Page 62 - Religion Belief
Stalin alleges Panneerselvam performed yagna at Secretariat
Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam performed a yagna in his chamber at the Secretariat, DMK President M.K. Stalin on Sunday said and wondered how the he could do that.
TN woman says her age in Kerala govt's list submitted to SC incorrect
A Tamil Nadu woman, whose name figured in Kerala government's list of 51 women of menstrual age who visited the Sabarimala shrine, on Sunday said she was 62 and not 48, as mentioned in the affidavit submitted before the Supreme Court. Chandira Sundaram, a resident of Tiruvannamalai -- about 190 kilometers from here, said her name was wrongly included in the list of women below 50 years of age who visited the hill shrine after the Supreme Court removed the bar on their entry. She said her year of birth was mentioned as 1970 in her Aadhaar card by mistake, apparently indicating that it may be the reason for inclusion of her name in the list. In an interview to a Tamil news channel, Sundaram said she has been undertaking the pilgrimage to Sabarimala ever since she turned 54. "Now I am 62 and for the past eight years I have been visiting the Sabarimala temple," she said. She added that police helped her climb the sacred 18 steps of the shrine. The Kerala government submitted the affidavit
Paush Purnima: Sangam to bask under full moon tomorrow
Sangam -- the confluence of rivers Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati -- will bask under the full moon on Monday on the occasion of Paush Purnima, which will mark the second auspicious bath of Kumbh. The Purnima or full moon day will also mark the beginning of Kalpwas at Kumbh Mela. Elaborating on the significance of Paush Purnima, Shankarcharya Adhokshanand said, "Paush Purnima is a significant day for the Hindus which falls on the full moon day of Paush in the Hindu calendar. On this day, devotees from different parts of the country assemble at Sangam to take a holy dip." He added that this day marks the commencement of Kalpwas (the period of austerity). "Even Krishna had said that in the months of Hindu calendar, he represent the month of Paush," he said. Trilokinath Singh, a Lucknow-based astrologer, who regularly visits Allahabad said, "Apart from the religious and spiritual significance of Paush Purnima, the day also marks a gradual decline in the intensity of cold ...
Dalmia's ashes immersed in Yamuna
The ashes of former International President of Vishwa Hindu Parishad Vishnu Hari Dalmia were immersed in the Yamuna river here Saturday. Dalmia breathed his last at his Delhi residence on January 16. He was 91. "As per Dalmia's wish, his ashes were submerged into the holy Yamuna at Vishram Ghat," secretary at 'Sri Krishna Janmasthan Seva Sansthan' said.
ED attaches properties worth Rs 16.40 crore of controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached properties worth Rs 16.40 crore belonging to controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).According to the financial investigation agency, his properties were attached in Mumbai and Pune. ED had initiated an investigation on the basis of the charge sheet filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on October 26, 2017, in Mumbai's special NIA court against Zakir and others."Islamic Research Foundation and M/s Harmony Media have been instrumental in the maximum circulation of such incriminating speeches. For such activities the accused was receiving funds from the Islamic Research Foundation as well as other unknown sources," said ED in a statement on Saturday.According to the NIA charge sheet, Naik deliberately and maliciously insulted the religious beliefs of Hindus, Christians, and non-Wahabi Muslims, particularly Shia, Sufi, and Barelwis, with the intention of outraging their ...
Bodies of teen siblings killed in US fire reach Telangana
: The bodies of three teenaged siblings from Telangana, who were among four people killed in a fire at a house in Tennessee, USA, two days before Christmas, have been brought here, family members said. The family members and officials from Telangana state minorities commission were among those who received the bodies at the international airport here Friday. The deceased were Sathwika Sharon Naik Kethavath (17), Aaron Suhas Naik Kethavath (15) and Joy Suchitra Naik Kethavath (14), a family member K Prem Kumar said. A service was held at the Narayanguda Baptist Church here after which the bodies were taken to their native place in Nalgonda district. The funeral service was conductedin the districtSaturday, Kumar said. The Telangana government had made the arrangements to bring the bodies back. A statement from the Coudriets church had earlier said, "A fire started around 11 pm at the Coudriet home on December 23. The Coudriet family was hosting, housing, and celebrating ..
Four nuns, survivor seek Kerala CM's intervention on transfer issue
Four nuns, who took part in a protest demanding the arrest of rape-accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal, have written to the Kerala chief minister, seeking his intervention to ensure that their transfer orders were not effected till the trial of the case was over. The letter to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was written after four of the five nuns, who led the agitation against the bishop last year, were directed to leave their convent in Kottayam district, in compliance with a transfer order issued by their congregation last year. The survivor nun has also written a separate letter to the chief minister, seeking his help in the matter. "Their aim is to single me out and to harass and torture me. My life will be in danger if such a situation arises," she has alleged in her letter. Their congregation -- Missionaries of Jesus under the Jalandhar diocese of the Roman Catholic Church -- has directed the nuns to join their previously-assigned convents, according to the transfer orders issued ...
