By Heidi Parker for Dailymail.com

Published: 5:14 PM EDT, March 14, 2024 | Updated: 5:14 PM EDT, March 14, 2024

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today opened a controversial Hindu temple built on the ruins of a historical mosque in the flashpoint city of Ayodhya. 

The temple, which is still under construction, is dedicated to the Hindu god Lord Ram and fulfils a long-standing demand by millions of Hindus who worship the revered deity. 

Portrayed as a Hindu awakening from centuries of subjugation by Muslim and colonial powers, the consecration of the Ram Mandir temple is also being seen as a crucial step in catapulting Modi to a record third successive term in upcoming elections. 

Modi, dressed in a traditional kurta tunic, led the opening ceremony as Hindu priests chanted hymns inside the temple’s inner sanctum, where a 4.3ft stone sculpture of Lord Ram was installed last week.

A conch was blown by a priest to mark the temple’s opening and Modi placed a lotus flower in front of the black stone idol, decked in intricate gold ornaments and holding a golden bow and arrow.

But the building of the temple atop the debris of the 16th-century Babri Mosque is controversial. 

For decades, the temple site was bitterly contested by Hindus and minority Muslims, leading to nationwide riots in 1992 that killed 2,000 people, mainly Muslims, after a Hindu mob destroyed a 16th-century mosque that had stood there.

The fraught history is still an open wound for many Muslims, who see the construction of the temple as a testament to Modi’s Hindu-first politics. 

Modi’s party and other Hindu nationalist groups who seized on the demand have portrayed the temple as central to their vision of reclaiming Hindu pride, which they say was shadowed by centuries of Mughal rule and British colonialism.

“The supernatural moment of the consecration … is going to leave everyone emotional,” Modi posted on social network X minutes before the ceremony began. “It is my great pleasure to be a part of this divine programme.”

He chanted Hindu religious verses before placing flower petals at the feet of the deity and clasped his palms in prayer, then bowed before it and circled a sacred flame, while outside, a military helicopter showered petals on the temple.

Traditional clarinets played devotional music during the rituals for the 51-inch tall, black stone deity that represents the god-king while politicians, businessmen, sports and media stars watched along with millions nationwide.

‘Ram Rajya (rule) begins,’ a TV news headline said. Ram Rajya is a Sankrit phrase that means just and ethical governance in Hinduism, but has also been used by Hindu nationalists to signify Hindu domination in an officially secular India.

Nearly 7,500 people, including elite industrialists, politicians and movie stars, witnessed the ritual on a giant screen outside the temple as a military helicopter showered flower petals.

Modi has been the face of an unprecedented and unapologetic fusion of religion and politics in India. Ahead of the temple opening, he set the tone by visiting numerous Ram temples over 11 days as part of a Hindu ritual.

Analysts and critics see Monday’s ceremony as the start of the election campaign for Modi, an avowed Hindu nationalist and one of India’s most consequential leaders who has sought to transform the country from a secular democracy into a distinctly Hindu state in his nearly 10 years in power. 

They say the pomp-filled display led by the government shows the extent to which the line between religion and state has eroded under Modi.

‘Prime ministers prior to Modi have also been to temples, been to other places of worship, but they went there as devotees. This is the first time that he went there as somebody who performed the ritual,’ said Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay, an expert in Hindu nationalism and author of a book on Modi.

The temple, located at one of India’s most vexed religious sites, is expected to embolden Modi’s chances of clinching a record third successive term by drawing on the religious sentiments of Hindus, who make up 80% of India’s population of 1.4 billion.

Ayodhya, once crowded with tightly packed houses and rundown stalls, has undergone an elaborate makeover in the lead up to the temple’s 0inauguration. 

Narrow roads have been turned into a four-lane pilgrimage route leading to the temple, tourists are arriving at a new airport and sprawling railway station, and major hotel chains are building new properties.

Jubilant devotees from across the country have arrived to celebrate the opening, with groups of them dancing to religious songs that blare from speakers on roads bedecked with flowers. 

