Page 28 - Religion Belief
Churches decorated as Bengal observes Good Friday
Churches in West Bengal witnessed a flood of the devout on the occasion of Good Friday spreading a message of peace, tolerance and forgiveness.
BJP leader booked for 'anti-Muslim' remarks in UP
An FIR was registered against a BJP leader on Friday for his controversial statements against Muslims. "A case has been registered against BJP leader Ranjit Bahadur Srivastava for violation of model code of conduct. A probe is on in the matter," Additional Superintendent of Police R S Gautam said. Addressing a gathering on Thursday as BJP candidate Upendra Rawat filed his nomination papers from Barabnki Lok Sabha constituency, Srivastava asked people to vote for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to "break the morale of Muslims". "Muslims want to grab power with their votes but they will not succeed. It's the right time for Hindus to unite," the former Nagar Palika Chairman added.
Case fabricated, willing to end public life if proved guilty:
BJP Kerala President P S Sreedharan Pillai Friday said the police case against him alleging anti-Islam remarks was fabricated and he was prepared to end his public life if found guilty. Talking to reporters at the Kozikode Press Club here, Pillai wanted to know if the complainant in the case, CPI(M) leader and MLA V Sivankutty was prepared to apologise and end his public life if the case later turned out to be false. "I did not utter even a single word to incite communal enmity and had only said things relating to inquest procedures", he said. There is a conspiracy between officials and the Left parties and they think that BJP leaders can be destroyed by registering false cases, which is a "pipe dream", he said. Police had registered a case against Pillai under Sections 153 and 153 A of the Indian Penal Code on a complaint of Sivankutty. Section 153 A deals with 'Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, .
Christian pilgrims march through Jerusalem for Good Friday
Thousands of Christian pilgrims and clergy members marched through the ancient stone alleys of Jerusalem's Old City, retracing Jesus' path to crucifixion in observation of Good Friday. The faithful carried wooden crosses high on their shoulders and sang hymns to mark one of Christianity's most solemn and sacred days. The confluence of Good Friday and the Jewish holiday of Passover this year led to flocks of tourists and a festive atmosphere in the holy city. Worshippers from all over the world marched slowly along the Via Dolorosa, the cobblestone path that cuts through the limestone-walled Old City, where tradition says Jesus bore the cross to his crucifixion. The pilgrims stopped at several points on the way, re-enacting symbolic moments from Jesus' story. The procession culminates at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where Catholic and Orthodox Christians believe Jesus was buried before his resurrection on what is celebrated as Easter Sunday. Meanwhile Friday, Jewish residents were
Kerala CM accuses Modi of levelling 'false' charges
: A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticised the LDF government in Kerala over various issues, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan Friday accused him of making "false" charges against the state and said such remarks were "unbecoming" of his position. Countering Modi's charge that cases would be registeredin Kerala if anyone utters the God's name, Vijayan challenged the Prime Minister to point out any single such case. "It is unfortunate that such an untruthful and concocted campaign has been unleashed by the Prime Minister. Such charges, which had no connection with the truth, is unbecoming of his position," he said in an article released to media. The cases registered in the state in connection with the Sabarimala agitation were not for uttering the name of the God, but to unleash violence, he said. In the detailed article, the CPI(M) veteran also rejected Modi's charges that devotees were not allowed to follow their rituals and poojas in the southern ...
Characters from Mahabharat abound UP voter list
The ongoing Lok Sabha elections may not be a Mahabharat in the true sense of the term, but characters from the epic abound the voter list in Uttar Pradesh.
Yogi visits Hanuman temple before resuming campaigning after EC's three-day ban
After completion of three day ban on election campaigning, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Friday visited the historic Hanuman Setu temple in Aliganj area here before resuming the poll battle. The Chief Minister drove to the Aliganj temple and offered 'prasad' on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti this morning, BJP sources said. Soon after the EC ban imposed on him for likening the ongoing Lok Sabha polls to a contest between 'Ali' and 'Bajrang Bali', the Chief Minister had also prayed at the famous temple on Tuesday. He had also visited temples in Ayodhya and Varanasi during the ban period for darshan and pujas. The Election Commission on April 15 barred Adityanath from campaigning for 72 hours starting 6 am on April 16 for his "divisive" comments at a rally in Meerut. "If the Congress, the Samajwadi Party and the BSP have faith in Ali, we too have faith in Bajrang Bali," he had said there.
