Page 40 - Religion Belief
Pak PM Imran wishes Hindu community on Holi
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan Wednesday extended his greeting to the country's Hindu community on the occasion of Holi. "Wishing our Hindu community a very happy and peaceful Holi, the festival of colours," Khan said in a tweet. The festival of Holi marks the end of winter and the start of spring. The festival is also known as the "festival of colours" or the "festival of love". Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Chairperson of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), also took to twitter to wish people on Holi. "Happy Holi to all my Hindu brothers and sisters. On the happy occasion of Holi, let us spread the wonderful massage of peace and happiness," he wrote. The Hindu community in Pakistan celebrates the festival by playing with colours. They also burn logs of wood to symbolise the victory of good over evil and observe Holi Pooja. According to Pakistan Hindu Council, the Hindus constitute about 4 per cent of Pakistan's total population of 200 million.
5 unmarried couples whipped publicly in Indonesia
Five unmarried couples were on Wednesday flogged publicly in Indonesia - the world's largest Muslim-majority country that practices Sharia or strict Islamic law.
Delaware declares April 2019 as 'Sikh Awareness and Appreciation Month'
Delaware Governor John Carney has signed an executive proclamation naming April 2019 as the "Delaware Sikh Awareness and Appreciation Month" in recognition of the contribution of the small but influential Sikh community in the economic and social milieu of the state. In his proclamation on Tuesday, Carney said the contribution of Sikh-Americans to Delaware and the United States has been immense. Earlier, the Delaware House of Representatives and the Senate unanimously had passed a concurrent resolution declaring April 2019 as the "Delaware Sikh Awareness and Appreciation Month". This year's resolution is especially meaningful because it comes in the 550th birth year of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak, Delaware Sikh Awareness Coalition (DSAC) chairman Charanjeet Singh Minhas said. Before the resolution was introduced in the state legislature, the DSAC had sponsored an interfaith luncheon session and a presentation that discussed the universal aspects of Guru Nanak's teaching and their ...
First burial for mosque massacre victim planned for Wednesday: official
Burials will begin Wednesday for the victims of Christchurch's mosques massacre, after a lengthy delay that has anguished families, officials said. "The first burial of a victim of Friday 15 March's tragic mosque shooting will take place this morning," Christchurch City Council said. The names and nationalities of those being buried have not been released.
Mamata takes potshots at BJP over Ram temple
Taking a dig at the BJP-led central dispensation, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said while they could not even construct one Ram temple, her government has spruced up the pilgrimage spots as part of its development programmes.
Mamata challenges Modi, Shah to compete with her in chanting 'mantras'
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Tuesday lashed out at the BJP for questioning her religion and challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah to compete with her in chanting 'mantras' (hymns). Stating that her government had renovated several temples in the state, she accused the saffron party of engaging in political rhetoric over Ram Mandir ahead of general elections. "Worship does not mean only putting a 'tilak' on the forehead. One must understand the meaning of the mantras (Hindu religious hymns). I challenge Modi-Shah to compete with me in chanting mantras," the Trinamool Congress supremo said. Mamata, one of the harshest critics of BJP, said, "There are people who question my religion. I want to say that my religion is humanity and I do not need lecture from others about religion. "They try to point fingers at me and say I do not allow puja to be conducted in Bengal. They should go and see how many 'mandir' (temples) have been constructed .
HC notice to EC on church seeking change in TN poll date
The EC Tuesday informed the Madras High Court that it has rejected a plea by the Tamil Nadu Bishops' Council seeking re-scheduling of the April 18 Lok Sabha elections and assembly bypolls in the state as the date clashed with Easter Triduum. The submission was made by the Election Commission (EC) counsel Niranjan Rajagopalan when a petition by council president and Madurai Archbishop Antony Pappusamy seeking a direction to the commission to change the poll date came up for hearing. The counsel said even the news about the EC rejecting the representation had come in the media. The division bench comprising Justice S Manikumar and Justice Subramonium Prasad then directed Rajagopalan to file an affidavit in this regard by Thursday and posted the matter for hearing on that day. The archbishop in his public interest litigation petition said that the council had already submitted a memorandum to the EC on the issue and there was no response from it. He submitted that there were around 50 ...
