A pair of golden shoes for Goddess Meenakshi Amman by Rous Peter

A British Collector named Rous Peter  was appointed as Collector of Madurai from 1812 to 1828. 

Though a Christian by faith, he respected all faiths including Hinduism and also honored local practices. 

Collector Peter was the temple administrator of the Meenakshi Amman Temple and conducted all his duties with sincerity and honesty and respected the religious sentiments of all people.

Collector Rous Peter respected and treated people of all faiths equally and this noble trait earned him the popular nickname ‘Peter Pandian' 

Goddess Meenakshi Amman Temple was situated between Collector Peter's residence and office.

Everyday he used to go to the office by his horse and while crossing the temple, he got down from his horse, removed the hat and his shoes and crossed the whole path on his foot. 

Through this small gesture he expressed his reverence to the Goddess!

One day there was a heavy downpour in Madurai city and River Vaigai was in spate.

Collector was sleeping in his residence and was suddenly disturbed and woken up by the sound of anklets and he left his bed to find out from where the sound had came. 

He saw a small girl wearing pattuvastrams (silk garments) and precious ornaments and addressing him as 'Peter come this way'. 

And he came out to follow her and was running behind the little girl to find out who she was!

As he came out of the house and was running, he was shocked as he turned to see behind him, his residence (whole bungalow) being washed away by the flood waters of River Vaigai!

He turned to follow the girl but she disappeared into thin air!

He saw that the girl ran without any shoes and was wearing anklets. 

He beleived that his devotion for Mother Goddess Meenakshi  had saved his life. 

Later, he wished to give a gift to Lord Meenakshi Amman & consulted the priest of temple and ordered for a pair of golden shoes for Goddess Meenakshi Amman.

It is thus that the pair of Paadhukams consisting of 

412 rubies,
72 emeralds,
and 80 diamonds

were made and donated to the temple. 

His name was sculpted as "Peter" on the shoes. 

Till this day the pair of Paadhukams are known as 'Peter Paadhukam'

Every year at the time of 'Chaitra Festival', utsava moorthy of Goddess Meenakshi Amman is decorated with the Padukams. 

This is the incidence that had  happened 200 years back in 1818.Paadhukams are posted below !

26 June - Bal Gandharva birth anniversary

Narayan Shripad Rajhans, better known as Bal Gandharva (26 June 1888 – 15 July 1967), was a Marathi singer and stage actor. He was famous for his roles in female characters in Marathi plays, since women were not allowed to act on stage during his time.

Bal Gandharva got his name after a singing performance in Pune. Lokmanya Tilak, a social reformer and a freedom fighter of Indian independence movement was in the audience, and after the performance, reportedly patted Rajhans on the back and said that Narayan was a "Bal Gandharva" (lit. Young Gandharva).

26 June - International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

The International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is a United Nations International Day against drug abuse and the illegal drug trade. It is observed annually on 26 June, since 1989. The date June 26 is to commemorate Lin Zexu's dismantling of the opium trade in Humen, Guangdong, ending in June 25 1839，just before the First Opium War in China. The observance was instituted by General Assembly Resolution 42/112 of 7 December 1987.

According to the World Drug Report 2017, released by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), about a quarter of a billion people used drugs at least once in 2015.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is the space agency of the Government of India and has its headquarters in the city of Bengaluru. Its vision is to "harness space technology for national development while pursuing space science research & planetary exploration".[6] The Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) was established by Jawaharlal Nehru under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) in 1962, with the urging of scientist Vikram Sarabhai recognizing the need in space research. INCOSPAR grew and became ISRO in 1969,also under the DAE.In 1972, the Government of India had set up a Space Commission and the Department of Space (DOS),bringing ISRO under the DOS. The establishment of ISRO thus institutionalized space research activities in India.It is managed by the DOS, which reports to the Prime Minister of India.

25 June - The Emergency India in 1975

In India, "The Emergency" refers to a 21 month period from 1975 to 1977 when Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had a state of emergency declared across the country. Officially issued by President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed under Article 352 of the Constitution because of the prevailing "internal disturbance", the Emergency was in effect from 25 June 1975 until its withdrawal on 21 March 1977. The order bestowed upon the Prime Minister the authority to rule by decree, allowing elections to be suspended and civil liberties to be curbed. For much of the Emergency, most of Indira Gandhi's political opponents were imprisoned and the press was censored. Several other human rights violations were reported from the time, including a forced mass-sterilization campaign spearheaded by Sanjay Gandhi, the Prime Minister's son. The Emergency is one of the most controversial periods of independent India's history.

The final decision to impose an emergency was proposed by Indira Gandhi, agreed upon by the president of India, and thereafter ratified by the cabinet and the parliament (from July to August 1975), based on the rationale that there were imminent internal and external threats to the Indian state.

