Arunachal’s January Tali, Hachu Lombo become first state women to scale 7,077-metre Mt Kun

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Itanagar, Aug 3 (IANS) Two women mountaineers from Arunachal Pradesh have scripted history by becoming the first women from the state to successfully scale the 7,077-metre-high Mt Kun in the Zanskar region of Ladakh, bringing laurels to the border state, officials said on Sunday.

January Tali and Hachu Lombo reached the summit at around 6 a.m. on July 27, marking a significant milestone for mountaineering in Arunachal Pradesh.

January Tali hails from Yingkiong in Upper Siang district, while Hachu Lombo belongs to Anini in Dibang Valley district. Arunachal Pradesh Governor Lt Gen K.T. Parnaik (Retd) on Sunday congratulated the two mountaineers on their remarkable achievement, describing it as a moment of immense pride for the state.

According to a statement issued by the Lok Bhavan Secretariat, the Governor said that Tali and Lombo have etched their names in history by becoming the first women from Arunachal Pradesh to conquer the formidable Mt Kun.

“Their successful ascent reflects extraordinary courage, determination, endurance and mental strength,” the Governor said, adding that their achievement has brought honour to Arunachal Pradesh and would inspire countless young people, especially women, to dream big and pursue excellence in every field.

Lt Gen Parnaik (Retd) expressed confidence that the feat would encourage Arunachali youth to embrace physical fitness, adventure sports and a spirit of perseverance while motivating them to push beyond conventional limits.

He noted that Mt Kun, one of the highest peaks in the Zanskar range of the Indian Himalayas, is regarded as one of India’s most demanding high-altitude technical climbs because of its steep snow-covered slopes, treacherous glaciers, thin air and highly unpredictable weather conditions.

The expedition comprised a mixed team of nine climbers, including two women and seven men, excluding Sherpas. Highlighting the extreme difficulty of the climb, only four of the nine climbers successfully reached the summit.

For January Tali, the latest accomplishment adds another chapter to her growing list of mountaineering achievements. She had earlier scaled six Himalayan peaks within two weeks, including double summits of UT Kangri (6,080 metres) and Mentok Kangri-III (6,126 metres), besides conquering Mentok Kangri-I (6,268 metres) and Mentok Kangri-II (6,218 metres).

Officials said that both January Tali and Hachu Lombo would receive official summit certificates from the Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF), New Delhi, in recognition of their successful ascent of Mt Kun.

The Governor said that the historic achievement of the two women mountaineers stands as a testament to the growing spirit of adventure and resilience among the youth of Arunachal Pradesh and is expected to inspire many more aspiring climbers from the state to take up mountaineering and other adventure sports.

–IANS

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Parai artist Velu Aasan from Madurai conferred with Padma Shri

Chennai, Jan 25 (IANS) Noted Parai artist from Tamil Nadu’s Madurai, Velu Aasan, often referred to as the ‘Prince of Parai’, has been conferred with the prestigious Padma Shri award.

Parai is one of the most significant traditional instruments of Tamil Nadu, with deep historical and cultural roots. The instrument’s music is integral to various occasions and rituals in Tamil Nadu, from celebrations to mourning.

Even in ancient times, Parai music was part of war scenes and moments of love, highlighting its cultural importance. This is evident in its mention in the classic Tamil text, Thirukkural.

Velu Aasan has dedicated his life to promoting the Parai’s legacy across the globe. He learned the art under the tutelage of his elder brothers, Malaichaami Vaadhiyaar and Saegu Vaadhiyaar, with utmost dedication. His first public performance was at the village festival of Alanganallur, Madurai, where he received a warm reception from the audience. However, despite the public’s appreciation, Velu Aasan faced discouragement at home.

Negative remarks from his family led him to quit performing for eight years. During this period, he took up various jobs but never lost his love for the instrument. He found ways to create music using whatever objects were available.

Reflecting on this phase, he said, “I might not have touched the Parai for eight years, but I never stopped creating music.” Today, Parai music has a significant presence in the entertainment industry, including in songs.

Velu Aasan eventually formed the Alanganallur Thappisai Kuzhu, the largest Parai music crew in Tamil Nadu. The group’s performances are now a staple at functions and festivals. A quick search for Alanganallur Thappisai Kuzhu on YouTube will likely have you dancing to their energetic beats.

Before Velu Aasan’s influence, Paraiyisai was predominantly a male-dominated art form. He broke this barrier by teaching anyone with an interest in learning the instrument, regardless of gender. His inclusive approach has inspired a new generation of Parai artists and brought greater recognition to this cultural treasure.

