Page 94 - Religion Belief
'Save Sabarimala' Rath Yatra flagged off by Yeddyurappa
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader BS Yeddyurappa on Thursday flagged off the party's Save Sabarimala Rath Yatra here. The march from Muttur to Sabarimala is in protest against the CPM-led LDF government's to implement the Supreme Court order on Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala.Yeddyurappa flagged off the Rath Yatra along with Kerala BJP chief P S Sreedharan Pillai.Before it commenced, Yeddyurappa, while speaking to ANI, said that the participants of the movement will reach Sabarimala in Kerala on November 30."Rath Yatra that begins from Mattur today will reach Sabarimala on the 30th. Our culture has always given prominence to women and treated them with respect. It's all because of Kerala government and its failure to handle the case before the Supreme Court that the situation has become tensed," he said.The former Karnataka chief minister further claimed that 90 per cent of women are opposing the entry of women of menstrual age in the shrine of Lord Ayyappa."It is high time that ..
Nepalis worship self on Mha puja
Nepalis on Thursday are observing the Mha puja, celebrated on the fourth day of Tihar that literally refers to self worship, making offering to one's body.
President Kovind, PM Modi extend Gujarati New Year greetings
President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended greetings to the people of Gujarat on the occasion of Gujarati New Year on Thursday."Saal Mubarak! (Happy New Year) Greetings and good wishes to all Gujaratis in India and across the world marking the start of a New Year. May the coming year bring joy, peace, and prosperity to our families," read a tweet from the President.Prime Minister Modi tweeted "New Year greetings to all Gujaratis. May the coming year lead to the fulfillment of all your aspirations. May everyone be healthy and happy. Saal Mubarak!,"Gujarati New Year, also known as Bestu Varas, marks the beginning of the Kartik month of the Hindu calendar.The day is observed by worshiping the Govardhan Hill, as according to legends, Lord Krishna worshiped the hill in order to protect the people of Mathura city in Uttar Pradesh from heavy rain.On this day, homes of Gujarat natives are decked up with lights and flowers to celebrate the occasion. They also visit ...
Gunmen abduct four priests in Nigeria: State official
Gunmen have abducted four Catholic priests in southern Nigeria, a local state official told AFP Wednesday. The kidnapping happened on Tuesday at a border community between Edo and Delta States in the south, said Andrew Aniamaka, a spokesman for Delta State. "They were abducted on their way to Ekpoma, Edo state, from Delta for an event," he added, saying police and local security were hunting for the gunmen. A source at the Warri Catholic diocese in Delta State confirmed the incident, which comes less than three weeks after five Catholic nuns were kidnapped in Delta State. The nuns were released two weeks later, and a suspect was in custody, said Aniamaka. He would not say if a ransom had been paid. Several sources confirm that the nuns had been returning from a burial ceremony in the southeast Nigeria when they were abducted by gunmen who opened fire on their vehicles, injuring two other nuns. In January, Nigeria's bishops denounced a wave of kidnappings for ransom in the country.
Priority to lead Kerala on a progressive path; not afraid of
: Amid raging protests over the Sabarimala issue, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan Wednesday said his government's only priority was to lead the state on a progressive path and not be afraid of losing a few seats or votes. He alleged that some people were trying to create a communal divide in Kerala. "The only priority is to keep Kerala on the developmental and progressive path. It doesn't matter if we lose a few seats or some votes... We cannot sacrifice the progressive Kerala where people see each other as humans and without any divide," Vijayan said. The Chief Minister said he would not allow social evils to pull Kerala backwards for a few votes. "Certain people are trying to create a communal divide in Kerala. If we had allowed division in the name of customs and beliefs, today's Kerala would not have existed," he said at an event here. The doors of the Sabarimala temple were opened for six days on October 17 for the first time since the Supreme Court allowed
Fireworks, LED lighting mark 'Bandi Chhor Diwas', Diwali at Golden Temple
A fireworks display and LED lighting marked the celebrations of 'Bandi Chhor Diwas' and Diwali as thousands of devotees flocked to the Golden Temple complex here on Wednesday.
Bangladeshi Hindus celebrate Diwali
The Bangladeshi Hindu community celebrated Diwali, the festival of lights, in the capital Dhaka and elsewhere in the country.
