Maha Shivratri is one of the auspicious festivals that is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. This year, the festival will be observed on Sunday, February 15, 2026. On this day, it is believed that devotees who keep fast and worship Lord Shiva get special blessings. Keep on reading to follow the dos and don'ts on the day of Maha Shivratri. Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati About Maha Shivratri Maha Shivratri, also known as the Great Night of Lord Shiva, is the sacred time when Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati get married, and Lord Shiva performs the cosmic dance of creation, preservation, and destruction. On this day, Lord Shiva devotees should visit the temple and offer milk, Datura (Thorn Apple) fruit, and flowers. One should also observe fasts, especially married couples, to get a special blessing for their marital life. Things to follow and avoid on Maha Shivratri Do's On this auspicious day, devotees should wake up early in the morning and take a bath before sunrise. If possible, take a dip in holy rivers or bathe with Gangajal. Wear neat and clean clothes and clean your home by sprinkling Gangajal. Visit the Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati temple and offer milk and Datura (Thorn Apple). #EkDinEkUtsav : The Maha Shivratri mela, known as Mini Kumbh, in Junagadh, is an annual event that draws millions of devotees seeking divine blessings and cultural enrichment. The presence of sages and traditional ashrams enriches the atmosphere, transforming the celebration into pic.twitter.com/xZtcbBxcUx DD News (@DDNewslive) February 13, 2026 Perform puja rituals at home. Prepare an asan and put a yellow cloth on it. Place the idols of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Offer white flowers, panchamrit , bhog (milk, kheer, fruits, and dry fruits), and recite Shiv Puran, Lord Shiva mantra, and finally perform Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati aarti. Don'ts Avoid consuming alcohol and non-vegetarian food on Maha Shivratri because it is considered inauspicious. Worshippers are advised to avoid wearing black on this day, as it is believed that Lord Shiva does not particularly like the colour. Devotees should avoid applying vermilion on the Lord Shiva idol. Sandalwood paste could be used instead. Maha Shivratri 2026: Must-Visit Lord Shiva Temples In India On The Auspicious Occasion People should also avoid offering Tulsi (Holy Basil) leaves because they are a symbol of Goddess Lakshmi, the wife of Lord Vishnu. When offering Bael leaves to Lord Shiva, it is essential to ensure the leaves are free from scratches. Injured leaves might indicate an offense to the god.
In Frames: From African shores to Gujarats Gir
The Siddi Badshah community, descended from Africans brought to Junagadh centuries ago, thrives in Jambur and Shirvan villages of the Gir region
Kin of detained Gujarat fishermen in Pakistan protest, seek PMs help
AHMEDABAD : Families of 197 Gujarat fishermen, allegedly detained in Pakistan jails for six years, held a protest at the secretariat in Gandhinagar, demanding immediate government intervention, diplomatic push, and a timeline for their return. Coming from coastal belts of Somnath, Junagadh, Una, Kodinar, Diu and vicinity, the families travelled over 1,000km on Monday to submit a memorandum to authorities, seeking Prime Ministers intervention. They said the fishermen were apprehended after their boats allegedly lost direction at sea due to rough weather, unknowingly crossing the international maritime boundary during routine fishing operations. They were detained by Pakistans maritime security agencies and put in jails. In several instances, fishermen inadvertently cross maritime boundaries due to weather disturbances or navigational issues. Once detained by Pakistan authorities, the matter shifts to diplomatic channels, which often delays repatriation, a coastal police officer said on condition of anonymity. Leelaben of Paldi village summed up their despair bluntly. Poor people like us are heard only during elections, she said.
