Page 37 - Religion Belief
BJP Lok Sabha candidate Prakash Babu jailed for 14 days in Sabarimala violence case
He had appeared and sought bail before the Ranni Judicial Magistrate Court earlier during the day.The Sabarimala temple and surrounding areas witnessed a string of protests since October last year over the Supreme Court's decision to quash restrictions on the entry of women between 10 and 50 years.Nearly four months after the apex court permitted women of all ages to enter the temple on September 28 last year, two women aged below 50 years entered the Lord Ayyappa temple to offer prayers.Violent protests broke out all across the state, while a purification process took place in the temple following the entry of these two women -- Bindu Ammini and Kanaka Durga..
Indian-american professor to feature in Morgan Freeman's 'The Story of God'
An Indian-American professor will share his views on religion on Oscar-winning actor Morgan Freeman's 'The Story of God'. The National Geographic documentary series, now in its third season, explores how religions around the world have shaped society. Pankaj Jain an associate professor at the University of North Texas had travelled to Nepal last year where he joined Freeman to participate in rituals at a Jain temple in Kathmandu. Originally from Rajasthan, Jain is a professor with university's department of philosophy and religion. Their trip and discussion about Jainism will feature in the series' April 9 episode. Jain holds a PhD from the University of Iowa and an MA from Columbia University. He studied computer science in India and has worked as a software engineer in India and New Jersey. The professor is an active member of several academic and community organisations and has published poems in Hindi. Jain has been consulted widely by the media around the world for his expertise .
"Autobiography of a Yogi," Tamil audiobook release on Mar 30
A Tamil audiobook of noted spiritual master Paramahansa Yogananda's "Autobiography of a Yogi," will be released here on March 30. Eminent Tamil scholar and noted spiritual orator, Sarada Nambi Arooran will release the audiobook, Yogoda Satsanga Society of India (YSS) said here Wednesday. The book 'Autobiography of a Yogi' is on the life of Paramahamsa Yogananda and it was first published in 1946. Since then, the work has been in continuous publication and translated into 14 Indian languages, apart from a host of others. The book, regarded as a spiritual classic, throws light on Yogananda's spiritual encounters, beginning with his life as a child in Gorakhpur, his quest for spiritualism and his experiences in India, as well as in America. YSS was founded by Paramahansa Yogananda in 1917 to spread Kriya Yoga.
Pope to visit Mozambique, Madagascar, Mauritius
Pope Francis is to visit flood-ravaged Mozambique and Indian Ocean nations Madagascar and Mauritius in September, the Vatican announced on Wednesday. He will travel to their capitals Maputo, Antananarivo and Port Louis during the September 4-10 visit, a statement said, with the precise programme to be decided later. Mozambique is reeling from a cyclone and floods that this month killed nearly 500 people and sparked cases of cholera. Senior Mozambican priest Giorgio Ferreti said in February Francis would this year make the first visit by a pope to the southern African nation since 1988. President Filipe Nyusi invited the pontiff to visit Mozambique during a trip to the Vatican last September, announcing the possible trip to reporters in a breach of Vatican protocol. The pope reportedly joked: "If I'm still alive." Mozambique, a former Portuguese colony, has around four million Catholics. Pope Francis kicked off the year with a historic public mass for an estimated 170,000 Catholics at .
Congress aims to end 3-decade drought in Attingal
Will it be eighth time lucky for the Congress-led UDF in Kerala's Attingal Lok Sabha constituency that it last won 30 years ago in 1989? The party is certainly hoping so, having fielded two-time former Minister and incumbent legislator Adoor Prakash, whom it considers one of its best candidates.
Dawoodi Bohra community chief felicitates 6-year-old boy for memorising Quran
Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, the head of the Dawoodi Bohra community, has felicitated a six-year-old boy for "memorising" the Quran at an event here. On the death anniversary of his grandfather Taher Saifuddin, the Syedna felicitated 920 community members at the event in Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday, according to a community spokesperson. Of the 920 people who memorised the Quran, 445 were men and the rest women, with the youngest being six-year-old and the oldest 62. Rashida Khandwala, the mother of the youngest 'hafiz' (one who memorises the Quran) Burhanuddin, said the memorisation process started with her elder son, who is a 'hafiz' as well. "There was no target in mind but the idea was to keep it consistent...This experience really helped me when I decided to start the process for my younger son at the age of 3," she said. Malik Rasheed, who is the coordinator of the programme, said, "Through the robust e-learning platform and various personal and collective coaching ...
