Page 178 - Religion Belief
Muslim personal laws under attack: AIMPLB
The All India Muslim Personal Law Board's General Secretary Maulana Wali Rahmani on Sunday said that Muslim personal laws were under attack since the BJP-led NDA government came to power.
Centuries-old 'tongue piercing' festival to repel 'evil' held in Nepal
Buddha Krishna Bagha Shrestha got his tongue pierced for the sixth time today, as people in Nepal celebrated a traditional festival -- that dates back to over a thousand years -- to ward off "evil spirits". A huge crowd, including locals and tourists, gathered at a school in Madhyapur Thimi Municipality in Bode area near here, to witness the 46-year-old Shreshtha get his tongue pierced. The tongue-piercing festival is held on the second day of the Nepali New Year, as a part of Bisket Jatra celebrated only in Bhaktapur district. According to the tradition, only the locals of Bode from the Shrestha family can volunteer to get their tongue pierced. "Around one-foot long needle, which is soaked in oil for one month is pierced through the tongue of the volunteer," local cultural expert Lochan Shrestha said. Locals believe that the festival started during the Lichchhabi dynasty more than one thousand years ago. Legend goes that the historic settlement of Bode town was close to Nilbarahi ...
Mosques can't be built at disputed sites like Ayodhya: Indresh Kumar
RSS leader Indresh Kumar today said that according to Islam, mosques cannot be built at any disputed site such as Ayodhya, the birth place of Lord Ram. Kumar said it was a known fact that Ayodhya is the birth place of Lord Ram and that there was no dispute on Ram Temple. There are several Ram Temples, but Ayodhya is the only birthplace of Lord Ram and there is no dispute on Ram Temple," Kumar said at an event here. "According to Islam, mosque cannot be built at any disputed site. If mosque has to be built it can be built outside Ayodhya and Faizabad," he said. Kumar claimed that no evidences of Islam were found during archaeology surveys conducted by the government and court at the disputed site. "However, evidences related to birth place of Lord Ram were evident in the surveys," said Kumar. Newly-elected Rajya Sabha MP Madan Lal Saini said the RSS was working to bring Muslims into mainstream.
Church says St Thomas visited India
Amid a controversy triggered by reported remarks of a senior priest questioning the belief that St Thomas visited India in AD 52, the Syro-Malabar Church today said the disciple of Jesus Christ did visit India. "The official stand of the Syro-Malabar Church is that St Thomas had visited India, the Church said in a statement here. The statement was issued after Fr Paul Thelakkat, a former spokesperson of the church, last week reportedly said there was no evidence to suggest that St Thomas had come to India. Some newspapers and TV news channels quoting former spokesperson of the Syro Malabar Church had reported there is no evidence to prove St Thomas had come to India. Some media even said this is the official stand of Syro-Malabar Church. This is baseless...," it said. The Syro-Malabar Church originated from the evangelisation works of St Thomas, said the statement issued by Bishop Sebastian Vaniyappurackal. "World famous historians have accepted it as a fact. Many ...
Christian missionaries behind vandalisation of Ambedkar's stautes: BJP Ballia MP
A BJP MP has alleged that Christian missionaries were behind the vandalisation of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar's statues. Speaking to reporters here yesterday at a programme held to mark the birth anniversary of Babasaheb Ambdkar, BJP MP from Ballia Bharat Singh said, "It is at the behest of the Christian missionaries that the statues of Babasaheb Ambedkar are being damaged and vandalised. The missionaries are also financing the people who are indulging in damaging and vandalising the statues of Babasaheb." Mounting an attack on the Christian missionaries, Singh said, "The Christian missionaries are unable to accept the surge of the BJP under the leadership of BJP chief Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi." He alleged that the missionaries are also involved in large-scale religious conversion of Hindus through financial support to them. Reacting to Singh's statement, senior SP leader Ramashankar Vidyarthi said, "The BJP is simply trying to mislead the people of this country in .
Illegal construction near historic Lalji temple: SC asks ASI to decide
The issue of ongoing illegal constructions within prohibited 200 metre area of the 279 year-old historic Lalji temple, dedicated to Lord Krishna, at Bardhaman in West Bengal has reached the Supreme Court, which asked the Archaeological Survey of India to decide the matter within four weeks. Built in 1739 AD by the Bardhaman royal family, the Lalji temple is ornamented with beautiful terracotta art and is a magnificent brick-built temple with 25 spires ('Panchavimshati Ratna') and is the oldest temple at Kalna in Bardhaman. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), through a notification issued in 1992, had declared areas up to 100 metres from the temple as protected. Later, the limit was raised to 200 metres by the ASI, which said that neither mining nor construction activities could be carried out within the prohibited area. A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud said though the issue needed to be looked into urgently, the ASI ...