Huge cut-outs of Lord Ram and billboards of Modi are ubiquitous across Ayodhya, where the borders have been sealed to prevent more people from coming in. 

Some 20,000 security personnel and more than 10,000 security cameras have been deployed.

The moment will be remembered as momentous and historic by many of the country’s Hindu citizens.

‘I am here to see history unfolding before our eyes. For centuries, the story of Lord Ram has resonated in the hearts of millions,’ said Harish Joshi who arrived in Ayodhya from Uttarakhand state four days before the ceremony.

Built at an estimated cost of $217million and spread over nearly 3 hectares (7.4 acres), the temple lies atop the debris of the 16th-century Babri Mosque, which was razed to the ground in 1992 by Hindu mobs who believed it was built on temple ruins marking the birthplace of Lord Ram.

The site has long been a religious flashpoint for the two communities, with the demolition of the mosque triggering bloody riots across India that killed 2,000 people, mostly Muslims.

The dispute ended in 2019 when, in a controversial decision, India’s Supreme Court called the mosque’s destruction ‘an egregious violation’ of the law but granted the site to Hindus while giving Muslims a different plot of land.

The fraught history is still an open wound for many Muslims, who see the construction of the temple as a testament to Modi’s Hindu-first politics.

Officials say the temple, a three-story structure made of pink sandstone, will open to the public after the ceremony and they expect 100,000 devotees to visit daily. Builders are still working to finish 46 elaborate doors and intricate wall carvings.

The inauguration has morphed into a massive national event.

Modi’s government planned live screenings across the country and even movie theaters in some cities showed the event while offering free popcorn. 

Governing party workers have gone door to door handing out religious flags, while Modi encouraged people to celebrate by lighting lamps at homes and in local shrines. 

Government offices were closed for half a day on Monday, and many states declared it a public holiday. Even the stock and money markets were closed for the day.

But not all are rejoicing. Four key Hindu religious authorities refused to attend, saying consecrating an unfinished temple goes against Hindu scriptures. 

Some top leaders from India’s main opposition Congress party are also boycotting the event, with many opposition lawmakers accusing Modi of exploiting the temple for political points.

A stunning castle with its own wine cellar and private golf course is on the market for £2.3 million.

Located between the towns of Arbroath and Carnoustie in Scotland, Kelly Castle is a four-storey fortified castle dating back to the 16th century.

The B-listed house with eight bedrooms can be viewed Zoopla and is set in 33 hectares of beautifully landscaped gardens.

Whoever buys the castle could also take over the title of Baron from Kelly in Angus, if they are willing to negotiate with the current owners.

A number of tasteful renovations and upgrades have been carried out by the current owners. This includes a nine-hole golf course and a modern bedroom with en suite bathroom and walk-in wardrobe.

Despite the modern touches, much of the historic building's character remains intact, including an ornate living room with wooden floors and perfectly preserved staircases.

Some of the furniture in Kelly Castle is available upon request.

The castle is for sale with Strutt Parker and was purchased by the current owners in 2001. But the history of Kelly Castle is much older.

The land on which the castle now stands was originally owned by Philip de Moubray, a Norman settler, and his descendants.

They forfeited the property during the reign of Robert the Bruce and it was given to the Stewart family.

In 1641 Kelly Castle passed to the Irvine family who expanded it with two wings and a courtyard.

Towards the end of the 17th century the castle passed to the Earls of Panmure and then to the Ramsay Earls of Dalhousie after the Jacobite Rising of 1715.

The castle was abandoned for about a century before being restored by John Shiell in the 1860s.

Today, Kelly Castle has five beautiful bedrooms and five bathrooms, along with a self-contained two-bedroom caretaker's residence flat and a one-bedroom staff flat, both with private entrances.

The ground floor contains the master bedroom with en suite bathroom, a second bedroom, sitting room, kitchen, snooker room, bar, wine cellar and cinema room.

On the first floor is a beautiful library, sitting room, dining room, two en suite bedrooms, a kitchen and a family room.

