"scared thread"

#13187660

12 January 2026

A soldier from the Indian Army visits the Karkateshwar Mahadev Temple and Ashram in Kakrighat, Uttarakhand, India, on April 20, 2024. Karkateshwar Mahadev Temple is located along the Vivekananda Trail and is the place where Swami Vivekananda receives enlightenment. Swami Vivekananda spends a lot of time in the Kumaon region of the Himalayas and sets up Ashrams and spiritual centers there. The Vivekananda Trail in Kumaon is a path that he treads as a young monk in 1890. Kakrighat is the site where Vivekananda sets foot more than 100 years ago and is one of the most important places along the Vivekananda Trail in Kumaon. Within the grounds of Karkateshwar Mahadev Temple, there is a large Peepal tree with densely spread leaves. It is this spot where Vivekananda, in deep meditation after sanctifying himself with a bath in the Kosi River, revives enlightenment. The original tree under which Swami Vivekananda meditates has long since dried up. On July 15, 2016, one of the cloned saplings of the sacred tree (which the local people reverentially refer to as Vivekananda Jnana-vriksha) is planted at the very spot where the original tree stood.

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#13187661

12 January 2026

Karkateshwar Mahadev Temple and Ashram is located in Kakrighat, Uttarakhand, India, on April 20, 2024. Karkateshwar Mahadev Temple is situated along the Vivekananda Trail and is the place where Swami Vivekananda receives enlightenment. Swami Vivekananda spends a lot of time in the Kumaon region of the Himalayas and sets up Ashrams and spiritual centers there. The Vivekananda Trail in Kumaon is a path that he treads as a young monk in 1890. Kakrighat is the site where Vivekananda sets foot more than 100 years ago and is one of the most important places along the Vivekananda Trail in Kumaon. Within the grounds of Karkateshwar Mahadev Temple, there is a large Peepal tree with densely spread leaves. It is this spot where Vivekananda, in deep meditation after sanctifying himself with a bath in the Kosi River, revives enlightenment. The original tree under which Swami Vivekananda meditates has long since dried up. On July 15, 2016, one of the cloned saplings of the sacred tree, which the local people reverentially refer to as Vivekananda Jnana-vriksha, is planted at the very spot where the original tree stood.

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#13187662

12 January 2026

Karkateshwar Mahadev Temple and Ashram is located in Kakrighat, Uttarakhand, India, on April 20, 2024. Karkateshwar Mahadev Temple is situated along the Vivekananda Trail and is the place where Swami Vivekananda receives enlightenment. Swami Vivekananda spends a lot of time in the Kumaon region of the Himalayas and sets up Ashrams and spiritual centers there. The Vivekananda Trail in Kumaon is a path that he treads as a young monk in 1890. Kakrighat is the site where Vivekananda sets foot more than 100 years ago and is one of the most important places along the Vivekananda Trail in Kumaon. Within the grounds of Karkateshwar Mahadev Temple, there is a large Peepal tree with densely spread leaves. It is this spot where Vivekananda, in deep meditation after sanctifying himself with a bath in the Kosi River, revives enlightenment. The original tree under which Swami Vivekananda meditates has long since dried up. On July 15, 2016, one of the cloned saplings of the sacred tree, which the local people reverentially refer to as Vivekananda Jnana-vriksha, is planted at the very spot where the original tree stood.

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#13187663

12 January 2026

Karkateshwar Mahadev Temple and Ashram is located in Kakrighat, Uttarakhand, India, on April 20, 2024. Karkateshwar Mahadev Temple is situated along the Vivekananda Trail and is the place where Swami Vivekananda receives enlightenment. Swami Vivekananda spends a lot of time in the Kumaon region of the Himalayas and sets up Ashrams and spiritual centers there. The Vivekananda Trail in Kumaon is a path that he treads as a young monk in 1890. Kakrighat is the site where Vivekananda sets foot more than 100 years ago and is one of the most important places along the Vivekananda Trail in Kumaon. Within the grounds of Karkateshwar Mahadev Temple, there is a large Peepal tree with densely spread leaves. It is this spot where Vivekananda, in deep meditation after sanctifying himself with a bath in the Kosi River, revives enlightenment. The original tree under which Swami Vivekananda meditates has long since dried up. On July 15, 2016, one of the cloned saplings of the sacred tree, which the local people reverentially refer to as Vivekananda Jnana-vriksha, is planted at the very spot where the original tree stood.

