Page 82 - Religion Belief
Yasmin Singh's Kahan enchants audience at Konark Festival
Rhythmic portrayals of tales from the epics and Bhakti movement by Kathak exponent Yashmin Singh and her troupe from Chhattisgarh left the audience enchanted at the Konark Dance Festival on Sunday. The first rendition in Kathak by the group of Singh, an accomplished Kathak practitioner of the Raigarh School, was 'The Divine Krushna' depicting Lord Krishna's Childhood activities adored by all the Gopis for Rasleela. The next recital was 'Shiv Om' that described the culmination of the process of creation followed by Shakti Swaroopa, saluting Indian women power. The final presentation was Anubhuti, the Raigarh Kathak a unique form that emanated from the Raigarh Royal family. The second set of performances were of Odissi, led by Sharmila Biswas, a noted classical danseuse and Odissi choreographer. Odissi by the repertory Dancers of Odishi Vision and movement centre presented Darshan a four part production celebrating Lord Shiva creating Tandava and Parvati creating ...
People will lose faith in BJP if Ram temple is not built: Ramdev
People will lose faith in the BJP if a Ram temple is not built in Ayodhya, Yoga guru Ramdev said here Sunday, as he made a pitch for bringing an ordinance for construction of the shrine. "In a democracy, Parliament is the topmost temple for justice, and the (Narendra) Modi government can bring an ordinance (to enable construction of the Ram temple)," he said. "If the temple is not constructed even when crores of people want to see it built, people will lose faith in the BJP, which won't be good for the party," the Yoga guru said. Ramdev's remarks come amid a growing chorus to speed up the construction of a temple for Lord Ram in Ayodhya, which is believed to be his birthplace. "Ram is not a matter of politics, but of country's pride. Ram is our ancestor, our culture, pride, and our soul...He should not be associated with politics," he said. He added that if people have to construct the temple on their own, it would mean "they either do not respect the judiciary or Parliament". Last ...
Modi wishes people of Israel on Hanukkah
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday wished the people of Israel health and prosperity on the occasion of Hanukkah. "My friend, PM @netanyahu, Happy Hanukkah to you and the people of Israel. May this special occasion further the spirit of brightness and happiness. May everybody be healthy and prosperous," Modi tweeted. Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire.
Dalai Lama reaches Farrukhabad for religious programme
Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama arrived here Sunday for a three-day religious programme from Monday. "The Dalai Lama landed at the airport by a chartered plane. Farrukhabad Lok Sabha MP Mukesh Rajput, senior officials of the district administration and followers of Buddhism welcomed him," District Magistrate Monika Rani said. The 83-year-old leader will deliver sermons at YBS Centre Rajghat Sankisa near Farrukhabad-Mainpuri boundary during the Dhamm Pravachan Samaroh. His followers from various countries such as the US, Germany, Australia, the Netherlands, England, Peru, Israel and Thailand have reached the venue, UP head of Youth Buddhist Society of India Tirathraj Baudh said. Suresh Baudh, convenor of the programme, said UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav have been invited for the programme. He said Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Union minister Kiren Rijiju are also likely to attend the ...
Donkeys at Sabarimala have more grace than tantri: Minister
Kerala PWD Minister and CPI-M leader G. Sudhakaran on Sunday slammed the Sabarimala temple tantri saying the donkeys in the temple town have more grace.
Sushma to inaugurate Gandhi-Zayed digital museum for peace in Abu Dhabi
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will inaugurate a digital museum in Abu Dhabi showcasing the life, works and philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi and the founder of modern UAE Shaikh Zayed. The Gandhi-Zayed Digital Museum, which will promote peace, tolerance and sustainability, is part of the celebrations to mark 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and centenary celebrations of the birth of Shaikh Zayed, an official statement said. Swaraj will be on a two-day visit to the UAE from December 3-4, where she will co-chair the 12th session of the India-UAE Joint Commission Meeting for Economic and Technical Cooperation with her counterpart Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The Museum will showcase rare photographs, videos and objects representing the life, works and philosophy of both renowned leaders. The soft launch of the museum will take place at the Founder's Memorial in Abu Dhabi, Indian embassy in the UAE said in a statement. The interactive museum aims to celebrate the ...
