Friday, September 29, 2017

Bird eye view of Dak Bungalow road Durga Puja


PATNA: This is a bird eye view of the Dak Bungalow road Durga Puja pandal as sea of humanity is moving towards the pandal to have a majestic view of Ma Durga on Maha Astami on Thursday.

Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

Durga Puja pandals in Patna

 Golghar Churaha
 Govind Mitra Road

 Kadam Kuan Chauraha
 Machhuatoil

 PN Anglo School
Subzibagh Puja Pandal

Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

Durga Puja at Dariyapur Gola Bramhasthan in Patna



PATNA: Sandhya Aarti (evening prayers) are being performed at Dariyapur Gola Bramhasthan in Patna on Thursday.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui


Maa Durga in full grandeur at Bangali Akhara

PATNA: Goddess Durga along with Goddess Lakshmi, Goddess Saraswati, Lord Ganesh and Lord Karthik is in full grandeur at Bangali Akhara-the oldest Puja Pandal of Patna-on Thursday.

Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Construction workers stage demonstration




PATNA: Construction workers staged demonstration in protest against government's ban on sand mining and supply of sand at Gardanibagh here on Tuesday. Bihar Government's crack down on illegal sand mining has halted the building construction business for the last two months across the state and construction workers have been feeling the pinch.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

Tuesday, September 19, 2017

Inter-School Karate Meet held at Mount Carmel School



PATNA: Inter-School Karate Championship was organised at Mount Carmel High School here on Monday. Students from different schools participated in the meet.
Benazeer Alam, a student of class 10, won the gold in her weight category bout.

Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

SBI Card customer base grows to 5 million


PATNASBI Card, the second largest card issuer in the country, has grown its cardholder base to five million by adding one million plus customers over the last year. The company has also seen significant increase incard spend which has grown from an average of Rs 3500 crores per month to Rs 5500 crores plus per month,over last one year. This has catapulted SBI Card to second position in terms of card spend among card issuers in the country, with a market share of 15%.

Speaking on the development Mr Vijay Jasuja, CEO, SBI Card said, “We are delighted that 5 million customers have placed their trust in us. This landmark has been attained at a rapid pace, by adding over 1 million customers in last one year.We believe that our penchant to provide the best in class products and highest level of service, backed by a culture of trust and transparency in everything we do, has been endorsed by our cardholders. The last five years have been a defining period in our growth. We have risen from fourth position in the industry to become the second largest player, both in terms of customer base and card spends. We have consistently maintained YOY growth of over 40% on card spends, outpacing the industry growth by a substantial margin. With monthly retail card spends of over Rs 5500 crore and customer base of 5 million, we have cemented our position in the market as a card issuer of choice.”


He added, “Our focus has been to grow our portfolio with diverse product offerings ranging from entry level products users to premium and co-branded product products customised to customer needs and spending patterns.We believe only by continually creating additional value for our customers we can reciprocate the trust and support they have placed in us.With the continued support of our customers, we will keep innovating to develop industry leading payment solutions. A strong emphasis on enhanced customer experience will be the cornerstone for our next phase of growth. We expect to sustain the momentum with 30% plus growth over the coming year.”

Press release

:Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan meets Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar

PATNA:Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan met Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar here on Monday.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

Police claim to have solved Bihta cinema owner murder case


PATNA: Patna Police claimed to have cracked the Bihta based cinema hall owner Nirbhay Singh murder case and arrested the alleged conspirators Akshay Kumar alias Prince alias Golu and Shreechandrapur panchayat mukhia Pappu Singh on Monday.

Police have also arrested 7 criminals related to Mahakal Gang, who took the contract to kill the cinema hall owner.

Nirbhay Singh was shot dead by some unidentified criminals in Bihta on September 15.
Police said Golu hired contract killers to take revenge against Nirbhay Singh, who was allegedly involved in the killing of  Golu's father.

Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui 

Monday, September 18, 2017

BSEB gives another chance to students for 2018 intermediate exam registration



PATNA: Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) has extended the registration date of intermediate students seeking to appear in the 2018 examination. Now, the students can fill up their registration forms from September 20 to October 10 without late fee.

BSEB chairman Anand Kishor on Monday said this would be treated as the last chance for registration for the 2018 intermediate students.

He said the registration would be done as per the seats available and allotted to respective schools. The head of the institutions/schools would submit the applications for registration in the allotted agency data centres from September 20 to October 5, he added.

He said the agency would release the forms online from October 6 to October 9.

The agency would provide the print out of applications for registration to respective heads of the institutions/schools from October 10 to October 14, he said.

The heads of the institutions would give the applications for registration to recruited agency for correction if any on October 16 and 17, Kishor said.

The registration fee could be submitted with late fee from October 10 to October13.


