Page 72 - Religion Belief

Swamy urges PM to announce construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya

BJP MP Subramanian Swamy on Tuesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to announce the construction of Ram temple on the disputed land in Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh.Speaking to ANI, Swamy said: "Prime Minister Modi today must announce just one minute after12 in the night that the disputed land of Ayodhya has been allotted to Vishwa Hindu Parishad for the construction of Ram temple. He should do this in accordance with the affidavit of former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao."In January 1993, just a month after the demolition of Babri Masjid, Shankar Dayal Sharma, then President of India, had promulgated the Acquisition of Certain Area at Ayodhya Ordinance. The Ordinance was later introduced as Bill. The Bill, also known as Ayodhya Act, was later passed by the Parliament.According to the Act, the Central government acquired 60.70-acre land surrounding the disputed site and planned to build "a Ram Temple and a mosque."Swamy said: "The Supreme Court has also accepted my petition in which I .

Sabarimala temple to close on Wednesday to mark the end of Mandalam festival

The Lord Ayyappa Shrine at Sabarimala will close at 10 pm on Wednesday after the Mandala puja, marking the culmination of the 41-day Mandalam festival.

Noida police prohibits religious activity like Friday prayer in a park

The police in Noida has prohibited any religious activity, including offering of Friday prayers by Muslims, in a public park.The directive was conveyed by the police in Sector 58 of Noida, on the outskirts of Delhi, to a private company, saying its employees were found to be offering Friday prayers without authorisation from the administration."It is to inform you that there is no permission from the administrative authorities for any kind of religious activity including the 'namaz' offered on Fridays in the park situated in Sector 58."It has often been seen that the Muslim workers of your company assemble in the park to offer Namaz. It is expected that you inform your employees to not come to the park to offer Namaz," said a directive issued by Pankaj Rai, SHO of Sector-58 Police Station, Noida.It added that "if employees still continue to come to the park, it will be assumed that you have not informed your employees and you will be held liable."As the matter became public, Senior ...

Christmas celebrated with traditional fervour in Mizoram

Christmas was celebrated Tuesday in Christian-dominated Mizoram with traditional fervor and merrymaking. Prayers and worship services were held at different churches across the state since Christmas eve to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Christmas carols and free gospel street concerts marked the Christmas Eve programme, while mass singing of Christmas songs in traditional tunes continued till this evening. Community feasts were organised by some church denominations and contributions were made by the people and NGOs to hospitals and the destitute homes. Police said that the Christmas celebrations across the state were completely peaceful and no law and order problem was reported from anywhere.

Special prayers, traditional festivities mark Xmas in Kerala

: Special prayers, stars and cribs depicting the nativity scene, and traditional delicacies marked the Christmas celebrations in Kerala Tuesday, where Christians account for nearly one-fourth of the population. Rejoicing the birth of Jesus Christ, people in the southern state celebrated the festival with traditional fervour and piety. Cutting across age barriers, faithfuls thronged churches and cathedrals for special prayers and midnight mass. Senior bishops and priests conducted special mass and gave out the Christmas message. While cardinal Mar Baselios Cleemis led the midnight mass at St Mary's Malankara Syrian Catholic Cathedral, Pattom, here, archbishop Soosa Pakiyam led the prayers at the St Joseph's Metropolitan Cathedral at Palayam, here. Houses and commercial establishments were decorated with glittering Christmas trees, stars and cribs. While bakeries came out with variety of cakes, hotels offered special lunch and dinners. Carol groups and art clubs were busy ..

Pope assails greed, as millions celebrate Christmas

Pope Francis has urged people to lead less materialistic lives as millions across the world celebrate Christmas on Tuesday, while US President Donald Trump put his festive foot in it by asking a child if he believed in Santa Claus. Thousands attended mass on Monday night at the Vatican's Saint Peter's Basilica, where Pope Francis, the head of the world's 1.3 billion Catholics, offered his Christmas homily. "An insatiable greed marks all human history, even today, when, paradoxically, a few dine luxuriantly while all too many go without the daily bread needed to survive," the 82-year-old pope said. Pope Francis will deliver his sixth "Urbi et Orbi" address on Tuesday, Christmas Day -- when Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ -- to pilgrims gathered in Saint Peter's Square. Visitors from across the world gathered in Bethlehem on Christmas Eve ahead of midnight mass, queueing to see the grotto where Jesus is believed to have been born and taking in a festive parade. In the ...

Christmas celebrated across Northeast

Christmas was celebrated on Tuesday in the Northeastern states with special prayers, hymns and masses in churches, followed by the traditional community feasting.

Ban on offering prayers at public places in Noida sparks controversy

An order issued by the police in Noida asking mostly multi-national companies to bar their employees from offering prayers in open public spaces in Sector 58, sparked controversy on Tuesday.

