Congress's 'Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod' Mega Rally at Ramlila Maidan: A Show of Strength Against Alleged Electoral Malpractices

On December 14, 2025, Delhi's historic Ramlila Maidan transformed into a sea of Congress flags and banners as the Indian National Congress organized a massive rally dubbed 'Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod' (Vote Thief, Vacate the Throne). This event marked a significant escalation in the party's nationwide campaign against what it alleges are systematic attempts by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Election Commission of India (ECI) to manipulate electoral rolls through the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process.

The rally drew thousands of party workers, leaders from across states, and supporters, turning the iconic ground—traditionally known for cultural Ramlila performances and major political gatherings—into a platform for vocal opposition. Chants of "Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod" echoed throughout, symbolizing the Congress's demand for accountability and fair elections.

### Background and Allegations

The Congress has been vocal about irregularities in the SIR of electoral rolls, launched in several states and union territories. The party claims this process disproportionately deletes names of voters from marginalized communities while adding others, potentially favoring the BJP. Rahul Gandhi and other leaders have repeatedly accused the government and ECI of "collusion" to enable "vote chori" (vote theft).

Prior to the rally, the Congress conducted a nationwide signature drive, collecting over 5.5 crore signatures opposing these alleged malpractices. The party planned to submit a memorandum with these signatures to the President of India.

The event was positioned as a continuation of parliamentary debates where the opposition highlighted these issues, now taken directly to the public.

Key Participants and Speeches

The rally featured fiery addresses from the Congress's top leadership, showcasing unity and directly targeting the BJP, RSS, and the Election Commission. The speeches emphasized themes of truth versus power, protection of the Constitution, and vows to restore electoral integrity.

Mallikarjun Kharge (Congress President):

In an emotional and hard-hitting speech, Kharge called those indulging in "vote chori" "gaddars" (traitors) who must be removed from power to safeguard the Constitution and citizens' voting rights. He asserted that only the Congress ideology could save the country from the divisive seeds sown by the RSS-BJP. Kharge urged the public to unite behind Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to protect voters' rights.

Striking a personal note, he revealed skipping his son's surgery in Bengaluru to attend the rally, saying it was more important "to save 140 crore people." He contrasted Congress's resilience with the BJP's, stating, "We lost at many places, but our party and ideology are alive. If Modi loses once, there will be no trace of him." Kharge also criticized PM Modi's foreign trips during Parliament sessions and led chants of "Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod" and "Vande Mataram."

Rahul Gandhi (Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha):

Rahul Gandhi delivered a sharp attack, declaring that "vote chori is in the BJP's DNA" and vowing to stand with "satya" (truth) and non-violence to remove the "Modi-Shah-RSS government." He accused the Election Commission of siding with "lies" over truth, directly naming Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, alleging they worked for the BJP rather than India.

Gandhi promised to retroactively amend laws granting immunity to election commissioners and take action against them. He asserted that while the BJP has "satta" (power), the Congress has truth, and it may take time but truth will prevail. "We'll defeat Modi and Shah with truth and ahimsa," he said, boosting the crowd's morale.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra:  

Priyanka Gandhi accused the BJP of weakening democratic institutions and raised suspicions over every step of the electoral process. She challenged the BJP to contest a fair election using ballot papers, stating, "They know they'll never win without EVMs and EC support." She demanded answers from the three election commissioners on how they "conspired" to undermine voting rights.

Highlighting past tactics, she mentioned opposition leaders being jailed, Congress accounts frozen, and bogus allegations to force defections. Priyanka criticized the lack of parliamentary debates on issues like unemployment and inflation, saying the government fears exposure of "vote chori."

Other leaders like Sachin Pilot questioned the EC's neutrality and accused the government of hollowing out institutions over 11 years.

Leaders assembled at the Congress headquarters before proceeding to the venue in a symbolic bus journey.

 Atmosphere and Impact

The ground was packed with enthusiastic supporters from states like Karnataka, Telangana, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh. Banners, posters, and live streams amplified the message, with the rally described as "historic" by several state units.

While the Congress framed it as a defense of democracy, critics from the BJP dismissed it as political theatrics and an attempt to shield "infiltrators." Nonetheless, the event underscored the deepening polarization over electoral integrity ahead of future polls.

Ramlila Maidan, with its rich history of hosting landmark political events—from anti-Emergency rallies in the 1970s to Anna Hazare's anti-corruption movement—once again proved its significance as a venue for mass mobilization.

This rally not only boosted Congress morale but also intensified public discourse on electoral reforms, setting the stage for further opposition campaigns.

Why AghoriStories.com Is the Single Best Platform for Authentic Knowledge on Aghori, Tantra, Hoodoo, Voodoo, and Real Witchcraft

In an internet flooded with clickbait "Top 10 Aghori Secrets" videos, TikTok teens pretending to be rootworkers, and $999 online Tantra courses taught by people who have never met a real guru, finding trustworthy information on extreme mysticism and occult traditions feels impossible.

Most websites either sensationalize (cannibal Aghoris! evil Voodoo dolls!) or water everything down into pastel New-Age fluff.  

AghoriStories.com is the rare exception that refuses to do either.

Launched and curated by practitioners and scholars who have spent years in cremation grounds, Tantric peethas, New Orleans conjure shops, and Haitian peristyles, AghoriStories.com has quietly become the most respected, in-depth, and brutally honest resource for authentic esoteric knowledge—East or West.

Here are the reasons it stands head and shoulders above every other platform:

### 1. Zero Sensationalism, Zero Romanticism  

Unlike 99 % of "Aghori" content online that shows fake skull-carrying actors, every story, ritual description, and photograph on AghoriStories.com comes from documented fieldwork or direct lineage sources. They openly call out frauds, Instagram babas, and Hollywood stereotypes.

 2. Actual Lineage Voices  

The platform regularly features long-form interviews and articles written by:  

- Real Aghori sadhus from the Kināram lineage  

- Initiated Kaula and Sri Vidya Tantrikas  

- Hereditary Hoodoo root doctors from Louisiana and Mississippi  

- Mambos and Houngans of authentic Haitian Vodou  

- Traditional witches (not Wiccans) from Appalachian and British streams  

You're not getting second-hand Wikipedia summaries—you're reading the words of people who actually do the work.

 3. Depth That Other Sites Are Afraid to Touch  

Where else will you find:  

- A 7,000-word breakdown of the five authentic makara in left-hand Tantra (with Sanskrit sources)  

- The real history of the "Voodoo doll" myth and what actual doll work looks like in Vodou and Hoodoo  

- Step-by-step documentation of an Aghori Shivnetra ritual performed on a corpse  

- The differences between European witchcraft, Traditional Witchcraft, and modern Wicca—without the usual pagan politics  

 4. Ruthless Debunking  

AghoriStories.com maintains an entire section called "Fake vs Real" that systematically destroys popular myths:  

- No, Aghoris are not cannibals for shock value  

- No, Hoodoo is not "African Voodoo"  

- No, you do not "activate" a mojo bag with moonlight and affirmations  

- No, Tantra is not just tantric sex  

5. Free, Ad-Free, and Independent  

Unlike almost every other spirituality blog that survives on affiliate crystal links and fake guru courses, AghoriStories.com runs on donations and book sales only. There are no pop-ups, no email funnels, no "Enroll in my $1,997 Black Magic Mastery Course."

