On the first Monday of the holy month of Sawan, a massive crowd of devotees gathered at Shri Kashi Vishwanath Dham in Varanasi. Devotees performed 'Jalabhishek' and witnessed the special 'Shankar Swaroop' decoration of Lord Vishwanath. The temple premises resonated with chants of 'Har Har Mahadev'. The administration made extensive security arrangements to manage the influx of pilgrims coming from across the country. Many started their day with a holy dip in the Ganges before queuing up for prayers. https://jantaserishta.com/national/on-the-first-monday-of-sawan-a-wave-of-faith-surged-at-kashi-vishwanath-dham-4817335

17-year-old Indian shuttler Tanvi Sharma reached the final of the Taipei Open Super 300 after defeating Chinese Taipei's Huang Yu-hsun 21-17, 21-11 in just 33 minutes. Tanvi, a Junior World Championship silver medalist, is now one step away from her first BWF World Tour title. She will face Vietnam's Thuy Linh Nguyen in the championship match on Sunday. While Tanvi advanced, another Indian, Unnati Hooda, lost her semi-final match. https://www.prime9news.com/national-news/tanvi-sharma-taipei-open-final

The railway line proposals between Sircilla and Vemulawada have undergone changes as part of the Manoharabad-Kothapalli project. Key updates include the Bhadrachalam railway project progress, the upcoming Warangal-Karimnagar highway, and Andhra Pradesh's four MoUs with Australian institutions. Additionally, Telangana has made an online road safety course mandatory for learner's licenses, and star pacer Jasprit Bumrah is ruled out of the Sri Lanka Test series. https://www.prime9news.com/andhrapradesh-news/railway-line-proposals-change

Delhi police apprehended six Bangladeshi nationals for overstaying their visas during a raid on hotels and guest houses in Central Delhi. The individuals held double-entry visas which permitted a maximum stay of 15 days per visit, but they exceeded this limit. Following an inquiry by the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), authorities ordered them to be sent to a detention center pending deportation proceedings. https://www.dinamalar.com/news/tamil-nadu-news/6-bangladeshis-caught-illegally-staying-in-delhi/4285198

The Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple has been opened for the auspicious 'Nira Putharisi' puja. Melshanti Prasad Namboodiri opened the sanctum in the presence of Tantri Kandararu Mahesh Mohanaru. Due to heavy rainfall and flooding in parts of Kerala, devotee turnout has been low. Specialized rituals are being performed for the paddy ears kept at the Sannidhanam, which will be distributed as prasad. Security measures have been tightened at Pamba and Sannidhanam to ensure safety amid the bad weather. https://www.dinamaalai.com/news/sabarimalai/cid19074638.htm

India finished fourth at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games with 39 medals, including 13 gold, 17 silver, and 9 bronze. During the closing ceremony, India was officially handed the hosting rights for the 2030 Commonwealth Games, which will be held in Ahmedabad. Despite the exclusion of sports like wrestling and shooting, Indian boxers secured 7 gold medals. Mirabai Chanu made history with her third consecutive gold in weightlifting, while judokas won India's first-ever gold medals in the sport at the CWG. https://khabarlahariya.org/commonwealth-games-2026-india-won-39-medals-india-to-host-in-2030/

Murg Zamin Doz is a unique chicken dish from the Mughal era that takes 24 hours to cook. The meat is marinated with yogurt, saffron, and almonds, wrapped in rumali roti, and sealed in an earthenware pot. It is then cooked slowly underground or on low heat, allowing the chicken to cook in its own juices. This dish was reportedly a favorite of Emperor Akbar and is renowned for its rich taste and elaborate preparation method. https://tv9telugu.com/photo-gallery/murg-zamin-doz-the-24-hour-royal-chicken-dish-mughal-kings-secret-recipe-1879859.html

Posters inviting actress Trisha to enter politics have created a sensation in Madurai. The posters, put up by the 'Madurai Trisha Welfare Association,' feature the actress in depictions of historical figures like Velu Nachiyar and Kundavai. Following rumors that she might join Vijay's TVK party, fans in Madurai have officially invited her to start her political journey from the temple city with the blessings of Goddess Meenakshi. The posters claim to represent the first government-recognized association for the actress. https://www.dinamani.com/tamilnadu/2026/Aug/03/with-blessings-madurai-meenakshi-trisha-political-posters

The ICC has banned US cricketer Bodugum Akhilesh Reddy from all forms of cricket for eight years due to corruption. Reddy, an Indian-origin player, was found guilty of breaching three counts of the ICC Anti-Corruption Code related to the 2025 Abu Dhabi T10 tournament. His suspension is effective from November 21, last year. The article also mentions Rashid Khan's 5-wicket haul in 'The Hundred', the Bangladesh team's arrival in Darwin for the Australia series, and Mohammad Abbas's exclusion from the Pakistan XI against West Indies. https://www.ajkerpatrika.com/sports/ajp2enbp3znqw

Karnataka CM D.K. Shivakumar reiterated his government's commitment to protecting the interests of the state's farmers regarding the Cauvery water dispute. He urged pro-Kannada outfits to withdraw the 'Karnataka Bandh' call scheduled for August 13, stating that rainfall has improved the situation. Following an all-party meeting, he emphasized prioritizing drinking water needs and consulting legal experts for the Supreme Court hearing. He also noted that the Tamil Nadu CM postponed his Bengaluru visit upon request to maintain a peaceful atmosphere. The Mekedatu project was highlighted as a permanent solution for the state's water needs. https://www.nationalexpress.co.in/national/chief-minister-shivkumar-committed-to-protecting-the-interests-of-karnataka/article-10350