Bana is one of the sons of Mahabali – the king who was pushed to the netherworld by the Vamana Avatar of Vishnu. The story of Bana is mentioned in the Harivamsa and the Bhagavad Purana. Legend has it that Bana was a very powerful ruler. Once he left his kingdom and went to the Himalayas and performed intense austerities to please Shiva. The tapas performed by Bana was very severe and this forced Shiva to appear before him. Bana asked for two boons from Shiva – that he be made son of Goddess Parvati and second that he should have 1000 hands to destroy his enemies. The boons were granted and Bana returned to his kingdom. Bana had a daughter named Usha and she fell in love with Aniruddha, grandson of Sri Krishna. As Bana did not like the alliance, he captured Aniruddha and imprisoned him. For this act, Bana had to face the wrath of Sri Krishna and was defeated in the battle. As per some accounts, Sri Krishna killed Bana. But some versions state that Bana was saved

The annual festival at Shantadurga Temple at Kavlem in Goa is observed in Magh month. It is the Panchami day when the Yatra is held. In 2024, Shantadurga Temple Festival is from February 10 to February 18. The most important date is on February 14, the Maha Panchami day. The festival is also known as Kavale Shantadurga Jatra Utsav. The annual festival attracts thousands of devotees. The murti of the Goddess is taken around the temple in decorated chariots on the main day. The temple is decorated with lights and special pujas and rituals are held on all eight days of the festival. The most important day during the festival is the fifth day known as Maha Panchami. Shantadurga Temple Festival is observed from Magh Shukla Paksha Pratipada Tithi to Shukla Paksha Ashtami Tithi – from the first day of the waxing phase of moon in Magh month to the eighth day of the waxing phase of moon.

Swachh Mandir Abhiyaan is a campaign initiated by Hindu Temples in Bengaluru with aim to keep the temple premises clean. As part of the campaign, plastic bags are banned in temples. Those spitting and littering on the temple premises are fined. Times of India reports Banashankari temple is one of many in Bengaluru city to have adopted several steps under Swachh Mandir Abhiyaan to ensure that temples and their surroundings are clean, Pallavi Akurathi, commissioner, Muzrai department, told TOI. These temples come under the department of religious and charitable endowments or Muzrai.  "Alternatives like paper and cloth bags are being encouraged as there's a ban on plastic. We're distributing them for free at some temples. Boards have been installed to educate visitors on cleanliness; they tell visitors where dustbins are located. Those who don't dump waste at the designated place will be fined," she added. A waste audit of 40 temples in the city found they