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#13187664

12 January 2026

Karkateshwar Mahadev Temple and Ashram are located along the bank of the Kosi River in Kakrighat, Uttarakhand, India, on April 20, 2024. Karkateshwar Mahadev Temple is situated along the Vivekananda Trail and is the place where Swami Vivekananda receives enlightenment. Swami Vivekananda spends a lot of time in the Kumaon region of the Himalayas and sets up ashrams and spiritual centers there. The Vivekananda Trail in Kumaon is a path that he treads as a young monk in 1890. Kakrighat is the site where Vivekananda sets foot more than 100 years ago and is one of the most important places along the Vivekananda Trail in Kumaon. Within the grounds of Karkateshwar Mahadev Temple, there is a large Peepal tree with densely spread leaves. It is this spot where Vivekananda, in deep meditation after sanctifying himself with a bath in the Kosi River, revives enlightenment. The original tree under which Swami Vivekananda meditates has long since dried up. On July 15, 2016, one of the cloned saplings of the sacred tree, which the local people reverentially refer to as Vivekananda Jnana-vriksha, is planted at the very spot where the original tree stood.

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#13187665

12 January 2026

A sign near Karkateshwar Mahadev Temple and Ashram in Kakrighat, Uttarakhand, India, on April 20, 2024, states that Karkateshwar Mahadev Temple is located along the Vivekananda Trail and is the place where Swami Vivekananda receives enlightenment. Swami Vivekananda spends a lot of time in the Kumaon region of the Himalayas and sets up Ashrams and spiritual centers there. The Vivekananda Trail in Kumaon is a path that he treads as a young monk in 1890. Kakrighat is the site where Vivekananda sets foot more than 100 years ago and is one of the most important places along the Vivekananda Trail in Kumaon. Within the grounds of Karkateshwar Mahadev Temple, there is a large Peepal tree with densely spread leaves. It is this spot where Vivekananda, in deep meditation after sanctifying himself with a bath in the Kosi River, revives enlightenment. The original tree under which Swami Vivekananda meditates has long since dried up. On July 15, 2016, one of the cloned saplings of the sacred tree, which the local people reverentially refer to as Vivekananda Jnana-vriksha, is planted at the very spot where the original tree stands.

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#13187666

12 January 2026

A sign near Karkateshwar Mahadev Temple and Ashram in Kakrighat, Uttarakhand, India, on April 20, 2024, states that Karkateshwar Mahadev Temple is located along the Vivekananda Trail and is the place where Swami Vivekananda receives enlightenment. Swami Vivekananda spends a lot of time in the Kumaon region of the Himalayas and sets up Ashrams and spiritual centers there. The Vivekananda Trail in Kumaon is a path that he treads as a young monk in 1890. Kakrighat is the site where Vivekananda sets foot more than 100 years ago and is one of the most important places along the Vivekananda Trail in Kumaon. Within the grounds of Karkateshwar Mahadev Temple, there is a large Peepal tree with densely spread leaves. It is this spot where Vivekananda, in deep meditation after sanctifying himself with a bath in the Kosi River, revives enlightenment. The original tree under which Swami Vivekananda meditates has long since dried up. On July 15, 2016, one of the cloned saplings of the sacred tree, which the local people reverentially refer to as Vivekananda Jnana-vriksha, is planted at the very spot where the original tree stands.

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#13187667

12 January 2026

Karkateshwar Mahadev Temple and Ashram is located in Kakrighat, Uttarakhand, India, on April 20, 2024. Karkateshwar Mahadev Temple is situated along the Vivekananda Trail and is the place where Swami Vivekananda receives enlightenment. Swami Vivekananda spends a lot of time in the Kumaon region of the Himalayas and sets up Ashrams and spiritual centers there. The Vivekananda Trail in Kumaon is a path that he treads as a young monk in 1890. Kakrighat is the site where Vivekananda sets foot more than 100 years ago and is one of the most important places along the Vivekananda Trail in Kumaon. Within the grounds of Karkateshwar Mahadev Temple, there is a large Peepal tree with densely spread leaves. It is this spot where Vivekananda, in deep meditation after sanctifying himself with a bath in the Kosi River, revives enlightenment. The original tree under which Swami Vivekananda meditates has long since dried up. On July 15, 2016, one of the cloned saplings of the sacred tree, which the local people reverentially refer to as Vivekananda Jnana-vriksha, is planted at the very spot where the original tree stood.

