Doordarshan is going to launch a weekly news programme in Sanskrit on June 28. The program will coincide with the World Sanskrit Conference starting in Bangkok the same day. The Sixteenth World Sanskrit Conference is being organised in Bangkok from June 28 to July 2. Union Ministers Sushma Swaraj and Smriti Irani are expected to attend the event.

Doordarshan already has a five minute Sanskrit news bulletin — ‘Varta’ — which is telecast at 6.55 pm everyday. However, it was felt that five minutes was not adequate and hence this half an and hour programme for weekends will be launched.

Tidbits

• Sanskrit is the primary liturgical language of Hinduism.
• Sanskrit is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand.
• Sanskrit is used during worship in Hindu temples throughout the world.
• Sanskrit is used extensively in the Carnatic and Hindustani branches of classical music.
• Sanskrit holds a prominent position in Indo-European studies.