Worlds fourth largest newspaper creating OOH delight in Simhastha

Bhopal:MMNN: May 9, 2016
Thousands of saints("sadhus") clad in saffron robes with ashes smeared on their body and dreadlocked hair , few of them called 'Naga Sadhus' may not wear even any cloth –considered as a sign of separation from the materialistic world, the heavy smell of burning butter lamps, camphor and incense sticks have started adding religious fervor to the much awaited month-long congregation Kumbh.
After 12 years, Ujjain, one of the most sacred places in India located on the banks of the holy Kshipra river in the western region of Madhya Pradesh is again gearing up for the largest spiritual gathering on earth-Kumbh. Kumbh Mela is held at each of the four places namely Haridwar, Allahabad (Prayag), Nasik and Ujjain once in every 12 years. Kumbh in Ujjain is held when a rare configuration of planets takes place i.e. when the Sun is in the zodiac sign Aries and Jupiter in the zodiac Leo. The position of th e Sun, Moon and Jupiter in different zodiac signs determines the location of the Kumbh in each of these places. This year Kumbh is scheduled from 22nd Arpil-21st May 2016 in Ujjain. Simhastha Kumbh-the largest spiritual gathering on earth is expected to attract more than 50 million people from across the globe.
According to Hindu mythology, the churning of ocean by the Gods and demons yielded a jar (Kumbh) full of nectar (Amrit). Gods did not wish to share it with demons. At the instance of Lord Indra(the King of Gods), his son Jayanta tried to run away with the jar, but he was followed by some of the demons. During the struggle for its possession, few nectar drops dropped at the holy rivers of these four places-Haridwar, Allahabad (Prayag), Ujjain and Nasik on earth.
Unique opportunity to reach out to more than 50 million people
As India's largest and world's fourth largest circulated daily (44 million readers) and a direct reach of more than 3,000 towns, Dainik Bhaskar decided to capitalize on this once in 12 years opportunity. Planning for the same started more than a year back. After several rounds of discussions with the external stakeholders like the municipal corporation, mela authorities and the local population, the plan was frozen and divided into three legs to ensure optimal reach:
1) Build-up to Kumbh(Oct'15- Jan'16) Hoardings on all the four major roads to the city, Banners, Beautification drive with colorful wall paintings and overhead water tank paintings, T-Gates, Community Connect meetings and release of special cover.
2) Activation Support to Local administration(Feb'16-Mar ' 16) 'Maha Arti, Installation of RO plant at the Mahakal Complex and a Kavi Sammelan on and dedicated to sacred shipra river.
3) During the Kumbh(Apr'16-May'16) Changing Room for the ladies at bathing ghats, information booklets and brochures for the pilgrims, newspaper stands at major hotels and garden umbrellas Mr. Vikas Singh, Associate Vice President-Brand Marketing-Dainik Bhaskar says "While Madhya Pradesh Government is leaving no stone unturned to deliver a great experience for the devotees, we are happy to have partnered with Govt. on this".
As part of this partnership, we organized a 'Maha Yatra' and a 'Maha Arti' on 20th March 2016. 'Maha Yatra' started from Shirsagar, one of the seven sacred lakes of Ujjain and ended up at R amghat, the main Ghat. During the Maha Yatra,people saw glimpses of the popular tra dition of Nagar praveshi of major akhadas.More than 10,000 people participated in this four kilometer long yatra.The Yatra, then culminated at Ram Ghat where Grand Arti at Shipra river by more than 200 priests was performed.Free bells and cymbals were distributed to more than 20,000 people at the ghat.The local administration also pitched in with OOH creatives that asked people to come out and witness the spectacular turnaround of the city.
The enthusiasm and participation shown by the locals of Ujjain during Maha-Aarti organized by Dainik Bhaskar culminated into Golden Book of World Records comprising most people participating in this auspicious event.
To provide clean and cold drinking water in the scorching hot months of Apr-May, Dainik Bhaskar has installed drinking-cum-RO plant at the main Mahakal complex. A large LED screen too has been installed inside the complex where people can see live visuals of the Mahakal Garbha Griha.
Dainik Bhaskar is also coming up with a 500 pager Coffee table book- lavishly interspersed with pictures some of which will be in public domain for the first time. This will basically be a rich visual depiction of all facets of Ujjain with reference to Kumbh. The book will borrow references from various religious texts like Skanda Purana and Bhag-wat Purana, classical literature like Kalidas's Meghdoot and Raguvansham, historical documents like Govt gazettes and various others contemporary publications.
Talking about this build up, Mr. Vinay Maheshwari, Senior Vice President-Sales and Market Development and Brand Marketing, Dainik Bhaskar Group said "Being India's largest and World's fourth largest newspaper, we are driven by one of the core values of being connected with our stakeholders. Kumbh is an incredible platform to demonstrate that we care and hence, concentrated our efforts towards achieving this"
This Simhastha Kumbh offers a great opportunity for brand activation . With more than 50 million expected in a month, it offers any brand low cost per contact. Brands like Dainik Bhaskar are leveraging this opportunity to the fullest.

