Page 42 - Religion Belief

Pakistan High Commissioner to India Mahmood lays traditional Chaddar at Dargah Ajmer Sharif

Pakistan High Commissioner to India Sohail Mahmood visited the Dargah of Hazrat Khwaja Syed Moinuddin Hasan Chishti (RA) in Ajmer Sharif on Saturday where the celebrations of his 807th annual Urs are currently underway.A press release from Pakistan High Commission in India read, "The High Commissioner presented the traditional chaddar on behalf of the people and Government of Pakistan and offered dua (prayers)."Mahmood was greeted by Syed Natiq Chishti and Syed Bilal Chishti as well as other notable members of the Anjuman Moinia Fakhria Chishtia Khuddam Sahib upon his arrival at the Dargah Sharif.Khwaja Ghareeb Nawaz, as he is popularly known among his followers, Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti Ajmeri (RA) is one of the most revered Sufi saints of the subcontinent. He is the founder of the Chishtia order in the region. On his annual Urs, devotees from all across the world including Pakistan visit the Dargah.In his remarks on the occasion, the High Commissioner stated that Hazrat ...

Charge sheet against accused Kerala Bishop soon

A top Kerala Police officer has assured a group of nuns that the charge sheet against Bishop Franco Mulakkal, accused of repeatedly raping a nun over several years, will be ready in three to four days, one of the nuns said.

New Zealand shooting: Christchurch Muslims struggle with shock, fear

"I'm thinking what's going to happen the next time... it could be more people targeting somewhere else."

Pakistani mullahs in league with terrorists, responsible for acts like Pulwama attack: Ahmadiyyas

The Pakistan government has given a free hand to the 'mullahs' (Muslim clergymen) who closely collaborate with terrorist groups and create problems worldwide, like the recent terror attack in Pulwama, leaders of the country's persecuted Ahmadiyya community said here on Saturday.The leaders of the Ahmadiyya community, a minority sect of Muslims, also highlighted how in Pakistan they are being denied even the basic rights like practising their religion and voting besides being targeted with false cases of blasphemy.During an event held here on the sidelines of a conference of the UN Human Rights Session (UNHRC), the community leaders sought to draw the international focus on Pakistan-bred terrorism besides demanding an amendment to the draconian laws targeting them in Pakistan."The Government of Pakistan has given a free hand to 'mullahs' and they hold the writ of the government," said Iftikhar Ayaz, an Ahmadiyya leader and chairman of London-based International Human Rights ...

Cricketing fraternity condemns Christchurch terror attack

The cricketing fraternity condemned the Christchurch terror attack and extended condolences to the families of the deceased. "Shocking and tragic. My heart goes out to the ones affected by this cowardly act at Christchurch. Thoughts with the Bangladesh team as well, stay safe," Indian captain Virat Kohli tweeted."Heartbreaking news coming out from New Zealand. What's happened to humanity?," Rohit Sharma tweeted."Still struggling to comprehend why... we are all one people... I don't understand how such hatred can manifest itself like this disgusting," Kiwi bowler Mitchell McClenaghan wrote on his Twitter account."Went to New Zealand recently. It's such a beautiful and peace-loving country. Sad to hear about what happened there. Praying for the families of the deceased," Shikhar Dhawan tweeted."Why? Why? Once again a cowardly disgusting attack on innocent people's lives .. Thoughts & prayers with everyone affected in NZ .. !!," England's former captain Michael Vaughan ...

B-Town condemns New Zealand mass shooting

Bollywood celebrities including Amitabh Bachchan, Anupam Kher and Sonam Kapoor Ahuja among many others, condemned the attacks on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, which killed 49 people.

Devotees erased TN temple lotus motif: Official

The lotus motif drawn by the devotees on the walls of Tamil Nadu's Srivilliputhur Andal temple was perhaps masked by themselves and not temple authorities, said a temple official on Saturday.