'Egg Boy' to give fund to NZ mosque attack victims
The Australian teenager, who threw egg at a far-right senator over his offensive comments about the Christchurch mosque attacks, has said he would donate most of the money raised for him towards the terror attacks' victims, the NZ Herald reported.
Volunteers descend on Christchurch with burial process to start
As the first bodies of the Christchurch mosque shooting victims were returned to grieving families, Muslim volunteers from across New Zealand and Australia descended on the small town to help in the burial process. Islamic custom dictates that people have to be buried as soon as possible, but the scale and devastation of Friday's massacre -- that saw 50 killed in the usually quiet southern New Zealand city -- has delayed the handover of bodies to next of kin. Police said Tuesday that just six bodies have been released so far and a total of 12 victims identified. As anguished relatives wait, waves of volunteers have driven or flown in to ease the burden on exhausted locals. "We are a Muslim community, regardless of where we are situated through the country and the world, there is always going to be a connection with other Muslims when tragedy occurs," Javed Dadabhai, a volunteer from Auckland, told AFP. "Quite specifically, Christchurch is a small community, so... when you see a loss ..
International Sanskrit conference commences in Nepal
A three-day international Sanskrit conference that aims to endorse the ancient language as common treasure of Nepal and India commenced here on Tuesday. Titled "Sanskrit a common treasure of Nepal and India", the conference is being jointly organised by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu, India's Ministry of Culture in collaboration with the Balmiki campus of Nepal Sanskrit University. More than 45 working papers on different aspects of Sanskrit language, literature and philosophy will be presented by scholars from the two nations during the conference, according to an official statement. "Sanskrit is not an ordinary language, rather it is a language meant for salvation and a language that can connect us with the God," Abhiraj Rajendra Mishra, a scholar from India, said. The Chancellor of Nepal Academy, Ganga Prasad Upreti was the chief guest at the function, which was also attended by India's ambassador to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri.
Pro-Modi slogans as Priyanka prays at UP temple
Pro-Modi slogans were raised by BJP supporters gathered outside a temple near here on Tuesday as Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi offered prayers.
Physicist Marcelo Gleiser: 'Science does not kill God'
The annual Templeton Prize, which recognises outstanding contributions to "affirming life's spiritual dimension," was awarded Tuesday to Brazilian Marcelo Gleiser - a theoretical physicist dedicated to demonstrating science and religion are not enemies. A physics and astronomy professor whose specialisations include cosmology, 60-year-old Gleiser was born in Rio de Janeiro, and has been in the United States since 1986. An agnostic, he doesn't believe in God - but refuses to write off the possibility of God's existence completely. "Atheism is inconsistent with the scientific method," Gleiser told AFP Monday from Dartmouth College, the New Hampshire university where he has taught since 1991. "Atheism is a belief in non-belief. So you categorically deny something you have no evidence against." "I'll keep an open mind because I understand that human knowledge is limited," he added. The prize is funded by the John Templeton Foundation - a philanthropic organisation named after the American
China not to recognise Dalai Lama's Indian successor
China on Tuesday indicated that it won't recognise the successor of the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama if found in India.
China says Dalai Lama's successor has to be approved by it
China Tuesday rejected the Dalai Lama's assertions that his successor could be from India and a nominee by Beijing would not be respected, saying the next spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism has to be approved by the Communist government. China's response came after the 83-year-old Nobel peace laureate told a news agency on Monday that it was possible that once he dies his incarnation could be found in India and and warned that any other successor named by China would not be respected. "Reincarnation is the unique way of Tibetan Buddhism. It has fixed rituals and systems," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told reporters when asked about remarks by the Dalai Lama, who fled to India from Tibet in 1959. "The Chinese government has policy of freedom of religious belief. We have regulation on religious affairs and regulation on the reincarnation system in Tibetan Buddhism. We respect and protect such ways of Tibetan Buddhism," Geng said. Dalai Lama is a title given to ...
