UDF Withdraws Video of ‘Lipstick Wearing, Selfie Taking’ Woman Targeting Left on Sabarimala Post Row

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Sabarimala temple, Kerala (Image: Shutterstock)

Sabarimala temple, Kerala (Image: Shutterstock)

The video was meant to attack the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government’s earlier stand on the Sabarimala issue.

A video released by the Congress party on the Sabarimala controversy of 2018, has been withdrawn after criticism amid assembly polls in Kerala. The one-minute-video showed few male devotees of Lord Ayyappa, dressed in the traditional clothes, chanting prayers and trekking while a young woman dressed in modern clothes walks past them with police escort.

The video was meant to attack the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government’s earlier stand on the Sabarimala issue, The News Minute reported.

The Supreme Court had later supported the entry of women in the temple in a verdict in 2018. The video was part of the opposition campaign for the 2021 assembly elections in the state.

The video begins with prayers and chants of some men and two traditionally dressed women in mundum neriyathum before they set for Sabrimala. Then there are visuals of a young woman wearing lipstick, packing a backpack and going off to Sabarimala is shown, to changing background music.

The video further shows the women passing by the men wearing shoes and headphones clicking a selfie amid police escort. The video shows the police clearing the way and the women returning in 10 minutes. The two traditional women are shocked seeing the incident.

The video draws the context of the Sabrimala temple controversy and the SC judgment in 2018. While the BJP and Congress led UDF held massive protests against women entry, the LDF decided to follow the SC verdict.

The video ends with the UDF’s promise to formulate laws to “protect the interest of believers.” Critics say that the video is communal and misogynistic. After widespread criticism the video was pulled down.

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Watch | Zojila pass closes for winter

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The strategic Srinagar-Kargil-Leh National Highway remains closed for around two months every winter. The Zojila pass, on the highway, is situated at an altitude of 11,578 ft.

The pass remains closed during winters due to heavy snowfall cutting off Ladakh region from Kashmir. Construction work on the Zojila tunnel began in October 2020.

Projected as Asia’s longest tunnel, it will provide avalanche-free travel on the Srinagar-Leh section of NH1. It will reduce the travel time from around 3 hours to 15 minutes.

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US Air Force Band of the Pacific collaborates with Indian percussionist, releases video online

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The musical collaboration was inspired by the band’s commitment to support Aero India 2021, a press release said

The United States Air Force Band of the Pacific has collaborated with Indian musician Giridhar Udupa, and released a music video online on March 15. The musical collaboration was inspired by the band’s commitment to support Aero India 2021, and reinforces the U.S.-India Major Defense Partnership and people-to-people ties between both the countries, a press release said.

The song ‘Open Clusters’ which features in the video, was composed by Staff Sergeant Luis Rosa, a saxophone instrumentalist with the Hawaii-based Air Force Band and is a musical fusion of two masters of Indian and Puerto Rican culture and rhythm. The music video features Giridhar Udupa playing the Ghatam, and Senior Airman Guy James on guitar, Staff Sergeant Andrew Detra on bass, and Technical Sergeant Wilfredo Cruz on percussion.

The USAF Band of the Pacific is a squadron of professional U.S. Air Force musicians that perform in diverse musical configurations and fulfil community relations and military functions throughout the Western Pacific region. Bengaluru-based Ghatam artist Giridhar Udupa has had a musical journey of three decades, and has collaborated with several artistes and has also performed across the world.

Speaking about this collaboration, the United States Air Force Band of the Pacific’s Publicity Section, Chief Technical Sergeant Wilfredo Cruz, said they were extremely honoured and grateful to be able to produce this musical collaboration for viewers worldwide. “The pandemic did not allow us to be in India to perform live during Aero India, yet music connects all regardless of distance or borders. We leverage the power of music to strengthen bonds with our friends and partners through the Indo-Pacific region,” he said.

Mr. Udupa said that the composition fits perfectly into the world music scene. “I am very excited about the newly-composed track with incredible musicians from the U.S. Air Force Band,” he added.

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