Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday announced extension of the fair by one day and directed the district administration to take necessary steps in this regard. The decision was taken in view of response and interest of visitors, the CMO release said.

This came a day after Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) wrote to the CMO, urging for extension of Bali Jatra, which commenced on November 27 this year on the occasion of Kartika Purnima, by two days.

The scene was unique at Gandhi Temple, which has been set up in memory of the Mahatma. The 154th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi was observed with devotion and fervor at the Gandhi Temple located at Bhatra near Sambalpur.

On behalf of the Sambalpur district administration, Additional District Collector Pradeep Sahu visited the temple and garlanded the statue of Mahatma Gandhi. Ramadhun was organised and an all religion prayer meeting held on the temple premises on the occasion, according to sources.

While school students recited Gandhiji’s favorite hymn “Raghupati Raghav Rajaram, Pati Tapavan Sitaram”, many officials of the district administration paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi on his birth anniversary. A host of intellectuals attended the event at the temple and paid tributes by garlanding the statue of Gandhiji.

The Gandhi temple was decorated and illuminated on the occasion of the Mahatma’s birth anniversary.

The presiding deity at the temple is Mahatma Gandhi and the priest, a dalit.

Situated at Bhatra, about 300 km from the Odisha state capital, this is stated to be the only temple of its kind in the country. There is a 3.5-foot-tall bronze ‘idol’ of the Father of the Nation in a squatting position inside the garvagruha (sanctum sanctorum) of the temple. The entrance has Ashoka Stambha, the national emblem, symbolic of peace and goodwill.

There are no religious sermons here, while the teachings and writings of Gandhiji are read out to the congregation. The priest says that some devotees begin their day by partaking prasad at this temple and end it by visiting it in the evening.

The temple was the initiative of Abhimanyu Kumar. It was inaugurated in 1974 by the then chief minister of Odisha (then Orissa), Nandini Satpathy.

A staunch Gandhian, Abhimanyu Kumar, who was Congress MLA for 18 years, had witnessed the caste and class divide first hand as also the atrocities committed by upper caste Hindus on the lower caste. With memories of being denied entry into temples in his childhood, Abhimanyu Kumar decided to make a temple in the memory of the “man who abolished untouchability”, when he became MLA in 1971.

Bapu was no less than God for him, so he had no qualms about elevating the “prophet of peace and non-violence”, as he called him, to that exalted position. Abhimanyu Kumar deliberately chose Bhatra as the mandir’s location since it is inhabited by a number of lower caste Hindus.

More than anything else, each one of us owes it our own self to take care of our heart. And for that, you have to know your heart, which is also the focus of World Heart Day this year.

Guard against high blood pressure

While low blood pressure is also not good for your heart, high blood pressure can increase the risk of heart failure. A regular check on your blood pressure can help know your risk.

Heart rate

Your pulse helps understand the strength of your blood flow and blood pressure in different parts of the body. A slow or fast heart rate can help understand your heart health. If you are not able to do so, you can seek help from your doctor.

Normal blood test reports

It is essential to get your blood tests done at regular intervals as advised by the doctor as a blood report can help know the levels of sodium, potassium, creatinine and other elements that are linked with your heart health in many ways.

Cholesterol level

Know your cholesterol levels with the help of a blood test. Poor cholesterol levels can block your arteries and increase the risk of a heart attack. Therefore, maintaining healthy cholesterol levels is crucial for a healthy heart. A simple blood test can help know your cholesterol levels.

The ceremony resonated with patriotic fervour, as attendees paid their heartfelt tributes to the countless sacrifices made by freedom fighters.

The 77th Independence Day was also celebrated in Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC). As part of the festivities, OTDC Chairman Dr. Lenin Mohanty unfurled the National Flag at Panthanivas Bhubaneswar and addressed the gathering. Divisional Heads, Officers & Staff of OTDC attended the celebrations. The Independence Day celebration at the Department of Tourism and OTDC united citizens in the spirit of patriotism and camaraderie.

General Assembly President Abdulla Shahid said on Monday: “Today could not have come at a more opportune time as the Covid-19 pandemic has upended the lives and livelihoods triggering a deluge of anxiety and depression.

“The practice of yoga serves as a holistic approach to the physical, mental and spiritual health and well-being of humanity.”

India’s Permanent Representative T.S. Tirumurti said that the Yoga Day celebration was returning to the UN after two years “during which the Covid pandemic had upended the lives of people”.

“During these difficult times, millions embraced yoga as their companion to stay healthy, to overcome depression and mental anxiety In recognition of this important role of yoga, this year’s theme is ‘Yoga for Humanity’,” he said.

In 2014, the General Assembly declared June 21, the traditional solstice day when the sun shines the longest in the northern hemisphere, as the International Day of Yoga. Since then, the day has been celebrated at the UN and around the world, although during the pandemic it was observed only virtually here.

New York City will celebrate the day at Times Square, considered the “Crossroads of the World”, with the participation of India’s Consulate General.

The celebrations there on the theme, ‘Mind over Madness’, will include yoga classes and demonstrations involving several thousand people throughout the day as it had last year despite the pandemic.

At the UN, where the celebration was held a day earlier, most of the attendees, including Shahid, wore white Tshirts emblazoned with the Yoga Day and “75 Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav” logos and participated in yoga exercises on the lawn of the UN headquarters next to the East River.

Tirumurti said: “Yoga can also be an integral part of our ‘Build Back Better’ strategy. The essence of yoga is balance, not just balance within the body or that between the mind and body but also balance in the human relationship with planet earth.”

Bhutan’s Permanent Representative Doma Tshering said that “moderation, discipline and perseverance are all values with universal appeal that encourage a deeper sense of interconnectedness within community, society and the natural world around us as a pathway towards sustainable living”.

“It is in consonance with the ethos of Bhutan’s development philosophy of gross national happiness, that seeks to achieve harmonious balance, balance between material wellbeing on the one hand, and the spiritual, emotional and cultural needs of society on the other.”