Page 155 - Religion Belief
Temple, mosque share same premises in West Bengal
In an example of communal harmony, a temple and a mosque has been sharing the same premises in West Bengal's Jhargram district since last 25 years.Muslims read holy Quran while Hindus worship Lord Shiva under one roof at the residence of Narayan Chandra Acharya, a Brahmin who is the caretaker of the place."We are all children of one God and all of us will go to him after we die. There is no discrimination or religious conflict here and people from both the communities sing bhajans as well as recite verses from Quran," he said."We get to see Kali maa as well as offer our own namaz and that is why this place is so special. I come here with my family every day," said Jahara Bibi, a local Muslim devotee.Even though places of worship of both the religions have been existing in the same premises for decades, there has never been a clash between the two communities."I have never seen such a place in my entire life where Shiv Baba and Fakir Baba are together. We want this thing to happen ...
Temple priests honour DMK leader Stalin, give him 'prasad'
DMK Working President M K Stalin, an avowed rationalist, made a stopover here today to accept the traditional 'Poornakhumba,' honour by priests of the ancient Sri Ranganathaswamy temple here. Stalin, on his way to attend a family function of a party functionary at Srirangam, stopped in front of the "Ranga Ranga" tower on the south side of Sri Ranganathaswamy temple. A team of waiting priests recited hymns with 'poornakhumbam' on their hands and offered him 'manjal kappu' (turmeric paste) prasad of goddess Ranganayaki which he accepted. He was also given fruits and a shawl. A smiling DMK leader also accepted a garland from an elephant brought in to honour him to the accompaniment of traditional music (nadaswaram, a wind instrument and others). Poornakhumbam is considered a honour in Hindu ethos since special prayers are made, seeking divine blessings for the recipient. The DMK leader, though, did not enter the temple. Priests and other temple staffers were given dhotis and
Over 300 Sikh pilgrims visiting Lahore for Ranjit Singh's anniv: Pak High Commission
Over 300 Sikh pilgrims from India have been granted visas and are visiting Pakistan to observe the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in Lahore, the Pakistan High Commission here said today. "A special train arranged by the Pakistan Railways carried the pilgrims from Attari to Pakistan on June 21," it said in a statement. The visas issued by the High Commission are in addition to the ones issued to Sikh pilgrims participating in the event from other countries, it said. "Within the framework of the Pakistan-India Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines of 1974, a large number of Sikh yatrees from India visit Pakistan to observe various religious festivals and occasions every year. "Accordingly, the High Commission of Pakistan in New Delhi has issued visas to over 300 Sikh pilgrims from India to observe the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh at Gurdwara Dera Sahib, Lahore, from June 21-30," the High Commission said. Maharaja Ranjit Singh was a Sikh leader of a kingdom, ..
Qasim lynched for being Muslim, claims relative
Two days after a 45-year-old man, Qasim, was lynched in Uttar Pradesh's Hapur district, his relative said the victim's killing was on account of his religious beliefs."He (Qasim) was thrashed mercilessly. The incident was pre-planned. He was killed because of his religion," Irfan told ANI.Irfan added that allegation of cow slaughtering leveled on Qasim was false and baseless, as the latter did not have any enmity with anyone, and used to visit the village only for selling cattle.Qasim was allegedly beaten to death by a mob in Hapur on Wednesday.The victim, a cattle -trader, was allegedly lynched after being accused of cow slaughter.Earlier in the day, a photograph of him being dragged by the mob with three policemen in the frame went viral.After facing heavy criticism for the picture, the Uttar Pradesh Police issued a clarification and apologised for the same.
Jacob Manathodath appointed Apostolic Administrator of
Pope Francis today appointed Bishop of Palakkad diocese, Jacob Manathodath,as Apostolic Administrator of Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese, hit by controversies recently due to alleged irregularities in land deals involving Syro-Malabar Church head Cardinal George Alencherry. However, Cardinal Alencherry will continue in the post of Archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese. A Syro-Malabar Church spokesman said 71-year-old Manathodath was appointed as Apostolic Administrator (Administrator sede plena) by the Pope, considering the "particular situation" prevailing in the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese. Though Auxilary Bishops of the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese, Sebastian Adayanthrath and Jose Puthenveettil will continue in their posts, Manathodathu will be the administrative authority of the diocese, the Church said. Manathodath will also continue to carry out his responsibilities as the bishop of the Palakkad diocese. A division bench of the Kerala High Court had last .
