Page 11 - Religion Belief
Some markets shut, pro-Khalistan slogans raised at Golden Temple on Operation Bluestar anniversary
Markets around the Golden Temple remained closed for several hours and pro-Khalistan slogans were raised by Sikh hardliners in the complex Thursday, the 35th anniversary of Operation Bluestar. Later in the afternoon, the shops around the temple and in the main markets started reopening. The partial bandh was observed in the city on a call given by radical Sikh outfit Dal Khalsa on the anniversary of the military operation carried out in 1984 to flush out heavily-armed terrorists holed up in the temple complex. The Akal Takht also organised prayers in memory of those killed in the military operation and some people raised slogans at the end. Some people in the gathering were also seen brandishing swords and wearing t-shirts and carrying banners with pictures of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, head of Sikh religious sect Damdami Taksal who was killed in the military operation. Former MP and president of Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) Simranjit Singh Mann along with a "parallel Jathedar" of .
Nepal's Pashupatinath Temple owns 9 kg gold
Nepal's famed Pashupatinath Temple owns over 9 kg gold, 316 kg of silver and holds 1.29 billion Nepalese rupees in banks, a media report said.
Pope to receive Putin at Vatican on July 4
Pope Francis will receive Russian President Vladimir Putin for an audience next month, the Vatican said on Thursday. "The Holy Father will receive the president of the Russian Federation... this upcoming July 4," interim spokesman Alessandro Gisotti said in a statement. The meeting will be the third between the two men, with Francis having received Putin most recently in 2015, when the pope urged all parties to the conflict in Ukraine to make a "sincere effort" for peace. The meeting lasted an unusual 50 minutes. Only audiences with former US President Barack Obama and French President Emmanuel Macron have been longer. But the pope did not go further than calling for "an important and sincere effort to achieve peace" in Ukraine, where Russia is accused of carrying out a proxy war, after annexing Crimea in 2014. Francis first met Putin in 2013, as the Roman Catholic Church sought to improve ties with the Russian Orthodox Church. Only in 2009 did the Vatican and Moscow re-establish ...
Communal clashes over use of loudspeakers in UP
Communal tension prevailed in Rohaniya village in Uttar Pradesh's Pilibhit district where a mob ransacked a temple and took away the idols.
Modi's second term: Need to replace FEAR with HOPE (Comment)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's re-election by such large margins in a sweeping victory is testimony to his popularity across India. Many media articles during the seven-week long election process, however, expressed fear that a Modi victory would disenfranchise tens of millions and threaten Indian democracy itself. This perspective is attributable to what I call the FEAR (False Events Appearing Real) syndrome. This syndrome is caused by thinking that the past is a prologue and believing that only bad things will happen in the future. Modi's challenge in his second term will be to replace that FEAR with HOPE (Healing, Opportunity and Progress for Everyone).
Texas couple stands by story after US cardinal pushes back
The Texas couple that accused top U.S. Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of mishandling a sexual misconduct case against his former deputy is denying his office's claims that they fabricated quotes and demanded $10 million, saying they are being dismissed the way the church dismisses other victims. George Pontikes, president and CEO of the Houston-based construction firm Satterfield & Pontikes, said Wednesday he stood by his comments reported to The Associated Press recounting meetings with DiNardo in 2016 and 2017. The diocese had said it "categorically rejects" the story as biased and one-sided a response Pontikes called disappointing but not surprising. "It is another example of a smoke screen designed to cover up wrongdoings," he said. His wife, Laura Pontikes, had approached DiNardo's Galveston-Houston archdiocese in April 2016 to report that the then-vicar general had taken advantage of problems in her marriage and business to manipulate her into a sexual relationship. Emails turned .
Pro-Khalistan slogans to mark Operation Bluestar anniversary
Tension prevailed in this Sikh holy city of Punjab on Thursday as hardliners, brandishing swords, raised pro-Khalistan slogans inside the Golden Temple complex on the culmination of special prayers to mark the 35th anniversary of Operation Bluestar.
Hyderabad: Muslims distribute gift to government officials, temple priests on Eid
On the occasion of Eid-Ul-Fitr, a group of Muslims shared joy and happiness by distributing gift packs to government employees and temple priests.They specially made over 6,000 gift packs and distributed them to government officials and temple priests.Speaking to ANI, Irfan Khan, one of the members of the group said, "On the occasion of Ramadan Eid, we wanted to share our joy with all the government people who serve us.""There are many departments like the police department, railway departments, municipal department etc who work to fulfil our basic needs. Therefore this Eid we wanted to make sure that we share our joy and happiness with them through a small token of appreciation," he added.
Eid celebrated with fervour in Uttar Pradesh
Eid-ul-Fitr, which marks the culmination of the fasting month of Ramzan, was celebrated across the state on Wednesday as thousands of Muslims offered prayers at mosques and greeted each other on the occasion. In the morning, people offered namaz at Aishbagh Eidgah and Tiley Waali Masjid. A number of eateries in the city were buzzing with food lovers who went there to taste the authentic Awadhi cuisine and delicacies such as 'shahi tukda' and 'phirni'. "It was indeed a joyful experience. I, along with my friends, boarded the metro train from Hussainganj and then went to different parts of the city to meet our relatives," Saif, a resident of Maqboolganj, said. Former UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and BSP president Mayawati greeted people on the occasion.
Eid celebrated in Karnataka with piety
Thousands of devout Muslims, including women and children celebrated Eid-ul-Fitr with religious fervour, gaiety and piety across Karnataka on Wednesday, the first day of the 10th Islamic month of Shawwal, 1440 Hijri.
Eid-ul-Fitr celebrated across India
Lakhs of Muslims thronged mosques and eidgahs across the country on Wednesday to offer prayers and exchanged greetings on Eid-ul-Fitr, which marks the end of the month-long dawn-to-dusk fasting of Ramzan. Large congregations were witnessed at several prominent mosques, including the historic Jama Masjid, in the national capital as people gathered to offer 'namaz'. In Jammu and Kashmir, the largest congregation was at the Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar, even as clashes broke out in some places in the old city area between protestors and security forces after Eid prayers. Similar clashes were also reported in Sopore in north Kashmir and Anantnag in south Kashmir.There were no reports of anyone getting hurt in these clashes, they said. In Delhi, Union Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi offered prayers at Dargah Panja Sharif at Kashmiri Gate. "Today offered Namaz at Dargah Panja Sharif, Kashmiri Gate in New Delhi on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr and prayed for peace, prosperity, ...
Time and again BJP leaders are insulting Nitish Kumar: Jitan Ram Manjhi
Former Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi on Wednesday slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and said that time and again the party leaders are insulting Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.Manjhi's statement comes after Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Tuesday poked fun at Nitish Kumar. He had tweeted four photos featuring Nitish Kumar, Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) chief Ram Vilas Paswan and his son Chirag Paswan wearing skull caps and attending Iftar parties.Singh's tweet in Hindi said, "How beautiful the pictures would have been if fruit only feasts were organised during Navratri with similar affection? Why do we fall behind when it comes to our own practices and religion...?""Giriraj tweeted at the behest of the BJP leadership. Amit Shah has reprimanded, but why he did not delete the tweet? Amit Shah didn't call Giriraj Singh. Time and again BJP leaders are insulting Nitish Kumar," Manjhi said in a statement.Following Giriraj Singh's tweet, Union Home Minister Amit Shah pulled up .
Puducherry's oldest mosque serves over 300 kg biryani on Eid
To mark the auspicious occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr a mosque in Puducherry served over 300 kgs of biryani to over a thousand people.What is more special about the arrangement is that the mosque is the oldest one in Union Territory, built in the 18th century.New structures have been built around the original Meerapalli mosque, also known as Meera mosque by locals.Over a thousand people of different faiths feasted on the biryani - a delicacy which features on every household's Eid menu.Form the recipe to the serving, everything was kept traditional as attendees relished the dish on banana leaves.Given the large number of guests, the preparations were started early in the day with multiple open stoves being set up to cook the biryani in huge vessels.Heaps of chopped vegetables mixed with a blend of spices and a huge amount of rice went into the preparation of the meal.With the holy month of Ramzan coming to a close today, the entire nation is immersed in Eid festivities. The day symbolises ...
Azam Khan does drama to get limelight: Jaya Prada
BJP leader Jaya Prada on Wednesday hit back at her SP rival Azam Khan, saying he was doing drama just to grab the limelight."He (Khan) is always sad and gets agitated. During the counting of votes, he had said that there are issues in EVMs. There is no clarity as to what he wants to say," she told ANI."He levels allegations against the administration. He cries and does drama only. He only wants to grab the limelight," she said.Without specifying the community's name, Khan had claimed that Muslims in Rampur were deprived of their voting rights and were thrashed by the police during the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections."The government and administration tried to disturb the atmosphere of Rampur. Elections were conducted in a very tensed situation here. Several people were deprived of their voting rights," he said after offering prayers at a mosque here.Khan, who is the sitting MP from Rampur, has alleged that the shops run by Muslims were vandalised ahead of the festival of ...
