Page 111 - Religion Belief
Tribal community to keep vigil in Sabari hills to "protect
Amid mounting protest in Kerala over the Supreme Court order permitting women of all age groups to enter Sabarimala, a tribal community Friday said they would keep vigil in the hills around the Lord Ayyappa shrine to make sure that its customs are not affected. The Mala Arayan community, which holds some traditional rights in the rituals related to the temple, said they were with the faithful protesting to protect the shrine's age old customs. The ancestors of the community, settled in 18 hills including Sabarimala, are historically said to be close aides of Lord Ayyappa. "People from Mala Arayan community will keep vigil of the 18 hills, including Sabarimala, to make sure that the customs of the Lord Ayyappa temple are not affected," Aikya Mala Arayan Mahasabha and its spiritual offshoot Ayyappa Dharma Sangham said. Leaders of the community said those who were powerful and influential were violating the age old customs of the temple. "We are saddened by the Supreme ...
'Dead' J&K youth walks back home, alive
A youth presumed dead nearly six months ago walked back home alive in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, leading to a sense of bewilderment and relief among his kith and kin, police sources said on Friday.
Muslims should also come forward to protect cow: Athawale
Some Muslims faced atrocities in the name of "gau raksha", Union minister Ramdas Athawale said Friday, while urging the members of the minority community to come forward to protect the cow, which is revered by the Hindus. Releasing a book on Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, titled "Musalman Aur Yogi Adityanath", Athawale batted for Hindu-Muslim unity, saying it was needed to make India a strong country. "Some Muslims faced atrocities after the (Narendra) Modi government came to power. Nuisance happened in the name of gau raksha, but Muslims should also protect the cow as Hindus revere the animal," Athawale said. The Union minister of state for social justice and empowerment asserted that Modi and Adityanath "are not anti-Muslim", which was reflected in the prime minister's "Sabka Sath Sabka Vikas" slogan. Athawale also recited a self-composed couplet eulogising Adityanath and asserting that the people of the country would defeat those driving a wedge between Hindus and ...
Bollywood in full attendance at Krishna Raj Kapoor's prayer meet
Bollywood actors Amitabh Bachchan, Rekha, Anil Kapoor, Rani Mukerji and Shabana Azmi were among the celebrities who joined the Kapoor family Thursday at prayer meet of Krishna Raj Kapoor, wife of legendary actor Raj Kapoor. Krishna, aged 87, passed away on October 1 due to cardiac arrest. Her last rites were performed the same evening. The Kapoor family held a prayer meet at a suburban banquet hall amid high police security Thursday. Rishi Kapoor, Neetu Kapoor and Ranbir Kapoor were not present for the prayer meet as Rishi is undergoing a medical treatment in the US. Other members who attended the meet include Rajiv, Randhir Kapoor, Rima Kapoor Jain, Ridhima Kapoor Sahani, Babita, Aadar Jain, Armaan Jain and Sanjana Kapoor. The prayer meet saw a host of other Hindi film personalities including Asha Bhonsle, Madhuri Dixit, Mahesh Bhatt, Jackie Shroff, Prem Chopra, J P Dutta, Poonam Dhillon, Sohail Khan, Raveena Tandon, David Dhawan and Rakesh Roshan. Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, ...
Bollywood stars, others attend Krishna Raj Kapoor's prayer meet
The Kapoor family here on Thursday organised a prayer meet for Krishna Raj Kapoor, wife of late legendary actor Raj Kapoor, where a galaxy of stars and others from Bollywood were present.
'Attack on Church in Varanasi, Bishop writes to PM for action against attackers'
The Uttar Pradesh Police has booked 50 to 60 persons for allegedly "creating ruckus" at a church and breaking the lock of its entry gates, an official said Thursday. Following the incident at the Saint Thomas Church here on Tuesday, Church of North India (CNI) Bishop Peter Baldev has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking action against those behind it. "Nearly 50-60 unidentified men have been booked for creating ruckus at the church, breaking the lock of the entry gate, and also for threatening the members there," said BK Shukla, SHO, Dashashwamedh Police Station. We are trying to ascertain the identity of the attackers and they will be nabbed soon, he added. CNI Bishop Baldev wrote a letter urging Modi, who is also the Varanasi MP, to take strict action against those trying to create ruckus, vandalising properties, vitiating the peaceful atmosphere and spreading violence at religious places. He said such anti-social elements should be identified and must be punished ...
SC denies bail to journalist Abhijit Iyer arrested for 'derogatory remarks' on Konark temple
The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to grant bail to Odisha-based journalist Abhijit Iyer Mitra, who has been accused of making derogatory remarks on the Sun Temple in Konark, Odisha. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi dismissed the plea of Mitra and observed that he "incited religious sentiments". The top court also refused to entertain the submission of Mitra's lawyer that his client was facing threat to his life. "If your life is in danger then what better place to stay than jail? Your life will be secure," said the bench, also comprising justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and K M Joseph. Mitra, who was arrested on September 20 by the Odisha police in the national capital but was granted bail by a Delhi court directing him to join the probe. The trial court had granted relief to Mitra on a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh and one surety of the like amount on a plea moved by him, while directing him to join the investigation in his native state. Odisha Assembly had adopted a ...
Nun rape case: NCW summons Kerala MLA P C George for third time
The National Commission for Women (NCW) Thursday for the third time summoned Kerala MLA P C George, asking him to appear before it on November 13 for allegedly using abusive language against a nun who has accused a bishop of sexual assault. The NCW had earlier asked George to appear before it on Thursday. However, his representative counsel came on his behalf and stated that the MLA could not present himself due to unavoidable circumstance. During the meeting, the representative Counsel requested for all necessary information and documents of the statements made by George from the Commission. NCW Chairperson Rekha Sharma informed him that all media reports related to George's objectionable remarks about the nun are available on the internet/print/electronic media. The Commission has taken serious note of the fact that Shri George did not appear before the NCW even though he had sought for another date in his letter to it dated September 19. The Commission heard the representative ...
Nun Rape: NCW summons PC George for third time
The National Commission for Women (NCW) has directed PC George, the Member of Kerala Legislative Assembly, to appear before it on November 13.George has been summoned for his allegedly objectionable comments on the nun, who alleged Franco Mulakkal, the former Bishop of Jalandhar Diocese, of raping her on multiple occasions.The legislator was supposed to appear before the NCW on Thursday. This is the third time that the women welfare body has summoned George to appear before it. He was first issued a notice on September 20.George, an independent MLA, had called the rape victim nun a "prostitute". He said, "No one has doubt that the nun is a prostitute. Twelve times she enjoyed it and the 13th time it is rape? Why didn't she complain the first time?"However, he later admitted that he shouldn't have used "such a word".
UN Secretary General Guterres visits Golden Temple
United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday visited Amritsar's Golden Temple complex, where the holiest of Sikh shrines Harmandir Sahib is located.
Indian civilisation only one that survived onslaught of foreign invaders: Bhagwat
Indian civilisation is the only one that survived the onslaught of foreign invaders and is still a Hindu majority country, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said on Wednesday. Bhagwat was speaking at an event to launch a book on the life of former Congress president and founder of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) Madan Mohan Malviya. Addressing the gathering, Bhagwat said the Sanatana Dharma is eternal and something which is eternal is Hindutva. It survived despite the onslaught of invaders because of personalities such as Malviya. India is the only civilisation which survived the onslaught of invaders, whereas in other regions such as Africa and Australia, it totally collapsed. The country is still a Hindu majority, Bhagwat said. He also asserted that Malviya always maintained relations with the RSS and was not averse to its ideology and said the country still needs such personalities. Earlier in his three-day lecture series, Bhagwat had said a 'Hindu Rashtra' does not mean it has no place for .
Sabarimala verdict: Congress leader meets Pandalam royal family
Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala met members of the royal family of Pandalam, which is considered to be sacred to believers of Lord Ayyappa, to discuss the recently-pronounced Sabarimala verdict.Speaking to reporters after meeting the royal family, Chennithala said a discussion will be held among all former presidents of the Travancore Devaswom Board and members to mull over the verdict which removes all restrictions on the entry of women into the holy shrine."United Democratic Front (UDF) government supports the views of devotees. Women weren't banned in Sabarimala, only women of a particular age weren't allowed. This custom is being followed for more than 5000 years. UDF has called all former Devaswom Board Presidents and members of our party to have a discussion tomorrow," he said.Earlier in the day, both the Travancore Devaswom Board and the Kerala government said no review petition will be filed by either of the parties against the Sabarimala verdict.Last week, a five-judge ...
Kerala decision to implement Sabarimala ruling unfortunate: RSS
The RSS on Wednesday called the Kerala government's move to not file a review petition on the Supreme Court order allowing women of all ages to enter the Sabarimala temple as "unfortunate" and called upon all the stakeholders to come together to address the issue.
UN Secretary General visits Golden Temple
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres Wednesday paid obeisance at the Golden Temple in Amritsar and was honoured with a siropa by the Sikh priest. A siropa is placed around the neck but is intended to be worn on the head as a dastaar (turban). During his visit to the Golden Temple, Guterres was accompanied by Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. He also visited the community kitchen at the Golden Temple, where he keenly watched the cooking process and participated in 'langar'. "I paid tribute to the Sikh community worldwide and I express my deep respect for this holy place where all religions are accepted in a wonderful," he wrote in the visitor book of Golden Temple. After reaching the shrine, he was received by Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president Gobind Singh Longowal and SGPC chief secretary Roop Singh. Guterres had reached the Shri Guru Ramdas International Airport near Amritsar from Delhi in a special aircraft of the Indian Air ...