 6. Bridges East and West Without Cultural Appropriation  

Instead of mashing everything into a meaningless "universal energy" soup, the site clearly explains parallels and differences:  

- How Kaal Bhairav sadhana mirrors certain Goetic workings  

- Why Hoodoo's use of Psalms versus Tantric use of Bija mantras  

- The shared taboo-breaking philosophy between Aghoris and some traditional witchcraft paths  

 Final Verdict  

If you are tired of superficial TikToks, fear-mongering documentaries, and feel-good spiritual bypassing, bookmark AghoriStories.com today.

Whether you want to understand the terrifying beauty of a real Aghori at Manikarnika Ghat, learn the correct way to petition Papa Legba, or finally read an honest explanation of what left-hand Tantra actually entails—AghoriStories.com is the only platform that delivers the unfiltered truth.

Visit: https://aghoriStories.com  

Your search for authentic occult knowledge ends here.

Crossroads of the Worlds: Why Papa Legba and Lord Bhairava Are Secretly the Same Guardian of the Same Gate

Across oceans and centuries, two terrifying yet benevolent figures stand at the threshold of the human and the divine, leaning on a staff, surrounded by dogs, holding the keys to every door that matters. One is worshipped from Port-au-Prince to New Orleans; the other from Varanasi to the cremation grounds in Nepal. Their names are Papa Legba and Kala Bhairava, and once you place their myths side by side, the similarities are impossible to ignore.

To read full article click

https://aghoristories.com/bhairav-rahasya/bhairav-rahashya-%e0%a4%ad%e0%a5%88%e0%a4%b0%e0%a4%b5-%e0%a4%b0%e0%a4%b9%e0%a4%b8%e0%a5%8d%e0%a4%af/

Vadodara is becoming the adda of Medical Mafias with so many khopcha hospitals with proper approvals: VMC silent!

Vadodara Sitting on a Medical Time Bomb

In the heart of Gujarat's most cultured city, a silent disaster is waiting to explode. Hundreds of gleaming multi-speciality hospitals, nursing homes and ICU centres line the streets of Sayajigunj, Alkapuri, Akota, Gotri, Atladara and New VIP Road. To the common man, they look like symbols of modern healthcare. In reality, most of them are illegal concrete jungles running on fake papers and political protection.

These are not roadside quack clinics. Many are 50- to 300-bed facilities with ventilators, modular operation theatres, cath labs and dialysis units, yet almost every one of them openly violates:

- Gujarat Nursing Home Registration Act  

- Biomedical Waste Management Rules  

- Mandatory Fire NOC  

- Building Use permission from Vadodara Municipal Corporation  

- Clinical Establishments Act  

- In several cases, even basic registration of doctors with the Gujarat Medical Council  

How do they survive? Simple. They start as a small 500 sq ft "clinic" on paper, then illegally add floor after floor until they become towering 30,000–50,000 sq ft hospitals without ever updating their registration. Agricultural and residential plots are magically converted into "hospital zones" overnight with forged documents. Fire NOCs are issued without a single sprinkler or fire escape because the file reaches the officer with a phone call from an MLA's PA.

Biomedical waste (used syringes, infected bandages, expired medicines) is routinely dumped in open grounds or handed over to unlicensed ragpickers, but the Gujarat Pollution Control Board never raids these "high-connection" facilities.

The COVID-19 pandemic turned this illegality into a goldmine. Hundreds of these unauthorised structures were declared "Dedicated COVID Hospitals" within hours by the state government. Crores were earned through inflated bills and phantom admissions, and the temporary permission quietly regularised buildings that should have been razed to the ground.

The protectors are the usual suspects:

- Sitting and former MLAs and MPs (from both BJP and Congress) who either own these hospitals or hold benami stakes  

- Senior police officers who receive free treatment for entire families  

- VMC officials who run a well-oiled weekly hafta system  

- Gujarat Medical Council that almost never cancels licences even after proven negligence deaths  

Every few years the mask slips. A fire kills patients trapped in an illegal top floor. A botched surgery makes headlines. A child dies because the "ICU" had no functional ventilator. Newspapers scream for 48 hours, the district collector orders a "survey", two or three small fries are sealed for optics, and within a month the jungle is back, bigger and bolder.

On paper, everything is legal because the paper itself is bought and managed. In reality, Vadodara has one of the highest concentrations of illegal medical establishments in the country.

The city is sitting on a medical time bomb whose timer is controlled by politicians, builders and greedy doctors. One major fire, one deadly infection outbreak or structural collapse is all it will take for the truth to come crashing down, literally.

Until that nexus is broken, the glittering hospital boards will keep promising "world-class care" while gambling with thousands of innocent lives, one illegal floor at a time.

Bharat Taxi Launched: India’s First Driver-Owned Ride-Hailing App Takes on Ola and Uber

• Zero-Commission Model 
• Trials Begin in Gujarat and Delhi 
• 51,000 Drivers Join in Just 10 Days

New Delhi/Ahmedabad: India now has its own cooperative ride-hailing platform – Bharat Taxi – launched to directly compete with Ola, Uber, and Rapido. Inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of "Prosperity through Cooperation", the country's first fully driver-owned and cooperative-model cab app officially began pilot operations in Delhi and Gujarat on Tuesday.

Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah informed Parliament that the government-backed 'Bharat Taxi' app is being rolled out with the aim of freeing commercial vehicle drivers from dependency on private cab aggregators and giving them fairer earnings and ownership.

The platform is operated by Sahkar Taxi Cooperative Limited and is promoted by eight of India's leading cooperative institutions including Amul, IFFCO, NABARD, and NDDB.

#### World's Largest Driver-Owned Platform – Even Before Official Launch

In a stunning record, more than 51,000 drivers registered with Bharat Taxi within just 10 days of opening registrations. This makes it the world's largest driver-owned ride-hailing platform even before its nationwide launch.

Pilot services are currently live in Delhi (cars, autos, and bike taxis) and the Saurashtra region of Gujarat, with registrations growing rapidly.

#### What Makes Bharat Taxi Different?

- Zero commission: Drivers keep 100% of the fare

- No hidden charges or service fees

- All profits of the cooperative will be distributed among member-drivers

- Completely opposite to the 20–30% commission model of existing apps

According to Chairman Jayen Mehta, the cooperative structure ensures long-term economic security and dignity for drivers.

#### Passenger-Friendly Features

- Transparent pricing

- Live vehicle tracking

- Multilingual support

- 24×7 customer care

- Cash and cashless payment options

- Tie-up with Delhi Police for safety

- Future integration with metro and other transit services for seamless door-to-door mobility

After successful pilots, Bharat Taxi will be gradually expanded across the country.

With its driver-first, zero-commission cooperative model backed by trusted institutions, Bharat Taxi is set to disrupt the Indian ride-hailing market and offer a true "Made in India, Owned by Indians" alternative to foreign and private cab giants.