Christmas celebrated with religious fervour in Valley

The miniscule Christian population of Kashmir Tuesday celebrated Christmas with traditional enthusiasm and religious fervour as the devotees thronged churches for mass and held special prayers for peace in the valley. The biggest mass in the Valley was held at the Holy Family Catholic Church at Maulana Azad Road in the heart of the city, where hundreds of Christians, including women and children, assembled to celebrate the birthday of Jesus Christ and held special prayers. The church was decorated with colourful buntings and balloons. Among those who prayed were tourists from different parts of the country who joined the locals on the auspicious day and prayed for peace in Kashmir and rest of the world. Similar prayers were held at other churches in the city, at Saint Joseph's Church in north Kashmir's Baramulla, the oldest Catholic Church in Jammu and Kashmir, and at the Church in the tourist resort of Gulmarg. However, people missed 'White Christmas' as snowfall has eluded the lower

BJP must clear stand over remarks made on Lord Hanuman by its leaders: Seer

Shankaracharya Adhokshajanand Deo Tuesday demanded that the BJP clear its stand over remarks by the party's leaders on Lord Hanuman. The seer's reaction came after Uttar Pradesh Religious Affair Minister Laxmi Narayan Chaudhary dubbed Lord Hanuman as a Jat, saying like Jats, the deity never tolerated injustice towards anybody, anywhere. The minister made the remark Friday after a BJP MLC from the state, Bukkal Nawab, dubbed Lord Hanuman a Muslim on the ground that his name rhymed with Islamic names like Rahman, Arman, Qurban etc. During an election rally in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had termed the deity a Dalit. "On one side the BJP, from time to time, has been bringing up the Ram temple issue and on the other, its leaders are making absurd remarks on Hindu gods and goddesses, hurting religious sentiments," Shankaracharya Adhokshajanand Deo Tirth said here. "The Ram temple in Ayodhya will be incomplete without Lord Hanuman as Ram had himself praised ...

Yuletide spirit, festivities spread across Karnataka on Christmas

Thousands of devout Catholics and Anglo-Indians on Tuesday celebrated Christmas with prayers and carols in churches across Karnataka to mark the birth of Jesus Christ over 2,000 years ago.

Kovind, Modi greet nation on Christmas

President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday conveyed their greetings to the nation on the occasion of Christmas.

Maharashtra celebrates Christmas

Chrismas was celebrated with joy and fervor by over a million Christians spread across Mumbai and Maharashtra, here on Tuesday.

TN celebrates Christmas

Tamil Nadu on Tuesday celebrated Christmas with religious fervour, traditional gaiety and enthusiasm to mark the birth of Jesus Christ.

Christmas celebrated with traditional fervour in TN

Christmas was celebrated with ususal gaiety and religious fervour across Tamil Nadu Tuesday with the faithful thronging the churches for special prayers. In the state capital, bishops and priests conducted special midnight masses and read out the Christmas message at various churches including the ancient Santhome Basilica cathedral, illuminated with string lights to welcome devotees. Pilgrims from all over the country gathered at Shrine Basilica of Our Lady of Health at Vailankanni in Nagapattinam district and offered prayers. As the clock struck 12 at night, priests of the Church came in a procession to announce the birth of Jesus. Children carried candles and the Holy Bible in the procession. Houses were decked out with sparkling stars and Christmas tree. Earlier, Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit, Chief Minister K Palaniswami and various political party leaders including DMK Chief M K Stalin extended Christmas greetings on the occasion.

President Kovind, PM Modi extend Christmas greetings to nation

President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday extend greetings to the nation on the occasion of ChristmasTaking to his Twitter handle, President Kovind said, "Merry Christmas to all fellow citizens, especially our Christian brothers and sisters in India and abroad. This is a time to be with family and friends, a time for peace and piety. May Christmas bring hope and happiness to our country and our shared planet."Recalling the teachings of Jesus Christ, Prime Minister Modi tweeted, "Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas. We remember the noble teachings of Jesus Christ and recall his efforts towards creating a compassionate and equal society."Christmas is celebrated every year on December 25 and marks the birth of Jesus Christ. It is commemorated by the Christian community and others across the globe by singing carols and exchanging gifts, as the festival aims to spread the message of peace and prosperity.December 25 is also celebrated by the Bharatiya Janata Party

Festive spirit marks Christmas in Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh

A festive spirit marked Christmas celebrations across Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh on Tuesday as thousands of people visited churches to offer prayers and did some last-minute shopping.

Kerala celebrates Christmas

Kerala celebrated Christmas on Tuesday as midnight mass and early morning services saw a host of enthusiastic believers congregating at their parishes.

Goa revels in Christmas fervour

Homes and churches were decked up with festive lights, Christmas trees and wreaths, as the residents of Goa celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ on Tuesday with traditional gusto. People thronged churches in large numbers to attend midnight mass, and sang Christmas carols and exchanged gifts. Goa Governor Mridula Sinha and Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar greeted people of the state on the occasion. Houses across Goa, a former Portuguese colony with a large Christian population, wore a festive look, decorated with beautiful Christmas trees and cribs displaying the birth of Lord Jesus. Midnight masses were held at the famous Immaculate Conception Church in Panaji and other churches which dot the coastal state. Preparations for the festival had begun since the last week with markets, specially in the two main cities of Panaji and Margao, packed with Christmas shoppers as they bought decorative items, gifts, clothes and sweets. Celebrations will now continue till the New Year

Pope assails greed, pilgrims celebrate Christmas in Bethlehem

Pope Francis assailed the "insatiable greed" of today's consumerism at the Vatican and pilgrims crowded into the church at the traditional site of Jesus's birth in Bethlehem on Tuesday as Christmas celebrations began worldwide. Thousands attended mass on Monday night at the Vatican's Saint Peter's Basilica, where Pope Francis, the head of the world's 1.3 billion Catholics, offered his Christmas homily. "An insatiable greed marks all human history, even today, when, paradoxically, a few dine luxuriantly while all too many go without the daily bread needed to survive," the 82-year-old pope said. Pope Francis will deliver his sixth "Urbi et Orbi" address on Tuesday, Christmas Day -- when Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ -- to pilgrims gathered in Saint Peter's Square. Visitors from across the world gathered in Bethlehem on Christmas Eve ahead of midnight mass, queueing to see the grotto where Jesus is believed to have been born and taking in a festive parade. In the "little