On International Women’s Day, Consumers’ Legal Protection Forum, Assam in collaboration with Consumer VOICE, New Delhi organized a sensitization workshop and slogan competition in Jyotisikha Mahila Samannay Parishad Auditorium, Panjabari, Guwahati with women professional from various fields doctors, lawyers, social activists etc. on the theme of Strengthen Tobacco Control Law to Save Lives’ Empowering Women towards a Smoke-Free Healthy Future . Jyotisikha Mahila Samannay Parishad, Pratishruti Cancer & Palliative Trust and Inner Wheel Club of Guwahati East supported the program. On the occasion, women from different walks appealed to strengthen the tobacco control law to curb the tobacco menace. More than hundred women participated in the slogan competition and urged to remove the designated smoking areas to make India 100 percent smoke free and banning the point of sale to save the younger children and youth from the menace of tobacco. Prize was also distributed among the first three winners. After the competition, all slogans were send to PMO- India.
Nearly 50% of all cancers in India are due to tobacco. Smoking worsens lung function and reduces immunity. All designated smoking areas in hotels and restaurants and even airports should be removed to ensure a 100% smoke free environment. Global Adult Tobacco Survey revealed that 33% of women and 48.2% of all adults either smoke tobacco and/ or use smokeless tobacco in the state of Assam. Apart around 40 percent of women exposed to second hand smoke at home in our country according to data. To strengthen the tobacco control law there is urgent need to initiate the amendment process of tobacco control law says Advocate Ajoy Hazarika, Secretary Consumers’ Legal Protection Forum, Assam . Dr. Dippy Aggarwal, Senior Consultant, OBS & Gynecology said in her speech “Tobacco in any form is dangerous and deadly. It is alarming that children and teens are lured towards the tobacco addiction. Tobacco use can cause cancer, cancer of mouth, oesophagus, lung cancer etc. Women smokers have risk of stroke, haemorrhage and other problems related to reproductive system. A strong action must be taken to protect women from the harms of tobacco use and exposure to second hand smoke.”
Swapnali Mahanta, Eminent Writer & Social Worker also present in the Sensitization Workshop and said Along with men, women also consume tobacco products in our country. Even though the numbers are less but the health harms are more in some cases. Women smokers are at a greater risk of developing cervical cancer, osteoporosis and conditions of reproductive system along with stroke. To tackle this, we need stringent policies for tobacco control and can save millions of lives.
World’s best Stand-Up Paddlers, including World No. 2 Spanish duo of Fernando Perez (Men’s) and Esperanza Barreras (Women’s) along with Bianca Toncelli, reigning SUP Junior Champion, and reigning national champion Sekar Patchai are all set are set to showcase a thrilling competition at the country’s first-ever International Stand-Up Paddling event, India Paddle Festival. The three- day Stand-Up Paddling extravaganza is sanctioned by The Association of PaddleSurf Professionals World Tour (APP) – the official professional World Championship Tour for the sport of Stand-Up Paddling. The India Paddle Festival will be hosted at the pristine Sasihithulu beach in Mangalore from 8th-10th March 2024 while India’s first international stand-up paddling competition is being organized by the Surfing Swami Foundation and is presented by Karnataka Government.
Bollywood celebrity Suniel Shetty has come on board as the Ambassador for the India Paddle Festival. The event has also received strong support from the country’s top athletes like Indian cricketer KL Rahul and reigning world no.1 men’s doubles shuttler Chirag Shetty. The inaugural India Paddle Festival will see a total of 45 stand-up paddlers from across the world competing in four categories – Men’s Open, Women’s Open, Junior U-16 Boys, and Girls. The India Paddle Festival will be a mix of sports, cultural and entertainment, the details which were announced at a Press Conference held in the city today, which was attended by Mr. Tristan Boxford, CEO, APP World Tour, Mr. Dhananjaya Shetty, Chairman, and Surfing Swami Foundation. Ambassador of the event, Bollywood superstar Suniel Shetty said, “Big shout to Team Mantra (Mantra Surf Club), all the officials, and Goodwill Ambassador KL Rahul, and for bringing the fastest growing water sport to our shores. This is a great step, looking forward to many such events in Namma Mangaluru, the very best spot in the country for surfing and other water sports. Best wishes to all the athletes, participants, and organizers for making this event a great success.” Goodwill ambassador of the event, Indian cricketer KL Rahul said, “The first ever International Stand-up Paddle Championship is happening in one of my favorite cities in India, Mangaluru. Firstly, a big congratulations to the organizers and Mantra Surf Club, who have made this event possible. I have been following their work for some time now, and I feel proud that your hard work has maintained Mangaluru’s reputation.” Wishing all the participants, very best for the championships.”