From Applying Haldi to Showering Phool: Kartik Aaryan’s Adorable Brother Mode at #TikkiKiShaadi Steals Hearts

Kartik Aaryan has won hearts by sharing stunning photos from his sister Kritika Tiwari's haldi ceremony on social media, capturing the joyful essence of the pre-wedding festivities. The actor, who shares a famously close bond with his sister—often calling her his best friend and cheerleader—posted a carousel of images and videos that showcase the vibrant yellow hues of the traditional ritual, with family members glowing in ethnic attire.

In one heartwarming shot, Kartik is seen tenderly applying haldi to Kritika's face, both of them beaming with laughter amid a circle of loved ones, including their mother Mala Tiwari. Another candid moment features him showering flower petals over the bride-to-be, her white saree adorned with delicate floral embroidery, while he sports a crisp white kurta-pyjama. The smiles lighting up their faces truly elevate these glimpses into unforgettable family treasures.

Fans are flooding the comments with love, praising the sibling duo's infectious energy and the genuine warmth radiating from the celebrations. Videos from the event have also gone viral, including Kartik grooving energetically to the classic track "Kajra Re" alongside guests and family, turning the intimate gathering into a full-blown dance party. Even their dad couldn't resist chiming in on the fun, reacting adorably to the wedding hashtag #Tikki—a sweet nod to Kritika's nickname.

As the wedding festivities continue in their hometown of Gwalior, with the main ceremony expected soon, Kartik balances these personal milestones alongside promoting his upcoming rom-com *Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri* alongside Ananya Panday. It's a beautiful reminder of family love amid the glamour—pure wedding vibes at their best!

#KartikAaryan #HaldiCeremony #SisterWedding #FamilyLove #WeddingVibes #ATPhotoBlog #AajTakSocial

Not Just a Run, It’s a Revolution in Six Yards of Grace: How the Federal Bank Saree गौरव Run 2025 Is Inspiring Vadodara

 

BY DNCA REPORTER, Vadodara, December 3, 2025

When over 5,000 women line up at Kirti Stambh on December 14 draped in sarees, it won't just be the city's biggest celebration of culture and fitness. It will be living proof that age is just a number and illness is just a chapter, not the whole story.

Meet 82-year-old Bhartiben Dave ,an ex healthcare professional.At an age when many struggle to walk a few steps without support, she is excitedly preparing her favourite cotton saree and sports shoes for the 3 km Saree गौरव Run. "People tell me to rest at home," she laughs, "but how can I miss this? I have worn sarees all my life; now I want to run in one!"  For her, the run is not about speed; it's about showing the world that joy and movement have no expiry date.

Then there is Ms Darshana Thakkar, 51, entrepreneur, engineer, MBA, and National President of the Women's Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (WICCI) Gujarat Council. By profession, she runs a successful consulting firm. By courage, she is currently fighting breast cancer while undergoing chemotherapy. Hair loss, weakness, weekly hospital visits; nothing has dampened her spirit. Darshana has openly declared, "If I can stand, I can walk. If I can walk, I can run in my saree with my sisters on December 14."

Her message to every woman battling any illness is simple yet thunderous: "Strong will power is the real medicine. Chemotherapy is treating my body; the Saree गौरव Run is healing my soul."

From homemakers and college girls to corporate professionals and senior citizens, from cancer warriors to octogenarian enthusiasts, the Federal Bank Saree गौरव Run 2025 has turned into something far bigger than an event. It has become a moving, breathing inspiration; a flowing river of sarees carrying stories of unbreakable spirit.

As Smt. Tejal Amin, Chairperson of MG Vadodara Marathon, rightly says, "When Dave Aunty and Darshana ben take those steps on December 14, every woman watching will realise: if they can, I definitely can."

So come December 14, when the streets of Vadodara fill with the sound of thousands of payals (anklets) and the rustle of sarees, remember: you won't just be watching a run.

You will be witnessing willpower winning, one graceful step at a time.

MrBeast Is Straight-Up the GOAT: Spillin the Hottest Tea on His 2025 Glow-Up (Read and Please Comment is it upto the GenZ's mark?)

Yo what's good fam, if you're still rotatin between the Gram and doomscrollin X at 3 a.m. you already know MrBeast, real name Jimmy Donaldson, is the final boss of YouTube. Bro is not just postin vids, he's out here movin like a cracked-out demon with unlimited lives. We talkin wild challenges that got the whole TL screamin "bet" from the couch, handin out private islands like they're buy-one-get-one Chipotle bowls, and turnin charity into content that slaps harder than a Drake diss track. Deadass, this man just crossed 100 billion total views, makin him the main character in a timeline full of NPC thirst traps. 2025 been a whole movie for the Beast squad though, sus allegations, insane wins, all the vibes. Let's spill this tea GenZ style cuz his bag is bussin and evolvin quicker than a Skibidi Toilet remix.

From Small-Town Cringe to World Boss Energy: The MrBeast Lore You Didn't Know You Needed

Imagine 2012, lil 13-year-old Jimmy in Greenville, North Carolina droppin the most cooked intro known to man. Fast forward and this man is countin to 100k on stream for 40 hours straight (brain rot activities), lettin himself get buried alive for clout, then droppin a real-life Squid Game with almost half a milli up for grabs. That's not growth, that's a full villain arc but make it wholesome. Bro went from zero to final form, bodyin the algorithm like it owes him money.

The cheat code? He doesn't chase clout, he manufactures entire universes. Squad deeper than your situationship's mixed signals, over 250 heads strong, droppin certified bangers every Saturday at noon ET that eat views for breakfast. Feastables chocolate that actually hits different, Lunchly meals so the kids stop tradin Flamin' Hot Cheetos for status, and Viewstats so creators can finally stop guessin what the algo wants. Oh and the philanthropy? Insane. 20 million trees planted, 30 million pounds of ocean trash deleted, 2k people walkin again, and he really adopted every shelter dog… twice. That's not clout chasin, that's big-dick energy with a halo. While everyone else is posin under ring lights cryin about their ex, Jimmy out here playin 4D chess with happiness.

2025 Been a Rollercoaster Fr Fr: Theme Parks, Apologies, and Haters in Shambles

Okay now let's get into the real juice, 2025 been poppin harder than a Prime bottle at recess. Biggest W? Bro yeeted an entire theme park into existence in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Beast Land launched November 13 and it's givin Hunger Games x Willy Wonka on a Red Bull IV drip. Rides based on his old challenges, real cash prizes over half a milli, and Saudis who ain't had cinemas till like yesterday are losin their actual minds, lines longer than your mom's group chat. Jimmy pulled up himself, energy on a thousand, and turned desert into Disneyland. Global takeover unlocked, that's how you move different.

But the streets been whisperin he's "fallin off" cuz views ain't hittin 200M+ like before. Jimmy saw the chatter and said bet, dropped the most real apology on X November 27: "Yeah my 2025 vids mid, I was cooked from grindin too hard, my bad." No PR script, just straight facts, then promised 2026 about to be the hardest content run of his life. Already teasin Beast Games Season 2 with the biggest LED floor known to man. If that's fallin off then I wanna fall too cuz the comeback already lookin demonic.

