The holy town of Puttaparthi witnessed a historic and deeply spiritual moment as Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi arrived to participate in the Centenary Celebrations of Bhagwan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. The event brought together thousands of devotees, seekers, and followers from across India and the world, all gathered to honour 100 years of the revered spiritual master’s birth.
A Visit Filled With Devotion
PM Modi began his visit by offering heartfelt respects at the holy shrine and Mahasamadhi of Bhagwan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. The serene atmosphere of Prasanthi Nilayam set the tone for a day dedicated to reflection, gratitude, and spiritual resonance.
Honouring a Global Spiritual Legacy
As part of the centenary programme, the Prime Minister released a Commemorative Coin and a special set of Postal Stamps. These releases stand as symbolic tributes to Sai Baba’s timeless teachings—love, service, unity, and compassion—that continue to inspire millions.
A Message of Service and Unity
In his address, PM Modi highlighted the transformative impact of Bhagwan Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s humanitarian work, which spans education, healthcare, rural development, and spiritual upliftment. He emphasised how Sai Baba’s message remains more relevant today than ever, reminding humanity of the power of selfless service.
A Gathering That Reflected Sai Baba’s Vision
The centenary event drew enthusiastic participation from devotees, volunteers, and Sai institutions. The celebration not only honoured the past but also reaffirmed the global Sai community’s commitment to continuing the spiritual leader’s mission of serving humanity.
A Memorable and Inspiring Day
Puttaparthi’s centenary celebrations became a beautiful blend of devotion, culture, and collective inspiration. PM Modi’s presence added a significant dimension to the occasion, marking it as a truly memorable milestone in the ongoing legacy of Bhagwan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
Hyderabad | October 7, 2025 — The Model Code of Conduct came into effect in Hyderabad district on October 6, following the announcement of the Jubilee Hills Assembly by-election, which will be held on November 11.
The bye-election was necessitated by the death of sitting MLA Maganti Gopinath of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) in June this year. The BRS has nominated his wife, Maganti Sunitha, as its candidate. The Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are yet to announce their nominees.
Telangana Chief Electoral Officer C. Sudharshan Reddy stated that all necessary arrangements are being made to ensure a free, fair, and peaceful election. The Election Commission has also directed all parties and candidates to disclose any criminal antecedents through newspapers, television, and digital platforms.
The official election notification will be issued on October 13.
Last date for filing nominations: October 21
Scrutiny of nominations: October 22
Withdrawal of candidature: October 24
Polling date: November 11
Counting of votes: November 14
Election process completion: November 16
Hyderabad District Returning Officer R.V. Karnan, who also serves as GHMC Commissioner, announced that new voters may register within 10 days of the notification. He confirmed that the Model Code of Conduct is now in effect across Hyderabad district.
Voting will be conducted using Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) systems across all polling stations. Adequate numbers of EVMs have been tested and deployed to ensure smooth polling operations.
Voters can present their EPIC (Voter ID) or any other approved identification document such as Aadhaar, Driving Licence, Passport, PAN Card, or Pension ID. The CEO urged all citizens to verify their names on the electoral rolls and participate actively in the democratic process.
As per the final electoral roll published last week, the Jubilee Hills constituency has 3,99,000 voters — including 2,07,382 males, 1,91,593 females, and 25 third-gender voters. This marks a 3.49% increase from the 3,85,287 voters registered during the 2023 Assembly elections.
Polling will be held across 407 polling stations spread across 139 locations in the constituency.
In the 2023 Assembly elections, BRS candidate Maganti Gopinath scored a hat-trick victory, defeating former Indian cricket captain and Congress candidate Mohammed Azharuddin by 16,337 votes. Gopinath secured 80,549 votes, while Azharuddin polled 64,212. BJP’s L. Deepak Reddy finished third with 25,866 votes, and AIMIM’s candidate came fourth with 7,848 votes.
Riyadh – On Friday, August 8, 2025, Peacock Restaurant—a celebrated name in Hyderabadi cuisine from Karimnagar—unveiled its first overseas location in the Al-Malaz area of Saudi Arabia’s capital. The inauguration was officiated by Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Dr. Suhel Khan, and witnessed by a vibrant gathering of Indian expatriates and Saudi guests The Siasat Daily.
Founded in 1996 by the late Mohammed Akthar Ali, Peacock has become synonymous with authentic Hyderabadi biryani, kebabs, and hospitality. Its Riyadh outlet is envisioned as a cultural and culinary bridge, serving a variety of cuisines including Indian, Indo-Chinese, tandoori, and continental, along with traditional sweets and snacks The Siasat Daily.
The venture is a collaboration involving:
Syed Wayez Ahmed, Group CEO of Wayez International Group
Mohammed Asghar Ali, Managing Director of Peacock Group of Hotels and Restaurants
Mohammad Ali Al Jaidi, CEO of MAJIC Investment Company
Zaki, Vice President of Wayez International Group The Hans IndiaTelangana TribuneThe Siasat Daily
Catering to families and social gatherings, the Riyadh outlet features a dining area for 100 guests and an adjoining banquet hall accommodating 120 guests The Siasat DailyThe Hans India. Reflecting a commitment to sustainability, the restaurant has partnered with Hyderabad-based BioReform to eliminate single-use plastics from its operations The Siasat Daily.
This expansion not only introduces rich regional flavors to a global stage but also strengthens cultural ties, offering Saudis and the Indian diaspora alike a taste of home.
With the divine blessings of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organizations – Tarnaka Samithi joyfully conducted a spiritually uplifting event on Saturday, July 12, 2025.
🙏 108 Times Hanuman Chalisa Parayanam @ Marri Krishna Function Hall, Tarnaka
📌 Date: 12-07-2025 📍 Venue: Marri Krishna Function Hall, Tarnaka 🕘 Time: From 6:00 AM onwards
The event saw an enthusiastic gathering of devotees who participated in the chanting of Hanuman Chalisa 108 times. The entire atmosphere was filled with devotion, divine vibrations, and spiritual energy.
The soulful recitation created a powerful spiritual environment, leaving all participants deeply moved and connected to Lord Hanuman’s grace.
💐 Our Heartfelt Gratitude:
We extend our sincere thanks to all the volunteers, organizers, and devotees who made this event a grand success through their selfless service and heartfelt participation.
We look forward to organizing more such spiritual gatherings in the future with your continued support and participation.
🎉 Mana Santha 2025 – Mahilaa Abhivruddhi Neti Avasaram – Women Empowerment is the Need of the Hour concluded on a powerful and positive note! 💐 The event stood as a vibrant platform to honor the strength, creativity, and resilience of women. 🛍️ With over [insert number] stalls featuring handmade products, organic goods, handlooms, and food, the marketplace was alive with color and purpose. 🙏 Heartfelt thanks to the stallholders, visitors, and our enthusiastic volunteers – your energy made all the difference. 🎨 Today’s creative workshops like Seed Ball Making, Art & Crafts, and Eco-friendly Activities sparked imagination and awareness. 🌟 A special note of gratitude to Sri Krishna Reddy Garu for being the driving force behind this successful initiative. 🤝 The festival became a space for connection – where entrepreneurs shared, collaborated, and grew together. 📸 The smiles, the stories, the sales – every moment captured the spirit of community and empowerment. 💪 Mana Santha – A Festival with Purpose proudly carried forward the mission of Vocal for Local. 🌿 It wasn’t just a mela – it was a movement toward sustainable, inclusive, and women-led growth. 🌈 We are deeply grateful for the support of our community and partners who believed in this vision. 📢 From the entire Mana Santha team – Thank You! Let’s carry this energy forward and meet again, stronger than ever!
Cotton is the most versatile and widely used fiber in textiles. Bharatavani has introduced cotton to the world. India is the largest exporters of handlooms to the world. We were exporting finest muslins of different shades to the globe till the advent of industrialisation. Most of the fabrics were naturally dyed using our traditional dyeing methods and a specific small portion of it was naturally coloured cotton, where in the cotton fibere attaines colour naturally by birth from the plant only. We had several naturally coloured cottons that ruled the market earlier. Unfortunately we lost ground over the last century. Inspite of that the naturally coloured RED cotton sustained for a very long duration, but now even that is losing ground quickly. Gollaprolu Red cotton and Konda Patti from srikakulam area are well known red cotton varieties struggling to sustain their stand in present world as the versatile definition of KHADI has changed. Center of this shift is Ramanadham Ramesh, a craft revivalist and eco-conscious farmer from Hyderabad, who is bringing indigenous coloured cotton back into the spotlight.
Ramesh cultivates 12 varieties of native Indian cotton. Unlike genetically modified hybrid cotton, desi (indigenous) cotton varieties are resilient, require less water, and do not need heavy chemical fertilizers or pesticides. They are naturally pest-resistant to a greater extent and better suited for organic farming. He has RED – 8 varieties, GREEN – in stabilising process and YELLOW – Preemptive stage. He says there are many other shades available, but he is not holding at present.
His efforts go beyond farming. Ramesh is actively promoting the traditional and sustainable desi cotton wicks for oil lamps to making hand-spun yarn for a healthy living. he demonstrates how every part of the cotton plant can be valuable.
To revive this traditional crop, Ramesh distributes native cotton seeds to interested farmers and provides them with the knowledge to grow these crops organically in a mixed cultivation method. His mission is not just agricultural—it’s cultural and ecological. He believes that reviving desi colourd cotton can give required impetus to the dwindling village-based traditional hand spun, hand woven khadi industries, create employment, and encourage eco-friendly lifestyles.
His work has gained attention for showing how traditional practices can align with modern sustainability goals in the present day requirement of minimalist eco conscious lifestyle. With increased awareness and support, desi cotton could play a major role in reducing environmental impact while uplifting rural economies.
Contact for seeds and guidance: 📞 Ramanadham Ramesh – 94400 55266. Email: [email protected]
🌿 𝐌𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐦 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐚 📅 𝟏𝟗-𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥-𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 🌱 Mulam Santha – A Step Towards a Healthier Way of Life We are delighted to announce the 10th of 𝐌𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐦 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐚, jointly organized by 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐚 𝐁𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐢 and the 𝐂𝐒𝐑 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, with a shared vision to restore our traditional and wholesome way of living. 🧘♀️🌾 🛍️ Mulam Santha is not just a market — it’s a movement for change. It brings together: 🥦 Organic agricultural products 🍪 Traditional snacks made from millets 🧶 Authentic handicrafts — all aimed at promoting a sustainable and healthy lifestyle. 🎯 Main Objectives of Mulam Santha: ✅ Provide unadulterated, organic produce directly from farmers to consumers ✅ Ensure fair prices for farmers 👨🌾 ✅ Offer handmade crafts at affordable rates 🎨, preserving our rich artisan heritage In today’s world, where most food is adulterated 🍔❌ and lifestyle diseases are on the rise, this event is an effort to reconnect with our roots and prioritize health and tradition. 💪🏽🫶🏽 📍 Venue: 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢 𝐊𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐧𝐚 𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐥, 𝐓𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐤𝐚 🤝 Organized by: 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐚 𝐁𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐢 & 𝐂𝐒𝐑 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 🎙️ Key Organizers: – 👤 𝐊𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐧𝐚 𝐑𝐞𝐝𝐝𝐲 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐮 (Founder, CSR Memorial Foundation) – 👩💼 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐲𝐚 𝐊𝐚𝐥𝐚 (President, Grama Bharathi) – 👥 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐦 𝐆𝐨𝐮𝐝, 𝐊𝐚𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐚𝐤𝐚𝐫 𝐆𝐨𝐮𝐝, 𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐦 ✨ Come, support our farmers, celebrate our culture, and take home the taste of tradition!
NASA Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore Return to Earth After Extended Space Mission
NASA astronauts Sunita “Suni” Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore have successfully returned to Earth after spending an unexpected nine months aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Initially slated for a short eight-day mission, their stay was significantly prolonged due to technical challenges with their return spacecraft. Their safe arrival marks the conclusion of a historic mission that tested their endurance and the resilience of NASA’s spaceflight operations.
Extended Stay Due to Technical Issues
Williams and Wilmore originally launched on June 5, 2024, as part of Boeing’s Starliner crewed test mission, intended to evaluate the spacecraft’s capabilities. However, a series of propulsion system anomalies and docking complications meant that Starliner could not safely return them to Earth. As a result, NASA decided to extend their mission and integrate them into the ISS crew until an alternative plan was put in place.
During their time on the ISS, Williams and Wilmore adapted to the prolonged mission by taking on additional responsibilities. They assisted in multiple scientific experiments, routine maintenance, and spacewalks, contributing to ongoing research on long-duration spaceflight.
Return to Earth Aboard SpaceX’s Dragon Freedom
After months of delay and extensive planning, the astronauts finally departed the ISS aboard SpaceX’s Dragon Freedom capsule. Their journey back to Earth was completed on March 18, 2025, with a successful splashdown off the coast of Florida near Tallahassee at 5:57 p.m. ET. The re-entry process, which lasted approximately 17 hours, was closely monitored by NASA and SpaceX ground teams to ensure the astronauts’ safety.
Upon landing, Williams and Wilmore were extracted from the capsule and taken for immediate medical evaluations, as prolonged exposure to microgravity can lead to muscle atrophy, bone density loss, and other physiological changes.
Achievements and Contributions Aboard the ISS
During their extended stay, Williams and Wilmore played a critical role in advancing space research. Some of their key contributions include:
Conducting over 150 scientific experiments related to microgravity’s effects on human health, plant growth, and material sciences.
Performing spacewalks for maintenance and upgrades to the ISS, ensuring the continued functionality of critical systems.
Testing new technologies for upcoming deep-space missions, including tools that could be used for future Moon and Mars explorations.
Assisting in spacecraft operations and training new astronauts joining the ISS crew over the course of their mission.
Williams, a veteran astronaut, accumulated a total of 608 days in space over her three missions, making her one of the most experienced female astronauts in NASA’s history. Wilmore also set new records, strengthening his expertise in piloting and operations.
Health and Rehabilitation Post-Return
After their return, both astronauts were transported to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston for extensive medical evaluations. The rehabilitation process for astronauts after extended missions typically includes:
Physical therapy and strength training to counteract muscle weakening caused by prolonged exposure to microgravity.
Nutritional assessments and bone density tests to monitor long-term health effects.
Neurological evaluations to analyze spatial orientation and balance readjustment.
NASA scientists are particularly interested in studying the effects of prolonged space travel on Williams and Wilmore, as these findings will be crucial for future deep-space missions, including NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon and eventually send astronauts to Mars.
Public and Political Reactions
The delay in their return drew significant public attention, with many closely following NASA’s plans for their safe retrieval. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and former U.S. President Donald Trump criticized NASA’s previous handling of the situation, suggesting that the delays were due to bureaucratic inefficiencies. However, NASA officials maintained that the astronauts were never in danger and that every precaution was taken to ensure their safe return.
The successful completion of this mission highlights the importance of collaboration between NASA and private aerospace companies, such as SpaceX and Boeing, in shaping the future of space exploration. As commercial spaceflight becomes more prominent, lessons from missions like this will help refine spacecraft technology and mission planning.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Human Spaceflight
With Williams and Wilmore safely back on Earth, NASA now shifts its focus to future missions. The Artemis program continues preparations for its next crewed Moon landing, and Boeing’s Starliner program will undergo further testing and redesigns to address the technical failures encountered during this mission.
For Williams and Wilmore, their journey does not end here. They will continue working with NASA in training and mission development roles, helping to prepare the next generation of astronauts for even more ambitious space explorations.
The resilience and adaptability demonstrated by these astronauts serve as a testament to the human spirit of exploration, paving the way for a new era of space travel.
Vande Mataram! The Vivekananda Memorial Youth Foundation (VMYF), in collaboration with Badruka College, successfully hosted Vivekotsav-2025 on Sunday, February 16, 2025, at Badruka College, Kacheguda. The event saw enthusiastic participation from around 300 students representing various Degree, B.Tech, and Postgraduate colleges, making it a vibrant and dynamic gathering.
Enthralling Competitions
The event featured a diverse range of competitions, including:
Essay Writing
Elocution
Quiz
Skit
Poster Presentation
PowerPoint Presentation (PPT)
Group Singing
Group Dance
Students showcased their talents, engaging in healthy competition and demonstrating creativity, knowledge, and teamwork.
Inspiring Words from the Chief Guest
A major highlight of the event was the presence of Dr. G. Satheesh Reddy, former Chairman of DRDO, as the Chief Guest. In his inspiring speech, he emphasized the importance of perseverance, innovation, and youth empowerment. His words deeply resonated with the students, motivating them to pursue excellence and contribute to the nation’s progress.
Recognizing Excellence
The program concluded with an award ceremony where winners of various competitions were honored with prizes and certificates, recognizing their dedication and achievements.
Role of CSR Memorial Foundation and Other Sponsors
The success of Vivekotsav-2025 was made possible through the support of generous sponsors, including SBS & Co, CSR Memorial Foundation, Srikara Foundation, Helping Hands, Sangam Hotel, and Patolla Brothers.
Notably, CSR Memorial Foundation played a key role in backing the event, reinforcing its mission of fostering education, youth empowerment, and social development. The foundation has been actively involved in various initiatives aimed at supporting students through:
Scholarships
Skill development programs
Leadership training
These initiatives ensure a brighter future for young minds by equipping them with the necessary skills and opportunities to excel.
Conclusion
With its resounding success, Vivekotsav-2025 provided a meaningful platform for students to showcase their skills while embracing the values of discipline, teamwork, and intellectual growth—true to the teachings of Swami Vivekananda.
