Page 79 - Religion Belief
Oldest Commonwealth synagogue turns 450
Around 200 members of the Jewish community, who had migrated to Israel and other countries years ago, have found time to return to their roots to participate in the 450th anniversary celebrations of a synagogue in Kerala. Tucked in a small lane in the Jew Town of Mattancherry, about nine km from here, the Paradesi Synagogue is considered to be the oldest active synagogue in the Commonwealth -- countries that are mostly former territories of the British Empire. A three-day function at the synagogue, which began on Thursday, has turned out to be a rare occasion for the "visitors", who had migrated to the US, Canada, UK and Australia and Israel, to revive old memories of the Jew Town, where many of them grew up. The functions at the synagogue, decorated with ancient colourful clothes preserved for ages, have included a prayer meet, remembrance meet and a day of celebrations. The Jewish community members, who flew down here to attend the event, have fond memories of old friends and ...
NSG officers seen wearing shoes inside Golden Temple
National Security Guard (NSG) officers, who were providing security to former Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, were seen walking towards 'Langar Hall' at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, wearing shoes.Badal had reached Golden Temple on Saturday under the security of NSG commandos.In the video, it can be seen that the NSG officers, wearing shoes, were walking on the lawn with weapons in the hand which enraged the devotees present in the sanctorum. The agitated devotees protested the entry of the officers wearing shoes which is not allowed inside the temple.Badal, who visited the temple, cleaned shoes and utensils along with other leaders.There is a ban on wearing shoes and carrying arms in the Sri Harimandir Sahib Amritsar, commonly known as Golden Temple, a central religious place of the Sikhs.According to pilgrims present in the temple, such thing is a serious mistake and should be investigated whether the NSG officers were prevented from going there like this.
Catholic Church beatifies 19 slain clerics in Algeria's Oran
The Catholic Church beatified in the city of Oran on Saturday seven French monks and 12 other clergy killed during Algeria's civil war, the first ceremony of its kind in a Muslim nation. May "Monsignor Pierre Claverie... and his 18 companions, faithful messengers of the Gospel, humble artisans of peace... from now on be called blessed," said papal envoy Cardinal Angelo Becciu, reading the decree of beatification, the first step on the path to Roman Catholic sainthood. Claverie, 58, was killed with his driver on August 1, 1996 when a remote-controlled bomb exploded at his residence in Oran. He was among 19 clergy to be beatified, after their murders in a series of grisly atrocities between 1994 and 1996. The ceremony was held under tight security at the esplanade of the Chapel of our Lady of Santa Cruz overlooking the Mediterranean city. Some 1,200 people attended the ceremony, including pilgrims, relatives and friends of the beatified, many of whom came from abroad. Opening the ...
Will topple govt if Ram temple construction is opposed: Swamy
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy has warned that if the Centre or Uttar Pradesh government tries to oppose the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya, he would "topple the government.""If our matter (Ram temple) is listed in January, we'll win it in two weeks. Because my two opposing parties are the central government and Uttar Pradesh government. Do they have the guts to oppose me? If they do, I'll topple the government. Though I know that they won't do it," he said while addressing a gathering at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) here on Friday.Furthermore, Swamy claimed that the Muslims known to him had no objection in the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya. "The Muslims I meet personally tell me that they will not have any objection on the construction of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya," he asserted.Explaining the timeline of the case, Swamy noted: "Sunni Waqf Board filed a case claiming that the land that was captured by Mughal ruler Babar is ours. They ...
Human rights violation rampant in country: Activists
Human rights violation is rampant throughout the country in the form of Bulandshahr Killing, death in Bengal's Lalgarh or Kathua rape case, a panel of human rights workers said here on Friday.
No early hearing of Kerala plea to transfer Sabarimala cases to SC
The Supreme Court on Friday declined to hold an early hearing of the Kerala government's plea seeking transfer of a batch of cross-petitions on the Sabarimala temple row from the High Court to the top court.
Pak govt plans to promote religious tourism in Elum Valley revered by both Hindus and Buddhists
Pakistan's Khyber Pakthunkhwa province plans to construct a heritage park in Elum Valley, which carries a historical significance to both the Hindus and the Buddhists, to promote religious tourism, officials said. A fund of Rs five million has already been allocated by the government to the authorities concerned as an initial grant for preparation of feasibility report of the project, they said. Located between the Swat and Buner districts in the KP province, Elum Valley has been a site of divinity and pilgrimage for both the Hindu and the Buddhist communities. According to Hindu belief, Lord Ram spent time meditating there during his 14 years of exile, while Buddhists believe it to be the site where a previous incarnation of Lord Buddha gave up his life. "The Elum Valley would be made a safe abode for the followers of Hinduism and Buddhism and as well as for tourists visiting the heritage park," said an official of the KP archaelogical department. Under the project, fencing of the ...