Scoreboard of the IPL match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad here ...
Scoreboard of the IPL match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad here today. Kolkata Knight Riders Innings (20 overs maximum) Robin Uthappa c Saha b Kumar 3 Chris Lynn c & b Shakib 49 N Rana c Pandey b Stanlake 18 Sunil Narine c Williamson b Shakib 9 Dinesh Karthik c Saha b Kumar 29 Andre Russell c Pandey b Stanlake 9 Shubman Gill c Shakib b Kumar 3 Shivam Mavi c Kumar b Kaul 7 Mitchell Johnson not out 4 Extras: (lb 2, nb 2, w 3) 7 Total: (For 8 wkts in 20 overs) 138 Fall of wickets: 1/16 2/55 3/79 4/87 5/96 6/112 7/129 8/138 Bowling: Kumar 4-0-26-3, Stanlake 4-0-21-2, Kaul 4-0-37-1, Rashid Khan 4-0-31-0, Shakib Al Hasan 4-0-21-2.
Scoreboard of the IPL match between Delhi Daredevils and Mumbai Indians here today.
Scoreboard of the IPL match between Delhi Daredevils and Mumbai Indians here today. Mumbai Indians Innings (20 overs maximum) SA Yadav lbw b Tewatia 53 E Lewis c Roy b Tewatia 48 Ishan Kishan b Christian 44 Rohit Sharma c Roy b Boult 18 Kieron Pollard b Christian 0 KH Pandya c Tewatia b Shami 11 HH Pandya c Iyer b Boult 2 A Dananjaya not out 4 M Markande not out 4 Extras: (LB- W-5) 10 Total: (For 7 wkts in 20 overs) 194 Fall of wickets: 1/102 2/109 3/166 4/166 5/179 6/185 7/187 Bowling: Boult 4-0-39-2, Nadeem 2-0-22-0, Shami 4-0-36-1, Christian 3-0-35-2, Tewatia 4-0-36-2, Maxwell 3-0-21-0. Delhi Daredevils Innings (target: 195 runs from 20 overs) Jason Roy not out 91 Gautam Gambhir c Sharma b Rahman 15 Rishabh Pant c Pollard b KH Pandya 47 Glenn Maxwell c HH Pandya b KH Pandya 13 Sheyas Iyer not out 27 Extras: (LB-1 W-1) 2 Total: (For 3 wkts in 20 overs) 195 Fall of wickets: 1/50 2/119 3/135 Bowling: HH Pandya 2-0-32-0, Dananjaya 4-0-47-0, Bumrah 4-0-27-0, Rahman 4-0-25-1, Markande ...
Idol in Coimbatore temple decorated with currency and diamonds
An idol at Sri Muthumariamman Temple in Coimbatore was decorated with currency notes worth Rs 4 Crores and diamonds and pearls worth Rs 1 Crore on the occasion of Tamil new year, Puthandu.It is reported that denominations of Rs 200 and Rs 2000 were used to decorate the Goddess there.The Sri Muthumariamman Temple is dedicated to the goddess of rain and fertility.The temple is thronged by tourists during festivities.Puthandu is considered auspicious for making new starts.
Unsocial elements can be identified through education: Das
Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das today said several unsocial elements are trying to disunite the society and such elements can be identified only through education. Addressing a gathering on the occasion of Ambedkar Jayanti here, Das said one should take inspiration from the life of Ambedkar who had become educated amid difficulties. "Education unifies the society.... To move forward in life, we have to follow the footsteps of Baba Saheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar," he said. Das said Ambedkar's dream was that there should be a society with equality, affection and harmony. The chief minister said the demand for setting up the Scheduled Cast Commission was long overdue and his government has set it up. This Commission would help in developing the backward section, he said.
PM, CM greet people of Odisha on Odia New Year
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today greeted the people of Odisha on the occasion of Odia New Year, also celebrated as "Maha Visuba Sankranti". "To all my Odia friends across the world, greetings on Maha Vishuba Sankranti. Have a wonderful year ahead. We take immense pride in the rich Odia culture," the Prime Minister said in a twitter post. Patnaik also used the twitter handle to wish the people on the occasion of 'Vishuba Sankranti' and said the new year would bring happiness and prosperity to all with the blessings of Lord Jagannath. The day was celebrated with religious fervour across the state with people distributing pana (sweet water) and were thronging in different temples. A host of cultural programmes were also organised in many places during the day, also celebrated as "pana sankranti." Special rituals were performed at Sri Jagannath Temple in Puri amid unveiling of new Odia almanac before Lord Jagannth, Devi Subhadra and Lord .
Shah Jahan's Urs begin Friday (Lead, correcting date)
Mughal emperor Shah Jahan's Urs (birth anniversary) celebrations began on Friday.