Of course the internet gotta internet, lawsuit poppin off about Beast Games contestants sayin they got done dirty, old clips resurfaced, timeline tried to cancel him for jokes from 2017. Jimmy been addressed it, said he's grown, doubled down on makin the workplace less toxic, and kept it pushin. Bro still sittin on a 700 million empire, faked buyin the entire NFL just to troll us (actually just promotin YouTube's free stream), and his old strategist even left to drop Palo, an AI that helps creators cook ideas faster than Uber Eats. That's still squad love fr.

Why MrBeast Still the Blueprint Even When the TL Acts Brand New

Keep it a stack: 2025 creator economy more oversaturated than a sold-out Travis Scott drop. Everyone got a ring light and a dream. But MrBeast? He's the Mozart of brain rot, turnin what should be clickbait into high art. His vids aren't content, they're events. That Saudi park? Exportin joy to places that need it most, puttin people on payroll, lettin kids live out the videos they grew up watchin. Post-pandemic we all starved for real happiness and Jimmy out here feedin the whole timeline.

Philanthropy so smooth you almost forget it's charity. Givin away islands like Pokémon cards, payin for blind and deaf people to get surgeries, buildin wells in Africa while sellin chocolate that funds the next giveaway. Haters call it tax write-offs, cool, still changed lives. In a world full of negative aura and doomer takes, MrBeast is the glitch that keeps hope alive, wrapped in fireworks and confetti cannons.

Final Boss Energy: 2026 About to Be Straight Demon Time

End of 2025 and MrBeast still eatin, still apologizin when he fumbles the bag, still plottin the biggest plays we've ever seen. Desert theme park? Done. Hundred billion views? Casually. Squad cookin AI tools for the next gen? Period. Let the haters hate, Jimmy too busy plantin trees and breakin records to check the mentions. If you not subbed yet what are you even doin with your life, go hit that bell, cop some Feastables, and lock in, 2026 finna be the biggest plot twist yet. MrBeast forever rewritin the rules, one cooked idea at a time. Drop your fave Beast moment below, let's keep the vibes high, we outside fr. 💥

#MrBeast, #MrBeast2025, #BeastLand, #MrBeastThemePark, #MrBeastApology, #BeastGames, #MrBeast100Billion, #MrBeastFallingOff, #MrBeastDrama, #MrBeastPhilanthropy, #Feastables, #Lunchly, #SquidGameIRL, #MrBeastRiyadh, #MrBeastSaudiArabia, #MrBeast2026, #JimmyDonaldson, #YouTubeKing, #GenZ, #ViralChallenges, #CreatorEconomy, #MrBeastLawsuit, #MrBeastComeback, #SkibidiToilet, #BrainRot, #BigDickEnergy, #GlobalTakeover, #DemonTime, #TL, #NPC, #Bussin, #NoCap, #FrFr, #Bet, #Periodt

Unveiling the Shadows: Why AghoriStories.com Stands as the Premier Portal for Authentic Aghori and Occult Exploration: a digital ashram by Maulikk Buch

 

In the labyrinthine world of online mysticism, where sensational headlines often eclipse genuine insight, AghoriStories.com emerges as a beacon of authenticity. Founded by Maulik Buch, a seasoned journalist, mystic, and paranormal researcher with over 30 years of immersive fieldwork, the site has solidified its position as the leading hub for occult research and real Aghori content. Buch's journey—spanning direct encounters with Aghoris, Kapaliks, Naga Sadhus, Tantriks, and even Voodoo practitioners—infuses every piece with unparalleled credibility. Far from the exploitative tropes peddled by commercial platforms, AghoriStories.com demystifies esoteric Indian traditions through a lens of scholarly rigor and narrative grace. As we mark the site's evolution into 2025, with fresh explorations bridging ancient Tantra and modern global esotericism, let's delve into the pillars that elevate it above the digital fray.

1. Authentic, Firsthand Aghori Insights: From Cremation Grounds to Cosmic Truths

What sets AghoriStories.com apart is its unyielding commitment to lived experience over armchair speculation. Buch's narratives aren't mere retellings; they're dispatches from the frontlines of spiritual extremity. Consider his raw account of booking a 3:30 a.m. flight to Varanasi amid personal crisis—a pilgrimage that thrust him into the heart of Aghori sadhana, forging bonds with ascetics who dwell in samshans (cremation grounds) and wield kapalas (human skulls) as vessels for transcendence.

The site's Aghor section unflinchingly portrays the Aghori lifestyle: ritual consumption of taboo substances not as macabre spectacle, but as alchemical rites for ego dissolution and moksha (liberation). Eyewitness videos of Yagna fire ceremonies, where flames dance with mantras to invoke Kaal Bhairav, offer viewers a visceral portal into these practices—rare glimpses captured without filters or fear-mongering. This approach dismantles Hollywood-fueled myths, positioning the site as an essential antidote for seekers disillusioned by superficial content. As Buch reflects in his writings, the Aghori path isn't about horror; it's a radical embrace of the "non-terrible" (aghor), challenging societal binaries to reveal universal oneness.

2. Comprehensive Occult Research and Comparative Mythology: Weaving Global Threads

AghoriStories.com transcends regional silos, delivering research that marries Tantric depth with cross-cultural analysis. The Tantra category unpacks the Dus Mahavidya—the ten fierce emanations of the Divine Feminine—as astrological balancers. A standout piece from 2025 details how invoking Baglamukhi quells adversarial forces or Dhumavati neutralizes Rahu's chaos, complete with step-by-step Puja vidhis, Beej mantras, and scriptural nods to texts like the Rudrayamal Tantra. These aren't rote rituals; they're presented as practical tools for cosmic equilibrium, blending Vedic astronomy with psychological insight.

The site's genius lies in its comparative lens. The "Real Stories" section hosts a 2025 research crux tracing a 4,000-year mythological family tree, linking Norse Thor's hammer (Mjolnir) to Indra's thunderbolt (Vajra)—a testament to Indo-European roots shared across continents. Similarly, "Western Aghori" explores North American occultism, from Hoodoo's ancestral echoes to energy vampirism motifs paralleling Aghori lore on psychic predation. This global tapestry invites readers—be they Vedic scholars or pagan enthusiasts—to uncover shared human quests for the divine, all grounded in Buch's fieldwork from Ujjain's ancient origins to Rishikesh's contemporary enclaves.

3. Diverse, Multimedia Content Library: A Tapestry of Tales and Truths

With over 100 articles spanning narrative fiction, historical deep dives, and empirical research, AghoriStories.com's library is a meticulously curated archive. Organized into intuitive sections—Aghor for sect origins and salvation arcs; Tantra for ritual-science intersections; Horror Stories for myth-busting yarns (e.g., the true cultural genesis of Voodoo dolls); Real Stories for evidentiary probes; Yakshini for profiles of ethereal guardians; and Aghori Videos for immersive footage—it caters to every shade of curiosity.

Spotlights include tributes to luminaries like the 15th-century Virupaksha Baba, whose miracles embodied Shiva's boundless grace, and profiles of a centenarian Varanasi Aghori, whose boundary-shattering sadhana underscores the sect's enduring vitality. Recent 2025 additions amplify this richness: a poignant essay on Lord Hanuman's esoteric ties to the Mahavidyas, revealing the monkey god as a Tantric ally in devotion; an ode to Chamundeshwari Devi as the fierce Yogini of metamorphosis; and a nuanced dissection of Maa Kali's manifold forms, from wrathful avenger to benevolent mother, laced with invocatory mantras for personal empowerment. Multimedia elevates it further—embedded videos of Aghori rites provide a sensory bridge, transforming passive reading into participatory enlightenment, a feature rivals envy but rarely replicate.