If God cannot fulfill your wishes, how can an MP: Mahesh Sharma in Bulandshahr

Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Union Minister of State for Tourism and Culture Mahesh Sharma, while addressing a gathering here, asked how a Member of Parliament (MP) can fulfill wishes of people when God himself cannot. Sharma, who was speaking at a rally in Bulanshahr on March 14, was heard saying: "The biggest fool is God. When God has sent us into the world, then it is his responsibility to arrange for our bread, cloth, house, employment, education for our children. Even today, people in other districts, including eastern Uttar Pradesh's Ballia, do not get enough food. When the children go to school, they fill the stomach with mid-day meal, the rest are hungry. If the God who created us cannot fulfil your wishes then how could an MP?"Sharma was addressing a public gathering on Thursday in Bhajan Lal temple in the city. He is also an MP from Gautam Buddh Nagar in Uttar Pradesh.

Imam of attacked New Zealand mosque says 'we still love this country'

An imam who was leading prayers at a Christchurch mosque when a gunman brandishing semi-automatic weapons mowed down his congregation said Saturday that the Muslim community's love for New Zealand would not be shaken by the massacre. "We still love this country," said Ibrahim Abdul Halim, imam of Linwood Mosque, vowing that extremists would "never ever touch our confidence". Halim gave a harrowing account of the moment during Friday prayers when gunshots rang out in the mosque, replacing peaceful reflection with screaming, bloodshed and death. "Everyone laid down on the floor, and some women started crying, some people died immediately," he said. But, he said, New Zealand Muslims still felt at home in the south Pacific nation. "My children live here" he said, adding, "we are happy". He said the majority of New Zealanders "are very keen to support all of us, to give us full solidarity", describing how strangers exchanged hugs with him on Saturday. "They start to... give me big hug, and

UN chief appalled at New Zealand mosque attack

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is "shocked and appalled at the terrorist attack" at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, his spokesperson said on Friday.

Security at US mosques tightened after Christchurch terror attacks

Security at mosques across the US was beefed up on Friday following the deadly mass shootings at two mosques in New Zealand's Christchurch city which killed 49 people.Law enforcement officials and political leaders condemned the terror attacks and assured the Muslim community that they would be protected while they continue to practice their faith freely, The New York Times reported.Nihad Awad, national executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said that Muslims across the world were united against hate speech, adding that the attacks were a part of the rising incidents of intolerance in the US and abroad."We are united against hate speech that sees immigrants as invaders. One should not tolerate hate speech because hate speech leads to violence. Now we are looking at the result of hate speech," he said.In New York and other major cities in the country, security was beefed up around mosques. New York city mayor Mayor Bill de Blasio informed that police presence .

Hyderabad man shot at in NZ, another missing (2nd Lead)

A man from Hyderabad was critically injured and another was missing in the horrific massacre at one of the two mosques in New Zealand's Christchurch city on Friday.

Gandhiji's philosophy based on principles of different

West Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi Friday said the young generation can come up with answers to present day problems based on the thinking of Mahatma Gandhi. Inaugurating a two-day symposium Understanding Mahatma Gandhi: Relevance of His Thought & Philosophy For Our Times at the 'Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Institute of Management Science', Tripathi said Gandhiji's philosophy was not just based on religious principles drawn from Hinduism. "It needs to be mentioned that Gandhijis philosophy was based on religious principles drawn from not just Hinduism but also from different tenets of Christianity, Islam and Buddhism," the Governor said. Tripathi, said Gandhiji also gave lots of importance on decentralisation and peoples power. "I sincerely hope that the young generation will be able to come with answers to present day problems based on Gandhijis thinking and preachings," the governor said. Congratulating BIMS for their initiative to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi, ...

Shootings in New Zealand despicable act of terrorism: Rahul

Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Friday condemned the mass shootings in New Zealand that killed 49 people and termed it "a despicable act of terrorism". He said the world stands in need of compassion and understanding and not bigotry and hate-filled extremism. "The New Zealand Shooting is a despicable act of terrorism, that must be condemned unequivocally. The world stands in need of compassion and understanding. Not bigotry and hate filled extremism. My condolences to the families of the victims. My prayers go out to those who were injured," he said on Twitter. Mass shootings at two mosques full of worshippers attending Friday prayers killed 49 people in New Zealand. Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel described the New Zealand incident as a "crime against humanity" as he called for a fight against bigotry and hatred. "What happened in New Zealand is a crime against humanity. It is a dangerous reminder that hatred and bigotry must be fought at every turn. The families of the victims