It may be recalled that the BSEB has extended the date of remitting registration fee to September 23 without charging the late fee. 

Get Syska LED bulb at Rs 85



PATNA: Syska LED Bulb Private Limited and Adiya Info Services Private Limited will provide Syska LED bulb on reduced rate across Bihar. The 9 watt bulb will be sold at Rs 85 with two-year warranty at moble recharge centres across Bihar.
The two companies will provide Syska LED on heavy discount under their corporate social responsibility programme. A 9-watt Syska LED bulb costs Rs 200 in the market. The scheme will be launched before Dussehra festival in Patna.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui 

Bhuneshwar Bhaskar's book 'Bhojpuri Lok Sanskriti Aur Paramparayen' released



PATNA: A book titled "Bhojpuri Lok Sanskriti Aur Paramparayen" authored by artist and writer Bhuneshwar Bhaskar was released at Arvind Mahila College here on Saturday. College principal Usha Singh, Anandi Prasad Badal, Ashok Kumar Sinha, D Singh and Vinay Kumar unveiled the book jointly.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

Sunday, September 17, 2017

Bihar Deputy CM SK Modi launches 'Bandhan Tod' App

PATNA: Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi on Sunday launched “Bandhan Tod” (break bonding) App, an Android based mobile application designed to prevent child marriage and dowry in Bihar.

The App floated by Gender Alliance, a consortium of 247 Civil Society organizations has launched a campaign “Bandhan Tod” in the state to advance gender equality by ending child marriage and dowry in Bihar.

SK Modi also released a coffee table book on women empowerment in Bihar and the signature song of “Bandhan Tod”.

The App will provide immediate help to child marriage or dowry victim as soon she clicks on the feature. The alert message will reach the headquarters of Gender Alliance and related NGOs and Civil Society of the respective area. The App will also provide quality education to the people so that they could make aware of the evil effects of the child marriage.

The App is available at Google Play Store. The App will also provide video lectures of different subjects related to the Bihar school Examination Board (BSEB) syllabus from class 7 to 12 at free of cost. All the lectures are delivered by national-level teachers.

On downloading the App, the user will get a Mobikwik balance of Rs 100 and while referring it to others, the referrer will get an additional Rs 50.


Speaking on the occasion, Modi said Anti-dowry law had been misusing in the state and we needed more  debate on the issue. “We do not need to adopt western system. We have to prepare our own roadmap to deal the sensitive issue of child marriage”, he said.

Bihar Government to promote organic farming on south bank of Ganga

PATNA: Bihar government has decided to promote organic farming on the south bank of the River Ganga from Patna to Bhagalpur.                                                                                                                            
Giving his nod to Agriculture Road Map (2017-2022), Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has directed the officials of agriculture, water resources, urban development and minor irrigation departments to chalk out an integrated plan to develop villages situated on the south bank of Ganga as organic corridor.

He said treated sewage water could be used in irrigation for farming.
He said the centre of excellence for fruits in Desri (Vaishali) would be linked with nearby Krishi Vikas Kendra while centre of excellence for vegetables (Chandi, Nalanda) would be linked with Horticulture College Nursarai.

Stressing on the importance of organic farming, the chief minister has asked the officials to identify the villages located by the sides of state highways and promote organic farming there.

He also directed the officials to draw a plan to promote manufacturers of agriculture equipment and asked the industry department to certify the quality of the equipment made by the local factories.

He said the agriculture department should evolve computerized system so that the latest rates of the nation-wide markets could be on display in rural markets.


He said Kosi area could be developed as Moong seeds producing belt and Khagaraia should be made as a hub for maize seeds.

4 injured in PU hostels inmates clash






PATNA: Four students were injured when two groups of students belonging to Minto and Iqbal Hostels of the Patna College engaged in clash over the allotment of hostel rooms on the Patna University campus here on Saturday.

Students hurled crude bombs and used iron rods and lathis in the clash Police recovered one live bomb from the place of the incident. Police have also lodged FIR against six persons in this connection.   

Sources said the altercation between the inmates of Minto and Iqbal Hostels was going on for the last three days over a sitting arrangement in the geography department.

Injured students were sent to hospital for medical attention. 

Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

Voylla launches exclusive store in Patna



Patna: Voylla - India’s largest fashion jewelry brand on Saturday launched its exclusive store at Shop no – 146, C Block, Mauryalok Frazer Road here. The store is showcasing latest seasonal trends for festive and wedding season.

Voylla is India's leading fashion jewelry brand which retails from both offline and online mediums including offline stores, website and app. In the current fiscal year it has opened more than 240+ stores all over India and plans to open 300 by the end of 2017.

