Page 183 - Religion Belief

Assam CM launches campaign for toilet construction

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today launched the 'Mission Sambhav' campaign, which aims at spreading the message of toilet construction in 33 districts of the state. Sonowal flagged off the program, under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin), by digging a pit in the house of a tea garden worker in Gopal Krishna Tea Estate in Morigaon district, an official release said here. 'Mission Sambhav' has been taken up across all the 33 districts covering 219 blocks, the chief minister said. The scheme aims to promote mass mobilisation through public representatives, local units of security forces, NGOs, and colleges.

UK Jewish leaders slam Corbyn for 'siding with anti-Semites'

Leaders of British Jewry blasted opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn in an extraordinary letter today, saying he had sided with anti-Semites "again and again" and now "enough is enough". The open letter from the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council said the veteran leftist was "repeatedly found alongside people with blatantly anti-Semitic views" but "claims never to hear or read them". The organisations were set to protest outside parliament in London before delivering the letter to a meeting of Labour lawmakers. "Today, leaders of British Jewry tell Jeremy Corbyn that enough is enough," the letter says. "We conclude that he cannot seriously contemplate anti-Semitism, because he is so ideologically fixed within a far-left worldview that is instinctively hostile to mainstream Jewish communities. "Corbyn did not invent this form of politics, but he has had a lifetime within it, and now personifies its problems and dangers." The final straw that ...

Devotees witness celestial marriage of Sita Kalyan

Thousands of devotees witnessed the celestial marriage of Lord Rama with Goddess Sita at the Sri Sita Ramachandraswamy Temple at Biccavolu in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh today. Serpentine queues were seen at the temple to perform special poojas on the occasion. Elaborate arrangements were made to meet the extra rush of devotees on the eve of Rama Navami festival celebrations, temple authorities said here. After performing Kalyanam, the temple authorities distrusted prasadam and other materials to the devotees. Some devotees also took holy dip in river Godavari.

Nagaon rape rocks Assam Assembly

The opposition Congress today staged a walkout amidst noisy scenes in the Assembly after ruling BJP MLAs alleged that the main accused in last week's rape-and-murder case of a minor was a Congress worker. The Congress also demanded an adjournment motion to discuss the rape and murder case, which was later rejected. Disallowing the motion, Deputy Speaker Dilip Kumar Paul said the Assembly and the state are ashamed of the rising incidents of rape and asked the government to consider AIUDF MLA Aminul Islam's proposal to bring in a strict law to deal with it as soon as possible. "We need to think if such criminals should live on this earth no not," Paul also said. After the Question Hour, Leader of the Opposition Debarata Saikia said Assam has been witnessing rising cases of crime against women after the BJP government came to power in the state and the last week's killing of a minor by burning her after rape in Nagaon district is a serious matter. During arguments by Saikia .

'Wild Wild Country' more about American moral policing than Osho Rajneesh (Review)

Film: "Wild Wild Country" Director: Chapman Way and MacLain Way; Rating: **

At this Kerala temple, thousands of men dress up as women to get deity's blessings

Cross-dressing is generally not received well, but at the Kottankulangara Devi temple at Chavara near here, it's different -- hundreds of men cutting across religions dress up like women as part of a traditional ritual to please the deity and get their wishes fulfilled.

To be sanyasi is greatest pride of life: Ramdev

Yoga guru Ramdev, on Monday, said the greatest pride of life is to be 'sanyasi' (celibate).While Acharya Balkrishna of Patanjali Yogpeeth said for a sanyasi to practice consistency in dedication towards teaching, responsibility and objectivity in life should be the prime goal.To be a Sanyasi is the greatest pride of life, said Pujya @yogrishiramdev on the occasion of initiation of his 92 scholar successors. @Ach_Balkrishna said that 'To practise, Guru dharma and Rashtra dharma is extremely difficult' @ANI @AmitShah," Patanjali spokesperson S.K. Tijarawala tweeted.Speaking to the media earlier in the day, Ramdev said, "To make India a spiritual superpower by 2,050 while Yoga is already being publicised, we, at Patanjali Yogpeeth, are also training individuals to become ideal sanyasis (so that they can propagate the values and philosophy of Hinduism across the world).

