Hatha Yoga: Yoga of Force

By Paddy Krishnan

The word yoga is derived from the Sanskrit Yuj meaning union or linking. In the context of Hindu scriptures the aim is to link with the Divine (Ishvara, Brahman etc.) via different techniques such as Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga and Patanjali’s Yogasutras. These days, the term yoga is usually associated with physical aspects related to flexibility, breathing etc. and the link to God is typically ignored. This form of yoga should technically be referred to be a part of Hatha Yoga. Hatha Yoga, meaning the yoga of Force, has Tantric origins and is only loosely connected to to Patanjali’s Yogasutras. It is more directly related to different Vedic rituals in the Karma Kanda. Some scholars have interpreted Hatha Yoga as a process for ascetics who torture themselves. The term Hatha Yoga itself is perhaps relatively recent (perhaps around 9th century CE). Before that, there was no separation of such form of exercise from other practices such as martial arts (e.g., Kalaripayathu which was popular in Kerala), and the performing arts (e.g., Bharata Natayam and Kathakali). They were all viewed as a means for spiritual growth towards understanding one’s true self by focusing on one’s body. The body is a gift from the Divine and hence should be used to show respect to the Divine. Such practices were considered as the practitioner’s Sadhana (spiritual path). The aim was to achieve perfection in the art form because perfection lead to the Divine. The Shiva Samhita says that every living creature is a direct result of Shiva’s Asanas (or postures) during his cosmic dance that created the universe. All bodies created by Shiva were said to be malleable. Each individual had to create a container that could hold the waters of liberation. Because the focus was still on spiritual development, all these physical practices were combined with Raja Yoga which is the path of meditation. The theory was that one could not obtain perfection in Raja Yoga without Hatha Yoga, nor perfection in Hatha Yoga without Raja Yoga. So both should be practised together till perfection is attained; although Hatha Yoga, was like a staircase that led one to the higher Raja Yoga. Early physical yoga had Asanas (postures), Pranayamas sometimes called Kumbhakas (jars that relate to breathing techniques), Mudras (postures that are held for a long time), that were combined with Kriyas (cleansing techniques), chanting Mantras (sound), Dharana (concentration), and Dhyana (meditation). These were all part of the Tantric thinking that when the body perishes, life is over. A dead person cannot aspire for Moksha and thus will be subject to rebirth. Therefore one must learn the art of preserving the body and work towards Moksha (i.e., ultimate perfection). This resulted in everyone, (i.e., monks, priests, and householders) using Asanas and Pranayamas leading to Dhyana as part of their daily living especially when performing rituals. The first reference to an Asana, in the context of meditation or concentration is in the Bhagavad Gita when Krishna ask Arjuna to sit straight and keep his head and neck erect. There are also references to Shiva discussing Asanas with Parvati. REPORT THIS AD Initially, physical yoga was just a collection of diverse studies including bodily postures, breathing mechanisms, state of one’s mind and cognitive performance. But one was allowed to experiment under the guidance of recognised experts. These practices were codified by experts such as Matsyendranatha and Goraksanatha culminating in Svatmarama’s Hatha Yoga Pradipika or the book that sheds light on Hatha Yoga. Even the Hatha Yoga Pradipika states that postures or breathing exercises should not be treated as fixed set of recipes. It is said that there are 84 Asanas that were originally given to us by Shiva. The Padmasana (lotus position) or Siddhasana (simple cross-legged) were the simplest of the Asanas and the most important for meditation. The Asanas make the body steady and flexible, resulting in getting rid of diseases. This is the first step in learning to control