Vishwas Shringi, Co-Founder and CEO, Voylla.com said, “We have opened our exclusive store in Patna considering the fact that Bihar’s colourful art and craft culture has cast a magical spell on everyone.  With exclusive store in Patna, we will spread across the country in this financial year. As a leader in the fashion jewelry segment we aim to cater to the aspiring audience in tier I, tier-II and III cities.”

Voylla is the only online jewelry platform with 240+ offline store locations in India. Sustained efforts of the Company in understanding the customers, robust backend and a fine detailed curation has resulted in over 13,000 designs on Voylla’s site and stores, which gets refreshed every week. More than five lakh customers have patronized Voylla, making them the top jewelry brand. 

Company was started to create a niche in the lifestyle segment with a strong omni-channel presence. Voylla retails its own creation online through Voylla.com, app and via marketplaces like Flipkart, Amazon and Myntra. The start-up had opened its first flagship store in Delhi in December 2015 and at present boasts of 240+ physical stores all over the country.  Voylla aims to launch 300 stores by the end of this year. In October 2015, Voylla had raised $15 million from the private equity firm Peepul capital and before that had raised two rounds of funds in 2012 and 2013 by Snow Leopard Technology Ventures.

In the current financial year Voylla is growing exponentially as it has also launched the brand's most aspirational brand- Studio Voylla as well. Studio Voylla is curated by a team of exceptional stylists and connoisseurs of jewelry. Studio Voylla features limited edition jewelry for those who know their style from fashion fads and are willing to spark a trend rather than just follow it. Each piece of jewelry has been crafted exclusively for Voylla, the leading digital-first fashion jewelry brand in the sub-continent. Each piece is meant to start a conversation with its outstanding karigari and lyrical aesthetic. Not just the exquisite jewelry, the prices too will add a sparkle to your smile. Contemporary or classical, edgy or eloquent, alluring gold or charming silver, dazzling diamonds or glittering gem stones - Studio Voylla speaks your language.

With the latest jewelry launches, Voylla aims at letting every customer look as dazzling as their favorite on-screen characters from Colors.

Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui


Challan remitting date extended for intermediate registration

PATNA: Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) has extended the challan submission date for the students seeking registration for 2018 intermediate examination.

BSEB chairman Anand Kishor said intermediate students could submit challan till September 23 without late fee. 

Saturday, September 16, 2017

Silk exhibition begins at Planetarium hall


PATNA:  Ten-day silk exhibition began at the Planetarium auditorium here on Friday. Weavers from different parts of the country installed their stalls to display their exclusive products.

Hasthshilpi, the organizers of the event stated that 200 verities of silk products were on display in the exhibition that would end on September 25.  One hundred stalls have been installed in the exhibition. Slik sarees and other dress materials from Pakistan and world famous Dhaka saree have added attraction to the fair.


Mysore silk sarees, crape, Georgette sarees, chiffon sarees, tussar sarees and suits, Kanchipuram sarees, designer fancy sarees, wedding dresses, raw silk, jute silk, hand-loom silk, silk-blend sarees, printed silk sarees, dress materials and cotton sarees will attract the buyers. 
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

Freshers' Day function held at Mahant Hanuman Sharan College


PATNA: Freshers' Day function was organised at Mahant Hanuman Sharan College here on friday.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

Investors Safety Association members stage dharna


PATNA: Investors Safety Association members staged dharna in support of their demands at Gardanibagh here on Friday.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

PU History Department organises special lecture


PATNA: Department of History (Patna University) organised a special lecture on "Colonialism, Nationalism and Feminism: Aspects of Indian Feminist Historiography" at Darbhanga House on Friday. The special lecture was organised to commemorate the centenary year celebrations of the university. Professor Ratneshwar Mishra, former head of department of Mithila University delivered the lecture.

Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

Protest in Patna against atrocities on Rohingya Muslims


PATNA: All India Tahrik-e-Insaf Council (Patna) members took out a procession in Patna on Friday in protest against atrocities on Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

Padma Shri Dr Gopal Prasad Sinha supports Quit Sugar Campaign


PATNA: Padma Shri Dr Gopal Prasad Sinha on Saturday has joined the Quit Sugar Campaign launched by Students' Oxygen Movement in the state capital in May last. More than 70 dignitaries of Patna including Patna High Court judges, principals of different reputed schools, doctors, lawyers, social activists, businessmen have joined the movement.

The concept is to quit the sweet poison sugar and  use jaggery (Gur) for healthy life.

The tells you what Dr Sinha feels about the campaign.

Patna Police nab six criminals


PATNA: Patna Police on Friday arrested six persons including a woman for conspiring to kill a retired professor and committing dacoity in the latter's Chitkohra locality based house. Police recovered two country made pistols, three cartridges and other equipment from their possessions.
Police said a maid Tara Khatoon, who worked in the house of retired professor Nuruddin Asraf's sister house, wanted to kill the professor and for this she contacted a gang of criminals.

Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui