TTD Member S. Naresh Kumar unveils 2026 calendar and diary; rejects claims of Tirupati being a historic Buddhist site
Bengaluru, October 16, 2025: The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Board has approved the construction of a Tirupati temple and Kalyana Mantapa in Mangalore, announced TTD member S. Naresh Kumar today during the release of the 2026 TTD calendar and diary in Bengaluru.
The proposal was recently presented to the TTD Board, which granted its approval. Construction will commence once land allocation is sanctioned by the Karnataka government, he added.
Calendar and Diary Launch: On the occasion, the 2026 TTD calendar and diary were unveiled by S. Naresh Kumar and Jayanti, Superintendent of TTD Bengaluru Temple. The calendars are priced between ₹15 and ₹450, and the diaries are available at ₹120 and ₹130.
Response to Controversial Claim: Addressing Buddhist scholar Jayadevi Gaikwad’s remark that Tirupati was historically a Buddhist site, S. Naresh Kumar strongly refuted the claim, calling it “completely absurd.” He emphasized that religious sentiments should not be used for publicity or personal gain.
Ola Electric Launches ‘Ola शक्ति’, Enters India’s ₹1 Lakh Crore Battery Energy Storage Market
India’s first fully indigenous residential BESS built on Ola’s 4680 Bharat Cell technology
Bengaluru, October 16, 2025: Ola Electric, India’s largest electric vehicle company, today announced the launch of Ola शक्ति, its first residential Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), marking the company’s entry into the ₹1 Lakh Crore BESS market. The company expects the sector to grow to over ₹3 Lakh Crore by 2030.
Ola शक्ति is India’s first fully designed, engineered, and manufactured residential energy storage solution powered by Ola’s indigenous 4680 Bharat Cells. Leveraging the company’s Gigafactory infrastructure and PAN-India distribution network, Ola शक्ति enables rapid scalability without additional capital or R&D investment. The company anticipates annual BESS consumption reaching 5 GWh in the next few years, surpassing its automotive battery demand.
Bhavish Aggarwal, CMD of Ola Electric, said, “India doesn’t face an energy shortage; it faces an energy storage opportunity. Ola शक्ति empowers homes to store and use clean energy intelligently, extending our world-class battery technology beyond electric mobility. With our 4680 cell technology and nationwide network, we can scale rapidly without extra investment.”
Advanced, Safe, and Scalable
Ola शक्ति delivers automotive-grade safety, up to 98% efficiency, and zero running or maintenance costs. Its modular design allows multi-directional stacking and simple home installation, while IP67-rated batteries ensure protection against dust, water, and monsoon conditions.
The system operates across a wide voltage range (120V–290V) and features instant 0ms changeover, offering a reliable alternative to traditional inverters and diesel generators.
Smart Energy Management
Ola शक्ति integrates intelligent energy management features, including:
Time-of-Day (ToD) charge/discharge scheduling
Intelligent backup prioritization
Remote diagnostics and OTA software updates
Expandable modules for future needs
Pricing and Availability
Ola शक्ति will be available in four configurations at introductory prices for the first 10,000 units:
1kW / 1.5kWh – ₹29,999
1kW / 3kWh – ₹55,999
3kW / 5.2kWh – ₹1,19,999
6kW / 9.1kWh – ₹1,59,999
The system can power air conditioners, refrigerators, induction cooktops, farm pumps, and communication equipment, providing backup of up to 1.5 hours at full load and charging in as little as 2 hours.
Reservations open today for ₹1,999 via the Ola Electric website and Ola Experience Centers, with deliveries commencing Makar Sankranti 2026.
Bangalore,India,October 16, 2025: Bharti Airtel, one of India’s leading telecommunications companies, has announced a strategic partnership with IBM (NYSE: IBM) to enhance its recently launched Airtel Cloud platform. The collaboration aims to combine Airtel’s secure, telco-grade cloud infrastructure with IBM’s expertise in cloud solutions, AI inferencing technologies, and hybrid infrastructure.
The partnership will enable enterprises in regulated sectors such as banking, healthcare, and government to scale AI workloads more efficiently across hybrid environments—on-premise, cloud, multi-cloud, and edge. Airtel Cloud customers will now be able to deploy IBM Power Systems as-a-Service, featuring the latest AI-ready IBM Power11 servers designed for mission-critical applications and SAP Cloud ERP workloads.
Airtel will also expand its cloud footprint by increasing its availability zones in India from four to ten, hosted on next-generation sustainable data centres, with two new Multizone Regions (MZRs) coming up in Mumbai and Chennai.
Gopal Vittal, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Bharti Airtel, said, “Through this partnership, we are strengthening Airtel Cloud to address the evolving needs of enterprises requiring IBM Power Systems migration and AI readiness.”