and discipline the body. Pranayama is regulating the flow of air through the body without using much force. Pranayama helps purify the energy channels of the body allowing Prana (the life force) to move more efficiently. One should start by forcibly moving Prana to various parts of the body and be able to move what normally goes downwards to move upwards. When one starts to do Pranayama, one might be exerting lot of force and thus might perspire. The aim is to make Pranayama steady without any exertion so that it appears to be motionless. Bandhas are “locks (holding patterns)” used to contain Prana. Typically Bandhas are engagements of specific groups of muscles at the base of the pelvis, the abdomen, and the throat. Bandhas are usually challenging and therefore should only be attempted after one is competent in both Asana and Pranayama. Mudras are complex movements (often very slow) of the whole body that combines Asana, Pranayama and Bandha. There are many Mudras that are said to control the aging process and thus death. As Hatha Yoga is also about Moksha, there are Mudras that require one to think of the Divine, and not think of oneself or the outside word. The final step is the ability to leave all thoughts and be able to think of nothing in total silence. When the body is lean and healthy, the face is glowing with delight and the eyes are clear, one has an healthy appetite, and one’s desires are under control, one can conclude that one is on the path to mastering Hatha Yoga. When one has mastered Hatha Yoga, one will have the following eight Siddhis (or prefect accomplishments). Note that these descriptions are symbolic and are not to be interpreted literally. • Anima the ability to become tiny • Mahima the ability to become gigantic • Garima the ability to become heavy (like mountains) • Laghima the ability to come very light (like cotton) • Prapti the ability to get anything anywhere • Prakamya the ability to realise any dream • Isata mastery over all natural forces (like God) • Vasitva the ability to control all animate and inanimate objects The Hatha Yoga describes the following four stages of development. • Arambha: preliminary where the body becomes healthy • Ghata: like a jar to signify the flow of Prana inside the body • Parichaya: some knowledge where the mind is calm • Nispatti: consummate knowledge where there is no pain, old age, or disease. In this case the practitioner has become one with God and has combined Hatha Yoga with Raja Yoga. It also emphasises that any one who practices Asanas, Pranayamas etc. but does not aim to master Raja Yoga is wasting their time as they will not become truly spiritual. Other aspects such as behaviour and foods are also said to have an impact on the practice of Hatha Yoga. For instance, over eating, over exertion, talking unnecessarily, and spending too much time with others are said to detract one from the path of becoming a Yogi. But by perseverance, discriminative knowledge, faith, and aloofness one can accelerate the process. Similarly including wheat, barley, rice, milk, ghee, honey, certain vegetables etc. in one’s diet will help one’s body be conducive to Yoga. Eating re-heated food, or food that has too much salt, is sour, vegetables that cause burning sensation will make it harder to practice Hatha Yoga. This is often linked to the principles in Ayurveda. These days, yoga classes are conducted all over the world. Most of them are not directly connected to religion (i.e., do not have links to Raja Yoga). The emphasis here is on using Hatha Yoga as part of one’s exercise routine. Hatha Yoga was never designed for cardio workouts or strength training. The purely physical aspects of classical Hatha Yoga focused on proper alignment of body, breathing and the ability to hold postures for a long time. In today’s world one could combine Hatha Yoga with other activities such as jogging, cycling, using rowing machines, using weights, etc., to ensure that body is stronger and more resistant to disease. As Hatha Yoga was never prescriptive, modern exercises can easily be included as part of the Yoga of Force.