The second floor has a salon and home office, while the third floor has an en suite bedroom.

There are two more bedrooms on the fourth floor, and a small tower room on the fifth floor. Many of the rooms on the top floor offer views over the spectacular North Sea.

Kelly Castle has a formal walled garden with not only a golf course but also a croquet lawn. The garden is also surrounded by mature woodland and the Elliot Water flows through the grounds.

The officers say: 'Kelly Castle is a hugely impressive Scottish fortified tower house. Grade B listed by Historic Environment Scotland. The major renovations and adjustments were completed by the current owners in 2009.

'As you would expect, the rooms are stunning and retain many original features such as decorative plasterwork, with some rooms offering views over the walled gardens and into the distance to the North Sea.

'There are numerous public areas including a cellar bar, snooker room and cinema room. The location and layout are suitable for different buyers, especially as a large family home and for people with an interest in golf.

'The owners have created a private nine-hole golf course, and the castle is in close proximity to both the Carnoustie Golf Course which has hosted The Open, and the home of golf at St Andrews.

'The current owners purchased the castle in 2001 and have been wonderful stewards of it, carrying out a sympathetic renovation and making significant improvements and alterations, without sparing any expense.'

Let’s celebrate! The top 100 countries for good food have been revealed – and Italy is number one, followed by Japan and Greece in third.

This is evident from a recent study by Taste Atlas Awards 2023/24which is based on 271,819 dish ratings and 80,863 food product ratings. ‘Italy and Japan recorded the same average rating,” according to Smaakatlas, “but Italy took first place again this year thanks to a higher rating of the top-rated dish: pizza.”

Portugal (fourth) and China (fifth) complete the top five, while the US ranks 16th, Australia 50th, England 39th, Scotland 47th and Wales 99th just barely ahead. list.

The top ten is rounded out by Indonesia (sixth); Mexico (seventh); France (eighth); Spain (ninth) and Peru (tenth).

In a separate ranking, focused on the 100 best dishes in the world, the crown goes to the Brazilian picanha – a piece of beef from the behind of a cow.

In second place is the Malaysian flatbread ‘roti canai’, and in third place is the Thai stir-fry ‘phat kophrao’, traditionally made with pork or chicken, Thai basil, chillies and garlic and served with jasmine rice.

Italy comes in fourth place with its popular pizza Napoletana, topped with tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil and olive oil. In fifth place it is guotie – a kind of Chinese dumpling.

Not a single British dish is among the 100 best dishes in the world, while Australia is also conspicuous by its absence. One American dish makes the list: Boiled Maine lobster ranks 78th.

Rounding out the world’s top ten dishes are a Thai egg noodle soup called ‘khao soi’ (sixth); Indian ‘butter garlic naan’ (seventh); Chinese soup-filled steamed buns known as ‘tangbao’ (eighth); Russian meat skewers, or ‘shashlik’ (ninth), and Thai ‘phanaeng curry’ (tenth).

Taste Atlas also maps the top 100 cheeses in the world, with the top three all from Italy: Parmigiano Reggiano (first); mozzarella di bufala campana (second) and stracchino di crescenza.

The list of the 100 best dishes in the world sparked discussion among the 997,000 of the Taste Atlas Facebook followers, many of whom were eager to name personal favorites that were missing from the list.

“Call me average, but I don’t see a pepperoni pizza here,” wrote “Robert.”

While ‘Laura Tasarkan’ said ‘shawarma should be number 1’ and ‘Prokopis Karvounis’ asked ‘Where’s the moussaka?’

Others celebrated countries that ranked well.

‘Brazil wins!’ wrote “Mayra Baldini” with a party hat emoji, while “Lezel De Guzman” said, “Just seeing a Filipino dish is enough!”

Commenting on the complexity of the task, ‘Ad Aree’ added: ‘Even though I’m from Malaysia and our dish ranks second, it’s almost impossible IMO to rank a wide variety of foods because their taste so much different from one. another.

‘Personally, I love Sarawak Laksa [a Malaysian noodle soup] more than roti canai and it’s not even on this list.’