Row in K'taka after minister says he'd discuss with CM renaming of Haj Bhavan after Tipu Sultan
A fresh row erupted in Karnataka today after a minister said he would discuss with the chief minister renaming of the 'Haj Bhavan' here after Tipu Sultan, an 18th century ruler of the Mysore kingdom. Minority Welfare and Wakf Minister B Z Zameer Ahmad Khan's statement drew a sharp attack from the BJP which said it would launch a statewide protest against the proposal. Khan said that during a recent review meeting of the Haj committee, officials told him there were several requests to change the name of the Haj Bhavan which accommodates Haj pilgrims. "I said I will discuss (it) with chief minister and see...," he told reporters here. The BJP opposed the proposal to rename the Haj Bhavan, saying it was a building for the entire Muslim community and not just for Tipu's followers. The saffron party, which opposed celebration of Tipu Jayanthi by the previous Congress dispensation, also claimed that the B S Yeddyurappa-led BJP government had given funds for the construction of a new ...
Pak issues visas to 300 Indian Sikh pilgrims
Pakistan has issued visas to Indian Sikh pilgrims to allow them to observe the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.As per the High Commission for Pakistan in New Delhi, within the framework of the Pakistan-India Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines of 1974, various members of the Sikh community visit Pakistan to attend various occasions.It further said in a release that it has issued visas to over 300 Sikh pilgrims from India to observe the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh at Gurdwara Dera Sahib, Lahore from 21-30 June 2018.Further, visas are also issued for Sikh pilgrims travelling from countries other than India.Pakistan Railways has issued special train to carry the pilgrims from Attari to Pakistan.Meanwhile, another Sikh Jatha from India had returned from Pakistan after observing the martyrdom day of Guru Arjun Dev Ji from 8 to 17 June 2018.Earlier, in April 2018, the Pakistan High Commission issued visas to over 2,000 Sikh pilgrims from India for the Baisakhi .
42 couples exchange marriage vows in Aligarh mass marriage
As many as 42 couples from the Hindu and Muslim community tied the knot at a mass marriage ceremony organised by the Uttar Pradesh Government in Aligarh on Thursday.In the presence of visitors and families, the couples exchanged garlands and performed wedding rituals.The occasion was conducted by religious gurus coming from various faiths, who had come to supervise and conduct all the marriages according to rituals espoused in different religions.Out of the 42 couples, four were Muslim and the remaining 38 belonged to Hindu religion.Spreading a message of diversity, all the couple's exchanged the vows under the same roof.Uttar Pradesh cabinet Minister Suresh Rana graced the occasion and gave his blessings to the brides and grooms."The event has been organised with great pomp and show here under the Chief Minister's mass marriage scheme. I have met all the 42 couples and wish them a happy married life ahead," Rana said.The newly-married couples were given many household items as ...
Nitish, Mamata stay away from Yoga day event; yoga should not be seen as any religious practice: Vijayan
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, a key BJP ally, today stayed away from the International Yoga Day event in Patna, which was a low-key affair in West Bengal where his counterpart Mamata Banerjee also gave it a miss, in moves marked by possible political overtones. As millions of yoga enthusiasts stretched and twisted their bodies, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said yoga should not be seen as part of any religious practice. Speaking at the state-level celebrations in Thiruvananthapuram, Vijayan, a CPI-M veteran, however lauded the greatness and benefits of yoga. In Bihar, Nitish Kumar did not participate in the main Yoga Day event in Patna which set tongues wagging. The event was inaugurated by Governor Satya Pal Malik and attended by top BJP leaders including union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi. However, both the ruling allies--JD(U) and BJP-- sought to downplay Kumar's absence. The JD(U) said Kumar has been practising yoga daily .