Christians in Kerala observe Good Friday
Christians in Kerala on Friday were out in large numbers and local hurches were overflowing as they participated in the Good Friday mass.
Maharashtra: EC files complaint against Milind Deora for violating MCC
The Maharashtra State Election Commission on Friday filed a complaint against Mumbai Congress president Milind Deora for violating Model Code of Conduct (MCC), weeks after his remarks on 'Jain religion'.On April 4, Deora, while addressing an event at Zhaveri Bazar, accused Shiv Sena of hurting religious sentiments of Jain followers. The Mumbai Congress president urged the community to teach them a lesson by not giving them vote in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections."Shiv Sena has been against the minorities. A few years ago, the party insulted the Jain religion by cooking meat outside Jain temples during Paryushana festival. Remember, you have to teach them a lesson through your votes," he had said at an event.Later, one of the Shiv Sena candidates complained to the EC stating that the allegations made by Deora were "false and are religiously sensitive". Following which, the EC looked into the matter and now it has asked the police to register an FIR.Paryushana, an annual event where ...
Lakhs of devotees witness Lord Kallazhagar entering Vaigai
Over two lakh devotees witnessed the entry of Lord Kallazhagar into Vaigai River here Friday as part of the 20-day long annual Chithirai festival. The devotees occupied the Vaigai riverbed from all directions to get a view of the entry of the idol of Lord Kallazhagar of the nearby famous Azhagarkoil temple draped in green silk cloth as has been the tradition. Special abhishekams were performed Thursday night to the idol of the Lord which was brought from Alagarkoil, a hill temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, 20 kms from here. As per legend, the Lord comes to Madurai to attend the celestial marriage of his sister Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar. As he reached the Vaigai river bank, the Lord learnt that the marriage was over and hence returns.
Extreme Easter: Flogging, crucifixions in Philippines
Hundreds of barefoot men beat themselves with flails and at least 10 were to be nailed onto crosses throughout Good Friday in a blood-soaked display of religious fervour in the Philippines. Frowned upon by the Church, the ritual crucifixions and self-flagellation are extreme affirmations of faith performed every Easter in Asia's Catholic outpost. Barefoot men wearing crowns of twigs walked silently on the side of a village road in the scorching tropical heat of the northern Philippines, flogging their backs with bamboo strips tied to a length of rope. While many of the 80 million Filipino Catholics spend Good Friday at church or with family, others go to these extreme lengths to atone for sins or seek divine intervention in a spectacle that has become a major tourist attraction. "This is a religious vow. I will do this every year for as long as I am able," 38-year-old truck driver Resty David, who has been self-flagellating for half his life at his village in the northern Philippines,
Muslims across country want to abolish section 370: Indresh Kumar
Senior RSS functionary Indresh Kumar Thursday claimed that Muslims across the country are in favour of abolishing Section 370 and it is only the regional parties of Jammu and Kashmir which are against it. Addressing a gathering at an event on 'Role of Muslims in electoral battle', he said the BJP government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has ensured that benefits of all social welfare schemes reached the poor among Muslims as well. "The Modi government religiously followed its principal of 'with all, development for all' and unlike other parties did not indulge in politics of appeasement. All benefits such as power connections, LPG cylinders and built-up houses were also provided to the poor among Muslims," he said. Kumar is the patron-in-chief of the Muslim Rahstriya Manch, an organisation for the welfare of Muslims that has been advocating abolishing triple talaq in the community. Talking about Section 370, which grants special status to Jammu and Kashmir, the .
PIL in SC: Misquoting judicial orders is corruption
Amid poll season, a PIL has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking direction that misquoting judicial orders by political leaders during the poll campaign should constitute a corrupt practice.
