The World around U

  Rathayatra, also known as the Festival of Chariots, is a significant Hindu festival primarily celebrated in the city of Puri, in the Indian state of Odisha. The festival is dedicated to Lord Jagannath, a form of Lord Vishnu, along with his siblings, Balabhadra (Balarama) and Subhadra. Here is a detailed overview of the significance and celebration of Rathayatra: ### Significance of Rathayatra 1. **Religious Importance**:     - **Lord Jagannath**: The main deity, Lord Jagannath, represents a form of Krishna, who is an incarnation of Vishnu. The festival signifies the journey of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra from their temple to their garden temple (Gundicha Temple), symbolizing a visit to their birthplace.    - **Unity and Equality**: Rathayatra is known for its inclusive nature, where people from all walks of life, regardless of caste, creed, or religion, come together to participate. The pulling of the chariots is considered highly auspicious,...

    Spain produced another masterclass of possession football to defeat France 2–0 in the first semi-final of the FIFA World Cup 2026 at Dallas Stadium, Arlington, and secure their place in the World Cup final. Luis de la Fuente's side completely controlled the rhythm of the contest, neutralising the attacking threat of Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise, while extending their unbeaten run to 37 matches. France, aiming for a third consecutive World Cup final, struggled to impose themselves and were ultimately outplayed by a technically superior Spanish side.  Spain looked the sharper team from the opening whistle. The lively Lamine Yamal repeatedly troubled the French defence with his pace and close control, forcing Lucas Digne and Adrien Rabiot into hurried challenges. Their early pressure paid off in the 22nd minute when Yamal burst into the penalty area and was brought down by Lucas Digne. Following a brief VAR review, the referee pointed to the penalty s...

  India made a resounding return to the 50-over format with a comprehensive six-wicket victory over England in the opening ODI at Edgbaston, Birmingham, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Having endured a disappointing 4-0 defeat in the preceding T20I series, the visitors responded in emphatic fashion with a disciplined bowling effort followed by a mature run chase. Captain Shubman Gill anchored the innings with a stylish 80 before retiring hurt due to cramps, while Axar Patel delivered a magnificent all-round performance, claiming four wickets and then scoring an unbeaten half-century to deservedly earn the Player of the Match award.  England captain Harry Brook elected to bat first after winning the toss, and his openers gave the home side an encouraging start. Ben Duckett looked fluent, striking boundaries square of the wicket and through the covers on his way to 43, while Jacob Bethell contributed 14 as the pair added 61 runs for the opening wicket. At that stage...

  The final day of the historic, first-ever Women’s Test match at Lord's was a swift and decisive affair, as India needed only the opening session on Monday to secure a monumental 270-run victory over England. Resuming their second innings at a precarious 130 for 6 and chasing a mammoth, mathematically improbable target of 457 runs, the English resistance depended heavily on overnight batter Amy Jones. However, India's spin department quickly extinguished any hopes of a dramatic rescue.  Sneh Rana led the bowling charge on the final morning, breaking the crucial overnight partnership by dismissing Amy Jones for a hard-fought 54. While England's premier spinner Sophie Ecclestone showed immense character with the bat—combining with Lauren Filer for a spirited lower-order stand to bring up her maiden Test half-century (50)—Rana remained relentless. Rana ultimately clean-bowled Ecclestone to trigger the final celebrations, finishing with excellent figures of 4 for 42. Deepti Sh...

  The curtain came down on the 2026 Wimbledon Championships with a magnificent men's singles final as world No. 1 Jannik Sinner successfully defended his title by defeating second seed Alexander Zverev 6-7(7), 7-6(2), 6-3, 6-4 in a gripping contest lasting three hours and 46 minutes. The victory earned the Italian his second consecutive Wimbledon title and fifth Grand Slam singles crown, further cementing his status as the dominant force in men's tennis. Centre Court witnessed a contest of exceptional quality from the opening game. Zverev, playing in his first Wimbledon final and looking to add the All England Club crown to the French Open title he won earlier in the season, came out aggressively. The German served with tremendous power, consistently topping 135 mph, and matched Sinner from the baseline. Neither player managed a service break in the opening set, which was decided by a tense tie-break. Zverev held his nerve at the crucial moments, producing a superb forehand win...