Mamata targets BJP for sidelining LK Advani, says old is gold
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday accused the BJP of sidelining its senior leader Lal Krishna Advani and denying him Lok Saha ticket from Gandhinagar parliamentary seat in Gujarat."It is my personal feelings. I am feeling bad. Advani was the actual mentor for the BJP. They have forgotten the old days because of the new crop of leaders. But old is gold. It is an insult to him. But this is my personal feeling. They may not agree to it," the Chief Minister said."He is a respected leader in the party and has been there from the beginning. As a citizen of this country, I have worked under Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Advani," she said.Earlier, actor Shah Rukh Khan also met Chief Minister Banerjee at her office in Nabanna. Khan is the franchise owner of Indian Premier League's Kolkata Knight Riders.
Ensure justice to two Hindu girls: Sushma Swaraj to Pakistan
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday asked Pakistan to ensure immediate release of the two Hindu girls who were allegedly kidnapped and forcefully converted to Islam in Sindh province last week. "Justice demands that both these girls should be restored to their family immediately," she tweeted. Reena and Raveena, hailing from village Hafiz Salman near the town of Daharki in Sindh, were allegedly kidnapped and forced to convert from Hinduism to Islam on March 20, before being married to Muslim men. "Forced conversion of Hindu girls in Pakistan: The age of the girls is not disputed. Raveena is only 13 and Reena is 15 years old," Swaraj said. "Even the Prime Minister on Naya Pakistan will not believe that girls of this tender age can voluntarily decide about their conversion to another religion and marriage," she said. A Pakistani high court on Tuesday ordered official protection for the two girls due to concern about their safety as authorities widened a probe to ascertain
Kerala Catholic Bishops Conference for secularism
The Kerala Catholic Bishops Conference (KCBC) declared Tuesday that it will not support any political party in the Lok Sabha elections but will be with those who "protect democracy and secularism".
Defence Minister visits Udupi Sri Krishna mutt
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Tuesday morning visited the Sri Krishna mutt in Udupi and offered prayers to the presiding deity of the temple. She was accompanied by BJP candidate for Udupi-Chikkamagaluru Lok Sabha seat Shobha Karandlaje, Udupi MLA K Raghupati Bhat and other party leaders. Palimaru mutt chief Paryaya Swami Vidyadeesha Teertha, handed over the 'prasadam' to her. The minister requested the Swami to pray on her behalf to Lord Krishna for the welfare of the country and return of Narendra Modi as Prime Minister. Sitharaman said she had a close bond with the Sri Krishna mutt and Sri Mookambika temple at Kollur for the last several years. The minister is scheduled to take part in a meeting of fishermen at Manipal and BJP workers' convention at the party office later in the day. She will also accompany Shobha Karandlaje during the filing of her nomination papers.
Gurudwara Dubai showcases Punjabi culture, heritage
The Gurudwara Guru Nanak Darbar Dubai organised the Punjabi Culture and Heritage Festival at the Indian High School here.
Sushma Swaraj asks Pakistan to return abducted Hindu girls to family
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday asked Pakistan to return to the family two minor Hindu girls who were abducted, forcefully converted to Islam and married off on the eve of Holi in Sindh province."Forced conversion of Hindu girls in Pakistan: The age of the girls is not disputed. Raveena is only 13 and Reena is 15 years old. Even the Prime Minister on Naya Pakistan will not believe that girls of this tender age can voluntarily decide about their conversion to another religion and marriage," Swaraj tweeted referring to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's 'Naya Pakistan' ."Justice demands that both these girls should be restored to their family immediately," she added.Police on Monday detained at least seven people, including a 'nikah khwan' (marriage officiator), allegedly involved in the case.Members of civil society had gathered outside Karachi Press Club on Sunday to protest against the abduction and forced conversion of the two Hindu girls, both sisters, to ...
Goa poll officials ban campaign near churches on Good Friday
Political parties will not be allowed to campaign in the vicinity of churches on Good Friday, which falls on April 19, the state's Chief Electoral Officer Kunal has instructed. The Christian holy day comes just days ahead of April 23, when the state will have polls for two Lok Sabha seats and bypolls for three Assembly constituencies. As per the minutes of the meeting, parties expressed fear that campaigning near churches of the occasion of Good Friday could cause law and order problems and also hurt the sentiments of Christians. Election Commission officials expressed confidence that all arrangements, including police deployment, had been made to ensure law and order was maintained for polls in the coastal state.