China using Buddhism to increase its influence in South Asia
New Delhi [India], Dec 7 (ANI): In a bid to increase its influence in South Asia, China is slowly using Buddhism as a soft power. From rewriting sacred texts by introducing Chinese narrative to developing Buddhist pilgrim sites and controlling monasteries in its own way, China is working slowly towards changing the narrative of India-centric Buddhism and emerge as leader of the Buddhist world.While a lot has been written about China's emergence as a global power, its increasing assertiveness in India's neighborhood, attempted military encirclement of India, impact of the Belt Road Initiative (BRI) and acquisition of stakes in Dhaka and Karachi Stock Exchanges; China using Buddhism to augment its influence in south Asia has largely escaped adequate scrutiny.With acknowledged 250 million followers, and informally estimated at 400 million, China is seeking to emerge as a leader of the Buddhist world. It finds Buddhism useful in creating the harmonious society Hu Jintao envisaged and Xi ..
Sabarimala row: SC refuses urgent hearing to Kerala govt seeking stay on observation committee
The Supreme Court on Friday refused to give an urgent hearing to a mentioning by the Kerala government in which it had sought a stay on the observation committee, set up on the Sabarimala Temple issue.The Kerala High Court on November 27 had appointed three observers Justice (retd) Sirijagan, Justice PR Raman and senior IPS officer DGP Hemachandran to assess the situation in Sabarimala.The committee was appointed to ensure smooth pilgrimage to the Temple after numerous complaints about lack of facilities in the hill pilgrimage were reported.The three-member monitoring committee visited the Temple on December 4 and expressed satisfaction over the facilities provided for devotees.While Justice Raman expressed satisfaction over the facilities extended, ADGP Hemachandran observed, "There is a widespread misconception due to propaganda driven news. I urge the media to refrain from propaganda driven news and report facts."The Sabarimala Temple and surrounding areas witnessed a string of ...
Would not allow Iran obtain nuclear weapons: Trump
United States President Donald Trump has vowed not to allow Iran acquire nuclear weapons. "We cannot let the world's leading sponsor of terror, a regime that chants death to America and threatens Israel all the time with annihilation and constantly screams out death to Israel, to possess the deadliest weapon on earth. We will not allow that to happen," the US President told a select Jewish audience Thursday at the White House reception for Hanukkah. His administration has imposed some of the toughest sanctions on Iran, which among other things ask countries like India and China to cut off import of oil from Iran. Both the countries have significantly reduced their oil intake since then. Trump told the Jewish community that the US now has "left the horrible Iran nuclear" deal. "It was a horrible, horrible deal. Should have never been made and imposed the toughest-ever sanction. We sanctioned Iran like I guess few have ever been sanctioned before. We must never allow Iran to acquire a ..
Dalits to take over Parliament in 2019 LS polls: Chandrashekhar Azad
Bhim Army chief Chandrashekar Azad alias Ravan said Thursday that Dalits will take over Parliament in 2019 by sending its members and the prime minister will also be from that community. Talking to newsmen in Shamli, he said Dalits will not only take over the Hanuman temple in Muzaffarnagar district but also ocupy Parliament in 2019 by sending elected members and the prime minister too will be from the community. Police personnel were deployed outside a Hanuman temple in this district Wednesday as priests of the area sought protection after a group of Dalit activists entered the shrine and started performing rituals. The activists had offered prayers at the temple on Tuesday, a week after Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath triggered a row by calling Lord Hanuman a Dalit. On the Bulandshahr violence, Azad alleged that the BJP has been supporting Hindu organisations such as Bajrag Dal and the VHP to create communal tension for political gains in the upcoming general elections. He claimed ...