Paddy Krishnan is a computer scientist, who got his BTech degree from IIT-Kanpur and PhD from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Being very interested in Hindu philosophy, he maintains a blog at www.goldcoasthindu. wordpress.com

What is Pronology and how does it work?

After knowing a bit about numerology, let’s now talk about Pronology. It is a very interesting and life changing concept. Numerologists give lots of weightage to this science. Pronology is also called science of sounds. It works on the vibrations in our name because our name is a very strong part of our existence. We are known by our name. Our name reaches all-round the world even when we physically cannot. Example, if we talk about Mukesh Ambani, he does not every time have to be physically present there. Our mind will quickly flash his personality and various other aspects. As we all know everything in the universe is a vibration then so is our name. Experts study the sounds in your name and understand the patterns that could form or have formed in your life. Just like any other science is used to reduce the hardships of life, Pronology is also aimed at the same. So Pronology analyses the vibrations in your name. Numerologists study those vibrations and how a little change can bring great success in life.

Let’s see how a name is given to a child

• Your parents named you as per the lucky alphabets mentioned by the family astrologer, which is decided on the basis of time and place of birth. • We see trending names, so ask our family and friends about their suggestions and keep name that sound stylist or different to us. • They combine fathers’ and mother’s names and create a child’s name out of it. But this way even if you try to keep the most trending name, it could not give you the benefits that one expects from his life.As that name is kept unknowingly so it might add unnecessary struggles in life. A good name should be well calculated as per your date of birth and the combination of correct sounds.

Some benefits of this amazing science

Since it studies many aspects in a name like the sequence of alphabets in a name, phonetics in a name and it’s balanced out as per your birth chart, one can expect life changing results in lifelike: • Name will take to closer to success • Will remove unnecessary struggles from life • You will have happy and content life. • Correct vibration will influence people around • Will give you material success. When the vibrations or sound in our name is not correct you may encounter many problems in your life. Let me give you an example here. Take the name Prasad, and read it slowly as Pr, Pra, Rasa, Sad, etc. Among these words, the meaningful word is sad. It represents a lonely person who cannot receive cooperation from his colleagues and friends. Now this person will have problems in establishing good relations with people because he will have trust issues, he would prefer to stay alone. There could be various incorrect vibrations in a name which might give health issues. So next time,when you are deciding name for anew born, do take help of this beautiful science. Even at any stage in life if you are feeling that struggles are not coming to an end then get your name analysis done. There are high chances of name not in sync with your birth chart.

Ridhi Mehta

Ridhi Mehta is a practicing numerologist,healer,tarot card reader, crystal expert and hypnotherapist.She entered the field of occult around 5years back.She has her Youtubechannel by the name Insights by Ridhii. Ridhi comes from a corporate background having an experience of more than 10 years.However, she has always inclined towards the world of divination. So, she followed her heart and after taking professional qualifications she started practicing the science. She also taught over two hundred students in the above fields. She has many success stories and believes that if we understand to work with energies then there are many things that we can alter in our lives. She can be contacted on ridhi22_mehta@yahoo.co.in / +918054317326 for any queries/ consultations/ classes.

RELEASE DATE: 25 November 2022 LANGUAGE: Hindi (With English Subtitles) PRODUCER: Maddock Films, Jio Studios DIRECTOR: Amar Kaushik CAST: Varun Dhawan, Kriti Sanon SYNOPSIS: Bhediya revolves around the story of a werewolf, has its roots in popular folklore and is inspired by legendary tales of Arunachal Pradesh, where the movie was also shot. The movie is part of Vijan’s horror comedy universe and also marks his second venture with director Amar Kaushik.

THANK GOD

RELEASE DATE: 24th October 2022 LANGUAGE: Punjabi (With English Subtitles) DIRECTOR: Amar Preet Chhabra CAST: Gippy Grewal, Jasmin Bhasin and more

CODE NAME: TIRANGA

RELEASE DATE: 14 October 2022 LANGUAGE: Hindi (With English Subtitles) PRODUCER: T-SERIES and Reliance Entertainment DIRECTOR: Ribhu Dasgupta CAST: Parineeti Chopra, Harrdy Sandhu & Others SYNOPSIS: An espionage action thriller, “Code Name: Tiranga” is the story of a spy on an unfaltering and fearless mission for her nation in a race against time where sacrifice is her only choice. Chopra plays an Indian Research and Analysis Wing (Raw) agent who is on a journey across many countries