  India moved to the verge of a memorable victory in the historic one-off Women's Test at Lord's after another commanding day's cricket. A magnificent century from Yastika Bhatia, followed by a devastating spell from the Indian bowlers, left England struggling at 130/6 in their second innings at stumps on Day 3, still requiring 327 more runs to achieve an improbable target of 457. Resuming the day at 154/1 with an overall lead of 269, India continued to dictate proceedings despite losing overnight batter Smriti Mandhana early for a fluent 70. The elegant left-hander had once again set the tone with a stylish innings that followed her first-innings 83. England's Lauren Bell then removed Jemimah Rodrigues cheaply, while Sophie Ecclestone dismissed captain Harmanpreet Kaur for 16 to briefly raise England's hopes. Those hopes, however, were extinguished by a superb innings from Yastika Bhatia, who etched her name into cricket history by becoming the first woman to score...

  England & Argentina scripted hard earned extra time  wins vs Norway & Switzerland respectively to set up a box office  semi final  clash in the FIFA World Cup 2026. Bellingham double strike helped England to get past a dangerous  Norway while Argentina struck twice in extra time to dash Swiss hopes  England 2–1 Norway (after extra time) England booked their place in the FIFA World Cup semi-finals after a hard-fought 2–1 extra-time victory over Norway in a gripping quarter-final at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. Played in oppressive heat and humidity, the contest was a fierce tactical battle that saw Norway push England to the limit before Jude Bellingham once again emerged as the hero with both goals. The victory sent the Three Lions into the last four, where they will face defending champions Argentina.  Norway made the brighter start and deservedly went ahead in the 36th minute. A defensive mix-up in the England backline allowed Andreas Schjel...

  Just a few months ago, this Indian side lifted the T20 World Cup. Looking at their recent performances, it is hard to believe they are the same team. After a disappointing tour of Ireland, India endured another miserable campaign in England, where they were comprehensively outplayed in every department. Batting lacked intent, bowling lacked discipline, and the fielding was nothing short of disastrous. England capped off their dominance with a crushing 56-run victory in the fifth and final T20I. Asked to bat first, England piled up a mammoth 257/3 before restricting India to 201/8. The opening match of the series had been washed out, but England won each of the remaining four games to complete a commanding series sweep. The defeat also cost India their No. 1 ranking in T20Is. Jos Buttler starred with a magnificent 131, while Harry Brook played an equally destructive hand, hammering 95. At the toss, England captain Harry Brook had spoken about the possibility of reclaiming the top ...

  India tightened their grip on the historic one-off Women's Test at Lord's with a dominant all-round display on Day 2, first bowling England out for 170 before reaching 154/1 in their second innings at stumps. Holding an overall lead of 269 runs, the visitors ended the day firmly in command and within touching distance of a famous victory. England resumed the morning on 21/1, still trailing India's first-innings total of 285, but they were immediately put under pressure by an inspired Indian pace attack. Young seamer Kranti Gaud produced the spell of her career, exploiting the movement available to devastating effect. She removed England's top order with accuracy and pace, reducing the hosts to 47/4 before lunch. Nat Sciver-Brunt fought back with a determined 44, while wicketkeeper Amy Jones played the lone substantial innings with a gritty 52, attempting to rebuild alongside the lower order. However, India never allowed England to settle, and regular wickets ensured t...

  Day 13 of the 2026 Wimbledon Championships belonged to Linda Nosková, who completed a dream fortnight by defeating compatriot Karolina Muchová to lift the prestigious Venus Rosewater Dish. In the first all-Czech women's singles final in Grand Slam history, the 21-year-old ninth seed displayed remarkable composure and resilience to overcome an inspired fightback from the experienced Muchová, winning 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 in a gripping contest lasting just over two and a half hours. The victory earned Nosková her maiden Grand Slam singles title and crowned one of the most memorable breakthrough performances seen at the All England Club in recent years. The championship match began with Nosková playing fearless, attacking tennis. Her powerful first serve, penetrating groundstrokes and aggressive returning immediately put Muchová under pressure. The younger Czech broke serve twice in the opening set and dominated from the baseline to race through it 6-2 in only 35 minutes. Muchová struggled ...