The Emergency lasted 21 months, and its legacy remains intensely controversial. A few days after the Emergency was imposed, the Bombay edition of The Times of India carried an obituary that read

"Democracy, beloved husband of Truth, loving father of Liberty, brother of Faith, Hope and Justice, expired on June 26."

A few days later censorship was imposed on newspapers. The Delhi edition of the Indian Express on 28 June, carried a blank editorial, while the Financial Express reproduced in large type Rabindranath Tagore's poem "Where the mind is without fear".

Slogan cancellation image from :http://prafulthakkar.in/

25 June - 1983 World Cup (Prudential Cup) Finals in 1983

The final of the 1983 Prudential Cup was played between India and West Indies at Lord's on 25 June 1983. This was the third consecutive World Cup final appearance for West Indies. India playing their first finals defeated the West Indies to claim the title. It was the first World Cup win for India.

The match was the third consecutive World Cup final hosted at Lord's, following those in 1975 and 1979.

India was making their first appearance at a World Cup final after defeating England by 6 wickets in the first semi-finals. This was also the first appearance by an Asian nation in a World Cup final.


West Indies reached a third consecutive final after defeating Pakistan by 8 wickets runs in the second semi-final. Previously, they had won finals in 1975 and 1979.

25 June - Louis Francis Albert Victor Nicholas Mountbatten Born in 1900

Louis Francis Albert Victor Nicholas Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma (born Prince Louis of Battenberg; 25 June 1900 – 27 August 1979), was a British Royal Navy officer and statesman, an uncle of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and second cousin once removed of Queen Elizabeth II. During the Second World War, he was Supreme Allied Commander, South East Asia Command (1943–1946). He was the last Viceroy of India (1947) and the first governor-general of independent India (1947–1948).

From 1954 to 1959, Mountbatten was First Sea Lord, a position that had been held by his father, Prince Louis of Battenberg, some forty years earlier. Thereafter he served as chief of the Defence Staff until 1965, making him the longest-serving professional head of the British Armed Forces to date. During this period Mountbatten also served as chairman of the NATO Military Committee for a year.

In August 1979, Mountbatten was assassinated by a bomb that was hidden aboard his fishing boat in Mullaghmore, County Sligo, Ireland, by members of the Provisional Irish Republican Army.

24 June - The Battle of Beaver Dams in 1813

The Battle of Beaver Dams took place on 24 June 1813, during the War of 1812. An American column marched from Fort George and attempted to surprise a British outpost at Beaver Dams, billeting themselves overnight in the village of Queenston, Ontario. Laura Secord, a resident of Queenston, had earlier learned of the American plans, and had struck out on a long and difficult trek to warn the British at Decou's stone house near present-day Brock University. When the Americans resumed their march, they were ambushed by Native warriors and eventually surrendered to a small British detachment led by Lieutenant James FitzGibbon. About 500 Americans, including their wounded commander, were taken prisoner.

24 June - Omkarnath Thakur birth anniversary

Omkarnath Thakur was a renowned Indian classical vocalist and music composer. He was born on 24 June 1897, in Bara Banki, Uttar Pradesh, India, and passed away on 29 December 1967.

Thakur was a prominent figure in the world of Hindustani classical music, particularly in the genre of khayal singing. He received training in music from several gharanas (schools) of classical music, including the Gwalior gharana and the Agra gharana. Thakur was known for his powerful voice, intricate raga improvisations, and emotive renditions.

In addition to his prowess as a vocalist, Omkarnath Thakur was also a prolific composer. He composed numerous bandishes (musical compositions) in various ragas, which are still performed by classical musicians today. Thakur's compositions are known for their melodic richness and rhythmic complexity.

Thakur's contributions to Hindustani classical music earned him widespread acclaim and recognition during his lifetime. He received several awards and honors for his musical achievements, including the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, one of India's highest honors in the field of performing arts.

Omkarnath Thakur's legacy continues to influence generations of musicians, and his compositions remain an integral part of the Hindustani classical music repertoire. He is remembered as one of the stalwarts of Indian classical music, whose artistry and creativity enriched the musical landscape of India.

23 June - Sanjay Gandhi - Death Anniversary

Sanjay Gandhi (14 December 1946 – 23 June 1980) was an Indian politician and the son of Indira Gandhi. He was a member of the Nehru–Gandhi family. During his lifetime he was widely expected to succeed his mother as head of the Indian National Congress, but following his early death in a plane crash his elder brother Rajiv became their mother's political heir, and succeeded her as Prime Minister of India after her assassination. His wife Maneka Gandhi and son Varun Gandhi are leading politicians in the Bharatiya Janata Party.