Madhuri: Back in 90s, writers used to pen scripts on sets

Actress Madhuri Dixit Nene, who is gearing up for her streaming movie ‘Maja Ma’, recently spoke about the changes that she has witnessed in the recent years about how the Hindi film industry which is otherwise known as Bollywood has changed over the course of time. While speaking to IANS, the actress, who plays a Gujarati homemaker in the film, said, “Earlier the Hindi film industry was very disorganised and disjointed except for a few productions like Yash Raj Films, Subhash Ghai’s production or Rajshri Production, which were very organised in their approach. But now with the corporate culture having come up in the films, things are far more streamlined today.” She then mentioned how the industry has started taking writing - the

singer. The 53-year-old singer told PinkVilla that she is happy to see her fans’ love for the original song, which was originally released in 1999. bedrock of any film, quite seriously, “We have table reading sessions with our fellow cast members now, something which was unheard of back then in the 1990s. We used to get dialogues on the go, just before a shot was supposed to be delivered.” Adding a humorous hue to her statement, she further mentioned, “We used to wait for the writer to finish his dialogues, who would say from some corner of the set, ‘Haan madam bas 2 minute mein likh ke deta hoon (Just 2 minutes and your dialogues would be ready, ma’am)’”. Things have changed for the good, the actress said and this in a way helps the India cinema to compete at the global stage where productions are flawless and of six - sigma quality, “Today, we are given a bound script about, which breaks down things to the last detail like what are we going to wear in a particular scene or what should be the pitching of the character. These details really help an actor prepare for a scene and deliver something that the audience would thoroughly enjoy.” Meanwhile, ‘Maja Ma’ is set to drop on Prime Video on October 6.

Falguni Pathak on Neha Kakkar’s ‘Maine Payal Hai’ remake: Wish I could take legal action

Mumbai, Sep 24 (IANS) Neha Kakkar is currently receiving flak on social media for remaking dandiya queen Falguni Pathak’s iconic number ‘Maine Payal Hai’, who wishes to take a legal action against the Bollywood “I feel overwhelmed and touched on receiving so much love from all over for the song, so I had to share their feelings,” Falguni said. Falguni also shared that she wasn’t approached by the makers of ‘O Sajna’, Kakkar’s version of the song. According to Pinkvilla, Falguni reshared a story by her fan that asked her to sue Kakkar. Asked if she is planning on taking the legal route, Falguni said: “I wish I could but the rights are not with me.” When further asked if the makers or Kakkar tried to reach out to her after seeing her Instagram stories, Falguni said: “No.”

Peta seeks honour for Raju Srivastava

Lucknow, Sep 22 (IANS) The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India has written to union minister for fisheries, animal husbandry and dairy, Parshottam Rupala, requesting him to honour late comedian Raju Srivastava for his contribution in prohibiting the sale, manufacture, trade, and possession of illegal spiked bits which are used to control horses. In the PETA India video, which was produced on the heels of an enforcement drive conducted by Lucknow police in which 70 spiked bits were seized, Raju Srivastava delivered a powerful message asking people to report the use of spiked bits to police and to have a horse-free wedding. Srivastava (58) passed away on Wednesday in AIIMS Delhi, where he was admitted after suffering a heart attack while working out at a gym on August 10.

‘Brightened our lives with laughter, humour and positivity’: PM Modi

New Delhi, Sep 21 (IANS)