Broad also previously had the upper hand against Warner during the 2019 Ashes, getting away from him seven out of 10 innings.

New Delhi: The most hyped third test of the Ashes 2023 series started on July 6 in Headingley, Leeds. England captain Ben Stokes won the toss and decided to bowl first on a surface with a touch of bounce and a green surface to help sailors. During the first over of the test match, when Stuart Broad and David Warner faced each other, the Headingley stadium crowd was ready for another breathtaking display.

The Australian opener got his team off to a good start by playing an “on drive” on the game’s first ball that beat the fielder at the half and run for a four. Later, England sailor removed Warner for the 16th time in Test cricket when he shoved the fifth ball from the straight to Zak Crawley at second slip.

What a start!

Broad gets Warner for the…

*checks notes*

…sixteenth time! #EnglandCricket | #Ash pic.twitter.com/WfSoa5XY1G

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 6, 2023

Stuart Broad vs David Warner, different day but same result#ENGvsAUS #The axes pic.twitter.com/FJJDdwrHb3

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) July 6, 2023

In the first innings of the first Test, the England sailor also got Warner out by forcing him to play back on his stump. Broad also previously had the upper hand against Warner during the 2019 Ashes, getting away from him seven out of 10 innings. The Southpaw could only score 95 points in 10 innings at an average of 9.5.

The Australian opener is now fifth on the list for most Test match dismissals against a specific bowler. On the fifth slot, Warner is joined by England’s Graham Gooch, who was also sacked 16 times in his testing career by famed West Indies sailor Malcolm Marshall.

Usually a bowler rejects a striker in Tests:

19 – Glenn McGrath v Michael Atherton
18 – Alec Bedser vs. Arthur Morris
17 – Curt Ambrose v Michael Atherton
17 – Courtney Walsh v Michael Atherton
16 – Malcolm Marshall v Graham Gooch
16 – Stuart Broad v David Warner

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) July 6, 2023

“Special shirt for my 100th test”: Steve Smith shares emotional story

Australian batsman Steve Smith is all set to reach the milestone in his career as he plays his 100th test match at Headingley on Thursday. Before the game, Smith shared a story on his Instagram account “Special shirt for my 100th test”.

Steve Smith’s test is performed every year:

2010: 187
2011: 72
2013: 711
2014: 1146
2015: 1474
2016: 1079
2017: 1305
2018: 225
2019: 965
2020: 73
2021: 430
2022: 876
2023: 570*

100 Tests and Unparalleled Dominance in Whites pic.twitter.com/8SPPpF6S4H

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) July 6, 2023

In 99 games, Smith scored 9,113 points at an average of 59.56. He has scored 32 centuries and 37 half centuries. Only 15 cricketers make up Australia’s ‘hundred club’, but Smith will join an even narrower group as one of only three batters in the sport’s history to have played 50 or more Tests and averaged at least have achieved 59. Smith had scored 110. runs in the first innings of the second test match, which forms a solid foundation for Australia.’

Legendary competitive eater Joey Chestnut has romped to victory at America’s top hot dog eating contest – after several hours of rain delays dampened the Fourth of July celebrations. 

Organizers of Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest were faced with cancelling the men’s event for the first time in over five decades when torrential rains swept through the Big Apple at around midday Tuesday. 

Earlier in the day, women’s champion Miki Sudo, 38, cruised to her ninth title at the event, steaming ahead of the pack with 39.5 hot dogs eaten in 10 minutes. 

The event was put on ice for several hours due to thunderstorms, but organizers were able to get back up and running in time for 15-time reigning champ Joey Chestnut to take to the stage.

His tally of 62 was not enough to beat his world record of 76 hot dogs wolfed down in 10 minutes, while women’s champion Sudo holds the female record with 48.5. 

Over 30,000 people descended on Coney Island in New York to celebrate July 4th, but the festivities were paused when dark clouds rolled in at around midday. 

After the event was halted due to storms, an attendee claimed the reigning champion announced: ‘I’m gonna get the rest of the guys out and we’re gonna do this f***er’. 

