MONDAY 22 JANUARY 2024 www.thestatesman.com Pages 12 |` 5.00|LC INDIA’S NATIONAL NEWSPAPER SINCE 1818 Twitter.com/thestatesman Facebook.com/thestatesman KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR SHARMILA HITS OUT AT BROTHER JAGAN ABHISHEK TAKES PART IN KOLKATA HALF MARATHON P2 WEATHER Partly cloudy sky with Fog/Mist in the morning. Maximum and minimum temperatures likely to be around 21 °C and 15 °C respectively. RAINFALL: NIL RELATIVE HUMIDITY P4 P9 Max: 19.6°C (-6) SUN RISES 06:19 hrs MOON RISES 13:20 hrs Min: 15.2°C (+1) SUN SETS 17:17 hrs MOON SETS 02:25 hrs Full Moon on 25 January THUMBNAILS A glimpse of the rehearsals for the upcoming Republic Day celebrations at Kartavya Path, in the Capital on Sunday.  SNS India to send back 276 Myanmarese soldiers: India will send back 276 Myanmarese soldiers who fled to Mizoram last week following gunfights with an ethnic insurgent group, an official said on Sunday. With this repatriation, which will continue for two days -- Monday and Tuesday, more than 600 Myanmarese soldiers who fled to Mizoram will be sent back to their country, he said. AYODHYA, 21 JANUARY n the eve of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Lalla, a spiritual ambience fills Ayodhya, with chants of “Jai Shri Ram” resonating from every place permeating the air of the temple city. Thousands of Rambhakts from across the country and the world have reached the city of Lord Ram to attend the occasion. Kirtan, bhajan, Ramayana, and Ramcharitmanas are recited continuously in the temples, bhandaras (public feasting) are going on and on the roads, and people are chanting Shri Ram. A harmonious blend of heritage and modernity characterises the new Ayodhya, which is evident from the ornate decorations, mural paintings and facade lights across the city. Over 7,000 guests, including eminent personalities of the country and abroad, will witness this grand ceremony. O ANI A glimpse from the Ram Temple ahead of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony on Sunday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take part in the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Shri Ram Lalla from 12.05 to 12.55 in the Ram temple along with select guests like RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust chairman Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, UP Governor Anandiben Patel, state chief minister Yogi Adityanath, and main Jajman Dr Anil Mishra. After the cloth tied to the statue of Ram Lalla is unfastened in front of the prime minister, he will apply kajal to the deity with a gold needle and show him in the mirror. The PM will arrive in Ayodhya at around 10:30 am on Monday. After attending the consecration ceremony and addressing a public meeting, he will return to Delhi at 3:30 pm. The ritual of consecration of Ram Lalla will start at 12:20 p.m. on Monday. The main puja of Pran Pratishtha will be done in Abhijeet Muhurta. The time of Ram Lalla's life consecration has been determined by Kashi scholar Ganeshwar Shastri. This programme will take place on the Dwadashi date of Paush month (22 January 2024) in Abhijeet Muhurta, Indra Yoga, Mrigashira Nakshatra, Aries Lagna, and Scorpio Navamsha. The auspicious time will be from 12 hours, 29 minutes, and 08 seconds to 12 hours, 30 minutes, and 32 seconds. That means the auspicious time for Pran Pratishtha is 84 seconds. The consecration of the idol of Shri Ram Lalla will be done by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is presiding over the puja rituals. This ritual will be performed by 121 Vedic Acharyas under the direction of Kashi's famous Vedic Acharya Ganeshwar and Acharya Laxmikant Dixit. During this period, saints and religious leaders of more than 150 traditions and more than 50 tribal, tribal, coastal, island and tribal traditions will also be present. Champat Rai, general secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, said the entire programme of Pran Pratishtha will be completed by 1 pm. After all the puja rituals are over, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat will give a message. After Lakshadweep pitch,Modi bats Red Fort to unveil history & cultural for promotion of domestic tourism spectacle on Parakram Diwas NEW DELHI, 21 JANUARY Days after he called for promotion Lakshadweep as a beach tourism destination, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday made a fresh pitch for the promotion of domestic tourism. Addressing a foundationlaying ceremony of