Articulating the sentiments of Raju Srivastava fans across the world, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that the comedian, who passed away after a 43-day struggle on September 21 at the age of 58, “brightened our lives with laughter, humour and positivity”. The Prime Minister said: “He leaves us too soon but he will continue to live in the hearts of countless people thanks to his rich work over the years. His demise is saddening. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti.” Noting Srivastava’s “untimely demise”, former President Ram Nath Kovind described him as the “mimicry king and excellent artiste”, even as he shared his “heartfelt condolences” with the comedian’s family, friends and fans. Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Coal and Mines Prahlad Joshi said: “Pained to hear about the loss of renowned comedian Raju Srivastava ji. A gem who pulled away the distress of millions with his piece of work. Apart from being an accomplished artiste, he was a great human being. My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and admirers.” Tamil actress and BJP spokesperson Khushbu Sundar said: “They say laughter is the best medicine. And those who have made us laugh depart, they leave behind memories of happiness and that is how they want us to remember them. Will always remember him with a smile and a teardrop.” Shiv Sena leader and former Maharashtra minister Aaditya Thackeray said: “Bidding adieu to Raju Srivastava ji. He will always be remembered for the laughter he brought to millions of people! My heartfelt condolences are with his family and loved ones in this hour of grief.” Actor Neil Nitin Mukesh spoke on behalf of his family when he said: “Truly upsetting news of the untimely demise of our dearest Raju Srivastava bhai. You have left us with a gift of smiles and laughs on and off the screen forever. The Mukesh family extends our deepest condolences to the [Srivastava] family.” Cricketer Shikhar Dhawan said in his tweet: “Saddened to hear the tragic news of Raju Srivastava’s demise. May God bless his soul. You will be in our hearts forever. My condolences to his family and admirers.” Mumbai, Sep 19 (IANS) Actor Ayushmann Khurrana’s upcoming film ‘DoctorG’, a medical campus comedy-drama, is all set to release on October 14. ‘Doctor G’ features Ayushmann in the role of a medical student. Stepping into the shoes of a male gynaecologist, the actor has shared the first poster that gives us a sneak-peek into the chaotic world of his medical journey to becoming a Gynaecologist. ‘Doctor G’ cast includes Rakul Preet Singh as Dr Fatima Siddiqui and Shefali Shah as Dr Nandini Srivastav and Sheeba Chadha who plays Ayushmann’s mother in prominent roles. Taking to social media, Ayushmann Khurrana shared the poster of Doctor G and wrote, “ZindaGi hai meri full of Googly, Chahiye tha Orthopedics, par ban gaya DoctorG, Get ready for your appointments, #DoctorG will attend to you in theatres from 14th October 2022. #DoctorGInCinemas.” Directed by Anubhuti Kashyap, the film will hit the screens on Oct 14.

Kangana shares throwback childhood pic, says family called her Indira Gandhi

Mumbai, Sep 19 (IANS) Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut has shared a childhood picture where she sported short hair and said that her uncles from the army background called her Indira Gandhi. Kangana took to Instagram, where she shared her throwback picture. She pointed out the uncanny resemblance with former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The actress, who is currently shooting for the biopic titled ‘Emergency’, wrote in her story, “It’s uncanny growing up... Many of my relatives called me Indira Gandhi probably because of my hair style #emergency”. She shared another picture and wrote: “I didn’t follow anyone’s hairstyle as a kid I went to the village barber on my own and guided him to do hair cut that I liked it short... this inspired many jokes in the family especially all uncles from army background called me Indira Gandhi... #emergency” ‘Emergency’, as the title suggests, is all about the state of national emergency declared by Indira Gandhi on June 25, 1975. It lasted till March 21, 1977, when Janata Party was voted to power in a historic election. The film also stars Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Mahima Chaudhry and Milind Soman. Manikarnika films presents ‘Emergency’ which is written and directed by Kangana Ranaut. The film is produced by Renu Pitti and Kangana Ranaut. The film dialogues are by Ritesh Shah, who was previously associated with celebrated films such as ‘Kahaani’, ‘Pink’, ‘Raid’ and ‘Airlift’.

Shantanu, Avneet all set to make you dance to the tune of ‘Kesariyo Rang’

Mumbai, Sep 18 (IANS) Shantanu Maheshwari, who made his Bollywood debut in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’, and ‘Aladdin Naam Toh Suna Hoga’ actress Avneet Kaur are coming together for the music video Kesariyo Rang. The song is perfect for the festive season and will give Navratri vibes with its Garba beats and dance moves. In the poster shared by Shantanu on social media, he could be seen dressed in white kurta-dhoti paired with a colourful ethnic jacket. Talking about the song, Shantanu says: “This song is the ultimate dance number for Garba and Dandiya this season. Collaborating with Avneet for this song was so much fun... We had a blast shooting and we hope the audience will love the song and enjoy dancing to it just as we did.” Shantanu is also known for reality shows such as ‘Khatron Ke Khiladi 8’, Nach Baliye 9’, and Jhalak Dikhlaa Jaa 9’. Composed by Lijo George and DJ Chetas, Kesariyo Rang’ has been

sung by Asees Kaur and Dev Negi while Adil Shaikh has done the

choreography. It is coming out on September 22.