Nehru Made Kashmir Issue Controversial, India Got Extremism, Separatism From There: Adityanath
Lucknow, Dec 15: Uttar Pradesh Chief Yogi Adityanath on Monday blamed Jawaharlal Nehru for the extremism and separatism emanating from Kashmir, and alleged that the first prime minister of India made the issue so controversial that it continues to sting the country even now. Addressing an event on the 75th death anniversary of the countrys first home minister, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, he referred to the integration of over 560 princely states into the Union of India and pointed to Junagadh [] The post Nehru Made Kashmir Issue Controversial, India Got Extremism, Separatism From There: Adityanath appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
SIR in Gujarat: More than 17 lakh deceased voters found on electoral rolls
AHMEDABAD : The ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in Gujarat has revealed that more than 17 lakh deceased voters were still included in the existing voter list across the state, said a release by the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) on Thursday. The SIR exercise began in Gujarat on November 4 with booth level officers (BLO) distributing enumeration forms in their designated areas, said the release, adding the campaign is to continue till December 11. During the last one month, enumeration forms have been distributed to more than 5 crore voters registered in the 2025 electoral roll. In most of the 33 districts, 100 per cent form distribution has been completed. Digitization work of the returned forms is currently going on. So far, digitization work has been completed in 12 out of 182 assembly constituencies, it said. These include Dhanera and Tharad of Banaskantha district, Limkheda, Dahod (ST) of Dahod district, Bayad of Aravalli district, Dhoraji, Jasdan and Gondal of Rajkot district, Keshod of Junagadh district, Mehmadabad of Kheda district, Khambhat of Anand district and Jalalpore of Navsari district. Dang district is at the forefront in this work with 94.35 per cent digitization of the counting forms, said the release. During this exercise, it was revealed that 17 lakh deceased voters were still included in the electoral roll across the state. While more than 6.14 lakh voters were found absent from their addresses. It has been noticed that more than 30 lakh voters have permanently migrated, the release said. BLOs found more than 3.25 lakh voters in the epeated category, which means that their names are found at more than one places, said the release. Vadodara BLO assistant dies on duty amid rising SIR workload concerns; four deaths in four days across Gujarat 'I cant do this SIR work anymore...': Gujarat teacher dies by suicide, cites BLO workload pressure
Gujarat faces fresh political storm as ex-cabinet Minister Chavda highlights unemployment crisis
AHMEDABAD: Former BJP cabinet minister Jawahar Chavda has triggered a political storm in Gujarat politics with a fiery 'Employment Assistance Campaign', unleashing a direct attack on the States unemployment crisis, paper leaks, and systemic failures. His videos, interactions with youngsters, and bold admission, stating, we too have failed somewhere, have electrified Saurashtras political ground, triggering fresh tremors inside an already divided BJP ahead of the 2027 polls. Chavda becoming suddenly active, vocal, and unfiltered has created a fresh narrative in Gujarats political landscape. For months, Chavda, who has long been uneasy within the BJP, remained on the sidelines. Now, he has detonated the new campaign on unemployment, and every sentence he utters is landing as a political punch. His re-entry began with a video message on social media where he declared, Enough is enough, talk will not work. This single line signalled the storm he was about to unleash. On November 24, Chavda returned with another hard-hitting video, this time sitting with unemployed youngsters, listening to their rage, and amplifying their anguish. Gujarat: BJP Gen Sec meets family of late ex-CM Rupani amid internal rifts, sparks political speculation One after another, he targeted the government machinery, linking mismanagement to frustration and frustration to the simmering political heat in Saurashtra. In his detailed video address on social media, Chavda said, Today I am presenting my dialogue echoing pains, opinions and wounds of thousands of young unemployed brothers and sisters over the last eight months. Unemployment has spread across every class, society, caste and region. There is no coordination in departments, no system that works. Even big companies fail to give jobs to locals, and on top of that, they behave rudely. He blamed paper leaks, faulty recruitment, and wrong selection methods for a deepening sense of betrayal among Gujarats youth. He did not spare himself either, This is a social responsibility in which we all have failed somewhere, he boldly admitted. With this candour, Chavda began his political march, announcing plans to visit taluka headquarters from September 1, 2025, collecting representations of unemployed youth and women. His campaign doesnt merely highlight problems; it provides a stage for unheard voices. The anger of