Transferred nuns request Kerala CM's intervention
The four nuns, who publicly protested last year demanding rape accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal's arrest, and were handed transfer orders three days back, on Saturday sought Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's intervention in the matter.
2 women make second attempt to enter Sabarimala, sent back by police
Two women of menstrual age who reached Nilakkal base camp on Saturday to trek to Sabarimala temple were forced to return after police warned them about protesters gathered in Pamba.These two women, Reshma and Shalina, had tried to visit Sabarimala earlier in the month as well, but failed to enter the temple. This time, the women were accompanied by a team of six men, but had to return owing to possible protests.The Sabarimala Temple and surrounding areas witnessed agitation after the Supreme Court lifted the ban on entry of women of menstrual age inside the temple in September this year.The Kerala government told the Supreme Court on Friday that 51 women between 10 and 50 years of age have entered the Sabarimala Temple following the September 2018 verdict of the top court."Over 16 lakh devotees have done the online registration for 'darshan' in the SabarimalaTemple and out of these 8.2 lakhs have visited the shrine. A total of 7564 women between the age of 10 and 50 have registered ...
Hyderabad: 5 drug smugglers held, 50 kg marijuana seized
In a major breakthrough, the Prohibition and Excise Department on Saturday busted inter-state marijuana trade and held five people, including two women, in connection with the case.The officials, while conducting the probe, seized 50 kilograms of marijuana and four mobile phones from the accused- Devi Prasad Rai Chowdery, Rohan Singh, Sanjay Kumar Naik, Sunamani Naik, and Krishna Kumari.The excise department first nabbed Devi Prasad and Rohan Singh from Balram Galli in possession of 20 kilograms of marijuana, following which the other three came under the radar of officials.During the interrogation, Devi revealed that a major operation was being carried out in Ghatkesar area. Authorities immediately rushed to the spot and raided the premises. During the search, officials found and seized 30 kilograms of dry ganja (cannabis) and Rs.50,000 towards sale proceeds from the possession of Sanjay and Sunamani. Krishna Kumari, who came to collect the substance for delivering it to others, was .
India does not belong to any particular religion, caste or language: Gadkari
Union minister Nitin Gadkari Friday said this country does not belong to any particular religion, caste, or language. Addressing a gathering during the distribution of ownership pattas to slum dwellers he said the party had never done politics based on caste or religion and theirs was a politics of service and development. He said India was of every person who loved it, be it a Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, Jain, Christians or others. "We have never done politics based on caste or religion... We never did politics on caste, religion and language. But, we did politics of service and development of poor," he said. "Because a poor man is poor, be it a Muslim, Jain, Buddhist, Hindu, Christian, Dalit or a tribal," he said. He further said that there cannot be partiality in the work of development. "We know that those who cannot compete with us on the development front, try to scare people with poison of casteism and communalism," he said. He said it was said that if Gadkari gets elected then ...
The country should have a "national God": Spiritual leader Oza
Gujarat-based spiritual leader Bhaishri Rameshbhai Oza Friday said the country should have a "national God" and maintained he sees Lord Ganesha as the "rashtra dev". He said like the national anthem, national symbol and national animal, the country should also have a "national God". Oza, who heads the Porbandar-based Sandipani Vidyapeeth, was speaking at the 9th Bharatiya Chhatra Sansad (BCS) organised by the MIT world Peace University and MIT School of Governance. "We have national anthem, we have national symbol and we have national animal also... what we do not have is national deity. Someone says we are a secular country and how can we have a national deity when the God I am talking about is also a secular one," said Oza. Comparing the characteristics of Lord Ganesha's appearancewith the leadership of the country, Oza said people call him Ganapati, but do not understand the inner meaning behind it. "Like Lord Ganesha has long ears, the leadership of the country ...
Himanta is Assam's Jinnah, says Congress
The opposition Congress on Friday slammed Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma claiming that he was indulging in communal politics by dividing Hindus and Muslims in the state. The Barpeta District Youth Congress also lodged an FIR against the minister for his alleged "communal statements". "Sarma is Assam's Jinnah. Himanta Biswa Sarma is following Pakistan's founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah partitioning India on the basis of Muslims and Hindus," Congress leader and former Assam minister Pradyut Bordoloi said at a press conference here. Once cabinet colleagues before the finance minister moved to the BJP from Congress, Bordoloi accused Sarma of playing communal politics and creating a division between Hindus and Muslims in Assam. "BJP wants to implement the Citizenship Amendment Bill only to create a permanent vote bank," he alleged. The Congress leader also charged BJP of trying to divide the Assamese society and both Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Himanta are ...