Sri Jagannath Temple's annual budget Rs 102 crore

The Temple Managing Committee Friday approved Sri Jagannath Temple's annual budget for the year 2019-20 at Rs 102 crore, officials said. The approval was made at the Managing Committee meeting chaired by Gajapati Divyasingha Deb and attended by Puri district collector JP Das, superintendent of police Umashankar Das, members of the temple managing committee and senior servitors. Chief Administrator of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), P K Mahapatra, said the expenditure for the temple is pegged at Rs 78 crore out of the total fund generation of Rs 102 crore. While the budget allocation for this years Rath Yatra is Rs 6 crore, they approved a proposal to enhance the Gajapatis annual honorarium from Rs 6 lakh to Rs 12 lakh. Stating that the annual donation received by the temple was Rs 4 crore, Mahapatra said efforts will be made to increase the volume of donation. "The temple's annual expenditure towards servitors and employees is Rs Rs 32 crore and Rs 28 ..

Hyderabad man shot at in NZ massacre

A man from Hyderabad was critically injured and another was missing in the horrific massacre at one of the two mosques in New Zealand's Christchurch city on Friday.

BJP protests defacement of lotus rangoli in TN temple

The BJP on Friday condemned and opposed the alleged effacing of a drawing of lotus in an ancient temple in southern Tamil Nadu by officials, in view of the Model Code of Conduct. The public had drawn the motif of a lotus at the famed Srivilliputhur Sri Andal temple -about 540 km from here- as part of tradition followed for many centuries, BJP Tamil Nadu chief Tamilisai Soundararajan said. "The public had drawn lotus in which Goddess Mahalakshmi is seated out of devotion and it was not done for elections," she said. The Saffron party leader sought to know if the officials would remove the hand of the deity since it was the symbol of the Congress party. "Will you conceal the rising sun too since it is also a symbol (of the DMK)?" she asked. The Srivilliputhur temple is in Virudhunagar district, about 80 kms from Madurai. It is one of the most revered 108 (Divya Desam) Vaishnavite temples. Despite repeated attempts, the temple officials were unavailable for comments.

Erdogan says New Zealand attack shows growing hostility to Islam

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday condemned the deadly attack on two mosques in New Zealand, saying it illustrated the growing hostility towards Islam "idly" watched by the world. The attacks on the Christchurch mosques left at least 49 dead, with one gunman -- identified as an Australian extremist -- apparently livestreaming the assault and publishing a manifesto online. "With this attack, hostility towards Islam, that the world has been idly watching and even encouraging for some time, has gone beyond individual harassment to reach the level of mass killing," Erdogan said at the funeral of a former Turkish minister. Turkish media reported the manifesto contained specific references to Turkey and ridding the famed Hagia Sophia in Istanbul of its minarets. Now a museum, the building was once a church before being turned into a mosque during the Ottoman empire. "It is clear that the understanding represented by the killer that also targets our country, our people and ...

9 Indians missing after Christchurch shootings

At least 9 people of Indian nationality or Indian origin are missing after Friday's shootings at two mosques in New Zealand's Christchurch left 49 people dead, High Commissioner Sanjiv Kohli said.

Church body's plea to postpone LS polls scheduled for April 18

An influential Christian group Friday made an appeal to the Election Commission to "either anticipate or postpone" the Lok Sabha elections scheduled for April 18 as the day 'Maundy Thursday' is a holy day which commemorates the Last Supper Jesus had with his disciples. The Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI), the apex body of the Catholic Church in the country, made the plea in a letter to the Election Commission (EC). It informed the EC that "with the important election date clashing with the Religious Services Maundy Thursday, Christians may find it very difficult to fulfil both the calls for worship and for electoral duties specially those called to be poll officers or are placed on other active polling duties." Christians celebrate Easter with three intensive days of prayers--Maundy Thursday which commemorates the Last Supper Jesus had with his disciples after which he was arrested, Good Friday which observes the day of Crucifixion and death of Jesus and ...