unemployed women, he noted, is even sharper. Drawing from his earlier BPL assistance drives, he said, It is painful that even today employment remains a serious struggle for women. Educated daughters do not get opportunities as corruption blocks their path. Widowed mothers are forced into helplessness. Even in cities, women are denied equal wages and fair chances. The campaign has erupted right when the Junagadh BJP is cracking under internal factionalism, visible in both the Lok Sabha and Visavadar by-elections. Chavdas sudden activism on a politically explosive issue is seen as a strategic, calibrated move. Political insiders argue he is preparing for a 2027 comeback, building a strong grassroots base while tightening pressure on the BJP, where he has been increasingly disenchanted. Chavdas political journey has always been marked by sharp turns. Being a four-time Congress MLA (1990, 2007, 2012, 2017), he dramatically crossed over to the BJP in 2019, defeated Congresss Arvind Ladani in a bypoll, and became a cabinet minister in the Rupani government. However, cracks appeared last year after he publicly countered Porbandar MP and Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on social media. Now, with the unemployment storm he has stirred, Chavda has placed himself back in the spotlight, forcing both BJP and Congress to reassess the political battlefield of Saurashtra.
Munawar Faruqui flaunts luxurious watch worth Rs 2.8 crore
Mumbai: From selling samosas in Junagadh to utensils in Dongri, and from struggling as a stand-up comic to winning Bigg Boss 17, Munawar Faruqui has truly come a long way. Today, he stands tall as one of the biggest entertainers in tinsel town, performing to packed theatres not just across India but in several countries Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
AHMEDABAD: Reeling under one of the worst unseasonal rain spells in two decades, Gujarats farmers have suffered massive crop devastation across 42 lakh hectares and 16,000 villages. On Friday, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel announced a Rs 10,000-crore relief package coupled with government procurement of groundnut, moong, urad, and soybean worth Rs 15,000 crore from November 9, promising that no farmer will be left without help. Gujarats farmlands, already scarred by erratic monsoon patterns, have now been battered by unseasonal rains that struck at the end of October, which the Chief Minister described as the kind Gujarat has not seen in two decades. The deluge drenched 41 lakh hectares of cultivated land, crippling the livelihoods of over 17 lakh farmers across 16,387 villages. As assessment reports poured in, the figures told a grim story -- over 33% crop loss in nearly 31 lakh hectares, translating to an estimated Rs 1,574 crore blow to the agrarian economy. The Saurashtra belt emerged as ground zero, where 80% of the total state damage occurred. Out of 37.71 lakh hectares sown, 33.53 lakh hectares were hit, devastating 12.65 lakh farmers and causing Rs 1,218 crore in losses. The Mid-East zone followed with 52.5% of crops damaged, while South Gujarat reported 79% cultivation loss, and North Gujarat too saw heavy impact across 4.14 lakh hectares. Seeing the scale of disaster firsthand, the Chief Minister swiftly convened an emergency high-level meeting with officials from the agriculture, revenue, and finance departments. Chairing the meet himself, Patel greenlit a massive Rs 10,000-crore relief and assistance package, calling it a duty towards the sons of the soil who feed us all. Unseasonal rains of a kind unseen in the last two decades have caused huge crop losses in multiple districts, the Chief Minister said in his statement on Friday. I and my fellow ministers visited the affected districts, spoke directly to the farmers, and felt their pain. Understanding their struggle, the state government stands shoulder to shoulder with them with full sympathy. Keeping in mind their hardship, I am announcing a relief package of about Rs 10,000 crore. Alongside, we will begin procurement of groundnut, moong, urad, and soybean worth over Rs 15,000 crore at support prices from November 9, Patel added, assuring that the government was, is, and will always be with our farmers. Following Patels directive, hundreds of agricultural survey teams fanned out across the districts, covering 70% of the damaged area so far. The CM personally ordered that no farmer should be left without assistance and that all relief formalities be expedited this week. This package comes as Gujarats second major farm relief intervention in just three months, following a Rs 947-crore payout in August-September for flood-affected talukas in Kutch, Banaskantha, Patan, and Junagadh. That earlier crisis had already signaled the states growing vulnerability to climate-linked agrarian distress and this latest spell has only deepened the challenge. From drought to deluge, Gujarats farmers have borne the full brunt of climate volatility this year. But with the state government now rolling out an unprecedented twin package of Rs 10,000 crore in direct relief and Rs 15,000 crore in crop procurement, the CM has sent a clear message: In every calamity, the farmer will not stand alone.
