Teenaged boy drowns during Durga idol immersion

September 30th, 2009 AGARTALA - At least 22 Durga Puja revellers, including women and children, were injured when a makeshift pandal (marquee) collapsed due to strong winds here, police said Wednesday. Eight people have also died in road accidents during the puja festivities.

September 29th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Silver papier-mache decorations, bamboo frames and plastic bags rippling on frothing waters. Despite calls from green activists, the scene at the river Yamuna here was that of a toxic harvest after hundreds of idols of goddess Durga were immersed in it at the end of the Durga Puja festival.

September 29th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Immersion of idols of Goddess Durga in the river Yamuna on the last day of Navratri, has led to a rise in pollution level in the already contaminated river. "We don't feel good when we come here.

September 28th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The 10-day Durga Puja, which was celebrated with deep religious fervour in different parts of the country, concluded on Monday. A large number of married women in various parts of the country participated in the Sindoor or, vermilion powder ceremony, today.

September 28th, 2009 NEW DELHI - They descended on the Yamuna banks to bid farewell to the mother goddess, shouting "Bolo Bolo Durga Mai Ki, Jai!" On the final day of puja festivities Monday, thousands of Bengali devotees here could not contain their emotions as giant idols of goddess Durga were immersed in the river. Since morning, the Durga Puja venue at the sprawling Mela Ground in south Delhi's Chittaranjan Park saw women and children touching the feet of the goddess with vermilion, sweets, flowers, incense and books.

September 28th, 2009 NEW DELHI - As thousands of onlookers cheered, the effigies of demon king Ravana were set ablaze amid a burst of fire crackers at many places across the national capital Monday evening to celebrate Dussehra, symbolising the victory of good over evil. The day also saw hundreds of idols of Goddess Durga being immersed in the Yamuna river as the Navaratri celebrations ended.

September 28th, 2009 NEW DELHI - As hundreds of idols of Goddess Durga hit the Yamuna river Monday as part of immersion rituals, green activists had reason to breathe easy. Unlike earlier years, many of the idols were made of natural colours and environment friendly clay! Several organisers of Durga Puja celebrations across Delhi and the national capital region (NCR) ensured that the idols were made of clay that dissolved immediately in water and vegetable dyes to keep the Yamuna free of pollution.

September 28th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Effigies of demon king Ravana were ready to be burnt and devotees offered farewell prayers to Goddess Durga Monday as Hindus across India prepared to celebrate Dussehra after nine days of prayers, fasting and feasting. Celebrating the victory of Lord Ram over Ravana, Dussehra symbolises the triumph of good over evil.

September 25th, 2009 NEW DELHI - President Pratibha Patil today greeted the nation on the occasion of Durga Puja. In her message, she said, "On the auspicious occasion of Durga Puja, I extend my greetings and good wishes to all my fellow citizens".

September 24th, 2009 LUCKNOW - An antique idol of Lord Buddha weighing 25 kg and costing Rs.25 crore in the international market has been recovered by police in Uttar Pradesh's Sultanpur district, officials said Thursday Pretending to be customers, personnel of the special operations group (SOG) approached three people in Sultanpur -- who are now under arrest -- and struck a deal with them, said Inspector Dhirendra Shukla of the SOG. The idol, estimated to be about 300 years old, is made of ashta dhatu (eight metals).

September 22nd, 2009 LUCKNOW - An idol worth nearly Rs.10 crore (Rs.100 million) in the international market was recovered from Uttar Pradesh's Jaunpur town, police said Tuesday. The incident occurred Monday night when police was patrolling the outskirts of the town, about 200 km from Lucknow.

September 4th, 2009 MUMBAI - At least 13 people have drowned in different parts of Maharashtra, including five in Mumbai, during the immersion of Ganesh idols, police said Friday. In the worst incident, five volunteers of the Omkar Ganeshotsav Mandal, Goregaon, drowned during immersion at Versova Beach in northwest Mumbai Thursday - the 12th and final day of Ganesh Chaturthi festival - according to police.

August 3rd, 2009 Mich. 3-yr.-old drowns at Ohio water resortSANDUSKY, Ohio — Authorities say a 3-year-old Michigan boy who drowned at a northern Ohio water park was found face down in a children's pool. Hassan Itani, of Dearborn, was pulled from the outdoor pool at Kalahari Resorts water park in Sandusky and taken Sunday afternoon to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

August 3rd, 2009 Boy drowns in Ohio at largest US indoor water parkSANDUSKY, Ohio — A 3-year-old boy has drowned at a northern Ohio indoor water park that calls itself the nation's largest. The boy drowned Sunday in an outdoor pool at Kalahari Resorts water park in Sandusky on Lake Erie.

June 13th, 2009 Ex-Gophers halfback Billy Bye drowns while boatingBRAINERD, Minn. — Billy Bye, a halfback at Minnesota in the 1940s, has drowned in a boating accident.