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#13181771

11 January 2026

A band of the Nepal Army pays tribute to the late Nepali King Prithivi Narayan Shah, the unifier of modern Nepal, on his birth anniversary in Kathmandu, Nepal, on January 11, 2026. The birth anniversary of nation-builder Prithivi Narayan Shah is celebrated as National Unification Day in the Himalayan Nation. Prithvi Narayan Shah, the then king of Gorkha, ascends the throne at the age of 20 and launches the unification campaign amid significant social, economic, and geographical challenges. He passes away in 1831 BS at the age of 52. Prithvi Jayanti commemorates Nepal's shared history, culture, and national pride, and serves as a reminder to strengthen unity amid diversity. The day highlights the importance of placing national interest above personal interests and carries special significance in instilling a sense of dedication, service, and responsibility toward the nation among the younger generation. Shah's unification campaign enables Nepal to remain one of the world's oldest independent nations by safeguarding national sovereignty and independence. His teachings, including the notion that both internal and external threats undermine the nation, remain relevant today, particularly in the fight against corruption and the promotion of good governance. His description of Nepal as a ''yam between two rocks'' continues to resonate in the country's geopolitical context.

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#13181776

11 January 2026

A band of the Nepal Army pays tribute to the late Nepali King Prithivi Narayan Shah, the unifier of modern Nepal, on his birth anniversary in Kathmandu, Nepal, on January 11, 2026. The birth anniversary of nation-builder Prithivi Narayan Shah is celebrated as National Unification Day in the Himalayan Nation. Prithvi Narayan Shah, the then king of Gorkha, ascends the throne at the age of 20 and launches the unification campaign amid significant social, economic, and geographical challenges. He passes away in 1831 BS at the age of 52. Prithvi Jayanti commemorates Nepal's shared history, culture, and national pride, and serves as a reminder to strengthen unity amid diversity. The day highlights the importance of placing national interest above personal interests and carries special significance in instilling a sense of dedication, service, and responsibility toward the nation among the younger generation. Shah's unification campaign enables Nepal to remain one of the world's oldest independent nations by safeguarding national sovereignty and independence. His teachings, including the notion that both internal and external threats undermine the nation, remain relevant today, particularly in the fight against corruption and the promotion of good governance. His description of Nepal as a ''yam between two rocks'' continues to resonate in the country's geopolitical context.

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#13181784

11 January 2026

A Nepali pro-monarchist poses for a photo against the backdrop of the Nepali national flags in Kathmandu, Nepal, on January 11, 2026, during National Unity Day. The birth anniversary of nation-builder Prithivi Narayan Shah is celebrated as National Unification Day in the Himalayan nation. Prithvi Narayan Shah, the then king of Gorkha, ascends the throne at the age of 20 and launches the unification campaign amid significant social, economic, and geographical challenges. He passes away in 1831 BS at the age of 52. Prithvi Jayanti commemorates Nepal's shared history, culture, and national pride, and serves as a reminder to strengthen unity amid diversity. The day highlights the importance of placing national interest above personal interests and carries special significance in instilling a sense of dedication, service, and responsibility toward the nation among the younger generation. Shah's unification campaign enables Nepal to remain one of the world's oldest independent nations by safeguarding national sovereignty and independence. His teachings, including the notion that both internal and external threats undermine the nation, remain relevant today, particularly in the fight against corruption and the promotion of good governance. His description of Nepal as a ''yam between two rocks'' continues to resonate in the country's geopolitical context.

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#13181816

11 January 2026

Interim Nepali Prime Minister Sushila Karki arrives to attend the national unity day program in Kathmandu, Nepal, on January 11, 2026. The birth anniversary of nation-builder Prithivi Narayan Shah is celebrated as National Unification Day in the Himalayan Nation. Prithvi Narayan Shah, the then king of Gorkha, ascends the throne at the age of 20 and launches the unification campaign amid significant social, economic, and geographical challenges. He passes away in 1831 BS at the age of 52. Prithvi Jayanti commemorates Nepal's shared history, culture, and national pride, and serves as a reminder to strengthen unity amid diversity. The day highlights the importance of placing national interest above personal interests and carries special significance in instilling a sense of dedication, service, and responsibility toward the nation among the younger generation. Shah's unification campaign enables Nepal to remain one of the world's oldest independent nations by safeguarding national sovereignty and independence. His teachings, including the notion that both internal and external threats undermine the nation, remain relevant today, particularly in the fight against corruption and the promotion of good governance. His description of Nepal as a ''yam between two rocks'' continues to resonate in the country's geopolitical context.