Unseasonal rains destroy crops across Gujarat, total loss estimated around Rs 1,500 crore
AHMEDABAD: Over 33% of 30 lakh hectares of Kharif crop in Gujarat have been damaged due to unseasonal rains. A government survey estimated total losses to be around Rs 1,574 crore, prompting the Gujarat government to prepare a fresh relief package. Gujarat experienced relentless rains at the end of October measuring 88.67 mm has caused widespread crop devastation across the states 71 lakh hectares of cultivated land, shattering the livelihoods of 17.06 lakh farmers in 16,387 villages. Responding to farmer representations, the state government swiftly ordered a damage assessment survey, with the Agriculture Department deploying hundreds of teams across regions. The preliminary report paints a grim picture 33% or more loss in 30.92 lakh hectares, translating to an estimated Rs 1,574.48 crore hit to Gujarats farming economy. Of this, the Saurashtra zone stands out as the worst affected. Out of 37.71 lakh hectares sown, 33.53 lakh hectares have been damaged. Surveys covering 28.28 lakh hectares reveal that 12.65 lakh farmers have lost over 33% of their crops, incurring a staggering Rs 1,218.50 crore loss nearly 80% of the total state damage. The Mid-East zone follows, with 52.54% of its 15.55 lakh hectares affected. Over 3.18 lakh hectares of land belonging to 2.59 lakh farmers have suffered major damage worth Rs 296.45 crore. In South Gujarat, unseasonal rains have lashed 79% of the cultivation, impacting 5.61 lakh hectares. Here, 1.36 lakh farmers in 1.67 lakh hectares face heavy losses worth Rs 58.45 crore. Even North Gujarat, which sowed 18.08 lakh hectares, hasnt been spared 4.14 lakh hectares of crops are hit, with 44,849 farmers suffering significant losses in 46,125 hectares, valued at Rs 28.11 crore. According to officials, 70% of the surveyed area has been preliminarily verified, and Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel is likely to announce a comprehensive relief package on Tuesday or Wednesday. The move comes after Patel personally directed officials to complete damage reports by this week, assuring farmers that no one will be left without help. This crisis follows close on the heels of the Rs 947 crore relief package the government rolled out in August-September 2025 when heavy monsoon rains ravaged 18 talukas, including Vav-Tharad, Kutch, Junagadh, and Patan. Of that, Rs 563 crore came under SDRF norms, with Rs 384 crore added from the state exchequer a sign of Gujarats growing climate-linked agrarian distress.