VHP, Bajrang Dal organise event to mark 26th anniversary of Babri mosque demolition
The demand for construction of a Ram temple resonated at an event organised by the Vishva Hindu Parishad and the Bajrang Dal Thursday at the Karsewakpuram here to mark 26th anniversary of Babri mosque demolition. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Bajrang Dal marked the day as 'Shaurya Diwas' (day of bravery) and 'Vijay Diwas' (day of victory). Mahant Suresh Das of Digambar Akhara said, "It is the biggest issue in front of the country. There are three courts lower courts, high court and the Supreme Court. But the people's court is above these three courts. We must go to the people's court, and convince the public for construction of a Ram temple." He said that a meeting of seers will be held in Allahabad and the date for construction of a Ram temple will be finalised. "No one can stop the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya and the construction is likely to begin soon. And, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has assured me," Das said. He also questioned why is India
Ram bhakts must remove 'blot' from country's face, build Ayodhya temple: Hry Min
In a provocative remark on the anniversary of the demolition of the Babri mosque, Haryana minister Anil Vij asked Ram devotees to remove a "blot" from the country's face by building a grand temple in Ayodhya. The Health minister in the BJP government said Mughal emperor Babar "demolished" the Ram temple and built a mosque in Ayodhya on the basis of the power he wielded and now "Ram bhakts will have to remove the blot". "When Babar was powerful, he demolished Ram temple and built a mosque there. He did not do so in accordance with any law. When Ram bhakts became powerful, they demolished the mosque. They did half the work. The day they become more powerful, they will build a temple at the site and settle the account," Vij said in a tweet in Hindi. Asked about his tweet on the 26th anniversary of the Babri mosque demolition, Vij repeated the remarks, asking the Ram devotees to construct a temple at the disputed cite in Ayodhya. Vij, who has stoked controversies in the past, had asked ...
India followed due process in Michel extradition: MEA
India followed due process in securing the extradition of AgustaWestland middleman Christian Michel from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a senior official said on Thursday.
Those against BJP will be murdered: Kejriwal
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday accused the BJP of killing those who oppose the saffron party, irrespective of their religion, while allowing people who support it to live.
Restoration of Somnath temple's glory by covering it in gold answer to desecration in past: Shah
BJP president Amit Shah said on Thursday that people should not harbour anger against those who plundered the historic Somnath temple in Gujarat in the past but resolve to restore its glory by "completely covering it in gold". Shah, who's a trustee of Shree Somnath Trust, made the remarks after laying the foundation stone for a tourist walkway along the nearby coast. "Around one crore devotees come here every year. The trust has taken many initiatives to handle the rush. However, I feel the development of the temple is incomplete," said Shah. "For people like me who are attached to this temple since childhood, the development is meaningless until it is fully covered in gold," he said. Historical records suggest that the temple was once covered in gold and silver and a number of people sacrificed their lives to protect it, he said. "Though the temple was destroyed and looted many times in the past, people should not hold any grudge or think about taking revenge," the BJP president ...
Pope to visit United Arab Emirates in February
Pope Francis, who has made boosting ties between Christianity and Islam a cornerstone of his papacy, will visit Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates in February, the Vatican said Thursday. The pontiff was invited to the majority-Muslim country by both Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan and the local Catholic church. Francis will take part in an international "interfaith" meeting during the trip, which will run from February 3 to 5. The 81-year old has already visited several Muslim countries, including Turkey in 2014, Azerbaijan in 2016 and Egypt in 2017. The Vatican said the theme for the Abu Dhabi trip was summed up in the phrase "make me a channel of your peace" -- a quote from Saint Francis of Assisi, the pope's namesake. The hope was the visit would "spread in a special way the peace of God within the hearts of all people of good will," it said. "This visit, like the one to Egypt, shows the fundamental importance the Holy Father gives to inter-religious ..
Ex-Bihar CM Manjhi 'will embrace Buddhism if Dalit torture continues'
Former Bihar Chief Minister and Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) chief Jitan Ram Manjhi on Thursday said he would convert to Buddhism if the Dalits continue to face insult, humiliation and torture due to the age-old caste system.
Rajasthan polls: Amid high-decibel campaign, political temple run in Aravallis
At a time when entire Rajasthan was abuzz with high-decibel election campaign, a centuries old temple in the Aravallis was witness to footfalls from the who's who of the state's political arena. It is believed that goddess Tripura Sundari posses mystic power to fulfil wishes of success in politics, which draws scores of political bigwigs cutting across party lines. "The number of visitors during elections increase in the temple because candidates from different areas come here to seek blessings for success. There are many political leaders who keep on visiting," Ashok Panchal, president of the committee which manages the temple told PTI. Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje is a frequent visitor to the temple. She was here during the counting of the 2013 assembly polls and even monitored the results of the 2014 general elections from the shrine. Panchal said that the number of politicians visiting the temple increases after filing of nominations begin. Recently Congress' Ashok Gehlot also ..
Babri Masjid anniversary passes off peacefully in Hyderabad
The 26th anniversary of the demolition of the Babri Masjid passed off peacefully amid tight security in Hyderabad on Thursday.