Savea 'heartbroken' over mosque killings as All Blacks rally round
World Cup winner Julian Savea said Tuesday he was "heartbroken" over the New Zealand mosque shootings as All Blacks team-mate Sonny Bill Williams took a week off Super Rugby to support people affected by the tragedy. Williams, a devout Muslim, said his "heart is heavy" over Friday's attack, which left 50 people dead, as he announced a trip to Christchurch to "show love" and give donations. Hulking wing Savea has bagged 46 tries in 51 Test starts, but has struggled this season after moving to Toulon. However, he put his personal woes aside to pledge support to the Muslim community. "I've been privileged enough to learn about Islam through my wife's family, especially her grandparents," the 28-year-old tweeted from France. "They've been to Mecca twice, they pray five times a day, they encouraged me to fast during Ramadan and taught me what it means to be a Muslim," Savea added. "And I will make sure my children learn about Islam too because it's a beautiful religion, and Muslims are the
Cong releases list of candidates for Assembly polls in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha
The Congress on Monday released its list for the upcoming Assembly polls in AndhraPradesh and Odisha.The list was released by All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary Mukul Wasnik after it was cleared by the Central election committee of the Congress. It contains of 132 candidates for Andhra Pradesh 36 for Odisha Assembly polls.Congress has fielded Ram Krishna Panda from Hinjili constituency, which has been represented four times by Biju Janata Dal chief and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. This time too, Patnaik will be contesting from Hinjili Assembly seat that falls under the Aska Lok Sabha constituency which used to be the stronghold of his father and a legendary figure of Odisha, Biju Patnaik.The Assembly elections to the 175-member Andhra Pradesh Assembly are scheduled to be held on April 11 while the polls for 147-member Odisha Assembly will be held in four phases starting from April 11 to April 29.The counting of votes will take place on May 23.
Canada lawmakers vow to confront hate, white supremacy
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has slammed leaders' unwillingness to call out hate, while parliament unanimously passed a motion to stand against white supremacy in the wake of the Christchurch mosques attack. "I stand here today to cast a light on this hatred and on our unwillingness to call it out," Trudeau said in the House of Commons Monday. "As leaders, as (a) privileged few with power and an audience, we have a responsibility to do something." Trudeau said allowing bigotry in party politics, online, at town halls and "when it reaches our front door" amounted to nothing more than complicity and cowardice. "I'm calling on like-minded countries of the world to stand with Canada in this fight. Muslims, Christians, Jews, black, white, all of us, we must fight this hatred as a team." The prime minister's comments come amid a heated debate over religious and racial bigotry in the neighbouring US that saw President Donald Trump berated over his tepid response to the New Zealand .
Mamata calls for amity on Doljatra, Holi
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Monday called for maintaining communal harmony on the days of Doljatra and Holi and cautioned people to be on guard against any effort to disturb peace. "Let the festival of colours be celebrated in a peaceful manner, in an atmosphere of amity and tranquillity," Banerjee told reporters at the state secretariat 'Nabanna'. The Trinamool Congress supremo asked people to be vigilant so that none could get any chance to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere of West Bengal. Banerjee said the government has declared holidays on both Doljatra and Holi on March 21 and 22 respectively as part of its objective to promote festivals of different religious and linguistic communities in West Bengal. "We declare holidays both on Durga Puja and Chhat, we declare holidays on Buddha Jayanti, on Guru Nanak's birthday. We celebrate Eid. Bengal is a melting pot of different religions and communities who are living hear for ages. We will maintain that at ...
Priyanka Gandhi not be allowed to enter Kashi Vishwanath temple: Lawyers to DM in letter
A group of lawyers on Monday handed a letter to the district magistrate, claiming that Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra should not be allowed to enter the Kashi Vishwanath temple as she is a Christian. The letter claimed that Priyanka was a Christian and she should be stopped from entering the temple, keeping in mind the ancient values of Sanatan Dharma. The letter, addressed to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, stated that her place of worship was a church.
As mark of respect to Parrikar, Vrindavan widows not to play Holi
Hundreds of widows on Monday decided not to celebrate Holi this time in order to mourn the sad demise of Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.Many women gathered at Gopinath temple here to pay their last respects to the deceased chief minister.Sulabh International Social Service Organisation (SISSO) had planned to organise Holi celebrations. "However, that will not happen now due to the chief minister's death," said Dr Bindeshwar Pathak, founder of the organisation."As a mark of respect for the departed soul, we have decided not to celebrate Holi today. All widows mourn the sad demise of our beloved leader and statesman," he said.Vrindavan's Holi celebrations in recent years have become memorable occasions for the thousands of widows, who till recent past used to face humiliation.