Parineeti Chopra: Back again to present myself in a whole new avatar

Mumbai, Sep 19 (IANS) Actress Parineeti Chopra, who is gearing up for the release of her next ‘Code Name Tiranga’, says she is back again to present herself in a new avatar that no one has seen her doing. The actress, who gained appreciation for her performance in film such as ‘Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar’, ‘Saina’ and ‘The Girl On The Train’, said, “I am back again to present myself in a whole new avatar that no one has seen me do before! It is my attempt to keep doing disruptive content as I have been and to push my limits to bring something new on the table for the audiences.” “The bruises and me holding the gun in the poster is just a teaser of all the things that is in store for the audiences. This is just a sneak peek into my character and I can assure you that we intend to shock and awe with this film,” she added.

Actress Shefali Shah, who can rightly be tagged as the reigning queen of the digital space with her work in the OTT space such as ‘Delhi Crime’, ‘Jalsa’ and ‘Human’ among many others, aces in culinary arts as well. Shefali in a conversation with IANS said: “I enjoy it because it is not forced on me and I don’t have to do it everyday. So I do it in my time, my leisure listening to music, and having a glass of wine. Doing my own thing. I enjoy doing it. “The fact that I like cooking and I know my way around in the kitchen.It helped me in ‘Jalsa’ and ‘Juice’ because cooking was an integral part of all these characters, including ‘Darlings’.” Shefali has been ruling the OTT space with her work, does that add an extra pressure for her? “It is overwhelming. Humbling. With so much love and it feels good that all the hard work that I have put in becoming all these characters have reached across all the audiences. It’s acknowledged and appreciated...” “I am always pressurised when I go on set. I don’t know what I will do or how I will do this. It’s just a part of who I am,” said the actress, whose performance as the strong-headed police officer Vartika Chaturvedi in the Netflix series has been widely appreciated by audiences and critics alike. New Delhi, Sep 26 (IANS) Bollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandez on Monday wore a lawyer’s robe before entering the Patiala House Court in connection with the Rs 200 crore extortion case involving multimillionaire conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar. Wearing the black robe, she tried to dodge the media, who were present in huge numbers outside the court. She moved a regular bail application before the court. The court has now fixed October 22 as the next date of hearing. On this date, the court will hear the arguments on her regular bail plea. The scrutiny of the documents will also be done on the date. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) recently filed its second supplementary charge sheet in which Jacqueline Fernandez has been named as an accused. Jacqueline and another Bollywood actress Nora Fatehi had recorded their statements as witnesses in the case. Earlier, fixed deposits worth Rs 7.2 crore belonging to Fernandez were attached by the ED. The ED termed these gifts and properties as proceeds of crime received by the actresses. In February, the ED filed its first supplementary prosecution complaint against Pinky Irani, an alleged aide of Chandrashekhar, who introduced him to Bollywood actresses. It has been alleged in the charge sheet that Pinky Irani used to choose costly gifts for Fernandez and later used to drop it at her house after the payments were made by Sukesh Chandrashekhar. In December last year, the ED filed the first charge sheet in this matter before the court of Additional Sessions Judge Praveen Singh. Later on in February, the ED filed a supplementary charge sheet against Irani. Sukesh has spent around Rs 20 crore on different models and Bollywood celebs. A few had refused to take the gifts from him.

Varun Tej’s next film will celebrate the valour of IAF

Telugu Actor Varun Tej on Monday disclosed that his next film, which is being tentatively referred to as ‘Varun Tej 13’, will be about celebrating the valour of the Indian Air Force. As reported earlier, the film’s story will be set in a war backdrop, with the actor playing a fighter pilot. On Monday, Varun Tej took to Instagram to post a still from the film, that is being produced by Sony Pictures International Productions and Rennaissance Pictures and wrote, “Bravery that knows no bounds, celebrating the valour of Indian Air Force. Get ready to witness the battle in the skies on the big screen. Taking off soon!!!”