But despite fears the iconic event had been canceled, it was later given the go-ahead to begin at 2pm (EST).  

The hot dog eating showdown has taken place every year in Coney Island, near Brooklyn, New York for over five decades. 

Seen as one of the premier eating contests in America, it has been organized by the Major League Eating (MLE) organization since 1997.

Taking to the stage this year included a fleet of past champions and special invitees from around the world, while others were able to qualify though preliminary contests. 

The winner receives $10,000, while second place gets $5,000 and third place gets $2,500. The men’s and women’s winners also land a huge, bedazzled wrestling-style belt. 

The annual event is a hallmark of the competitive eating scene every year, with the contest even held behind closed doors in 2020 due to the pandemic. 

Sudo won handily in the women’s contest this year, eating six more hot dogs than her nearest competitor Mayoi Ebihara. 

The podium was rounded off by Michelle Lesco, who took third with 24.25 hot dogs eaten. 

Lesco previously revealed to the Washington Post that while larger frames may seem like the ideal body type for the sport, many smaller competitors actually find success. 

Among the women’s field, just six competitors were able to break the barrier of eating 10 hot dogs in 10 minutes. 

After her victory, Sudo said: ’39 is a low number, I’m sorry you guys! I would not have left a partial hot dog on the table.’ 

Ahead of her historic win, Sudo revealed to DailyMail.com the insider tips and tricks that help her raze through mounds of food in minutes. 

The annual competition sees contestants given 10 minutes to ingest as many Nathan’s Famous hot dogs in buns as possible. 

Other rules placed on competitors to start the day include the permitting of any beverages to help aid the hot dogs on the way down. 

Each competitor is given their own judge, and a live score is running throughout the race while packed crowds are sent into a frenzy. 

Condiments are also allowed, but unsurprisingly most contestants opt not to bother. 

Although the players are often covered in hot dogs and beverages by the end of the 10 minutes, judges are able to hand down penalty cards for messy eating. 

If there is a tie at the end of the day, the eaters are forced to get more hot dogs down to win as the contest goes to a sudden death eat-off. 

Many in the crowd were hoping to catch a glimpse of Joey Chestnut romping to his historic sixteenth victory at the contest. 

The 39-year-old, from Westfield, Indiana, won the Fourth of July competition for a fifteenth time in 2022 when he devoured 63 dogs in 10 minutes.

Ever since he burst onto the scene by beating legendary eater Rich LeFevre in 2005 at a deep-fried asparagus eating championship, Chestnut has dominated the sport. 

He has set 55 world records in food-related contests throughout his illustrious career, including eating 141 hard-boiled eggs in eight minutes and 32 Big Mac sandwiches in 38 minutes. 

Chestnut has landed a series of sponsorship deals to go along with his prize money, as he has become one of the most successful competitive eaters of all time. 

Last year, he told USA TODAY Sports he earned more than $500,000 and his net worth exceeds $4 million. 

Featuring on this year’s lineup alongside Joey Chestnut is women’s champion Miki Sudo, 38, who captured her ninth title. 

This year’s contest was greeted by an opening ceremony and weigh-in for the competitors, where Chestnut and Sudo faced off to build hype for the event. 

Ahead of her bid for a ninth title, Sudo revealed to DailyMail.com how she planned overcome the competition. 

She currently holds the world record for the most hot dogs eaten in 10 minutes, with 48.5 which she set in 2020. 

I feel really calm. I feel better than any year before. I’ve done a few practices, but more importantly, I just feel like I’m in a really good place,’ Miki, who is ranked third overall in Major League Eating, said.

‘[I’ve] been really mindful of what I’ve been eating, how I’ve been resting… spent some time in the gym.

‘I’ve gone back and watched some footage and I think I’ve tweaked a few things to have a really strong performance this year.

‘So, it’s just 11 days to go, I think I’m going to try to do one more practice or do a half practice just to really get that technique dialed in and… it should be a high performance, a high number this year.’