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Soor Academy & K J Somaiya College of arts and Commerce

Soor Academy was conceived in the year 1989. It has been 25 years of musical journey and currently the Academy constitutes people from all walks of life including young enthusiastic students, dedicated home makers and high professionals. The academy caters as a forum for music enthusiasts wanting to further their knowledge in Hindustani classical music. It is now being registered under Public Trust; Pallavi Mehta Soor Academy has been running and other musical instruments class since years now.
Soor Academy organizes Swaraanjali year, this musical event gives an opportunity to upcoming artist throughout the world to come and prove themselves, and we take the privilege of producing some of the finest gems of Indian music, who have stupefied audience around the globe with their performance. Swaraanjali is the tribute to surs and raags of Indian classical music.
This year Swaraanjali is tribute to our beloved Guruji Shri Pandit Laxmikant Doshi of Maihar Gharna by Sarod Artist Pandit Pradeepkumar Barot and Sitar Artist Pandit Rasik Hazare.
Soor Academy invites you to grace your presence on the occasion
Furthermore, we request if you could list our event in the weekend’s events section of Mumbai Mirror or Bombay Times coming Friday. This would be for the larger benefit and awareness of the city music lovers and enthusiasts.
We highly appreciate your cooperation and support in this matter.

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Millions bid adieu to Lord Ganesha in Mumbai, Maharashtra

Mumbai : Millions of people in Mumbai and across Maharashtra trooped out on the streets Saturday to bid adieu to the elephant headed-Lord Ganesha at the end of the 10-day Ganeshotsav (festival) amid tight security at the immersion ceremonies, officials said.

The day was marked with colourful revelry among men, women, youth and children, dancing and singing bhajans as over 90,000 big and small idols of Lord Ganesha were taken out since Saturday morning in Mumbai.

Another estimated 400,000 idols were taken out for immersions in the rest of Maharashtra in the state’s biggest religious festival. Besides the traditional immersion hotspots like Girgaum Chowpatty, and beaches at Shivaji Park, Worli, Juhu, Versova, Marve, Gorai, Madh Island, Thane Creek, the idols were immersed at several other spots including wells, lakes, ponds and 20 artificial immersion sites created by the city municipal corporations.

Tight security, traffic and safety arrangements have been made by various agencies to facilitate smooth and incident-free immersions ceremonies during the day.

The Mumbai police have set up a special control room at Girgaum Chowpatty, where a majority of the gigantic idols from south and central Mumbai shall be immersed along with the smaller household idols.

Securitymen atop 37 watch towers were keeping an eye from above at the seaside immersion spots, while Indian Navy and Coast Guard helicopters conducted sorties to ward off any untoward incidents.

According to Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvay Samiti (BSGSS) President N. Dahibhavkar, the fourth and final phase of immersions Saturday included around 8,500 idols from mandals (committees). Around 1,800 such mandal idols were immersed on the second, fifth and seventh days of the fest.

As many as 350 BSGSS lifeguards are on alert at all the big immersion spots besides 250 BMC lifeguards at 65 major immersion spots. Nearly 50 percent of another 165,000 smaller household idols that were worshipped during the festival shall be immersed Saturday, Dahibhavkar added

Over 25,000 police personnel, along with two companies of Rapid Action Force, one company of BSF, four companies of SRPF are on duty besides other agencies and private security groups

The traffic police has imposed heavy restrictions on vehicular movement to facilitate smooth immersions by closing 37 important roads from 12 noon Saturday till 6 a.m. Sunday. Fifty roads were made one-way, no parking was allowed on 61 roads and heavy vehicles were banned on 13 major roads across the city.

Some of the biggest idols of Lord Ganesh include Lalbaugcha Raja, Ganesh Gullycha Raja, and others which are over 15 feet tall were taken out in huge processions.

The Western Railway, Central Railway will operate special suburban services tonight and BEST services will run special buses to clear the huge rush of devotees returning home after immersions.

Post-immersions, Sunday will be day of cleaning up the city beaches for which school, college students, youths, NGOs and political parties will lend a helping hand to the sanitation workers to clean the city after the conclusion of the festival

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