Plea in SC seeks to declare misquoting judicial orders by candidates a corrupt practice
A petition in the Supreme Court has sought a direction that misquoting judicial orders for electoral gains by candidates and political office bearers be declared a corrupt practice under the Representation of the People Act. It has also sought a direction that the Election Commission of India (ECI) should have power to refer complaints against them for seeking vote on the basis of religion, race, caste, community or language to appropriate investigation agencies. "Direct and declare the Election Commission of India has the power to reject the nomination of contesting candidates and de-register the political parties for seeking vote on the basis of religion, race, caste, community or language," said the plea, filed by BJP leader and advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay. Besides the Centre, the petition has arrayed the ECI as a party. Upadhyay has referred to a recent statement given by Congress President Rahul Gandhi on apex court's order in the Rafale fighter jets case. He has also ...
Michel denied bail for celebrating Easter
A Delhi court on Thursday rejected an interim bail plea of British national Christian Michel -- an alleged middleman in the Rs 3,600-crore AugustaWestland VVIP chopper deal case -- for celebrating Easter.
Case registered against Sreedharan Pillai for giving communal speech
Police registered a case against BJP Kerala State president Sreedharan Pillai on Thursday on charges of giving a communal speech against the Muslim community.The case was booked under section 153A for promoting enmity between different groups on the basis of religion.The Kerala State president stroked a controversy on Sunday after his remarks against the Muslim community, while addressing a public meeting in Attingal, Kerala.Citing a ritual all Muslim males undergo, Pillai had said that the members of the community can be identified "after removing their clothes.
Michel denied interim bail for celebrating Easter
A Delhi court on Thursday rejected an interim bail plea of British national Christian Michel -- an alleged middleman in the Rs 3,600-crore AugustaWestland VVIP chopper deal case -- for celebrating Easter.
Pope celebrates Holy Thursday ahead of foot-washing ritual
Pope Francis is ushering in the most solemn period in the Catholic liturgical calendar by celebrating a Holy Thursday Mass, made more poignant this year following the devastation of Paris' Notre Dame Cathedral. The Crism Mass celebrates the unity of priests with their bishops. During Thursday's service, Francis blesses the holy oils that will be used over the course of the year in the administration of various sacraments. In his homily, Francis stressed that when priests use the oil, they are distributing their vocation and heart to the people of God. This year, Holy Week which for Catholics commemorates Christ's crucifixion, death and resurrection has taken on particular meaning following the fire at Notre Dame, a symbol of French Catholicism. Francis has offered his condolences repeatedly to the French faithful.
Emperor performs ritual to report abdication to Shinto gods
Emperor Akihito prayed at a Japanese shrine Thursday in a ritual to report his upcoming abdication to the Shinto gods. The 85-year-old emperor will retire on April 30 in the first abdication in 200 years and a rarity in Japan's ancient imperial history. Crown Prince Naruhito will succeed to the Chrysanthemum throne May 1. Akihito performed the "Shinetsu no Gi" ritual at Ise Shrine in western Japan as part of the succession process. Akihito in a tuxedo headed into the shrine, with palace officials holding up two imperial treasures sword and jewel. The third, a mirror, is kept at the shrine. The treasures were brought from the palace in Tokyo and travelled with the emperor. The regalia, or three treasures, will be handed to Naruhito after his succession. His daughter and head shrine priest, Sayako Kuroda, also attended. Ise Shrine was a center of Japan's wartime emperor worship that still attracts political and business leaders today. Japanese emperors were once believed to be direct .
Pragya holds Digvijay responsible for 'defamation' of Hinduism
Minutes after being nominated as the BJP's Bhopal candidate, Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur lashed out at her Congress rival Digvijay Singh, saying he "sowed the seeds" of defamation of "Sanatan Dharma". Thakur, who is facing trial in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, also defended herself saying she got a clean cheat, and accused the then Congress regime of torturing her. "He (Digvijay Singh) has sown the seeds of defamation of our Sanatam Dharma (Hinduism) and the saffron. He termed the saffron and Hindutva as terrorism," Thakur alleged. "I will ensure that the saffron gets its due respect," she told reporters after being declared as the BJP candidate from Bhopal Lok Sabha seat. "Dharma will triumph over Adharma," she added. Referring to her incarceration in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, Thakur alleged that "They (the then Congress government) misused the law, disrespected a woman, and tortured me unlawfully". Thakur was granted bail in the Malegaon case in 2017. "I am a ...