Slim in a black suit, Robert De Niro was joined by his girlfriend, Tiffany Chen, at the star-studded 16th annual Chanel Tribeca Artists Dinner in NYC on Monday.

The Taxi Driver actor, 79, who welcomed his seventh child with Chen two months earlier in April, joined other A-listers at the glitzy event, including Oscar winner Brendan Fraser and actress Nina Dobrev.

The star opted for black trousers along with a black suit jacket while stopping at the special dinner at the Balthazar Restaurant, adding a dark green polo shirt underneath.

The Goodfellas star completed his overall look by slipping into a pair of black loafers and was spotted strolling alongside his girlfriend, who he first romantically linked with in 2021.

She opted for casual comfort in a form-fitting brown tank dress with a hem that stopped a few inches above her ankles.

The martial arts instructor slipped on a pair of white sneakers to stay comfortable during the busy night, and pulled on a long, white knit sweater to help keep her warm in the drizzly weather.

Her locks were pulled back into a simple ponytail and Tiffany donned a few shades of brown to accessorize her outfit. While on her way to the main location, the mother of one of the children was carrying a bright yellow bag in her hands.

According to Robert, he hosted the annual Chanel dinner alongside Jane Rosenthal, Paul Weinstein and the luxury French brand itself Variety. The festivities help honor a number of artists such as Ana Benaroya, Beverly Fishman, and Christie Neptune.

Each of the female artists recognized at the dinner has also been asked to create original pieces to be presented to the winners at the 2023 Tribeca Festival.

De Niro was later spotted in the eatery mingling with other diners and talking to attendees in the crowded space.

The Irish actor co-founded the Tribeca Festival with Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff in May 2002, and until 2020 the event was originally called the Tribeca Film Festival.

The actor has been keeping busy and made an appearance last Wednesday at the opening night of the festivities by attending the special screening of the documentary Kiss The Future.

He was also joined by Tiffany on the red carpet to kick off the festival, which ends on June 18. In addition to spending time at the annual event, Robert recently celebrated becoming a father for the seventh time.

In April, he welcomed a baby girl named Gia with Tiffany and confirmed the big news during an interview with ET Canada last month of May.

At one point, interviewer Brittnee Blair mentioned his “six kids,” but Robert was quick to chime in with the correction: “Seven, actually. I just had a baby.’

On the Today show to promote the Tribeca Festival, he also opened up about his newborn daughter, Gia, and also briefly mentioned his close friend, Al Pacino.

“Look, Al Pacino just had a baby, I was told yesterday morning, and he’s a few years older than me. God bless him, very happy for him.’ Robert also gushed about re-educating a newborn, saying, “It feels great.”

Regarding how he’s changed as a dad, the star told host Hoda Kotb, “I’m definitely aware – when you’re older you’re aware of certain things in life, dynamics, everything, family dynamics.”

The Goodfellas actor added, “You can’t avoid learning certain things and how to deal with that and deal with it and this and that, the usual. It’s great, but I’m very happy with it.’

Along with baby Gia, Robert also shares daughter Drena, 51, and son Raphael, 46, with Diahnne Abbott, twin sons Julian and Aaron, 27, with ex, Toukie Smith, and also son Elliot, 24, and daughter Helen, 11, with ex wife Grace Hightower.

Shortly after news of his new family addition came to light, the actor shared Page six that welcoming his seventh child was “planned” and the question “How could you not plan things like that?”

A screening of A Bronx Tale, which was released in 1993, will also be shown on June 17 to close the Tribeca Festival. Notably, Robert both starred in and directed the crime drama.

He opened up about the film, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary, and talked Additional‘I’m really looking forward to it, especially at the Beacon Theater… the audience… can’t wait.’

2023 has been a monumental year for De Niro so far, with the actor taking himself to the 76th annual Cannes Film Festival last month in May for the premiere of Martin Scorsese’s Killers Of The Flower Moon.

The film, which also stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Lily Gladstone, Brendan Fraser and Jesse Plemons, received a nine-minute standing ovation after screening.