Jaipur: SET 2026 Exam Walkout Erupts, Sinjara Festival Lights Up Moti Dungri Temple
Two very different stories defined Jaipur this week — students forced to walk out of the Rajasthan State Eligibility Test after authorities allegedly delayed paper distribution and threatened those who complained, and thousands of devotees thronging Moti Dungri Ganesh Temple for the joyful Sinjara ritual and nine-day Ganesh Chaturthi Utsav. The city's civic frustrations and its festive heart were both on full display.
🎉 Sinjara and Ganesh Utsav 2026 at Moti Dungri Temple
Jaipur's iconic Moti Dungri Ganesh Temple became the heart of the city's festive calendar this week as the nine-day Ganesh Chaturthi Utsav 2026 got underway in spectacular fashion, with the Sinjara ritual marking one of the celebration's most beloved occasions. Sinjara, observed on the eve of Hariyali Teej, sees women offer mehndi and traditional adornments as part of a deeply cherished local custom, and the temple brought it to life on a grand scale — with nearly 3,500 kilograms of mehndi offered at the shrine, the deity adorned with a magnificent naulakha haar, and darshan kept open for an extraordinary 19 consecutive hours to accommodate the vast number of devotees. The festival, running from September 7 to 15, features a different divine swaroop of Lord Ganesh and a fresh jhanki (tableau) each day. Cultural performances including Dhrupad, light classical music, and Kathak accompanied the religious events throughout the week. Lakhs of devotees from across Jaipur and Rajasthan descended on the hilltop temple, with long queues reported throughout the day and into the night. Moti Dungri's Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations are widely regarded as among the grandest and most spiritually vibrant in all of Rajasthan, drawing pilgrims and visitors in equal measure. [3]
🎓 SET 2026 Candidates Walk Out Over Delayed Question Papers
Tensions flared at a Rajasthan State Eligibility Test (SET 2026) examination centre in Jaipur on September 13 when candidates walked out and boycotted the exam over an alleged delay of nearly 30 minutes in the distribution of question papers. The incident unfolded at Pink City Senior Secondary School on Bainar Road, where aspirants had gathered to sit for the eligibility test required for lectureship appointments in state colleges. Candidates reported that while the exam was scheduled to begin at 11 AM, question papers did not arrive until approximately half an hour later. Aspirant Sania Kaval stated that students were repeatedly told to wait in five- and ten-minute intervals as papers failed to arrive, and that when they raised questions, they were threatened by examination officials and told to either sit quietly or leave the premises. When papers eventually arrived, students were offered extra time to compensate for the delay — an offer they refused, choosing instead to boycott the examination entirely. Beyond the delay, candidates raised additional concerns about alleged irregularities in exam administration and the conduct of the invigilator on duty. The incident has renewed calls for stronger oversight and accountability in the conduct of state-level competitive examinations in Rajasthan. [1]
Sources: [3] ETV Bharat · [1] ANI News