Shri KhodaldhamTrust-Cancer Hospital in Gujarat via video message, Prime Minister Modi made the following nine-point appeal: First, save every drop of water and create awareness about water conservation, Second, create awareness about digital transactions at the village level. Third, work to make your village, locality, and city P12 Ayodhya decked up for Pran Pratishtha ceremony MANOJ BHADRA Min. 63 % STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE DAHIYA WINS BRONZE MEDAL AT GRAND PRIX DE FRANCE A spiritual ambience fills Ayodhya, with chants of Jai Shri Ramresonating from everywhere Max. 95 % TEMPERATURE NETANYAHU REJECTS ANY PALESTINIAN SOVEREIGNTY IN POST-WAR GAZA The PM urged the wellto-do class to perform wedding ceremonies in the country and refrain from foreign destination weddings. number one in cleanliness, Fourth, promote local products and make use of Madein-India products as much as possible, Fifth, travel within the country and promote domestic tourism, Sixth, create awareness among farmers about natural farming, Seventh, include Shri-Ann in the daily diet, Eighth, indulge in fitness, yoga, or sports and make it an integral part of life, and Ninth, stay away from any kind of drugs and addiction. The PM urged the well-to-do class to perform wedding ceremonies in the country and refrain from foreign destination weddings. "Just like Made in India, now Wed in India," he said. Highlighting his long-term association with the trust, the prime minister said about 30 new cancer hospitals have been developed in the country in the last nine years, and work is underway on 10 new cancer hospitals. Noting that treatment of a serious disease like cancer becomes a big challenge for any person and family, the PM emphasised that the government is trying to ensure that no patient faces difficulties in cancer treatment. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 21 JANUARY On the occasion of Parakram Diwas to honour Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, a multifaceted celebration is set to unfold, seamlessly weaving together historical reflections and vibrant cultural expressions at Red Fort here. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the event on the evening of 23 January and the celebration will be continued till 31 January. The comprehensive celebration is being organised by the Ministry of Culture in collaboration with its allied institutions such as the Archaeological Survey of India, National School of Drama, Sahitya Akademi, and the National Archives of India. As part of the programme, the event will host a rich array of activities that delve into the profound legacy of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and the Azad Hind Fauj. The Red Fort played a crucial role in the saga of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and the Azad Hind Fauj. A museum within the Red Fort is dedicated to preserving and honoring the legacy of Bose and INA, which was also inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi in 2019 on Netaji’s birthday. The names of Colonel Prem Sahgal, Col Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon, and Col Shahnawaz Khan, are etched in history as key figures in the Red Fort Trials. Their commitment to the cause of India's freedom led to the infamous Red Fort barracks case, a landmark trial that showcased the unwavering resolve of the Azad Hind Fauj. Special recognition will be given to the veterans of the Indian National Army (INA). UNGA president to begin visit to India from Monday STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 21 JANUARY The president of the United Nations General Assembly Dennis Francis will begin a fiveday official visit to India from Monday. (Photo) He will hold bilateral discussions with the leadership and representatives of the Indian Government, engage with civil society, leading think tanks, embark on field visits and participate in events related to sustainability, multilateralism, accessibility, and digital public infrastructure, among other engagements, a press note said on Sunday. In New Delhi, Mr Francis will hold a bilateral meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. The discussions are expected to focus on the PGA’s priorities, ongoing geopolitical tensions, and India’s engagement and contribution to the United Nations, reiteration of invitation to participate in the inaugural Sustainability Week (15-19 April in New York) and reflections on the Summit of the Future, which will