Rob Thomas, Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer of IBM, added, “Together, Airtel and IBM will empower Indian enterprises to modernize infrastructure while meeting AI and regulatory requirements.”
The alliance is set to boost India’s digital transformation journey by providing resilient, secure, and scalable cloud infrastructure that supports next-generation AI and quantum innovations.
Minister underscores the transformation of Indian ports into smart, sustainable gateways
New Delhi, October 15, 2025: Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal today inaugurated the Golden Jubilee Curtain Raiser of the New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA) at Bharat Mandapam, launching eight key maritime projects aimed at advancing port infrastructure, logistics, and sustainability.
The new projects include a state-of-the-art cruise terminal, modern covered storage sheds, a 150-bed multi-specialty hospital, expanded truck terminals, and upgraded port access infrastructure. Sonowal also unveiled a commemorative postal stamp, a special coin, and the Golden Jubilee Anthem of NMPA.
Speaking at the event, Sonowal said the port—established in 1975—has evolved from handling a few thousand tonnes to 46.01 million tonnes of cargo last year, with a capacity of 104 million tonnes per annum. He reaffirmed that ports will play a central role in realizing the ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ vision and India’s goal of becoming a $30 trillion economy.
Emphasizing sustainable development, Sonowal lauded NMPA’s green initiatives, stating, “The economy should not grow at the cost of ecology. NMPA has adopted sustainability as a guiding principle.”
The Minister highlighted that India’s ports are transforming into smart, green, and technology-driven gateways under initiatives like the Harit Sagar Guidelines and Green Shipping Corridors, aligned with the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.
The event was attended by senior officials, including R. Lakshmanan, Joint Secretary (Ports), and Dr. Venkata Ramana Akkaraju, Chairman, NMPA.
India’s first immersive light festival returns with dazzling décor and large-scale art installations, transforming the city’s Diwali celebrations
Bengaluru, October 15, 2025: Phoenix Mall of Asia, the city’s leading lifestyle and cultural destination, proudly presents the second edition of the Phoenix India Light Festival (ILF) – Sitaro Ki Diwali: The Festival of Lights, Redefined.
Launched in September to coincide with Navratri, the grand Diwali installation has transformed the central plaza into a radiant festive landmark — glowing with star-inspired sculptures, shimmering lights, and immersive art displays that capture the spirit of the season.
Following the phenomenal success of last year’s edition, which became a visual landmark for Bengaluru, ILF 2025 returns with the evocative theme “Rhythms of Reverie.” This year, the festival reimagines the mall as a luminous realm where art, design, and technology unite to create an enchanting journey through light, colour, and emotion.
At the heart of ILF 2025 lies a symphony of light — rhythmic patterns, dynamic beams, and glowing installations that create harmony between movement and stillness. Each display invites visitors to pause, reflect, and immerse themselves in moments of awe and connection.
The festival features a collection of large-scale light art environments, each offering a unique sensory story:
Echoes: A portal of shifting light inspired by the aurora, where waves of glow mirror fleeting memories. The towering frame, illuminated by animated multi-colour LEDs, serves as a gateway to a surreal, intergalactic experience.
Tunnel of Colour: A radiant walkway surrounded by layered beams and ever-changing hues, transforming each step into a living artwork. The installation’s vibrant palette invites visitors to pause, pose, and revel in its constantly evolving atmosphere.
Dreamscape: A luminous maze inspired by galaxies, featuring a woven network of lights and gradients that simulate walking through a living constellation. As visitors move through it, ripples of colour and shadow invite curiosity and rediscovery.
Chasing Stars: A breathtaking celestial archway adorned with strings of light and illuminated stars that sweep across the sky like shooting stars. Larger-than-life stars and moving projections recreate the magic of standing beneath a sky alive with wishes.
Together, these installations transform Phoenix Mall of Asia into an interactive wonderland, where creativity, technology, and human connection converge to celebrate the essence of Diwali — light, unity, and joy.
Speaking about the festival, Ritu Mehta, Centre Director – Phoenix Mall of Asia and Director of Marketing – South, said, “Phoenix India Light Festival 2025 is among the most immersive and experiential light festivals in India, seamlessly blending art, technology, and imagination into a celebration that evokes wonder. At Phoenix, our vision is to curate experiences that inspire creativity, connection, and happiness. Bengaluru’s vibrant cultural spirit provides the perfect setting for this luminous journey, and we’re thrilled to unite the city once again under the brilliance of light.”
Free and open to the public, ILF 2025 invites families, art enthusiasts, and travellers from around the world to experience a festival where art meets innovation. With its blend of accessibility, creativity, and scale, Phoenix Mall of Asia reaffirms its position as Bengaluru’s leading destination for culture, celebration, and community engagement.
City Today News 
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