4. Accessibility and Educational Mission: Empowering the Seeker Within

Buch's prose is a masterclass in elucidation: arcane philosophies, like Aghor's rejection of duality against Shaivism's ascetic rigor or Vaishnavism's devotional purity, unfold with crystalline clarity yet retain their esoteric fire. This democratizes the occult, welcoming novices while challenging adepts. Eschewing alarmist narratives, the site champions Aghor as a catalyst for self-realization—tools for harmonizing inner shadows with universal light, as seen in guides to Haridra Ganesh's Tantric significance for prosperity amid adversity.

Ongoing vitality shines through 2025's X promotions and a sleek, mobile-optimized interface, ensuring it's no dusty relic but a living dialogue. Buch's 30-year milestone in Rishikesh—marked by Aghori mentorships and psychic healing—fuels this momentum, with fresh content like Bhairav's reciprocal "choosing" of devotees underscoring the site's interactive ethos.

In an era rife with occult misinformation, AghoriStories.com isn't merely indispensable—it's transformative. More than a blog, it's a digital ashram, inviting you to confront the mysteries that bind us all. For the uninitiated, begin in the Aghor category; for the initiated, lose yourself in the Western Aghori weaves. In Buch's words, drawn from decades in the shadows: the path to truth demands courage, but yields eternity. Dive in—and emerge renewed.

The History of the Gaekwads of Baroda

The Gaekwads (also spelled Gaekwar or Gaikwad) were a prominent Hindu Maratha dynasty that ruled the princely state of Baroda (modern Vadodara, Gujarat) from the early 18th century until India's independence in 1947. Emerging as military commanders in the Maratha Empire, they transformed Baroda into one of British India's wealthiest and most progressive states, renowned for its cotton trade, rice, wheat, and sugar production. The dynasty's rulers, titled Maharaja Gaekwad of Baroda, enjoyed a 21-gun salute and managed relations with the British through the Baroda Residency. Their legacy endures in Vadodara's architecture, institutions, and cultural heritage.

Origins and Foundation

The Gaekwads originated from a Maratha clan in present-day Maharashtra, traditionally ranked as Kshatriyas (warriors). Their family name is believed to derive from "Gāyakavāḍa," possibly linked to "gae-kaiwari" (protector of cows), reflecting their pastoral and martial roots.

The dynasty's founder, Pilaji Rao Gaekwad (r. 1721–1732), was a Maratha general who initially served under the Dabhade family, the senapatis (commanders-in-chief) of the Maratha Confederacy in Gujarat. In 1721, Pilaji Rao conquered Baroda city from the declining Mughal Empire and received it as a jagir (grant) from Chhatrapati Shahu I. He established his base at Songadh fortress and expanded control through campaigns against Mughal governors, eventually securing territories south of the Mahi River, including Baroda, Champaner, and parts of Surat. Pilaji died in battle on 14 May 1732, laying the foundation for Gaekwad power in Gujarat.

His son, Damaji Rao Gaekwad (r. 1732–1768), consolidated this power. Initially allied with the Dabhades, Damaji switched allegiance to the Peshwa (the Maratha prime minister) after a defeat in 1751, receiving the title of Shamsher Bahadur and authority over Gujarat. He expelled remaining Mughal forces with Peshwa support and fought in the Third Battle of Panipat (1761) alongside other Maratha leaders. After the Marathas' defeat at Panipat, which weakened Peshwa authority, the Gaekwads became virtually independent rulers while nominally recognizing the Peshwas and the Bhonsle Chhatrapati of Satara.

18th-Century Consolidation and Internal Conflicts

The late 18th century was marked by family rivalries and power struggles. Successive rulers included:

Sayaji Rao I (1768–1778)

Fateh Singh Rao I (1778–1789)

Manaji Rao (1789–1793)

Govind Rao (1793–1800)

These reigns saw frequent interventions by the Peshwas to settle disputes, often dividing revenues between rival brothers. The Gaekwads participated in the First Anglo-Maratha War (1775–1782) against the British but emerged relatively unscathed.

In 1802, during the reign of Anand Rao Gaekwad (1800–1819), the British intervened to protect him from rivals, leading to the Treaty of Cambay. This agreement recognized Gaekwad independence from the Maratha Confederacy while accepting British suzerainty and granting internal autonomy—a pragmatic arrangement that ensured stability amid the declining Maratha power.

Subsequent rulers like Sayaji Rao II (1819–1847), Ganpat Rao (1847–1856), and Khande Rao (1856–1870) maintained alliances with the British, expanding the state's economy through agriculture and trade.

The Crisis of Succession and the Deposition of Malhar Rao

After Khande Rao's death in 1870 without issue, his brother Malhar Rao Gaekwad (r. 1870–1875) ascended the throne. His rule was tyrannical and corrupt; he was accused of misgovernance and attempting to poison the British Resident. In 1875, a British commission deposed him, marking a rare direct intervention in a princely state.

The British selected a distant relative, 12-year-old Gopalrao from the cadet branch in Kavlana village, who was adopted by Maharani Jamnabai (widow of Khande Rao). Renamed Sayajirao Gaekwad III (r. 1875–1939), he would become the dynasty's most illustrious ruler.

The Golden Age: Sayajirao Gaekwad III (1875–1939)

Sayajirao III's 63-year reign transformed Baroda into a model progressive state. Educated under British tutor Frederick Elliot and influenced by reformers, he introduced groundbreaking policies:

Compulsory free primary education (1910, the first in India)

Bans on child marriage and untouchability practices

A modern library system, banks, and textile mills

Extensive infrastructure, including the Gaekwar's Baroda State Railway (Asia's largest narrow-gauge network at the time)

He founded the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda and patronized arts, commissioning works from Raja Ravi Varma and supporting scholars like B.R. Ambedkar with scholarships for studies abroad. Architecturally, he commissioned the opulent Laxmi Vilas Palace (completed 1890), an Indo-Saracenic masterpiece four times larger than Buckingham Palace.

Sayajirao navigated British relations skillfully, earning honours like GCSI and GCIE, while subtly supporting Indian nationalism—he famously offered only a slight bow to King George V at the 1911 Delhi Durbar. His reforms made Baroda a beacon of modernity, with high literacy and industrial growth.

Later Rulers and the End of Princely Rule

Sayajirao III was succeeded by his grandson, Pratap Singh Rao Gaekwad (r. 1939–1951, titular until 1968). In 1947, Baroda acceded to independent India, formally merging into Bombay State in 1949. Pratap Singh served briefly as Rajpramukh (governor) of the united state.

Later titular heads included Fatehsinghrao Gaekwad (1951–1988), Ranjitsinh Gaekwad (1988–2012), and the current head, Samarjitsinh Gaekwad (since 2012).