take place in September in New York. He will lay a wreath at Raj Ghat, Mahatma Gandhi’s Memorial and attend public engagements in New Delhi, including an address at the Indian Council of World Affairs under the theme of his Presidency: “Peace, Progress, Pros- perity, and Sustainability.” He will deliver remarks at an event on Digital Public Infrastructure highlighting India’s leadership in championing the interests of the Global South and sharing experiences on further efforts to close the digital divide.Furthermore, Mr Francis will visit the city of Jaipur, where he is expected to appreciate the work of an NGO specialised at providing affordable and accessible prosthetic limbs. He will also use the opportunity of his visit to meet with key state government officials. In the last part of his official visit, the UN official will travel to Mumbai to participate in a Fireside Chat event with India’s think tank on “New Orientation for Reformed Multilateralism”. He will also be received at the National Stock Exchange in Mumbai. As part of his official travels, he will engage with the UN Country Team led by Mr Shombi Sharp, the UN Resident Coordinator in India, to appreciate the work by the UN system on the ground. Old-world charmers rule 53rd edition of The Statesman Vintage & Classic Car Rally ANWESHA SANTRA KOLKATA, 21 JANUARY Bringing a wave of nostalgia to its vibrant lanes, Kolkata witnessed the 53rd edition of The Statesman Vintage and Classic Car Rally on Sunday morning. Approximately 120 retro beauties, in myriad hues on the vibgyor scale, paraded through the city of joy, taking a delightful trip down memory lane once more. Flagged off from the Eastern Command Stadium at 11 in the morning by Lt Gen. Ram Chandra Tiwari, GOC-in-C, Eastern Command, the fourand two-wheelers covered a route of 14.6 kilometres, touching MG Road Crossing in the north and Ashutosh Mukherjee & Justice Chandra Madhab Street Crossing in the south. Onlookers and spectators cheered as the vehicles cruised by. On proud exhibit was a 1928 Ford Model T from The Statesman’s collection. Once part of The Statesman’s editors’ possessions in days of yore, this vintage gem underwent a meticulous restoration courtesy of Rajiv Ghosh. Leading the pack of headturners was the scarlet 1906 Renault Freres, the rally’s elder statesman, meticulously restored by the trophy-laden Shrivardhan Kanoria. Ananda Chowdhury’s parakeetgreen 1913 Gebrüder Stoewer, SK Lahiri’s sleek blue Ply- mouth, the cherry-red 1963 Triumph Spit Fire 4 once owned by Jackie Shroff, among others, joined the ensemble. Adding to the spectacle, many drivers took the theme to heart, stepping out in period costumes that transported onlookers to the golden age of black and white films. It wasn’t just a rally; it was a living, CMYK breathing showcase of history on wheels, where each vehicle played its role with flair panache. Talking to The Statesman, Prof (Dr) Ananda Chanda, who has been in the Judges’ Panel for 11 years at the rally, described the parameters of judgment. “There are two categories ~ Stationary and Mobile section. In the Stationary category, we check for authenticity, the mechanicals, and the coachwork and interiors. In the Mobile section, we assess performance by evaluating whether the vehicle covered all the designated points along the route within the specified time and entered through the designated gate,” he explained. Among those in attendance at the event was Sovandeb Chattopadhyay, state minister of agriculture, expressing gratitude to The Statesman for organising the rally. Maxwell Gaylard, a former Australian diplomat, savoured the rally as a first-time guest. Sociopolitical activist Chandra Kumar Bose labelled the event as “lovely”. The Statesman Trophy for ‘Best Overall Performance by a Car built between 1940 and 1975’ was bagged by the 1947 Wolseley 14 driven by Vikram Swarup. The Statesman Chairman Trophy for ‘Outstanding Classic Car of Europe Origin 1934-1975’ was won by the Rolls-Royce-driving Shrivardhan Kanoria. The Dainik Statesman Trophy for ‘The rarest Marque on Display/participating was received by the Opel-driving Rajiv Ghosh. Expressing gratitude, Mr Ravindra Kumar, Editor and Managing Director of The Statesman, extended his thanks to the Indian Army, the Kolkata Police, sponsors, judges, participants and spectators for contributing to the success of the 53rd edition of the rally. More reports, list of winners on Page 5, 10 (Photographs by Biswajit Ghoshal & Moul Mondal)