    Spain 2–1 Belgium Spain continued their impressive FIFA World Cup campaign by defeating Belgium 2–1 in a pulsating quarter-final at Los Angeles Stadium, booking a blockbuster semi-final against France. In a contest between two of Europe's strongest attacking sides, Spain's superior possession and relentless pressure eventually proved decisive, with super-sub Mikel Merino once again emerging as the match-winner after his heroics against Portugal in the Round of 16.  Spain dominated the opening exchanges, with Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo constantly stretching the Belgian defence. Thibaut Courtois made several excellent saves to deny Yamal and Álex Baena, but he could do nothing in the 30th minute when Dani Olmo's powerful effort was parried into the path of Fabián Ruiz, who reacted quickest to drive the rebound into the roof of the net from close range and hand Spain a deserved 1–0 lead.  Belgium weathered the early storm and gradually grew into the contest. Against...

India enjoyed the better of the opening day of the historic one-off Women's Test against England at Lord's, finishing with a competitive first-innings total of 285 before striking an early blow to leave the hosts on 21/1 at stumps. On a landmark day, as Lord's staged its first-ever women's Test match, India's experienced middle order ensured the visitors recovered from regular setbacks, while their bowlers ended the day on a high. After England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt elected to field first, India's innings revolved around three vital half-centuries. Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana produced the most fluent knock of the day, compiling 83 off 108 balls with 11 fours and a six. She looked set for a memorable century before falling short, having laid a solid foundation for India. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur then anchored the middle order with a determined 58 from 121 deliveries, adding an important partnership with Mandhana that steadied the innings after early wickets. ...

  The men's singles semi-finals on Day 12 of the 2026 Wimbledon Championships delivered two compelling contests on Centre Court. Defending champion Jannik Sinner produced a flawless display to defeat seven-time champion Novak Djokovic, while second seed Alexander Zverev ended British wildcard Arthur Fery's remarkable Cinderella run. Their victories set up a mouth-watering championship clash between the world's top two players for the Wimbledon crown. The headline encounter featured defending champion Jannik Sinner against 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic. In one of the Italian's finest performances on grass, Sinner defeated the Serbian legend 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in just over two hours to book his place in a second successive Wimbledon final. Having lost several memorable battles against Djokovic earlier in his career, Sinner entered the match determined to dictate play from the outset. He immediately established control with his powerful first serve and penetrating ...

    France 2–0 Morocco France continued their impressive march towards a third consecutive FIFA World Cup semi-final with a composed 2–0 victory over Morocco at Boston Stadium. In a repeat of the memorable 2022 World Cup semi-final, Didier Deschamps' side once again proved too strong for the Atlas Lions, although Morocco battled bravely throughout and enjoyed periods of possession without being able to break down the disciplined French defence. France dominated the opening half and created several clear opportunities, but Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou kept his side in the contest by producing a magnificent penalty save from Kylian Mbappé and denying further efforts from Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise.  France finally made the breakthrough in the 60th minute. After collecting the ball just outside the penalty area, Kylian Mbappé skipped past two Moroccan defenders before curling a superb right-footed effort into the far corner beyond the despairing dive of Bounou. ...

  Day 11 of the 2026 Wimbledon Championships belonged to Czech tennis as Karolina Muchová and Linda Nosková won contrasting women's singles semi-finals to book places in the final. Muchová produced one of the greatest comebacks seen on Centre Court, saving a match point before overcoming Coco Gauff, while Nosková delivered another composed display to defeat Marta Kostyuk, ensuring the first all-Czech women's singles final at Wimbledon in the Open Era. The match of the day saw Karolina Muchová outlast fourth seed Coco Gauff 6-1, 1-6, 7-6(12-10) in a breathtaking contest lasting nearly three hours. Muchová dominated the opening set with her trademark variety, mixing sliced backhands, drop shots and precise volleys to race through 6-1. Gauff responded emphatically in the second, raising the pace of her groundstrokes and breaking serve three times to level the match with a commanding 6-1 set of her own. The deciding set developed into a classic. Gauff appeared on the verge of reach...