Back from Venice, Hrishitaa shares how world perceives Indian cinema

From being a panelists at Venice International Film Festival 2022, bagging the Akshay Kumar-starrer ‘Cuttputlli’ to hosting the TV musical series ‘Rangoli’, actress Hrishitaa Bhatt is exploring different opportunities and grabbing the eyeballs. The actress felt proud to be among the panelists at the film fest in Venice and said that the best part is now is that people are not discriminating between Bollywood and South cinema. Briefing about her experience representing India at Venice International Film Festival 2022, she said: “Being in Venice was really amazing, nowadays with time people are not segregating cinema into Bollywood, Tollywood. But they are projecting it like Indian Cinema. The entertainment industry has become really strong. So these were some of the things that we spoke about during the panel discussion.” Elaborating more on how globally Indian cinema is perceived, she informed: “It really feels amazing when we get to know that people are very interested to know more about Indian cinema. As India is the largest film-producing country, and there is constant improvement in content, thus it is also known as the content hub of the world. I really feel very proud to be a part of such a prestigious event.” Bhatt made her debut in the film industry with superstar Shah Rukh Khan-starrer the 2001 movie ‘Asoka’ and later she received appreciation for her role in ‘Haasil’, ‘Ab Tak Chhappan’, and many more. The actress was also seen in several web series and now she is seen hosting the show ‘Rangoli’. She said that when ‘Rangoli’ came to her, there was confusion in her mind about whether she should take it up or not but finally she said yes to it. Hrishitaa added: “I watched the show as a child. At that time Hema (Malini) Ji used to host the show. It gives a very different feeling that you have grown up watching a show and now you are hosting it. To be honest, there are people who watch on a regular basis, and they have given me amazing responses.” Bhatt went to Trinity College, London for studies, but acting always remained her preference. “Acting came to me naturally. I am a trained kathak dancer, I do jazz at times, and I was good in academics. And I also participated in many debates, which helped me in public speaking. So you can say I was always out there, but from them, acting attracted me the most. I won’t say it was a conscious decision but acting was a hobby and I loved doing it and that is why I am still doing it,” she said. Bhatt is also part of the TV series ‘Swaraj - Bharat ke Swatantrata Sangram ki Samagra Gatha’. “’Swaraj’ means your own rule, and in this 75-episode series, we are celebrating 75 years of Independence. And the particular role that I will be playing is Rani Lakshmibai, it’s like a documentary drama.

Raveena Tandon to star in Arbaaz Khan’s production venture ‘Patna Shukla’

Mumbai, Sep 20 (IANS) Bollywood actor Arbaaz Khan, who turned producer with Salman Khan-starrer ‘Dabangg’, has roped in ace actress Raveena Tandon for his next production ‘Patna Shukla’ which is a social drama. He reveals: “It’s a social drama but since we as a production house believe in entertaining our audience, the film was written like that. ‘Patna Shukla’ has all the ingredients that an Indian audience wants to watch.” Khan, who is known for his negative roles in films like ‘Daraar’ and ‘Qayamat: City Under Threat’ was also seen in movies such as ‘Shootout at Lokhandwala’, ‘Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya’. While talking about the film he says that audiences will see Raveena in a completely distinct look: “Wait to see Raveena in a never seen before avatar. Even when she was at the peak of her career while doing hardcore masala movies, Raveena never turned her back on meaningful cinema. ‘Patna Shukla’ is the perfect example of pure cinema meets entertainment,” he adds.