Mamata hits out at BJP
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Monday hit out at BJP without naming it for allegedly dividing people along religious lines and even labelling those who differ from it as "Pakistanis". She called upon the people to maintain communal harmony and amity and have faith in all religions to ensure peace and progress in the country. "Enmity has reached the extent where if somebody speaks against a certain party he becomes a Pakistani," Banerjee, a strong critic of the saffron party, said at a function. "We want neither enmity, nor hatred. We want peace and progress to take forward the nation. We don't want any division among the people on the basis of religion," she said. Religion teaches people how to live in harmony with believers of all religious faiths and not to divide the country based on differences in belief, Banerjee added.
Pak approves plan to open ancient Hindu temple corridor in PoK
The Pakistan government on Monday approved a proposal to establish a corridor that will allow Hindu pilgrims from India to visit Sharda Peeth, an ancient Hindu temple and cultural site in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, according to a media report. The Sharda Peeth corridor, when opened, will be the second religious tract after Kartarpur corridor in Pakistan-controlled territory that will connect the two neighbouring nations. India had already sent a proposal to Pakistan to open the temple corridor, the Express Tribune reported quoting sources in Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "After Kartarpur, a piece of big news is in the offing for Hindus. Some of the government officials will visit the area and will later submit a report to the prime minister," the sources said. When asked to comment on the development, official sources in New Delhi said India had made this request several times as part of the Composite Dialogue between India and Pakistan. The proposal was made keeping in mind
Alert in Goa over Christchurch attacks retaliation
Goa is on alert following a tip off from central intelligence agencies about a possible attack on Israeli tourists in the state in what they called "possible revenge" for the terror attack at the Christchurch mosques in New Zealand last week which killed 50 worshippers, police said on Monday.
Christchurch attack graffiti on California mosque
Graffiti referencing to the March 15 Christchurch attacks that killed 50 Muslim worshippers, was discovered at a California mosque after a possible arson, authorities said.
Kerala woman killed in New Zealand terror attack laid to rest
The body of a 27-year-old woman from Kerala, who was among the 50 people killed in a terror attack on two Christchurch mosques in New Zealand, was brought to the state Monday and laid to rest. Prayers were held at the Cheraman Juma mosque at Kodungallor before the body of the woman, Ancia Alibava, was laid to rest. The mosque is said to be the oldest in the Indian subcontinent. Police sources at Kodungallor said the last rites were held at the mosque around 11 am. The body was airlifted to the international airport at Kochi from New Zealand early Monday morning and brought to her native place at Kodungallor. It was taken to the house of Ancia's husband, Abdul Nazar and her parents' house before being kept for public homage at a hall in Kodungalloor. Hundreds of people from various walks of life, including state Education Minister C Ravindranath, Thrissur district Collector, T V Anupama, were among those who paid homage to the woman. Ancia was was pursuing her M.Tech degree in an ...
Scoreboard of the Indian Premier League match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata ...
Scoreboard of the Indian Premier League match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders here Sunday. David Warner c Uthappa b A Russell 85 Jonny Bairstow b Chawla 39 Vijay Shankar not out 40 Yusuf Pathan b A Russell 1 Manish Pandey not out 8 Extras: 8 (B-1, LB-4, W-2, NB-1) Total: 181/3 in 20 overs Fall of wickets: 118-1, 144-2, 152-3 Bowling: Prasidh Krishna 4-0-31-0, Piyush Chawla 3-0-23-1, Lockie Ferguson 4-0-34-0, Sunil Narine 3-0-29-0, Kuldeep Yadav 2-0-18-0, Andre Russell 3-0-32-2, Nitish Rana 1-0-9-0.
Swaraj, Pak minister in war of words over report of kidnapping of 2 Hindu girls in Sindh
A war of words erupted on Sunday between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Pakistan's Information Minister Fawad Chaudhary over reports of abduction of two Hindu teenaged girls and their forcible conversion to Islam on the eve of Holi in the Sindh province. In a tweet, Swaraj sought a report from Indian envoy in Pakistan Ajay Bisaria on the reported abduction of the girls and their forcible conversion to Islam. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has ordered a probe into the matter. Responding to Swaraj's tweet, Pakistan's Information Minister Fawad Chaudhary said: "Maam its Pakistan's internal issue and (be) rest assured it's not Modi's India where minorities are subjugated, it's Imran Khan's Naya Pak where white colour of our flag is equally dearer to us." "I hope you'll act with same diligence when it comes to rights of Indian minorities," he said. Swaraj, in her response to Chaudhary, said she had only asked for a report from the Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad ...