Page 135 - Religion Belief
Special prayers conducted for rain-hit Kerala's well-being
Special prayers were conducted today at the famous Shrine Basilica at Velankanni in the district for normalcy to return in rain-ravaged Kerala. Rector Prabhakar Adigalar led the prayers in Malayalam. The priest prayed for the safety of the people and fast return of normalcy in the neighbouring state which has been experiencing the deadliest deluge in close to a century. The rain fury since August 8 have claimed 194 lives. Popularly known as the "Lourdes of the East", the Shrine Basilica, dedicated to the Lady of Good Health, is an important pilgrimage centre for Christians from Kerala. A large number of pilgrims from the state throng this 16th century church during weekends.
Delhi: 2 held for burning religious texts at India Gate
The police on Saturday arrested two people for burning sacred books at India Gate on August 15. They burnt copies of the Bible, the Geeta, the Quran, the Guru Granth Sahib and the Constitution.The accused, during the investigation, cited their disbelief in the Constitution as the reason behind the move.Both the accused have been sent to judicial custody.More details are awaited.
Saudi Arabia prepares for the annual Muslim hajj pilgrimage
Saudi Arabia is preparing to host the annual hajj pilgrimage beginning Sunday, as over 1.6 million Muslim faithful from abroad have arrived in the ultraconservative kingdom. The pilgrimage represents one of the five pillars of Islam and is required of all able-bodied Muslims once in their life. In recent weeks, the faithful have arrived in Mecca from across the world, all chanting "Labayk Allahuma Labayk," or "Here I am, God, answering your call. Here I am." The hajj offers pilgrims an opportunity to feel closer to God amid the Muslim world's many challenges, including the threat of extremists in the Mideast after the Islamic State group was beaten back in Iraq and Syria and the plight of Myanmar's Muslim Rohingya minority. "My feeling is indescribable to perform the hajj," said Imad Abdel-Raheem, an Egyptian pilgrim. "I also want to pray for all Muslim countries, for them to live free in all places, in Palestine and in Burma, in all places, in Afghanistan and in India." Men attending
UAE condoles Vajpayee's death
The United Arab Emirates on Friday condoled the death of former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Muslim couple denied Swiss citizenship over handshake refusal
The Swiss city of Lausanne has blocked a Muslim couple's bid to become Swiss nationals over their refusal to shake hands with members of the opposite sex. The municipality said it refused to grant the couple's citizenship application over their lack of respect for gender equality, Lausanne mayor Gregoire Junod told AFP. He said a municipal commission had questioned the couple several months ago to determine if they met the criteria for citizenship, but had determined in the ruling made public Friday that they missed the mark on integration. He refused to divulge the couple's nationalities or other identifying details, but said they "did not shake hands with people of the opposite sex." They also "showed great difficulty in answering questions asked by people of the opposite sex," he said. Some devout Muslims argue that Islam does not permit physical contact with a person of the opposite sex, with the exception of certain immediate family members. Junod pointed out that freedom of ...
Goa Church urges prayers, donations for Kerala flood hit
In the wake of massive floods in Kerala, in a public appeal to Catholics in the state, the Roman Catholic Church in Goa on Friday urged its flock to offer prayers as well as donations for those affected by the natural calamity in the southern state, which has claimed at least 174 lives over the last few days.
Sushil Modi shares anecdote relating to Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi today fondly recalled his association with Atal Bihari Vajpayee, sharing an anecdote wherein he was exhorted by the party patriarch to graduate from student activism to mainstream electoral politics. Away in the national capital to attend the last rites of the former Prime Minister, Sushil shared with the media the text of a speech that Vajpayee had delivered while attending his marriage in Patna on April 13, 1986. "I have come here with a motive. Sushil is not a student any more and her wife is, in fact, a teacher. He has always been a dedicated worker who has contributed a lot to the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad. Now, if he finds it agreeable, I would like to invite him to enter active politics and lend us a helping hand", Vajpayee, who was one of the founding members of the BJP, had said in his concluding remark. An active ABVP member since the 1970s when he served as the general secretary of the Patna University ...
Man arrested for planting ganja on Navy land in Goa
A man has been arrested for allegedly growing ganja on a plot of land that belongs to the Navy in Goa's Vasco town, around 30 kilometres from here, police said today. Vasco police inspector Nolasco Raposo said that a local resident, identified as Sameer Sheikh, had planted ganja on land on which the Navy was constructing a residential building for its personnel. He added that the plot in question is close to a primary school run by Naval authorities for children of its personnel. "Based on a tip-off, police raided the area and arrested Sheikh. The land belongs to the Navy. Investigations are underway to uncover more details about how Sheikh managed to plant ganja on the plot of land," Raposo said.
Muslims gather in Mecca ahead of Haj
Thousands of Muslims from around the world gathered on Friday in the Saudi Arabian city of Mecca ahead of the annual Haj pilgrimage.
Vatican in 'shame and sorrow' over abuses in Pennsylvania
The Vatican has expressed "shame and sorrow" over a scathing Pennsylvania grand jury report about clergy who raped and molested children in six dioceses in that state, calling the abuse "criminally and morally reprehensible" and says Pope Francis wants to eradicate "this tragic horror." In a written statement using uncharacteristically strong language for the Holy See even in matters like the long-running abuse scandals staining the US church, Vatican spokesman Greg Burke sought to assure victims that "the pope is on their side." Pope Francis himself wasn't quoted in the statement, and there was no mention of demands in the United States among some Roman Catholics for the resignation of Cardinal Donald Wuerl, the archbishop of Washington. The grand jury report made public this week accused the cardinal of helping to protect some molester priests while he was bishop of the Pennsylvania city of Pittsburgh. Burke said the incidents of abuse graphically documented in the report were ...
Lord Balaji temple Vedic ritual concludes
A six-day Vedic ritual, held once in 12 years, concluded today at the famous hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara at nearby Tirumala. Around 40 high priests took part in the "Astabandhana Balalaya Maha Samprokshanam, during which they plugged minor cracks and holes inside the sanctum sanctorum of the 2000-year old shrine using a herbal paste harder than concrete mix, amid chanting of hymns, a temple official said. The ritual began on the night of August 11 and as part of it priests also performed 'homams' in 28 'homa gundams' (fire altars), each one dedicated to a deity, built inside the temple complex for the purpose. During the six days of the ritual, the number of devotees allowed into the temple was drastically reduced and only 1.6 lakh had darshan of the presiding deity during the period when priests took breaks. Consequently, the collection in the 'hundi' (offering box) also dipped considerably, the official told PTI. The hundi collections registered a record low of Rs .
Vajpayee's last rites at Rashtriya Smriti Sthal
The last rites of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee will take place at Rashtriya Smriti Sthal here, sources in the government said. The body of the BJP veteran will be kept at his official residence 6 A Krishna Menon Marg tonight to allow people to pay their homage. It would be taken to the BJP headquarters at Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg tomorrow morning, the sources said. Vajpayee passed away at the AIIMS here this evening at the age of 93 due to prolonged illness.
Panel submits final report on sacrilege cases in Punjab
A one-man commission of Punjab and Haryana High Court Justice Ranjit Singh (retd) -- which probed several sacrilege incidents and police firing on protesters -- on Thursday submitted its final report to the Punjab government.
DSGMC to set up modern press to print copies of Guru Granth Sahib
Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) will set up a fully computerized four-colour offset press to print copies of the holy scripture Guru Granth Sahib at Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib Complex.
People from all walks of life pray for Vajpayee
As former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee continues to battle for life at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi, people of all faiths in his "karam bhoomi" Lucknow held special prayers for his long life. Shortly after the news spread that the veteran leader's health has deteriorated, people began flocking to temples to offer prayers and hold 'havans' for his longevity. Special prayers were organised at Dakshinmukhi Hanuman temple and the one at the BJP office in Lucknow. Children offered prayers and said 'duas' at madarsas and a public school in the city. Vajpayee's long-time associate, senior BJP leader and former Lucknow MP Lalji Tandon said, "Just like millions of people in India, I am also praying for Atalji. I pray to God for his better health." Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who is on a visit to Gorakhpur, is said to be rushing to New Delhi to see the BJP patriarch. Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma was in tears, recalling his association .
