided to continue with our three-shift duties,” said Anjana Bhowmick, general secretary, Uttarakhand Nurses Service Association (UNSA).

She said, “If the government does not keep its promise, we will be forced to resort to single-shift duties from March 14 till our demands are met,” added Laxmi Punetha, media in charge, UNSA.

The nurses are demanding wages on the pattern of the Central government and implementation of the Assured Career Progression (ACP) Scheme.

“We have managed to prevail upon the nurses to give us some more time to solve their problems. They have relented and hopefully, a government order will be issued soon,” said Dr Asha Mathur, Director-General, Health and Family Welfare.

At the meeting today, the nurses were represented by Jyoti Khanna, acting general secretary (state unit), Laxmi Punetha media in charge, SK Singh, president, Anjana Bhowmick, general secretary, Dalbir Mishra, district president, Dehradun, of the Uttarakhand Nurses Service Association.

1-run win for Al Fateh
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 2
Institute of Technology and Management (ITM) defeated New Indian Star by 34 runs in a league match of the Uttarakhand Cup Beehive Challenger League at Matawala Bagh here today.

ITM set a target of 127 runs before getting all out. Shazad (21), Amit Ghai (17) and Ranjit (13) were the main scorers. Shakti of New Indian Star was the pick of the bowlers as he got four batsmen out.

Vipin and Dony got two wickets each while Amit and Ashish took a wicket each.

In reply, New Indian Star was bowled out for 92 in 18.1 overs. Tony (13) and Shakti (10) were the only ones to get into double figures.

Baba of ITM got three wickets and Ashu bagged two wickets. Harvinder, Shashank and Shazad also pocketed a wicket each.

In the second match, Al Fateh defeated Sai Institute. Al Fateh scored 98 runs all out in 18 overs. Sonu (17), Umang (17), Anand (13) and Aftab (12) contributed to the side’s effort. Fayaz took three wickets for Sai. Adil, Richard and Robin got two wickets each.

Sai Institute could only score 97 runs in 18 overs with Pankaj (19) and Amit (14) being the main contributors. Nadim and Jahangir claimed two wickets for Al Fateh.

Tomorrow, Uttarakhand Cricket Association will face Tanush Cricket Academy at 11 am.

Kamal’s knock in vain
Tribune News Service

A batsman plays a shot in a match of the 60th District Cricket League in Dehradun on Wednesday. A Tribune photograph

Dehradun, March 2
Graphic Era got the better of Vidhan Sabha by four wickets during the 60th District Cricket League at the Survey Stadium here today.

In the 30-over match, Vidhan Sabha won the toss and batted first. The team scored 163 runs all out in 24.5 overs. Kamal top scored with 70 runs in 58 balls. No other batsman had any major contribution.

Aamir Basheer and skipper KS Bumra of the Graphic team got three wickets.

In reply, Graphic Era scored 167 runs for six wickets. Sumit (47) and Varun (42) were the main scorers. Rishab and Basera of the rival team took three wickets each.

In another match played today, Dolfine beat SIDCUL by seven wickets.

Uttarakhand Police will play against Doon Defence tomorrow.