Familys worst fears come true: Teen kills brother and pregnant sister-in-law in Gujarat village
A shocking double murder has emerged from Junagadh district. A 15-year-old boy allegedly killed his elder brother and pregnant sister-in-law. The bodies were found buried behind their house nearly two weeks later. The boy's mother reportedly helped conceal the crime. The discovery was made after the woman's family raised suspicions. The minor showed no remorse during interrogation.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday emphasized Sardar Patels monumental role in uniting India and shaping the nation after independence. He highlighted Patels leadership during the integration of 562 princely states, the Hyderabad and Junagadh operations, and securing Lakshadweep on 15 August 1947. Shah, in a press briefing in Patna, Bihar, noted that the Statue of Unity in Kevadia, conceptualized by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, honors Patels legacy. Constructed in 57 months using 25,000 tonnes of iron from farmers tools, 1,700 tonnes of bronze, and 90,000 cubic meters of concrete, the 182-meter statue attracts over 15,000 daily visitors. Additional tourist attractions around the site further enhance its appeal. To commemorate Patels 150th birth anniversary, a grand parade will be held annually on October 31 at Ekta Nagar, akin to the Republic Day parade. This year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take the salute of the grand parade. The parade will include Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), state police forces, gallantry awardees, cultural performances, camel contingents, motorcycle stunts, tableaux, and an air show by the Indian Air Forces Surya Kiran team. A nationwide Run for Unity and Unity Pledge will also be organized across schools, universities, district police stations, and all states and Union Territories. From November 115, Bharat Parv will celebrate Indias tribal culture, concluding with a showcase of folk arts, crafts, and music on November 15. Shah emphasized that the parade and associated events aim to inspire youth, reaffirm national unity, and honor Sardar Patels lifelong dedication to the nation.
After cabinet overhaul, Gujarat BJP now plans major organizational reshuffle
AHMEDABAD: Gujarats political scene is changing again. After appointing a new BJP state president and reshuffling the state cabinet, the ruling party is now preparing for another big organizational change. The BJP plans to bring in new leaders to key posts and redraw its power structure from the state capital Gandhinagar to the district level a clear sign that the party is getting ready for the next big election. According to party sources, the next major step will be appointing new State General Secretaries one of the most powerful roles in the partys state unit. These appointments are expected within a week. Currently, the Gujarat BJP has four General Secretaries. Among them, Kutch MP Vinod Chavda is likely to keep his position, while the other three posts may go to new faces. The move aims to strengthen the partys organization and prepare for upcoming political challenges. Party insiders say this reshuffle is not just routine. It is part of a larger strategy to tighten control and improve coordination after the recent cabinet changes, in which ten ministers were dropped. The BJP wants to strengthen its structure at the district level to improve governance and maintain political balance. As part of this plan, new in-charge ministers will be appointed for 20 districts. The government now wants each minister to handle only one districtespecially those with important departmentsto improve focus and accountability. Earlier, many ministers managed two districts, which often reduced efficiency. Even Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghvi may see changes in his responsibilities. He currently oversees both Vadodara and Gandhinagar districts for the BJP, but he may now retain only Gandhinagar, reflecting the leaderships push for more focused roles. The 20 districts expected to get new in-charge ministers include Aravalli, Mahisagar, Banaskantha, Sabarkantha, Botad, Bharuch, Bhavnagar, Dahod, Panchmahal, Dang, Rajkot, Jamnagar, Surendranagar, Junagadh, Patan, Narmada, Chhota Udepur, Tapi, and Valsad. Each new appointment will aim to balance political representation and improve administration, helping the BJP strengthen its control both at the grassroots and state levels. With these changes on the way, the Gujarat BJP is reshaping not just its cabinet but also its political strategy getting ready for the road ahead.
Army jawan drowns after rescuing friends from Ozat river in Gujarat's Junagadh
AHMEDABAD: A Diwali outing turned tragic in Junagadhs Vanthali taluka when Army jawan Bharatbhai Bhetaria lost his life while saving his friends from drowning in the Ozat river near Tikar village. On October 22, four friends went to bathe in the river around 4 PM when three were caught in a sudden, powerful current. Bharatbhai, serving in the Indian Army, immediately jumped into the swirling waters and rescued his friends one by one. In the process, he was swept away by the fierce current. Locals alerted the Vanthali Fire Department, a rescue team conducted an overnight search. Family members and villagers waited at the riverbank during the operation. Bhetarias body was recovered at dawn on October 23, concluding the rescue efforts.