US Senator raises Pompeo tweet on racist blog against Indian- American opponent
A 2010 tweet by Secretary of State nominee Mike Pompeo describing "good read" a racist blog which termed his then Congressional Indian-American opponent a "turban topper" was raised during his confirmation hearing by a top Democratic Senator. Robert Menendez, who is a ranking member of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, dug out several of the CIA chief's past remarks or tweets against religious and ethnic minorities to argue that today's Pompeo was different from the past. "So, the Pompeo I hear today - much more different than some of the Pompeo of the past. I'm trying to figure out which is the one that is going to act if he gets confirmed as the secretary of state? Because some of these things in the past I could never support. "Some of the things you said here today could actually be supported. So, I hope you can help me understand this as we move forward in your nomination," Menendez said yesterday. Pompeo, 54, nominated by US President Donald Trump as his Secretary
UP BJP MLA's remarks attempt to polarise people: CPI
Condemning BJP MLA Surendra Singh for saying that the 2019 Lok Sabha polls would be fought on the lines of "Islam versus Bhagwan", the CPI said today that the people will "see through the sinister designs" to polarise them. At a public meeting last night in Ballia, Singh said the 2019 polls "are going to be on the lines of Pakistan versus Bharat... Islam versus Bhagwan. And so the respected people of the country, you have to decide whether it will be Islam which will win or Bhagwan." CPI leader D Raja strongly condemned Singh's remarks and said the BJP was trying to polarise people on communal lines. "This is what the BJP is trying to do. We have been saying that the BJP is trying to polarise people and playing the communal-religious line. The BJP is vitiating the situation for the sake of electoral gains," Raja told PTI. "This MLA articulated his party's understanding. The people will see through the sinister designs of the BJP, which is undermining the democratic policy and the ...
Kathua rape: Jammu Muslims demand justice
Members of the Muslim community held peaceful protests here on Friday seeking punishment to those involved in the Kathua rape and murder in Jammu and Kashmir.
Friday prayers disallowed at Srinagar's Jamia mosque
Authorities on Friday disallowed Friday prayers at the historic Jamia Masjid here.
For a cause, B'desh PM to eat dried fish on Bengali New Year
In order to save the country's national fish Hilsa, during its breeding season, Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina this year has decided to eat rice soaked in water (panta bhaat) and dried fish mash (Shutki bhorta) on the first day Bengali New Year.According to the Dhaka Tribune, Sheikh Hasina decided to take this initiative after she received an invitation for the New Year celebrations from women residing in Rangpur district."I will eat panta bhat on Pohela Boishakh (first day of Bengali new year). But with shutki bhorta, not ilish," Dhaka Tribune quoted Sheikh Hasina as saying.Dried fish mash (Shutki bhorta), Hilsa (ilish) fish and rice soaked in water (panta bhat) are three of the most popular foods during the Bengali new year.Bengali New Year, 1425, is celebrated with fervour across Bangladesh and across the world.For the last two years, she has been urging people to stop catching Hilsa fish in order to ensure growth in population of this fish."I am requesting all of you ..
Journalists want SHO suspended over attack on newsman
Over 200 journalists on Thursday took out a procession against the attack on television journalist Anuj Chaudhary and demanded the suspension of a Station House Office (SHO).
B'desh: Ahmadiyya community in fear after mosque ambush
The Ahmadiyya community, who are also known as 'Qadiani', has been living in fear ever since suspected radical groups allegedly attacked a mosque in Bangladesh's Jamalpur last month, leaving more than 20 worshippers injured.On that note, the Ahmadiyya community in Bangladesh is reportedly marginalised and has come under attack at various times.Anticipating more 'hate' attacks in the future, many Ahmadiyya families have left Jamalpur; others who are residing in the town, are hiding their religious identities to avoid attention, the Dhaka Tribune reported.On March 30, a group of people, armed with sharp weapons, launched an alleged attack on an Ahmadiyya mosque after Friday's prayers at Jamalpur's Madarganj Upazila, injuring 20 worshippers in the process.As per the report, the members of Ahmadiyya community claimed that local Awami League leader Moneer Munshi had instigated the attack. However, this is yet to be ascertained.A resident named Tayeb Ali was among those who were injured in
Pope Francis admits 'grave errors' in Chile sex abuse scandal
Pope Francis admitted today that he had made "grave mistakes in the assessment and perception of the situation" in Chile after reading the findings of an investigation into sexual abuse committed by the clergy in the country. Francis said in a letter to Chilean Bishops released by the Vatican that he intends to summon them to Rome to discuss the investigation, which involves Bishop Juan Barros' alleged cover-ups of abuse by priests in his diocese.