Temples and cows election issue for Congress, they are integral part of life for BJP: Rajnath
Home Minister Rajnath Singh Sunday claimed Congress leaders start offering prayers at temples when elections are near whereas for the BJP it is an integral part of their culture. He said temples and cows were not an elections stunt for the BJP. "Congress leaders start offering prayers at temple when elections are approaching. They were not seen praying in temples earlier. Temples and cows can be an election issue for Congress, but it is not an election stunt for the BJP. It is integral part of our cultural life," he said at a press conference here.
Nagaland Hornbill fest shows true spirit of 'Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat': Rajnath
Inaugurating the 10-day-long Hornbill festival in Nagaland, Union minister Rajnath Singh said Saturday the event showcased the spirit of 'Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat'. The festival got off to a colourful start at the picturesque Naga heritage village Kisama, about 12 km from the state capital. Hornbill festival is an annual tourism promotional event of the Nagaland government. The event, also known as "festival of festivals", started in the year 2000. In his address to thousands of celebrants, which included foreign and domestic tourists, Singh said the spectacular event showcases the rich ancient culture and civilization of the people of Nagaland. It is a festival that offers a unique opportunity to the different tribes of the state to interact not just with each other but also with those from the neighbouring states in the true spirit of 'Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat', Singh said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had initiated the concept of 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat'. The fest ...
Pakistani man sentenced to 7 yrs in jail for providing material support to terror outfit
A Pakistani man has been sentenced to seven years in prison in the US for attempting to provide material support and resources to Jabhat al-Nusrah, an alias name for the terror group Al Qaeda in Iraq. Basit Javed Sheikh, 39, of North Carolina was sentenced to 84 months imprisonment followed by a lifetime of supervised release. He had pleaded guilty to the charge in August and since he is not a natural born citizen of the US, he faces possible automatic removal from the country. Sheikh had been living for years in the US as a legal permanent resident. The affidavit to the complaint describes multiple Facebook postings by him in 2013, expressing support for Jahbat al-Nusrah. He posted articles acknowledging that Jahbat al-Nusrah had been designated by the US as a terrorist group. As detailed within the affidavit, Sheikh utilized Facebook to propagate the violent ideology of Islamic Extremism, US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina said. In mid-2013, Sheikh ...
Nagaland Hornbill festival shows true spirit of 'Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat', says Rajnath
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh Saturday inaugurated the 10-day long annual Hornbill festival of Nagaland and said the event showcased the true spirit of 'Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat'. The festival got a colourful start at the picturesque Naga heritage village Kisama, about 12 kms from the state capital. Hornbill festival is an annual tourism promotional event of the Nagaland government. The event also known as "festival of festivals" started in the year 2000. In his address to thousands of celebrants, which included foreign and domestic tourists, Singh said the spectacular event showcases the rich ancient culture and civilization of the people of Nagaland. It is a festival that offers unique opportunity not only to the different tribes of the state to interact with each other and exhibit their cultural heritage but also with those from the neighbouring and other states in the true spirit of 'Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat', Singh said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had initiated the ...
Arrogance and half-knowledge come out slowly: Congress to Sushma Swaraj
Hours after External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Saturday said that Congress President Rahul GAndhi and his party leaders were confused about his caste and religion, the party hit back saying "arrogance and half-knowledge" of BJP come out slowly.
Oxford Dictionaries scouts for Hindi word of the year
After choosing "Aadhaar" as its first "Hindi word of the year", the Oxford University Press has begun its hunt for another such word from one of the most spoken languages on the Earth that occupied the minds of the people for much part of the year and reflected "ethos" and "mood" of the nation.
Two women pilgrims aged less than 50 yrs stopped by devotees
: Two young women from Andhra Pradesh, who were on their way to offer prayers at the hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa, managed to reach Marakootam, about one km from the Sannidhanam (temple complex), but returned following protests from pilgrims, police said. Three Ayyappa pilgrims, who were among those who protested, have been arrested in this connection, they said. The women--Navojamma (26) and Kripavathi (42) from Guntur and Godavari districts respectively, had reached Marakootam when some Ayyappa pilgrims, who were returning from the shrine after prayers, protested and chanted 'Ayyappa mantras' police said. While Navojamma had come with a 40-member group, Kripavathi had come to the shrine in another group, comprising 15 members, police said. The women returned without trekking to the holy shrine, they said. The three pilgrims were arrested under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including unlawful assembly, police said. Since the September 28 verdict of the ...
