Kerala children initiated into world of letters

Thiruvananthapuram: Thousands of children were initiated into the world of letters, a tradition in Kerala on Vijaya Dashami, at functions held in temples, churches, clubs and media organisations here on Tuesday. Earlier, this was basically a Hindu event as it takes place on Vijaya Dashami when thousands of elders both men and women help the tiny tots to write their first letter. But now, this has turned into more of an educational event than a religious one. IANS

Maha village worships demon king Ravan

Akola: For most of us, the festival of Dussehra is a day to celebrate Lord Ram's victory over Ravan, symbolising triumph of good over evil, but residents of a tiny village in Maharashtra's Akola district worship the demon king with equal fervour. An enormous black stone statue of Ravan, with 10 heads and 20 arms, stands tall in Sangola village where, according to locals, the Lanka king is being worshipped for the last 200 years. PTI

Portals of Kedarnath to be closed on Oct 29

Gopeshwar: The portals of the Kedarnath temple will be closed for devotees on October 29 and those of Badrinath on November 17. The gates of Kedarnath will be closed at 6 am on the occasion of Bhratri Dwitiya on October 29, while those of Badrinath at 5.13 pm on November 17, Badrinath-Kedarnath Mandir Samiti CEO B D Singh said. The gates of four Himalayan temples of Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri in Uttarakhand are closed every year during winter because of heavy snowfall. They are reopened in April-May. PTI