  England produced another clinical all-round performance to defeat India by nine wickets in the fourth T20 International at the County Ground, Bristol, taking an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the five-match series after the opening game was abandoned due to rain. The victory also secured England's first-ever bilateral T20I series win over India, highlighting the hosts' dominance throughout the contest. After being asked to bat first, India desperately needed a strong start following their heavy defeat in the previous match. However, England's pace attack once again exposed the visitors' fragile top order. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (15) played a few attractive strokes but was unable to convert his start into a substantial innings playing a poor pull shot to Archer . Abhishek Sharma(16)  looked positive during the powerplay before falling while attempting to accelerate, while Ishan Kishan(4) struggled to find fluency against England's disciplined bowling and departed to a pull s...

 Sunil Gavaskar, born on July 10, 1949, is one of the greatest batsmen in the history of cricket. Renowned for his impeccable technique and unwavering concentration, Gavaskar was the first player to score 10,000 runs in Test cricket. His legendary career spanned from 1971 to 1987, during which he set numerous records, including the most Test centuries at the time with 34. Gavaskar's contributions to Indian cricket were immense, as he played a pivotal role in establishing India as a formidable force in the international arena. His legacy continues to inspire generations of cricketers worldwide. Sunil Gavaskar is celebrated for his classical batting technique and remarkable ability to play long innings under pressure. His playing style was characterized by a solid defensive technique, precise footwork, and an unflappable temperament, making him exceptionally difficult to dismiss. Gavaskar's impeccable technique allowed him to counter fast bowlers and spinners with equal ease, and...

  Day 10 of the 2026 Wimbledon Championships marked the conclusion of the singles quarter-finals and produced another unforgettable chapter in one of the most remarkable stories in Wimbledon history. British wildcard Arthur Fery continued his dream run by storming into the men's semi-finals in front of an ecstatic Centre Court crowd, while Germany's Alexander Zverev completed the last-four line-up with an authoritative victory over Taylor Fritz. In the women's draw, Marta Kostyuk and Linda Noskova both reached their first-ever Grand Slam semi-finals after impressive straight-set victories. The biggest celebration of the day belonged to Britain's Arthur Fery, whose astonishing Wimbledon campaign gathered even more momentum with a commanding 6-4, 7-6(4), 6-0 victory over Italian ninth seed Flavio Cobolli. Playing before a packed Centre Court, the 23-year-old wildcard showed remarkable composure from the outset, breaking Cobolli's serve midway through the opening set b...

   Argentina huffed and puffed and finally came from behind to script a memorable win vs Egypt in an epic encounter of rpund 16 . Argentina will meet Switzerland . Switzerland beat Columbia 4-3 in tiebreaker after 120 minutes deadlock 0-0 .  Argentina 3–2 Egypt Defending champions Argentina produced a sensational late comeback to defeat Egypt 3–2 in a thrilling Round-of-16 encounter at Atlanta Stadium, overturning a two-goal deficit in the final quarter of the match to book their place in the quarter-finals against Switzerland. Egypt looked on course for one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history, but Lionel Messi once again inspired Argentina when it mattered most.  Egypt stunned the South American giants in the 15th minute when Yasser Ibrahim rose highest to meet a perfectly delivered corner and powered a header beyond Emiliano Martínez. Argentina dominated possession but found Egypt's defence, marshalled superbly by Ramy Rabia and Mostafa Shobeir, extremely d...

  Quarter-final action began in spectacular fashion on Day 9 of the 2026 Wimbledon Championships, producing one of the greatest matches ever witnessed on Centre Court. Novak Djokovic survived a five-hour epic to keep his title dream alive, defending champion Jannik Sinner eased into the last four, while Coco Gauff and Karolina Muchová reached the Wimbledon semi-finals after impressive victories in the women's singles. The match of the tournament unfolded on Centre Court, where seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic overcame Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime in an unforgettable contest lasting five hours and 15 minutes—the longest men's singles quarter-final in Wimbledon history. The 39-year-old Serbian eventually prevailed 7-6(10-8), 3-6, 6-3, 6-7(4-7), 7-6(10-4) after displaying extraordinary resilience and championship temperament. The opening set alone lasted over 80 minutes before Djokovic edged a dramatic tie-break. Auger-Aliassime responded magnificently by taking ...