What kind of Hindu are you, Rahul asks PM; BJP hits back
Congress president Rahul Gandhi Saturday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi what kind of Hindu he is as he "does not understand" the foundation of Hinduism, prompting a strong retort from senior BJP leaders. "What is the essence of Hinduism? What does the Gita say? That knowledge is with everybody... Knowledge is all around you. Every living being has knowledge," he said at an interactive session in Udaipur in Rajasthan. "Our prime minister says he is a Hindu, but he doesn't understand (the) foundation of Hinduism. What kind of a Hindu is he," the Congress chief went on to say. Hitting back, BJP president Amit Shah said, "The Congress is now preaching us about Hinduism... They are giving us lessons of Gita." External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj also reacted sharply saying she wishes the day won't come when people have to learn the meaning of Hinduism from Gandhi. She said the Congress president himself and the party are confused about his religion and caste. "The Congress claimed ..
RSS doing its 'job' by raising temple issue: Kharge
Senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said Saturday that it is the "job" of the RSS to help the BJP by raising the pitch on Ram temple issue as elections draw closer. Asked about the RSS taking out 'Sankalp Yatra' to press for construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya, Kharge said, "It is their job, elections are three months away". "It is but natural for them to raise such issues for polarisation of votes. RSS has always been with the BJP. "It used to call itself a cultural and neutral organisation, but it is not a neutral organisation anymore. They are doing their job to help the BJP," said Kharge, the leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha. Earlier speaking at a programme organised by United Christian Congress, Kharge referred to a purported statement by BJP lawmaker Gopal Shetty that Christians did not contribute to the freedom struggle. "I want to ask how many RSS or BJP people committed sacrifice for freedom. It is now important that all sections of society protect the Constitution
Kerala Samajam donates Rs 5.5 lakh to Kerala, Karaikal
: Kerala Samajam (Puducherry), a social service organisation, Saturday handed over a sum of Rs 5.5 lakh towards flood relief in Kerala and cyclone-hit Karaikal region. Of the total sum, Rs 3.5 lakh was for Kerala and the remaining Rs 2 lakh for Karaikal, a press release from the samajam said here. A team from the samajam, led by its president Dinesh Mangalatte, gave the cheque for the amount to Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy, the press release said. The celebration of Onam festival this year has been cancelled by the samajam in view of the situation in Kerala, the release said.
Modi doesn't understand foundation of Hinduism: Rahul
Congress president Rahul Gandhi said Saturday Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not understand the foundation of Hinduism. "What is the essence of Hinduism? What does the Gita say? That knowledge is with everybody... Knowledge is all around you. Every living being has knowledge," Gandhi said at an interactive session in Udaipur, Rajasthan. "Our prime minister says he is a Hindu, but he doesn't understand (the) foundation of Hinduism. What kind of a Hindu is he?" the Congress chief said. Targeting Modi on demonetisation and the Goods and Services Tax (GST), Gandhi said the prime minister had a confusion that people in the world do not know anything and he had a sense that all knowledge came from his mind. Soon after his comments, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah gave a sharp reaction while addressing an election rally in Balotara town of Barmer district. "The Congress is now preaching us about Hinduism... They are giving us lessons of Gita," Shah said.
What kind of Hindu is Modi, who does not understand foundation of Hinduism: Rahul
Congress President Rahul Gandhi attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday and asked what kind of a Hindu he is that he does not understand the foundations of Hinduism.
3 arrested for refusing women entry to Sabarimala
Sabarimala protesters on Saturday stopped two women from Andhra Pradesh from advancing towards the Lord Ayyappa temple as they were from the hitherto banned age group, prompting Kerala Police to arrest three men.
Janakpur gears up for Bibaha Panchami
Preparations are in full swing in Mithilanchal in Nepal's Janakpur region for the upcoming Bibaha Panchami celebrations - observed traditionally to celebrate the marriage of Lord Ram and Sita."Bibaha Panchami is one of the festivals celebrated with great zeal. This tradition of celebrating Lord Ram and Sita's marriage has been followed for a long time. Every year thousands of pilgrims come here to be part of the festivities. We have been celebrating this festival for a week annually, in which thousands of people including saints, priests and pilgrims come here as Barati," Deputy Mahanta of the Janaki Temple Ram Roshan Das said."This year's biggest achievement is the participation of the representatives from Nepal and Indian governments as 'Baratis' during this spiritual and cultural festival," Das added.With less than two weeks left for the marriage ceremony, tourists and pilgrims from India and Nepal have started gathering in the premises and around Janakpur.The week-long marriage ...