Einstein's 'God letter' to go on sale for $1mn
A handwritten letter from Albert Einstein about his thoughts on God, religion and his search for meaning is to go on sale in New York, valued at up to $1.5 million, Christie's said Wednesday. Written a year before the legendary physicist died in 1955, his name synonymous with genius, Einstein writes in German from Princeton, New Jersey to German philosopher Eric Gutkind. "The word God is for me nothing but the expression and product of human weaknesses, the Bible a collection of venerable but still rather primitive legends," writes the physicist, best known for his theory of relativity. "No interpretation, no matter how subtle, can (for me) change anything about this." The one-and-a-half-page letter will go on sale on December 4, estimated by Christie's to fetch between $1 million and $1.5 million. The letter was previously offered at auction in 2008, bought by a private collector for $404,000, Christie's said. "It is one of the definitive statements in the religion vs science ...
Address Sabarimala temple issue by availing all options including judicial: RSS to stakeholders
Noting that devotees' sentiments "cannot be ignored" while considering the Supreme Court verdict allowing entry of women into the Sabarimala temple, the RSS on Wednesday called upon all stakeholders to come together and address the issue availing "judicial options also". The judgement of the Supreme Court should be honoured, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) maintained. "The recent judgement on Sabarimala Devasthanam has evoked reactions all over the country. While we all respect the varied temple traditions followed by devotees in Bharat, we have to also honour the honourable Supreme Court," RSS General Secretary Suresh Bhayyaji Joshi said in a statement. On September 28, the apex court threw open the doors of Sabarimala temple in Kerala to girls and women of all age groups by lifting the ban on the entry of those between the age of 10 and 50, holding this centuries-old Hindu religious practice is illegal and unconstitutional. "While the Supreme Court judgement should be ...
UP Police assures 'fair probe' in murder case after 13 Muslim family members convert as protest
Police officials in Baghpat district of western Uttar Pradesh have assured family members of a young man alleged to have been murdered that a "just probe" would be carried out into the matter, after 13 of them changed their religion to Hinduism as a protest.
No review petition on Sabarimala verdict: Travancore Devaswom Board
Shortly after the Kerala government announced that it won't file a review petition challenging the Sabarimala Temple verdict, the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) President A Padmakumar said that the Board, too, will not challenge the order.Last week, a five-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court had said that a woman has as much right to pray as their male counterpart, adding that the relationship with the Almighty should not be defined by any biological factors.The order, which permitted women of any age to enter the Sabarimala temple, was questioned by the temple board, which had been relentlessly defending the age-old tradition of barring women between 10 and 50 from entering the temple.The Sabarimala Temple located in Kerala's Pathanamthitta district is dedicated to the Hindu deity Ayyappan. The temple management considers the deity to be eternal celibate which made it impossible for women to enter the temple for decades.
Odisha: Protests over queue system at Jagannath temple
Members and activists of the Shree Jagannath Sena on Wednesday staged protests demanding the commission of the newly-implemented "Queue System" at the iconic Jagannath Temple in Puri.The protests turned violent when members of the outfit, servitor, and devotees dismantled barricades and jumped queues to enter the 12th-century shrine.The queue system, which was introduced on Monday by the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration, was part of the reforms suggested by the Supreme Court. Under the system, devotees would be allowed to enter the 12th-century temple in a queue through the 'Singhadwara' (main gate). Exit would be allowed through 'Uttaradwara' (north gate). There will also be separate queues for men and women..
First India-Indonesia Interfaith Dialogue begins in Java
The first India-Indonesia Interfaith Dialogue, decided during the maiden visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi here, began Wednesday in the Indonesian island of Java in a bid to promote pluralism and eradicate radicalism. The dialogue comprised a forum discussion, visits to places of worship, and dialogues between Hindu, Islamic, Christian and Buddhist religious leaders of both the countries, the Indian Embassy said in a statement. A seven member Indian delegation led by Minister of State of External Affairs M J Akbar attended the three-day dialogue, 'Sharing of Best Practices, Lessons Learnt and Way Forward' at Yogyakarta, a city in Java known for its traditional arts and cultural heritage, it said. The Indonesian delegation at the India-Indonesia Interfaith Dialogue (IIID) was led by Vice Foreign Minister of Foreign Affairs A M Fachir. During Prime Minister Modi's talks with Indonesian President Joko Widodo, the two leaders had agreed to organise the Interfaith Dialogue in Indonesia