Actor Arun Singh to enter 'Mere Sai'

Veteran actor Arun Singh, who has featured in movies such as "Gadar - Ek Prem Kahani" and "Toilet - Ek Prem Katha", will be seen playing the role of Devidas on the show "Mere Sai".

Ramdev gives 'Deeksha' to 85 religious scholars in Haridwar

Yoga Guru Ramdev on Sunday gave 'Deeksha' (initiation ceremony into asceticism) to 85 religious scholars in Haridwar on the occasion of Ram Navmi.Speaking about the benefits of fasting, the yoga guru gave a mantra and urged scholars to meditate and live their life with discipline.Here, the female scholars are offering their hair as part of the initiation ceremony into asceticism.Out of the chosen 85 scholars, 50 are Brahmachari (male celibates) and 35 Brahmacharinis (female celibates). The scholars were asked tough questions related to the four Vedas before being selected. A village for these scholars is also under development so that they can spend their lives and dedicate themselves towards spirituality.This Ram Navami completed 23 years of Ramdev's sannyasa. For this, 85 theologians were initiated into asceticism.

Jewish groups attack Corbyn over anti-Semitism

Jewish groups have attacked Britain's main opposition leader and Labour Party chief Jeremy Corbyn, accusing him of failing to tackle anti-Semitism, the media reported on Monday.

Ram Navami celebrated with fervour at ISKCON Mayapur

The International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) at Mayapur in Nadia district has celebrated Ram Navami with pomp and religious fervour, a statement issued by the organization said here today. The deities of Rama, Lakshman, Sita and Hanuman were placed on the temple's altar, where hundreds of devotees, cutting across caste and communal barriers, gathered to offer prayers, it said. The members of ISKCON Dham Seva Samiti also organised a 'Ram Rath' (chariot) procession on this occasion. Thousands of devotees chanted 'Harinam' as the procession took rounds of the temple compound. A 'Maha Abhishek' (cleansing ritual) of the deities was performed on the ISKCON parade ground in the evening with Ganga water, honey, fruit juices, milk and yogurt. Lord Rama's teachings should be followed by every individual as it can help one build a strong character based on moral values, the statement said, quoting noted educationist Siraj ul Islam.

Ramdev confers deeksha on 90 sanyasis

Yoga guru Ramdev launched a new initiative on the occasion of Ramnavami today with an avowed aim to make India a spiritual superpower by conferring 'deeksha' on a batch of around 90 'sanyasis' (renunciates) groomed by Patanjali. The 'deeksha' was accorded to 51 sanyasis and 39 sanyasins on the banks of the Ganga in the holy city by Ramdev in the presence of their family members. Welcoming their initiation into a life of renunciation, the yoga guru said nothing could be more glorious than the act of offering oneself to sainthood and the service of the nation. He also thanked the families of his disciples now groomed as 'sanyasis' for dedicating their wards to the noble mission of national service through cultural and religious conservation. Rituals like 'havans' and 'yagyas' were being performed at a wooden 'yagyashala' at Rishigram within Patanjali precincts since Mar 21 as a prelude to the 'deeksha' ceremony held on the banks of the Ganga today under the supervision of the yoga guru .

Singapore restores 164-yr old Hindu temple

Twenty artisans from India have joined scores of local devotees in the restoration of a 164-year-old Hindu temple, a declared national monument, here, in a nearly Rs 20 crore project. Work has been going on for more than a year at the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple in Little India where devotees share sacred space with the artisans and scores of other workmen. A chief sculptor and a team of 19 highly-skilled artisans from India are "painstakingly keeping" to the colour scheme of the original temple, reported local daily 'The Straits Times'. The biggest challenges for the restoration team is to accommodate various rituals, festivals and ceremonies while the extensive work is being done. The temple's management committee chairman Vellayappan Karruppiah, 73, called the temple "a living monument". "Every day, there are poojas going on and major festivals during which the work has to stop. The management committee has to plan so the work can be finished in time, and I am happy to say that we