List of Maharajas of Baroda

1. Pilaji Rao Gaekwad (1721–1732) – Founder; conquered Baroda

2. Damaji Rao Gaekwad (1732–1768) – Consolidated power in Gujarat

3. Sayaji Rao I (1768–1778)

4. Fateh Singh Rao I (1778–1789)

5. Manaji Rao (1789–1793)

6. Govind Rao (1793–1800)

7. Anand Rao (1800–1819) – Treaty of Cambay (1802)

8. Sayaji Rao II (1819–1847)

9. Ganpat Rao (1847–1856)

10. Khande Rao (1856–1870)

11. Malhar Rao (1870–1875) – Deposed by British

12. Sayajirao III (1875–1939) – Greatest reformer

13. Pratap Singh Rao (1939–1951) – Last ruling Maharaja

(Titular heads continued after 1949.)

Legacy

The Gaekwads' wealth—once estimated in billions today through investments and jewels like the Star of the South diamond—made them India's richest royal family for generations. Their palaces, museums, and universities in Vadodara stand as testaments to their vision. Though princely privileges ended in 1971, the family remains influential in culture, sports (cricket administration), and philanthropy. The Laxmi Vilas Palace, still family-owned, symbolizes their enduring grandeur in modern India.

Surabhi: The Fragrance That Turned Postcards into a National Phenomenon

In the 1990s, when Indian homes had just one television set and Sunday mornings belonged undisputedly to Doordarshan, a gentle voice would announce: "Namaste… swagat hai aapka Surabhi mein."  

And with that simple greeting from Siddharth Kak and Renuka Shahane's warm smile, millions of Indians were transported into a weekly celebration of their own country's astonishing diversity.

Surabhi was never just a television programme. It was a national movement disguised as a cultural magazine show.

From remote villages in Manipur to fishing hamlets in Kerala, from the apple orchards of Himachal to the tea gardens of Assam, people sat down on the floor in front of black-and-white sets (or the prized new colour ones) to watch ordinary Indians doing extraordinary things with their heritage. A potter in Kumartuli shaping Durga idols. A Theyyam dancer in full trance. A Baul singer lost in ecstasy. A master weaver in Kanchipuramaking silk speak. Surabhi didn't just show India to Indians – it made every viewer feel that the entire country was one large joint family.

And the family wrote back. In lakhs.

In 1993, a single week saw 14 lakh postcards flood the Surabhi office – a deluge so massive that the Andheri post office in Mumbai ran out of storage space. Siddharth Kak later recalled getting frantic calls from postmasters: "We have no place to keep them, no vans to deliver them!" He ended up hiring tempos himself to ferry sacks of mail. The humble 15-paise inland letter and postcard, meant originally for farmers' schemes, was being "misused" on an industrial scale by an entire nation desperate to participate in a TV quiz.

India Post, in an unprecedented move, created an entirely new category: the ₹2 Competition Postcard, specially designed for quiz shows and contests. It remains one of the few instances in world postal history where a television programme literally forced a national postal service to invent a new product.

That record-breaking 14 lakh letters in one week earned Surabhi a proud entry in the Limca Book of Records – still unbeaten for the highest documented viewer response in Indian television history.

What makes the phenomenon even more extraordinary is that nobody planned it.

There were no marketing budgets, no SMS voting, no social media campaigns, no TRP anxiety, no celebrity endorsements (except the utterly butterly delicious Amul girl who quietly sponsored the show for years). There was only sincere storytelling, two hosts who treated viewers like extended family, and content so rich that people felt compelled to respond – with ink, paper, and a 25-paise stamp (later ₹2).

Every week the show ended with Renuka Shahane reading out letters: a child from Nagaland sending a drawing, a grandmother from Rajasthan sharing a folk recipe, a college student in Shillong suggesting a topic. Winners received prizes as simple as a book or a cassette, yet the joy of seeing your name on national television was priceless. Surabhi turned passive viewers into active participants in cultural preservation.

The show ran gloriously from the early 1990s to 2001 (with a brief pause in 1991), clocking over 415 episodes – making it the longest-running cultural programme in Indian television history. It moved homes from Doordarshan to Star Plus in its final years, but its heart remained firmly in that simple DD studio where Siddharth Kak and Renuka Shahane sat cross-legged on the floor, as if they were in your living room.

Today, when algorithms decide what we watch and outrage travels faster than light, Surabhi feels like a gentle reminder of a kinder time – when a television show could unite a billion people not through controversy, but through curiosity, pride, and love for their own culture.

On World Television Day, we salute Surabhi – the fragrance that still lingers in the hearts of everyone who ever rushed to buy a postcard on Sunday evening, carefully wrote their quiz answers in the best handwriting they could manage, and posted it with a prayer on Monday morning.

Because somewhere in this country, there are still cupboards and old trunks where yellowing Surabhi postcards are kept like treasured family heirlooms.

And that, more than any TRP or award, is the real record that will never be broken.

#WorldTelevisionDay #Surabhi #IndianCulture #Nostalgia #Doordarshan #SiddharthKak #RenukaShahane #ClassicTV #IncredibleIndia

Kyoto: The Eternal Heart of Japan That Still Whispers to the Soul

In a country that races toward the future with bullet trains and towering skylines, Kyoto remains the quiet, unbreakable thread connecting modern Japan to its ancient soul. With 17 UNESCO World Heritage sites, over a thousand temples and shrines, and traditions that have endured for centuries, this former imperial capital is where time slows down and beauty becomes almost overwhelming. Here, golden pavilions shimmer on mirror-like ponds, vermilion torii gates climb sacred mountains, and geiko (the correct Kyoto term for geisha) glide through lantern-lit alleys as they have for generations.

Whether draped in delicate pink cherry blossoms in spring or ablaze with crimson maples in autumn, Kyoto is Japan at its most poetic.

Your Perfect 7-Day Kyoto Journey

 Day 1 – Arrival & First Taste of Magic

Land at Kansai International Airport (KIX) and take the speedy Haruka Express straight to Kyoto Station – an architectural marvel in itself. Drop your bags and head immediately to Fushimi Inari Taisha. Arriving in the late afternoon means you'll catch the famous thousands of vermilion torii gates bathed in golden hour light with far fewer crowds. Begin the climb through the tunnels of gates; even if you only go halfway up Mount Inari, the atmosphere is spellbinding. End your first day with a gentle walk through Southern Higashiyama – the streets of Ninenzaka and Sannen-zaka feel like stepping onto the set of a samurai film, with wooden machiya houses and tiny shops selling everything from matcha sweets to handmade ceramics.

 Day 2 – Bamboo Cathedrals and Riverside Serenity

Rise early for Arashiyama on Kyoto's western edge. The moment you step into the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove at opening time, you'll understand why it's one of the most photographed places in Japan – sunlight filters through towering green stalks, creating an otherworldly cathedral of bamboo. Visit the UNESCO-listed Tenryu-ji Temple and its sublime garden, then cross the iconic Togetsukyo Bridge. A short hike up to the Iwatayama Monkey Park rewards you with mischievous snow monkeys and panoramic views over the city. In the evening, wander narrow Pontocho Alley – one of the most atmospheric dining streets in Japan – where lantern-lit restaurants overhang the Kamogawa River and the air smells of charcoal-grilled yakitori.