Shilpa Shetty explains significance of Sarva Pitru Amavasya

Chennai, Sep 25 (IANS) Observing the Sarva Pitru Amavasya, the day one honours one’s ancestors and performs certain rituals for them, actress Shilpa Shetty on Sunday put out a post on Instagram explaining the significance of the day. She wrote: “Today is Sarva Pitru Amavasya, the day we honor our ancestors and perform certain rituals for them. According to vedic scriptures, we, as individuals, are born with three debts that we have to pay off during this lifetime.” “Firstly, the debt to the divine (Devas power), the rishis and the pitras (ancestors). They have the power to help us in our life journey, through remembrance, prayer and gratitude.” “The Magha Nakshatra is one of inspirational. “Words are not enough to express how proud I felt as a daughter as I watched the final result of this labor of love directed by my father Mukesh Gautam. It’s one of the best films that I have watched recently and feel even more proud that it’s a Punjabi film. “Also, a very special mention to my brother, Jasraaj! You are one of the brightest directors to look out for and the world shall soon see what a talent you are! “I request each one of you to please watch ‘Baghi Di Dhee’ releasing on November 11, 2022. The strength that you all hold to watch and support a good film surpasses everything.”

the most powerful nakshatras that has a special connection with the ancestral lineage as it is ruled by the Pitras(ancestors).” The spiritual practices that you do help your ancestors to find Mukti, or liberation, and in return, they send you blessings in abundance.” “Our ancestors watch us from the other side with the awareness that life is just a game. And whilst they may usually play the role of a spectator, if we request them for help, then they are absolutely willing to do so.” “So, let’s remember our ancestors prayerfully and with gratitude, knowing that they have the power to help us progress on our journey - we just have to remember them.”

Yami Gautam bats for dad’s Punjabi film ‘Baghi Di Dhee’

Yami Gautam, who has acted in Tamil and Telugu films as well, has urged audiences to go watch “Baghi Di Dhee”, a Punjabi film directed by her father Mukesh Gautam, saying it was one of the best films she had watched recently. Taking to Instagram, Yami Gautam penned a lengthy post on the film and her thoughts on it. She said: “In times where we are all hustling to find good content for our audience, I got the chance to experience something really wonderful and special -- ‘Baghi Di Dhee’! “I know personally the incredible amount of hard work that has gone in, literally through high fever and sickness in nail-biting winters. The passion & sincerity with which the film has been directed is truly

2018 contempt case: Delhi HC proceeds ex-parte against filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri

New Delhi, Sep 19 (IANS) The Delhi High Court on Monday proceeded ex-parte against filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri, scientist Anand Ranganathan, and magazine and news portal Swarajya as nobody appeared for them in connection with a 2018 suo motu contempt case. During the course of the hearing, a bench of Justice Siddharth Mridul and Justice Amit Sharma noted that none among the three appeared before the court despite issuing notices. Accordingly, the court proceeded with the hearing and listed it for further hearing on March 16. The case is in connection with their remarks against high court Justice S. Muralidhar who had quashed rights activist Gautam Navlakha’s house arrest order and transit remand in the Bhima Koregaon case in 2018. In the previous hearing on May 4, also the court had noted the absence of the trio in the last couple of hearings while serving notices to them. As per the case, the suo motu contempt proceedings were initiated against the respondents following RSS ideologue S. Gurumurthy’s tweets alleging bias by Justice Muralidhar. In his tweet, he retweeted the link from a blog called ‘Drishtikone’ which had an article titled ‘Why has Delhi High Court Justice Muralidhar’s relationship with Gautam Navlakha not been disclosed?’ The court took notice of the tweet and the article after Advocate Rajshekhar Rao wrote a letter to then Chief Justice Rajendra Menon, alleging that the article and Gurumurthy’s retweet was a deliberate attempt to attack a sitting High Court judge. Gurumurthy was later dropped from the case after an apology but others including Agnihotri and Ranganathan are still the respondents. Earlier also, a contempt notice was sent to Vivek Agnihotri over his tweets that stated that Gautam Navlakha was shown leniency over the fact that he was a friend of the judge’s wife.