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#13181770

11 January 2026

Rajendra Lingden (Center), Chairman of the pro-monarchist Rastriya Prajatantra Party, takes part in a march ceremony organized on the birth anniversary of Prithivi Narayan Shah in Kathmandu, Nepal, on January 11, 2026. The birth anniversary of nation-builder Prithivi Narayan Shah is celebrated as National Unification Day in the Himalayan Nation. Prithvi Narayan Shah, the then king of Gorkha, ascends the throne at the age of 20 and launches the unification campaign amid significant social, economic, and geographical challenges. He passes away in 1831 BS at the age of 52. Prithvi Jayanti commemorates Nepal's shared history, culture, and national pride, and serves as a reminder to strengthen unity amid diversity. The day highlights the importance of placing national interest above personal interests and carries special significance in instilling a sense of dedication, service, and responsibility toward the nation among the younger generation. Shah's unification campaign enables Nepal to remain one of the world's oldest independent nations by safeguarding national sovereignty and independence. His teachings, including the notion that both internal and external threats undermine the nation, remain relevant today, particularly in the fight against corruption and the promotion of good governance. His description of Nepal as a ''yam between two rocks'' continues to resonate in the country's geopolitical context.

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#13181772

11 January 2026

Nepal President Ram Chandra Paudel lays a wreath at the statue of Prithivi Narayan Shah in Kathmandu, Nepal, on January 11, 2026, on Shah's birth anniversary, which is also celebrated as National Unity Day. The birth anniversary of nation-builder Prithivi Narayan Shah is celebrated as National Unification Day in the Himalayan nation. Prithvi Narayan Shah, the then king of Gorkha, ascends the throne at the age of 20 and launches the unification campaign amid significant social, economic, and geographical challenges. He passes away in 1831 BS at the age of 52. Prithvi Jayanti commemorates Nepal's shared history, culture, and national pride, and serves as a reminder to strengthen unity amid diversity. The day highlights the importance of placing national interest above personal interests and carries special significance in instilling a sense of dedication, service, and responsibility toward the nation among the younger generation. Shah's unification campaign enables Nepal to remain one of the world's oldest independent nations by safeguarding national sovereignty and independence. His teachings, including the notion that both internal and external threats undermine the nation, remain relevant today, particularly in the fight against corruption and the promotion of good governance. His description of Nepal as a ''yam between two rocks'' continues to resonate in the country's geopolitical context.

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#13181774

11 January 2026

Nepal President Ram Chandra Paudel lays a wreath at the statue of Prithivi Narayan Shah in Kathmandu, Nepal, on January 11, 2026, on Shah's birth anniversary, which is also celebrated as National Unity Day. The birth anniversary of nation-builder Prithivi Narayan Shah is celebrated as National Unification Day in the Himalayan nation. Prithvi Narayan Shah, the then king of Gorkha, ascends the throne at the age of 20 and launches the unification campaign amid significant social, economic, and geographical challenges. He passes away in 1831 BS at the age of 52. Prithvi Jayanti commemorates Nepal's shared history, culture, and national pride, and serves as a reminder to strengthen unity amid diversity. The day highlights the importance of placing national interest above personal interests and carries special significance in instilling a sense of dedication, service, and responsibility toward the nation among the younger generation. Shah's unification campaign enables Nepal to remain one of the world's oldest independent nations by safeguarding national sovereignty and independence. His teachings, including the notion that both internal and external threats undermine the nation, remain relevant today, particularly in the fight against corruption and the promotion of good governance. His description of Nepal as a ''yam between two rocks'' continues to resonate in the country's geopolitical context.

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#13181775

11 January 2026

A band of the Nepal Army pays tribute to the late Nepali King Prithivi Narayan Shah, the unifier of modern Nepal, on his birth anniversary in Kathmandu, Nepal, on January 11, 2026. The birth anniversary of nation-builder Prithivi Narayan Shah is celebrated as National Unification Day in the Himalayan Nation. Prithvi Narayan Shah, the then king of Gorkha, ascends the throne at the age of 20 and launches the unification campaign amid significant social, economic, and geographical challenges. He passes away in 1831 BS at the age of 52. Prithvi Jayanti commemorates Nepal's shared history, culture, and national pride, and serves as a reminder to strengthen unity amid diversity. The day highlights the importance of placing national interest above personal interests and carries special significance in instilling a sense of dedication, service, and responsibility toward the nation among the younger generation. Shah's unification campaign enables Nepal to remain one of the world's oldest independent nations by safeguarding national sovereignty and independence. His teachings, including the notion that both internal and external threats undermine the nation, remain relevant today, particularly in the fight against corruption and the promotion of good governance. His description of Nepal as a ''yam between two rocks'' continues to resonate in the country's geopolitical context.

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