Ambubachi Mela takes off in Assam
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today said that Indian traditions have an universal appeal and they contributed in nurturing the human values over the ages. "People must nurture these human values and put joint efforts to make Ambubachi Mela as one of the most attractive religious congregations of the world," Sonowal said while inaugurating the annual Ambubachi Mela in the presence of spiritual gurus and prominent personalities here this evening. He also urged the stakeholders to ensure hassle-free visit to the Kamakhya Temple by the pilgrims during the mela. Sonowal pointed out Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call to the youth to work with honesty and perseverance to build a strong and vibrant nation must be imbibed along with spiritual and moral values to enable India march towards excellence. Assam Minister for Finance, Health and PWD Himanta Biswa Sarma, Education Minister Siddhartha Bhattacharjya, Tourism Minister Chandan Brahm, among others, also addressed .
UK marks International Day of Yoga
The UK today marked the International Day of Yoga with a series of yoga sessions attended by members of the Indian diaspora and the wider public. The day began with a yoga session at the Indian High Commission in London, followed by a special event in the UK Parliament complex. "Yoga is an invaluable gift of India's ancient tradition. It embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfilment; harmony between man and nature; a holistic approach to health and well-being," said Charlie Yoga, which is organising a special session at Vaxhaul Park in London this evening. "It is not about exercise but to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and the nature. By changing our lifestyle and creating consciousness, it can help in well being. Let us work towards adopting an International Yoga Day," it added. However, most of the UK's International Day of Yoga (IDY) events are planned for the weekend, including a two mega yoga sessions led by yoga guru ...
Yoga not part of any religion: Kerala CM; Nitish skips event in Bihar
As millions of yoga enthusiasts stretched and twisted their bodies today, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said yoga should not be seen as part of any religious practice while key BJP ally and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar skipped the International Yoga Day event yet again. Speaking at the state-level celebrations in Thiruvananthapuram, Vijayan, a CPI-M veteran, however lauded the greatness and benefits of yoga. Yoga can be practised by all, irrespective of caste and religion, he said, adding it should be done with a 'free and secular' mind. Vijayan said the LDF government has taken steps to set up a yoga and naturopathy centre of international standards in the state. Stating that yoga was an exercise and not part of any ritual, Vijayan lamented that attempts were being made by some groups to "hijack" it in the name of religion. "This kind of false propaganda will only keep common people away from yoga and reduce its popularity," he said. Terming yoga as a 'good exercise' ...
India is known for Ayurveda, says Union Minister
Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Anant Kumar Hegde, today corrected a Keralite Ayurveda entrepreneur who tried to showcase Kerala as land of Ayurveda. "India is known for Ayurveda," the minister said during an interactive session organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (Kerala). He said people of Kerala are "very smart" as they could showcase Ayurveda. "India is known for Ayurveda but Kerala people...you are very smart and you have showcased that," Hegde said when the entrepreneur, while emphasising the need for skilling the workforce in the sector, claimed that Kerala is the land of Ayurveda. The minister, however, assured his ministry's support for the skill development of the sector in the state.
Yoga not part of any religion: Kerala CM
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan today lauded the greatness and benefits of Yoga and said it should not be seen as part of any religious practice. Participating in the state-level International Yoga Day celebrations here, Vijayan said the LDF government has taken steps to set up a yoga and naturopathy centre of international standards in the state. Yoga can be practised by all, irrespective of caste and religion, the senior CPI(M) leader said adding it should be done with 'free and secular' mind. Stating that yoga was an exercise and not part of any ritual, Vijayan said attempts were being made by some groups to "hijack" it in the name of religion. "This kind of false propaganda will only keep common people away from yoga and reduce its popularity," he said. Terming Yoga as a 'good exercise' for the body and mind, the Chief Minister said, "though there may be many other forms of exercises in the world, there is nothing as good as yoga especially for the mental ...