Pope Francis calls on youth to stand and speak out

Pope Francis on Sunday called on the youth across the world to continue standing up and speaking out, a day after thousands of people, mostly students protested against gun violence in the "March for Our Lives" rally in Washington D.C. and elsewhere in the US.In his Palm Sunday address at the St. Peter's Square in Rome, Pope Francis said, "Dear young people, you have it in you to shout."Palm Sunday celebrated on the Sunday before Easter is commemorated by Christians as the day Jesus entered Jerusalem in the week of his crucifixion when palm leaves were strewn in his path, CNN reported.Noting that the Palm Sunday coincided with World Youth Day, the pontiff used the opportunity to compare youth to Jesus's followers, who were scorned by his detractors."It is up to you not to keep quiet. Even if others keep quiet, if we older people and leaders, so often corrupt, keep quiet, if the whole world keeps quiet and loses its joy, I ask you: Will you cry out?", he added.He also urged the youth ..

Ram Navami celebrations at ISKCON marks communal harmony and gaiety

Devotees from various communities on Sunday enthusiastically participated in the Ram Navami celebrations at the global spiritual headquarters of the International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in Nadia district's Mayapur.

Four of family killed in road mishap in Madhya Pradesh

Four persons of a family, were today killed after the motorcycle they were riding on, collided with a bus at Bakaner four-lane by-pass near here, police said. The deceased have been identified as Krishna Rathore, his mother Kusum, uncle Shubham and nephew Santosh. The mishap occurred under the limits of the Manawar police station, around 80 km from the district headquarters, said additional superintendent of police (ASP) Rai Singh Narwarai. The motorcycle was driven by Krishna and it collided with a bus coming from the opposite direction, the officer said. The motorcycle got stuck under the bus and a fire broke out following which both the vehicles were gutted, Narwarai said, adding the bus passengers were safely evacuated. However, the four on the motorcycle were killed on the spot, he said, adding a probe was on.

MP CM celebrates 'Ram Navmi' at his residence

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, on Sunday, performed special prayers at his residence on the occasion of Ram Navmi.The Minister offered food to young girls as 'Ram Navami', which marks the penultimate day of the nine-day Navratri festival, is dedicated to Hindu goddess Durga.Speaking to ANI, the Chief Minister said, "We should respect girls and give them equal opportunities in the society."Ramnavmi is celebrated all over India every year on the last day of Chaitra Navaratri to mark the birth of Lord Rama.On this auspicious day, young girls, representing the nine forms of the goddess, are offered gifts and Prasad (sweet).

Pope urges young people not to remain silent

Pope Francis today urged young people not to allow themselves to be silenced and to stand up for what they believe in, a day after more than a million people in the United States took part in student-led protests demanding tighter gun control. "Dear young people, you have it in you to shout," the pontiff told the traditional Palm Sunday mass on Saint Peter's Square, which this year coincides with World Youth Day. While the pope was not talking about the US protests and made no reference to them in his address, his comments came just a day after huge gun control rallies were staged all across the US. "It is up to you not to keep quiet," Francis told young people. "Even if others keep quiet, if we older people and leaders, so often corrupt, keep quiet, if the whole world keeps quiet and loses its joy, I ask you: Will you cry out?" The pope said that the temptation had always been there to silence young people. There were "many ways to silence young people and make them invisible," he ...

PM Modi greets nation on Ram Navami

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday extended his greeting to the nation on Ram Navami.The Prime Minister took to Twitter and said, "I offer my greeting on the holy occasion of Ram Navami to all the citizens."Along with the tweet in Hindi, Prime Minister Modi posted a clip as well.Meanwhile, on the last and ninth day of Navratri, Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar also extended his wishes."Warm greetings to all on the auspicious occasion of #RamNavami. May the blessings of Lord Rama be upon you all," Parrikar tweeted.Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani also greeted nation on the auspicious day and said, "I offer my greeting on the holy occasion of Ram Navami."Devotees in large numbers took holy bath in River Ganga this morning and offered prayers in various temples including Maa Ashtbuji Temple in Varanasi. Elaborate security arrangements have also been made.Rama Navami is a Hindu festival that is celebrated in order to honour the birth of Lord Vishnu's incarnation, Lord Rama. This

Palm Sunday observed in Kerala

Palm Sunday was observed by Christians across Kerala to commemorate Jesus Christ's entry into Jerusalem before he was arrested and crucified.