Top S Korea Buddhist in corruption, fatherhood allegations
South Korea's biggest Buddhist denomination ordered its executive head to step down today amid mounting allegations he forged his academic credentials, accumulated vast wealth, and broke his vows of celibacy. The 56-14 vote of no confidence in Seoljeong, president of the Jogye Order, by its central committee is the first in a history that dates back hundreds of years -- the organisation is believed to have been established in the 12th century. With more than 3,000 temples, 13,000 monks and seven million followers, it accounts for most of South Korea's Buddhists and is highly influential in a country where religion remains a powerful social force. But it has long been dogged by corruption allegations and factional feuds. Many rank and file members and civic groups have staged protests to demand Seoljeong's resignation over the allegations, and a senior reform-minded monk was taken to hospital this month after a 41-day hunger strike outside the Jogyesa temple, the order's headquarters ..
Special prayers for Vajpayee across UP
As the health of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee continues to be critical at the AIIMS in New Delhi, special prayers for his recovery were held on Thursday by different communities in various parts of Uttar Pradesh.
Prosecutor: Priests 'weaponised' the faith to abuse kids
Roman Catholic priests across Pennsylvania used religious rituals, symbols of the faith and the threat of eternity in hell to groom, molest and rape children, a grand jury found, in what the state's top prosecutor called the "weaponisation of faith". An 884-page report on the statewide grand jury's investigation, released Tuesday, detailed how "predator priests" used the children's own religious faith and trust in them as religious leaders to victimize and then silence them. One priest tied up a victim with rope in the confessional in a "praying position," the grand jury wrote. When the victim refused to perform sex, the angered priest used a 7-inch crucifix to sexually assault him, the report said. Another victim recounted how a priest used a metal cross to beat him. At a parish rectory, the report said, four of the priests made a boy strip and pose as Jesus on the cross while they took photos. "He stated that all of them giggled and stated that the pictures would be used as a ...
Mahants, Maulvis celebrate I-day together in Rishikesh
Spreading the message of harmony and brotherhood, the students of Gurukuls and Madrasas here, along with Mahants and Maulvis celebrated Independence Day together.Scores of Muslim and Hindu students together hoisted the flag and recited the national anthem.As the tricolour was unfurled all raised their hands together and chanted "Hum Ek hein. Hum Bharatiya hein," ("We are one. We are Indian")."This Independence Day, we are celebrating independence from division and derision, as all are coming together to stand together for the great nation we call home. Mother India is built on diversity, woven together by the threads of solidarity. Today, we unite for a future based solely on oneness," said Swami Chidanand Saraswati of President of Parmarth Niketan.Imam Umer Ilyasi, President of the All-India Organization of Imams praised the initiative and said, "I come as a representative of the 500,000 Imams of India to say we are human first, then we are Indians, and then we are Muslims.
Daily collections at Tirumala shrine hits record low
Daily hundi collections at the Lord Venkateswara temple at nearby Tirumala has hit a record low of Rs 54 lakh against the usual Rs three crore due to curbs on devotees' entry for a six day ritual, a temple official said. "The hundi (offering box) daily gets cash offerings of Rs three crore or more, besides gold and other offerings. The income saw an unprecedented dip due to restrictions on entry of devotees on account of the ritual,"the official of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, which administers the shrine, told PTI. Earlier on August 12, the second day of the ritual, the hundi had netted a low of Rs 73 lakh, he said. The 'Astabandhana Balalaya Maha Samprokshanam' ceremony, held once in 12 years, is conducted by the high priests by undertaking minor structural repairs with herbal paste harder than the concrete mix, amid chanting of vedic hymns. In view of this, TTD had resolved to allow less than 30,000 devotees daily during the ritual,to be regulated during the few ...