Eid-ul-Fitr: Hamid Ansari, Shahnawaz Hussain, Ghulam Nabi Azad offer prayers at Jama Masjid
Former Vice President of India Hamid Ansari, senior BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain and Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad offered prayers at Jama Masjid today on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr."This is a day to be celebrated with happiness and enthusiasm after the Holy month of Ramzan. It's a great thing that everyone celebrates this festival together with immense happiness. On this occasion, I appeal to every citizen of this country that they should live with brotherhood and harmony and celebrate this festival with love" Hussain told ANI.Three of the officials visited the mosque one after another and offered Namaz. Soon after that, they were seen greeting and wishing other people at Jama Masjid.People were seen in large numbers at Delhi's Jama Masjid on the occasion of Eid.The festival of Eid-ul-Fitr marks the end of holy month Ramzan, Muslims all around the world celebrate this festival after offering Namaz and breaking their fast.
Mamata Banerjee talks about secularism on Eid-Ul-Fitr
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee joined a large number of Muslims in prayers on the occasion of Eid-Ul-Fitr and made veiled politically-loaded statements against BJP while addressing the faithful.Extending her Eid wishes to the people, she spoke about secularism and said "sacrifice is Hindu, honesty is Muslim, love is Christian and sacrifice is Sikh. This is our beloved India. We will protect it and, whoever, comes in our way will get destroyed."Addressing the gathering, Banerjee said, "sometimes when the sun rises, its rays are very harsh but later it fades away. Don't be scared, the faster they captured EVMs, the quicker they will go away".The remarks assume significance in the context of the emergence of BJP as the main opposition in West Bengal by capturing 18 Lok Sabha, next only to TMC's 23 out of the 42 seats in the state in the recent elections.
Myanmar white roses offer Eid solidarity to Muslims
Myanmar Buddhists handed out white roses to Muslims heading to pray Wednesday to mark the end of Ramadan -- the culmination of a rare show of solidarity in a country where Islam is often vilified. Volunteers lined up outside Dargah mosque in eastern Yangon, giving flowers to scores of devotees heading inside to mark the Eid festival, weeks after a mob of hardliners had tried to shut down Ramadan prayers. Muslim motorbike courier Tin Myint, 42, said the gesture had raised spirits in the Muslim community. "Some Buddhists really helped protect us," he told AFP. The white rose campaign started three weeks ago after a mob of some 200 ultra-nationalists descended on three sites hosting Ramadan prayers in Yangon, forcing them to stop. Police responded in the following days by offering protection to the shocked worshippers and an arrest warrant was issued for one protest leader. Respected moderate monk Seindita also came to plead for their patience, handing out white roses in solidarity and ..
Eid-ul-Fitr celebrated with fervour in T'gana
Eid-ul-Fitr was celebrated with traditional fervour in Hyderabad and other towns in Telangana Wednesday. Muslims offered Eid prayers at Eidgahs and mosques and greeted each other. Major congregations were witnessed at the famous Mir Alam Eidgah, Yusufguda Eidgah and others in Hyderabad and also Mahabubnagar, Khammam and other towns in the state. Police made tight security arrangements for the smooth conduct of Eid prayers. Police Commissioner Anjani Kumar, who inspected the arrangements, conveyed his greetings on the occasion. TRS MLAs T Harish Rao, Maganti Gopinath and party MP Nama Nageswara Rao met the faithful in their constituencies and conveyed their wishes. State Home Minister Mohammed Mehmood Ali hosted a lunch on the occasion. TRS working president K T Rama Rao and other dignitaries attended, according to TRS sources. Governor of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana ESL Narasimhan, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, state Congress president N Uttam Kumar Reddy
Eid celebrated in Jharkhand with enthusiasm
Eid-ul-Fitr, which marks the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, was celebrated with enthusiasm across Jharkhand on Wednesday.
Maharashtra Muslims celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr
Millions of Muslims celebrated Eid-ul-Fitr - signalling the end of the 30-day fasting period in the holy Ramadan month - with joy and religious fervour in Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra on Wednesday.