Veteran actor Dharmendra’s ashes have arrived in Haridwar, where the immersion ceremony, known as ‘Asthi Visarjan’, will take place at VIP Ghat on Wednesday. Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol, and other family members have reached Haridwar to perform the rituals.
The family has requested privacy and asked the media to maintain distance. The ashes are currently kept at Pilibhit House in Haridwar, a 100-year-old mansion on the banks of the Ganges, where the family is also staying. Security arrangements have been made at VIP Ghat to ensure a peaceful ceremony. The iconic actor passed away on November 24 after a long illness.
State’s Raj Bhavan renamed ‘Lok Bhavan’
Symbolising a shift in governance, Uttarakhand’s Raj Bhavan has officially been renamed ‘Lok Bhavan’ (People’s House), effective Monday. The Governor’s Secretariat confirmed the change, citing a letter from the Union Home Ministry and the approval of Governor Lt. Gen. Gurmit Singh (Retd). “This renaming of the Raj Bhavan in Dehradun and Nainital is official,” stated Governor’s Secretary Ravinath Raman.
This move aligns with a national trend of transforming symbols of colonial-era authority into spaces reflecting public accessibility. Observers note this is part of a broader initiative championed by PM Narendra Modi to redefine public office.
CM announces high-level Sanskrit Commission
CM Pushkar Singh Dhami announced the formation of a high-level commission for the promotion and development of Sanskrit during the closing ceremony of a two-day international conference at the Sanskrit Academy on Monday. Addressing delegates, Dhami stated, “Ancient civilisations developed on the foundation of Sanskrit, the root of most world languages.”
Former CM Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank highlighted Uttarakhand’s pioneering role, noting it was the first state to declare Sanskrit its second official language. “Devbhoomi has been the centre of Indian knowledge,” he added. The commission aims to safeguard this ‘Devvani’ heritage.