Goodwill ambassador of the event, Indian shuttler who also is a reigning world no.1 men’s doubles Chirag Shetty said, “Congratulations and best wishes to Mangaluru and Mantra Team for hosting the first ever International Stand-up Paddle Championship on the Indian shores. This is going to be a great step towards promoting the fastest growing water sport. My best wishes to all athletes, participants and organizers.” Speaking on the event, Mr. Tristan Boxford, CEO, APP World Tour, said, “It’s amazing to be here at the India Paddle Festival in Mangalore, India’s first ever International Stand-up Paddling event. We already have established ourselves across Europe, Americas, Asia, the Pacific and Middle East, and now we are looking at India as the next big growth market for the sport. We have been discussing with Surfing Swami and Mantra Surf School for many years now about the opportunity to bring something here and finally we are embarking on this adventure together.” He further added, “Sasihisthilu is such a beautiful beach and a venue for Stand-up Paddling. And I hope to witness some intense competition over the weekend. We’ve got athletes from Denmark, Hungary, Spain, Korea, Indonesia, all over the world to Thailand. We also have some top class athletes like, Christian Anderson (Denmark) and world no. 2, Fernando Perez from Spain while on the women’s side, world no. 2 Esperanza Barreras is one of the fastest women in the world.”
Day 1 will commence with a Yoga session, followed by a Community/Pro SUP Paddle session. The main event on the same day will be the Juniors Race, scheduled for the evening. The crowd will be entertained with the screening of It Is This, In Search of the Storm and Powerstar, which is part of the film festival that will be conducted on all three days of the event. The heats and finals of the technical races for both men and women will be held on Day 2. The main attraction of the India Paddle Festival, the sprint races, will be held on the final day along with the finals of the community race. The Association of PaddleSurf Professionals World Tour (APP) announced its entry in India with the country’s first-ever International Stand-Up Paddling championship last month. The India Paddle Festival will be the first step in an exciting new development journey for the organization as a significant growth of the sport in the region over the coming years. Presented by Karnataka Tourism, organized by the Surfing Swami Foundation, the India Paddle Festival will welcome a selection of top athletes from the APP World Tour, as well as other aspiring professionals from the region.
ভাৰতীয় হিন্দু ধৰ্মৰ এটা ধৰ্মীয় উৎসৱ। হিন্দুধৰ্মৰ দেৱতা শিৱৰ উপাসনাৰ উদ্দেশ্যে প্ৰতিবছৰে এই উৎসৱ পালন কৰা হয়। হিন্দু দিনপঞ্জী অনুসৰি প্ৰতিমাহৰে ত্ৰয়োদশ ৰাতি/চতুৰ্দশ দিনত এবাৰকৈ শিৱৰাত্ৰিৰ তিথি পৰে, কিন্তু বছৰত এবাৰকৈ ফাগুণত ধুমধামেৰে মহা শিৱৰাত্ৰি আয়োজন কৰা হয়। হিন্দুসকলৰ এই গুৰুত্বপূৰ্ণ উৎসৱত জীৱন আৰু বিশ্বৰ “অন্ধকাৰ আৰু অৱহেলা আঁতৰ কৰা”ৰ পণ স্মৰণ কৰা হয়। ইয়াত ভক্তসকলে শিৱৰ আৰতি পাঠ, উপবাস, যোগ আদি নিয়ম পালন কৰে।
কিছু ভক্ত ওৰে ৰাতি সাৰে থাকে। কোনো কোনোৱে শিৱ মন্দিৰ বা জ্যোতিৰ্লিংগ দৰ্শন কৰিবলৈ যায়। এই প্ৰাচীন হিন্দু উৎসৱৰ আৰম্ভণিৰ তাৰিখ জনা নাযায়। কাশ্মীৰ শৈৱধৰ্মত এই উৎসৱক ভক্তসকলে হৰ-ৰাত্ৰি বা সহজ উচ্চাৰণৰ Haerath বা Herath বুলি কয়।