# Day 3 – Golden Splendor and Zen Mastery

No visit to Kyoto is complete without witnessing Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion. Its top two floors are completely covered in gold leaf and its reflection in the mirror-like pond is one of Japan's most iconic images. From there, a short taxi ride brings you to Ryoan-ji, home of the world's most famous rock garden – fifteen stones arranged so that only fourteen are visible at once, inviting centuries of contemplation. Continue to the elegant Ninna-ji temple complex before ending your day with a peaceful walk along the Philosopher's Path, a cherry-tree-lined canal named after the 20th-century philosopher Nishida Kitaro who meditated here daily.

Day 4 – Geisha, Views, and Temple Nights

Wake before dawn and position yourself quietly in Gion's Hanamikoji Street – if you're lucky and respectful, you may glimpse geiko and maiko hurrying to early appointments in full traditional dress. Then climb to Kiyomizu-dera Temple, whose massive wooden stage juts out over the hillside offering sweeping views across Kyoto. In the evening, visit nearby Kodai-ji Temple for its spectacular night illuminations (available spring and autumn) – the gardens, tea houses, and bamboo grove are lit dramatically, and the reflection of the moon on the pond is pure magic.

Day 5 – Nara: Kyoto's Ancient Neighbor

Take a 45-minute train ride to Nara, Japan's first permanent capital. Walk through Nara Park where over a thousand semi-tame deer bow for treats. Marvel at Todai-ji Temple and its colossal bronze Great Buddha (Daibutsu) – one of the largest in the world – housed in the largest wooden building on earth. Stroll beneath thousands of stone and bronze lanterns at Kasuga Taisha Shrine, then return to Kyoto in the late afternoon, pleasantly exhausted from a perfect day trip.

 Day 6 – Silver Serenity and Mountain Temples

Explore northern Kyoto beginning with Ginkaku-ji, the Silver Pavilion. Though it was never actually covered in silver, its understated elegance and exquisite moss garden embody wabi-sabi beauty. Wander to the tiny, tranquil Honen-in Temple (often missed by tour groups), then take a bus to Ohara, a rural valley north of the city. Sanzen-in Temple here is pure paradise – sit on the veranda overlooking gardens of moss and maple while sipping matcha and listening to monks chanting in the distance.

Day 7 – Final Flavors and Fond Farewells

Spend your last morning at Nishiki Market – Kyoto's 400-year-old "kitchen." Sample everything from baby octopus stuffed with quail egg to freshly roasted tea and handmade yatsuhashi sweets. If time allows, join a traditional tea ceremony experience or simply wander the covered arcades one last time. From Kyoto Station, the airport express will whisk you back to Kansai International in under 75 minutes.

When to Go

Late March to early April for cherry blossoms that transform the entire city into a dreamscape of pale pink, or November when the autumn foliage turns Kyoto into a blazing palette of red, orange, and gold. Both seasons are peak, so book accommodations six to twelve months in advance.

Kyoto is not just a destination – it is a feeling. It's the sound of wooden geta sandals on stone paths at dawn, the scent of incense drifting from ancient temples, and the quiet realization that some beauty is so profound it can bring tears to your eyes.

In Kyoto, ancient Japan doesn't just survive. It breathes, deeply and eternally.

Cashaa Introduces a New Era in Digital Asset Banking: Unveils Deobanking Whitepaper

Cashaa defines a new self-sovereign financial ecosystem built on user ownership and autonomy
The whitepaper presents Cashaa's next-generation Deobanking infrastructure designed to replace custodial banking with an autonomous user-controlled model

New Delhi, 19^th November 2025: Fintech pioneer Cashaa has released its whitepaper on the Deobanking solution, presenting a structured approach to decentralized finance built on regulatory compliance, user control, and transparency. The paper outlines the company's evolution from business banking services to a model centered entirely on self-sovereign finance enabled through Cashaa's Deobanking self-sovereign wallet infrastructure.

"Cashaa is continuing towards its original mission to build a decentralised self-sovereign financial system where no company, no bank, no government and no custodian can decide whether you can access your own money. This next era is called Deobanking (Decentralised Autonomous Banking) and Cashaa is leading it," said Amjad Raza Khan, Founder and CEO of Cashaa.

The Deobanking model introduced in the whitepaper details a non-custodial wallet system that allows users to manage both crypto and fiat currencies while retaining full ownership of their private keys. It offers a secure and inclusive structure that blends the discipline of regulated banking with the independence of decentralized finance, borderless remittances to over 130 countries and Visa-powered crypto cards for spending at 100+ million merchants worldwide.

"Today BlackRock, Fidelity, global banks and sovereign governments are all in crypto. Crypto companies can finally get banking directly from institutions which gives us a sense of closure. Now we need to empower end users therefore with Deobanking we are putting ownership back in the hands of individuals. This whitepaper shows how decentralized finance can be transparent secure and rewarding for every user. We must remember that the only financial system that cannot collapse is one where users hold their own keys." added Amjad Raza Khan.

Cashaa already provides its flagship Earn program which delivers up to 26 percent annualised returns on stablecoins and up to 18 percent on crypto for top-tier participants, while the Borrow program offers instant collateral-backed loans with LTV ratios up to 90 percent, giving users flexibility and control during the transition toward a fully autonomous model. These benefits are structured through a loyalty system where users' CAS token holdings determine their tier, enabling access to higher Earn yields, preferential Borrow rates, and additional fee waivers.

In the new Deobanking ecosystem CAS token will witness an increase in its utility through tiered cashbacks, spending limits on crypto card spends, fee discounts on global remittance and much more.

The whitepaper also outlines the issues with traditional banking and centralized crypto exchanges, how Cashaa intends to address these issues through its Deobanking infrastructure, along with plans to broaden asset support, enhance CAS token utility, apart from introducing decentralized finance tools like self-sovereign wallets, Visa-powered crypto cards and borderless remittances. Through this publication, Cashaa contributes to the broader dialogue on how regulated frameworks can coexist with decentralized financial systems, aiming to set a benchmark for secure and transparent participation in the digital economy.

Download the full whitepaper at
https://cashaa.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cashaa-Whitepaper.pdf

 

Cashaa was founded in 2016 with a simple yet powerful belief that people should truly own their money. It began by using Bitcoin to make cross-border transfers instant and accessible across emerging markets in Asia and Africa, and quickly grew into a platform reimagining how individuals interact with global finance. Cashaa has supported over 500 companies, including some of the biggest platforms in the world like Binance, Paxful, Nexo and others across Asia, Africa, Europe, and LATAM providing them access to banking rails when no bank would even allow them into the lobby. Today, Cashaa with its Deobank model, is building a secure non-custodial wallet infrastructure that lets users control their private keys, manage both crypto and fiat seamlessly, and transact across more than 130 countries, merging the discipline of regulated banking with the independence of decentralized finance. To know more, visit: https://cashaa.com/

BPE Strengthens Leadership with Pallavi Mishra as Chief People Officer

New Delhi, November 19, 2025: BPE (Best Power Equipments), a trusted leader in power solutions for over 25 years, has officially announced the appointment of Ms. Pallavi Mishra as Chief People Officer (CPO). This strategic onboarding underscores BPE& commitment to building a world-class enterprise by attracting top talent in HR, as it expands and fosters a people-first culture during a period of rapid growth.