Pope Francis seeks 'unity' with non-Catholics in Geneva
Pope Francis vowed today to seek deeper "unity" between the Catholic Church and other Christian faiths as he arrived in Geneva, a centre of Protestantism, amid Christianity's waning influence in Europe. Francis touched down in Geneva, the home of French Protestant reformist Jean Calvin, shortly after 10:00 am (0800 GMT), and was met by Swiss President Alain Berset and other government ministers. "This is a trip towards unity," the pontiff told reporters on the plane before landing. He came at the invitation of the World Council of Churches (WCC), which was created in 1948 and groups 350 Protestant, Orthodox and Anglican churches from more than 100 countries around the world, with around half a billion believers among them. During his visit he will take part in an "ecumenical prayer" for the organisation's 70th anniversary, highlighting his commitment to unity between various Christian denominations. He will also celebrate Mass in front of tens of thousands of Catholics at the city's ..
Hundreds of schoolchildren, residents practice yoga in Shimla
Himachal Pradesh Governor Acharya Devvrat, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur and his cabinet colleagues along with hundreds of schoolchildren and residents practiced yoga at the historic Ridge ground here amidst cloudy skies on Thursday.
4th International Yoga Day celebrated in Sikkim
The 4th International Yoga Day was celebrated today in Sikkim with the Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling leading hundreds of people in undergoing the physical fitness exercise. A special yoga camp was held at Paljor stadium where Chamling led hundreds of people comprising old and young to perform various asanas under the guidance of an instructor. Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said that yoga was an invaluable gift of India's ancient tradition. "As we celebrate International Yoga Day, 2018, it is time to remind ourselves that yoga is an invaluable gift of India's ancient tradition. It embodies the unity of mind and body, thought and action, restraint and fulfilment, harmony between man and nature - a holistic approach to health and well-being," he said. Chamling urged the people to adopt yoga in their daily lives for a healthy mind and body.
Yoga becomes a global practice: Sharma
Yoga has gone global with its origin rooted in Indian culture, Union minister Mahesh Sharma said on the international Yoga Day today. Among 193 countries, 177 are celebrating the International Yoga Day in recognition of the ancient tradition of India, the Minister State for Culture and Tourism said after taking part in a Yoga event near 'Shahid Minar' in central part of the city. "Yoga has become a global practice having its roots in India. Today every corner of the globe is celebrating Yoga Day as yoga has become a part of our life," he told reporters here. "Yoga, which has mental and physical healing effect and is a stress-reliever, causes holistic improvement and has become a part of modern life," he said. When asked if there is lack of enthusiasm in celebrating the Day in West Bengal, Sharma said, "West Bengal is a part of India and Yoga crosses all boundaries of state, country, religion and fosters brotherhood." BJP national secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya, who also
Assam: Saints at Kamakhya Temple participate in International Yoga Day
Taking part in the celebrations of the Fourth International Yoga Day, saints in Guwahati's Kamakhya Temple performed yoga on Thursday.Every year on this day, more than 700 saints mark the event with performing yoga.Emphasizing on the importance of this day, Nityanand Giri, Thanpati Mahant of Shri Panch Dashnam Juna Akhara, Kamakhya Temple said that yoga is an art that makes our body and soul healthy."The importance of yoga should be realized in each and every household of the country. Only then India, which is the land of rishis will be able to develop and become successful on a global level," he added.International Day of Yoga, or commonly referred to as Yoga Day, is celebrated annually on June 21, since its inception in 2015.The United Nations (UN) General Assembly declared it by consensus after adopting a measure proposed by Prime Minister Modi.
Catholic nun in Kerala takes Yoga lessons, Bible verses
She prays with folded hands and bent knees every day reciting Bible verses. With the same devotion and dedication, she practices 'surya namaskar' (sun salutation), 'pranayama' (breathing exercise) and 'asanas' (yoga postures) daily and imparts training to hundreds of people, cutting across religion. Differences among Church groups and objections raised by some denominations against Yoga has not deterred this Catholic nun, from Central Kerala, frompracticing and popularising the ancient form of exercise. Because, 67-year-old Infant Tresa, a member of the Franciscan Clarist Congregation (FCC), one of the largest women's religiousgatherings in the country, feels that 'Yoga is secular' and 'it does not belong to any particular religion.' This confidence has given her strength to practice yoga for the last 30 years and impart training to over 5000 people so far, irrespective of their religion, gender and age. After retiring as a nurse from the government sector in 2006, ...