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Shravani Mela draws massive crowds to Deoghar’s Baba Baidyanath Temple

New Delhi, Aug 1 (IANS) The annual Shravani Mela at Jharkhand’s Baba Baidyanath Temple in Deoghar continued to witness an overwhelming turnout of devotees on its third day, with thousands of Kanwariyas and Lord Shiva devotees queuing up to offer Jalabhishek during the auspicious month of Shravan on Saturday.

The month-long pilgrimage, which officially began on July 30, has transformed the temple town into a vibrant centre of devotion, with saffron-clad pilgrims arriving from across the country. Long queues of devotees, stretching up to three kilometres, were seen outside the temple as worshippers patiently waited for their turn to offer holy water to Baba Baidyanath.

The Shravani Mela will continue until August 28, and authorities expect an overall footfall of 35 to 55 lakh devotees during the festival. Extensive arrangements have been put in place to manage the influx, including crowd control measures, medical facilities, drinking water, sanitation services and other amenities for pilgrims.

Devotees visiting the temple expressed satisfaction with the arrangements, saying the pilgrimage experience has been smooth despite the large crowds.

One devotee said, “The arrangements are very good. There are excellent facilities for everything. We did not face any inconvenience…”

Pilgrims also reported improved waiting times compared to previous years and praised the facilities provided by the administration, allowing them to perform Jalabhishek comfortably while participating in the festive and spiritual atmosphere of the holy month.

Meanwhile, the spirit of devotion during Sawan is equally visible in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, where devotees from different parts of the country are gathering at the Siddhpeeth Dakshin Kali Temple to take part in special religious observances dedicated to Lord Shiva.

At the temple, Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Swami Kailashanand Giri Maharaj performs special Shiva worship and Rudrabhishek every day after taking a holy dip in the Ganga at midnight. The spiritual practices, observed throughout the month of Sawan, have drawn devotees seeking blessings during one of the most sacred periods in the Hindu calendar.

Highlighting the significance of the rituals, temple sevadar Vinod Kumar said, “Guruji begins this spiritual observance on the full moon of the holy month of Sawan and continues it until Raksha Bandhan. Throughout Sawan, Guruji observes silence and remains immersed in the worship of Lord Shiva for nearly 23–24 hours a day. Every night, between midnight and 4 am, Guruji takes a holy dip in the Ganga before continuing his prayers.”

The holy month of Shravan holds immense religious importance for devotees of Lord Shiva, with millions visiting temples across the country to offer prayers, perform Jalabhishek and participate in special rituals. As the pilgrimage season gathers momentum, major pilgrimage centres including Deoghar and Haridwar continue to witness a steady influx of devotees amid elaborate arrangements by local authorities to ensure a safe and seamless spiritual experience.

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Setback for UDF: Country’s youngest Municipal chairperson unseated in Pala

Kottayam, July 21 (IANS) India’s youngest municipal chairperson, 21-year-old Diya Binu Pulikkakandam, was voted out of office on Tuesday after a no-confidence motion against her was passed in the Pala Municipality, bringing down the UDF-backed administration amid a deepening internal rift within the Congress.

The motion was carried unanimously by the 17 councillors present in the 26-member council.

All 17 voted in favour of the motion, including the 12 LDF councillors, four Congress councillors who defied the party whip, and Independent Vice-Chairperson Maya Rahul.

With no votes cast against the motion, the UDF lost control of the municipality. The fall of the administration marks the culmination of weeks of infighting within the UDF.

The Congress had increasingly distanced itself from the independent group led by Diya Binu, with a section of its councillors refusing to continue the alliance.

Sensing an opportunity, the LDF moved the no-confidence motion, banking on the widening cracks in the ruling front.

The Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) had issued a whip directing its councillors not to take any action that would result in the loss of the UDF administration.

However, four Congress councillors ignored the directive and attended the meeting, voting with the opposition.

District UDF leaders later expressed strong displeasure over the development and warned of stringent disciplinary action against those who violated the party whip.

The UDF administration had enjoyed the support of 14 members, including the three-member Pulikkakandam family, Congress, Kerala Congress (Joseph) and independents.

The coalition began to unravel after the Congress formally withdrew its support to Diya Binu’s independent group, triggering the political crisis that ultimately led to Tuesday’s vote.

Following the outcome, Diya Binu accepted the verdict, saying she respected the democratic process.

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“The greatest strength in public life is not power, but values,” she said, adding that she would continue to serve the public as an elected councillor.

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