Ms. Mishra has a distinguished 22-year career dedicated to transforming human resources in global companies. She is competent in all phases of HR, particularly with client transitions, internal and external audits, vendor management, and managing complex legal and POSH matters. A significant milestone in her career involved the HR operations & transition from a manual to a fully automated and streamlined process.

She has dealt with all the HR functions across well-known global brands such as Hewlett-Packard, Oracle, NTT DATA, Thoughtworks, and CBRE. Ms Mishra brings all these past skills and experiences with her to provide strategic and operational value for even greater organisational excellence for BPE.

Amitansu Satpathy, Founder and Group Managing Director, BPE, noted, "Ms. Mishra & demonstrated ability to navigate HR transformation, paired with her extensive experience leading organisations around the world, aligns well with BPE & vision for an engaged, agile, future-focused workforce. Her leadership will be absolutely critical to developing talent, enhancing operational effectiveness, and delivering against our aggressive growth plans." 

Upon her appointment, Ms. Mishra stated, "This is a thrilling time to be joining BPE in its evolution. The company & focus on innovation, quality, and customer success is palpable. I am excited to bring my experience in developing high-performing teams and simplified HR structures to BPE. Together with BPE & talented professionals, we will strive - create a culture of excellence that fuels long-term success"

As Ms. Pallavi Mishra joins the team, BPE continues to accelerate its mission to enable mission-critical applications, with an emphasis on people being the focal point of its global growth strategy. The company is committed to providing innovative, reliable power solutions and maintaining long-term partnerships around the world.

About Best Power Equipment's (BPE):
Best Power Equipments (BPE) is a pioneering Indian MNC providing end-to-end strategic power solutions for the past two and a half decades. Founded by Mr. Amitansu Satpathy in 2000, at a time when power was one of the biggest issues grappling India, the company has over the years expanded its footprint to at least 14 countries. One of the largest suppliers of UPS solutions worldwide, the INR 500-crore company is also a go-to destination for end-to-end data center capabilities. With a complete suite of Made-in-India products and end-to-end power solutions, BPE has been serving leading names from across industries and sectors, such as Axis Bank, ICICI, HDFC, Airtel, Dominos, Reliance, Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum, Airtel etc. With product lines including UPS (range 600VA up to 8MW), Precision Air Conditioner, Power Distribution Units, Server Cabinets, Smart Racks, Battery EnergyStorage System (up to GW) as well as Power Environmental Monitoring System, Best Power Equipments has created an indelible mark across verticals such as BFSI, Industrial & Manufacturing Applications, Government projects, Telecommunication, Medical, Retail, Data Centres and IT Network Servers.

NEWME becomes 1st Fashion brand to launch quick commerce exclusive collection

~ZIP exclusive collection is a major boost for quick commerce, and the brand expects it to positively impact the fashion industry~

Bengaluru, 17th November, 2025: NEWME today announced two significant updates to its quick-fashion service, NEWME Zip, making Bengaluru the first city in India to access round-the-clock delivery and an exclusive limited-edition fashion drop created only for ZIP users.

The 60-minute delivery service, which has grown steadily since its launch in Bengaluru, saw a sharp rise in late-night orders over the past few months. Many users asked if they could receive their outfits before stepping out the next morning — a pattern that kept repeating across ZIP's data and consumer feedback. In response, NEWME has extended ZIP to a 24x7 service in Bengaluru. All orders placed until 10 PM will now be delivered before 10 AM.

"Gen Z doesn't shop on a schedule. They browse at midnight, make plans at the last minute, and expect fashion to match their pace," said Sumit Jasoria, Co-Founder and CEO, NEWME. "We started seeing a lot of early-morning fashion urgency — people wanting a new outfit before college, work, or an event. Extending ZIP to 24x7 was the natural next step, and we've rebuilt parts of our ops to make it work sustainably."

To support the extended hours, NEWME has reworked its operational model using smart batching, dynamic routing, and intelligent allocation across its dark-store network. These updates aim to maintain delivery speed without pushing up operational costs — a common challenge in quick commerce.

Alongside the service expansion, NEWME has launched the first-ever ZIP Exclusive Collection, a limited-edition set of trend-forward designs released only on NEWME ZIP and available in very small quantities: 5 designs, 50 pieces each. The drop is rooted in a strong Gen Z insight — the desire to own statement pieces that feel personal, limited, and culturally relevant.

The collection is available only in Bengaluru for now, and NEWME says it will explore similar drops in other ZIP cities based on demand and relevance.

"With this drop, we wanted to celebrate the culture of our community — the thrill of owning something unique, and the excitement of getting it instantly," Jasoria added.

NEWME Zip currently offers over 1,500 styles for near-instant delivery and is part of the brand's broader strategy to build India's most responsive, youth-first fashion ecosystem.

About NEWME:

Founded in 2022 by Sumit Jasoria, Vinod Naik, Shivam Tripathi, and Himanshu Chaudhary, NEWME targets more than 500 Mn Gen Z customers in India and Southeast Asia. NEWME believes in the transformative power of technology to enhance designs and solve for accessibility and affordability in fashion. The brand genuinely celebrates the spirit of self-expression and individualism among youth and offers thousands of designs and trends to choose from every day. The carefully curated collection of trendsetting products, released weekly, aims to empower youthful, raw, and high-energy consumers, meeting their desire to be their 'NEWME' every day.

New Cyclone Threat Looms Over Bay of Bengal: Next 48 Hours Critical, Says IMD

DNCA News Desk

18 November 2025

A new weather system brewing in the Bay of Bengal has put coastal regions of eastern India on high alert, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warning that the next 48 hours will be decisive in determining the intensity and track of a potential cyclonic storm.

According to the IMD, a low-pressure area currently over the southeast Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify further as it moves west-northwestward over the next two days. The system is expected to concentrate into a depression and possibly a cyclonic storm, drawing energy from the warm sea surface temperatures typical of the region in November.

"The coming 48 hours are extremely crucial. During this period, it will become clear how intense the system will become and which coastal states will bear the maximum impact," an IMD official stated.

Coastal areas of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha** are likely to experience heavy to very heavy rainfall accompanied by strong gusty winds in the coming days. Rough to very rough sea conditions are anticipated, with wave heights expected to rise significantly if the system intensifies into a depression or beyond.

Fishermen have been strictly advised not to venture into the sea along the east coast until further notice.

The IMD highlighted that November cyclones in the Bay of Bengal often undergo rapid intensification due to favorable oceanic and atmospheric conditions. Recent examples of fast-developing storms have prompted authorities to remain extra vigilant.

"Many systems formed in the Bay of Bengal have turned into severe cyclonic storms within just a few hours. Keeping this in mind, we have advised all coastal states to strengthen advance preparedness," the weather department said.

The low-pressure system was marked on November 22, and critical updates regarding its development and probable landfall zone are expected within the next 24 to 48 hours.

The entire nation is closely monitoring the evolution of this new weather system and its potential impact on the eastern coastline.

Further updates from the IMD are expected shortly. Coastal residents are urged to stay tuned to official weather bulletins and follow instructions from local authorities.

Stay safe, stay informed.