A clown on a unicycle performs for visitors before the 73rd annual Grimaldi Memorial Service at the All Saints church in east London. The streets of east London were awash with a surreal splash of colour on Sunday as clowns from across the world gathered for the annual memorial of the legendary Joseph Grimaldi.

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According to UP govt, at least 7.49 crore devotees took a dip on the 2nd ‘shahi snan’ of Mauni Amavasya. Subodh Mishra and his team from Hindustan Times documented the third official bathing and second ‘shahi snan’ of Mauni Amavasya during the ongoing Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj. He also caught with women officials from CRPF to find out how security teams have been functioning in the grand event. The Kumbh Mela will end on March 04. Hindus believe that bathing in the waters of the River Ganga absolves people of sins. (Hindustan Times)read more

Laxmi Narayan Tripathi, a transgender activist and leader of the “Kinnar akhara” monastic order, celebrates the invitation by the “Juna Akhad” during the Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj. One of the most orthodox orders, the Juna akhara, invited Kinnar to take part in the Kumbh’s first royal bath on January 15. Since then, Tripathi has been pushing for recognition by the umbrella group that sets rules for the akharas.

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He made the appeal at the three-day ‘Param Dharam Sansad’ where he also announced that February 21 had been set as the final date for proceeding to Ayodhya for laying the foundation of Ram temple there. read more

Saraswathamma is the second victim of the foul temple food which claimed the life of 28-year-old Kavita on Saturday after she ate the same food (a sweet dish) made as an offering to the goddess. read more

The 2019 Kumbh has also come as a boon for local artists, whose devotional music for the eight-week-long festival have become instant hits online. read more

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday spoke in Lucknow at an event and gave an estimate of the number of devotees expected in the Kumbh Mela 2019. The Mela, held in the state of, Prayagraj, has till now seen over 2 crore devotees. Adityanath estimates about over 15 crore devotees will take part in the Mela by the end. The Mela will conclude this year on March 4. (Hindustan Times)read more

The Sabarimala Karma Samiti (SKS) said it will continue the struggle against the dilution until its “gets justice” as the umbrella group organized a meeting of the temple’s devotees in Thiruvananthapuram. read more

Reshma and Sanila, residents of Kannur, covered almost half of the 5.5-kilometre trek to the hilltop shrine but were intercepted by angry devotees in the morning. They used the lean time in the early hours to dodge protesters and started trekking at... read more

Sabarimala Temple Row Highlights: They started trekking at 5 am and they were blocked for more than 2 hours.The police have arrested eight protestors. read more

The by-lanes of Prayagraj as well as the five-kilometre stretch of the bathing ghats is flooded with evoking sights as holy men and seers display their unusual practices in full glory. read more

After making history, Kanaka Durga now has to contend with a hostile family that hasn’t kindly to her path-breaking visit to the Sabarimala temple. read more

Kanaka Durga, one of the two women who made history by becoming the first in centuries to enter the Sabarimala hill temple in Kerala, was attacked by relatives on her return home on Monday. read more

Kumbh Mela 2019 commenced today at Prayagraj. Devotees and Hindu seers headed towards the Sangam Ghat for the 1st holy dip. The Shahi Snan also marks the harvest festival of Makar Sankranti. People marched in thousands chanting Lord Shiva’s name. Heavy security arrangements are in place with police and paramilitary forces deployed at strategic places in Kumbh Mela area and other places in the city. The 55-day long Kumbh Mela will end on March 04. Over 130 million pilgrims are expected to participate in the festival. (Hindustan Times)read more

Heavy security arrangements are in place with police and paramilitary forces deployed at strategic places in Kumbh Mela area and other places in the city. read more