Syro-Malabar church to take action against priests, nuns
The Kerala-based Syro-Malabar Church has taken a serious view of increasing incidents of 'violations' of discipline and protests by the priests and nuns over various issues and directed its bishops to take action against those indulging in such acts, a church official said here Friday. The Synod of the Church of Malabar Syrian Catholics, which concluded here Friday, observed the recent protests and strikes in which some priests and nuns had participated crossed all limits of discipline. It directed its bishops and heads of congregations to initiate action against its clergy who violates the church laws, the official said. According to a circular issued to all diocese and congregations by the Church head Cardinal George Alencherry, the priests and nuns who violate the discipline should be issued show-cause notices first, and disciplinary action initiated against them as per the Canon law if the explanation given by them was not satisfactory. The church also said the ...
Church closed after Orthodox, Jacobite factions clash in Kerala
The St Mary's Church at Mannamangalam near here was on Friday evening put under lock and key by the District Collector following clashes between the Orthodox and Jacobite factions.
Two factions clash in Ker over control of church; District
Two factions of Malankara Church in Kerala, locked in a long-standing dispute over its control, clashed at a church here resulting in injuries to at least 15 people Friday, prompting the district administration to ask both sides to pull out of the place of worship. The Orthodox faction members, who have been camping outside the church at Mannamangalam for the last few days, allegedly entered it, resulting in stone-pelting and minor scuffle with the Jacobite denomination, police said. Over 35 people were detained after the scuffle and a case registered in connection with the incident, they said adding at least 15 people were injured. Yuhanon Mar Meletius Metropolitan, Bishop of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, has been arrayed as the prime accused in the case, police said. Hours after the incident, members of the Orthodox and Jacobite factions Friday evening met District Collector T V Anupama who asked both the groups to pull out its members from the Mannamangalam church
Over 35 detained after scuffle between church factions in Kerala
Over 35 people were detained Friday after a scuffle broke out between members of the Orthodox and Jacobite denominations of Christian community at Mannamangalam Church in Thrissur, police said. "We have registered case against over 115 people. We are examining CCTV visuals of the scuffle," a senior police officer of the district told PTI. Yuhanon Mar Meletius Metropolitan, Bishop of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, has also been arrayed as the prime accused in the case, he said. Over 15 people have been injured in the scuffle. The Orthodox faction, which have been camping outside the church for last few days, allegedly entered the Mannamangalam church, resulting in stone-pelting and minor scuffle early Friday morning. Recently, a famous church in Piravom, controlled by the Jacobite faction, had witnessed high tension as police entered the premises to implement last year's Supreme Court order giving control of the church to the Orthodox faction. In its order, the apex court had ruled .
Militants kidnap Christian man in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula
Islamic militants on Thursday kidnapped a Christian man traveling in a communal taxi in the turbulent north of Egypt's Sinai peninsula, according to security officials, an incident that raises the specter of renewed attacks on minority Christians in the region after a two-year lull. The officials did not identify the man, but said police pursued the kidnappers into the desert to which they fled after the incident, killing one of them and wounding two others in a firefight, but could not free the hostage. Two policemen were also wounded in the firefight, said the officials. There was no word on whether any of the other passengers traveling in the taxi, a minibus, were harmed, suggesting that the kidnapping of the Christian man could have been planned. The attack took place about 30 kilometers (19 miles) west of el-Arish, northern Sinai's largest city, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media. A spate of attacks on ...
Attempt being made to destabilise us emotionally, say Kerala nuns supporting rape victim
The four nuns, transferred out of Kerala for apparently supporting a nun who was allegedly raped by a bishop, on Thursday expressed fear for their safety.Sister Anupama, one of the four who have been supporting a public protest against the bishop, said their transfer was an attempt to "destabilise" them emotionally.The four nuns had been asked by the Missionaries of Jesus congregation to leave the Kuravilangad convent in Kerala and rejoin their communities in places like Bihar, Kerala and Punjab. The nuns however have chosen to stay with the survivor nun."The transfer is an attempt to split us (the nuns) and destabilize us emotionally. There is no guarantee that people who aren't protecting us here will give us protection at other places like Bihar or Punjab," she told reporters here.A Kerala-based outfit 'The Kerala Catholic Reformation Movement (KCRM)' , which is supporting the nuns, claimed a "hidden agenda" behind the transfer orders."There is a hidden agenda against the transfer .
Chinese actress deletes post promoting 'controversial Indian spiritual courses'
A popular Chinese actress from Taiwan removed her post promoting "controversial Indian spiritual courses" after authorities warned the public that some of the spiritual schools are "mired in sexual assault cases", a state media report said Thursday. Annie Yi, 49, whose Chinese name is Yi Nengjing, removed the post after warnings from the Chinese Ministry of Public Security (MPS) and China Anti-Cult Association (CACA) led to a heated exchange among Chinese netizens on the popular social media account Sina Weibo, Global Times reported. Annie, who lives in Taiwan but is popular in China, has over 1.78 crore followers on Weibo. She posted a message on Weibo on Monday, promoting lessons of Indian spiritual teachers 'Amma and Sri Bhagavan', founders of the 'Oneness University' in Chennai. The actress deleted her post promoting "controversial Indian spiritual courses", after heated exchanges on Chinese social media over suspected religious cult, the report said. The post sparked heated ...