Court extends Iyer Mitra's judicial custody by 14 days
A camp court at the special jail here had reserved its verdict on the bail plea of Delhi-based journalist Abhijit Iyer Mitra and extended his jail custody by 14 days, a government advocate said Wednesday. Camp courts are being held in the jails of Odisha as lawyers are on strike for the last two months. The sub-divisional judicial magistrate, Bhubaneswar, Tuesday held a camp court at the special jail, where the scribe is lodged after his arrest from his residence in New Delhi on October 23, the advocate said. Iyer Mitra was sent to jail for allegedly hurting the religious sentiments of the people of Odisha by issuing derogatory remarks against the Sun Temple at Konark, Lord Jagannath and the state. His initial 14-day judicial remand had ended on November 5. His lawyer had thereafter moved the bail plea before the camp court Tuesday. Iyer Mitra was arrested in connection with a case filed at the Sahid Nagar police station under Indian Penal Code sections 294 (obscene acts and songs), .
Pak PM Imran Khan wishes Hindu community on Diwali
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday extended his good wishes to the Hindu community on the occasion of Diwali, the festival of lights. "Wishing all our Hindu citizens a happy Diwali," Khan tweeted. National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser also greeted Hindu parliamentarians and the Hindu community. "Pakistan is a pluralistic country and enriched with cultural diversity," he said. Other key members of the Khan government, including Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Finance Minister Asad Umar, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry and Sindh Governor Imran Ismail, also wished the Hindu community a happy Diwali. "I wish our Hindu brethren a happy #Diwali. May the Festival of Lights usher in joy and prosperity for all of you. May light always have victory over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance," Foreign Minister Qureshi tweeted. Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz chief Shehbaz Sharif also wished the Hindu ...
Sabarimala: Ex-TDB chief moves HC seeking removal of board
Former Travancore Devaswom Board president Prayar Gopalakrishnan Wednesday moved the Kerala High Court seeking removal of present board member K P Sankardas alleging that he had violated the customs of the Sabarimala temple recently. In his plea, Gopalakrishnan alleged that Sankardas violated the oath when he took charge as TDB board member that he would abide by Hindu religious customs followed in the temple. On November 5, the petitioner alleged, Sankardas climbed the Holy 18 steps (sacred steps) without the "Irumudikettu" (offerings carried by devotees for the deity) violating the temple customs. He violated the directives of a Kerala High Court judgment which states that a board member can be removed on the ground of "proved misbehaviour", the petitioner said. The petitioner said Sankardas fully knowing that 'Irumudikettu' is required for ascending and descending the Holy 18 steps had violated the rich cultural heritage and customs of the Sabarimala temple. A ...
Italy 'working discreetly' on Asia Bibi case
Rome, Nov 7 (IANS/AKI) Italy is working behind the scenes with other Western nations to help a Christian woman, Asia Bibi, amid fears for her safety in Pakistan following her acquittal in a blasphemy case after eight years on death row.
UN postal agency issues special Diwali stamp
India on Wednesday thanked the UN Postal Administration for issuing special postal stamps to commemorate Diwali, the Indian festival of lights. The United Nations Postal Administration issued a special event sheet on October 19 to commemorate the festival of Diwali. "The struggle between Good & Evil happens everyday @UN. Thank you @UNStamps for portraying our common quest for the triumph of Good over Evil in your 1st set of Diwali stamps on the occasion of the auspicious Festival of Lights," India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin tweeted. The sheet in the denomination of USD 1.15 contains ten stamps and tabs featuring festive lights and the symbolic lamps known as diyas. The background of the sheet features the United Nations Headquarters building illuminated with the message of "Happy Diwali" to celebrate the spirit of the festival. "Diwali, also known as Deepawali is the joyous and popular festival of lights, which is celebrated in India and by ...
Diwali celebrates triumph of light over darkness: Pompeo
Greeting people across the world observing Diwali, the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday said that it is a festival that celebrates the triumph of light over darkness. He also said that it is also a time of reflection and prayer when observers perform seva, or selfless service, without any expectation of reward or payment. In a Diwali message wishing people a joyous and prosperous holiday, Pompeo said, "Also known as the 'Festival of Lights', this special occasion celebrates the triumph of light over darkness." The US Secretary of State said that nearly a billion celebrants from around the world will light the diya, or lamp, "as a reminder that good ultimately overcomes evil, understanding over ignorance, and kindness over animosity". "As those celebrating decorate their homes with vibrant lights, I would also like to recognize the achievements of our friends in the United States observing Diwali who make important contributions to our country on a daily basis," Pompeo ...
Himachal Governor, CM extend Diwali greetings
Himachal Pradesh Governor Acharya Devvrat and Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Wednesday greeted the people on Diwali and urged them to celebrate the festival of lights by saying no to crackers.
President, VP, PM greets nation on Diwali
President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday greeted the nation on the occasion of Diwali, the festival of lights.
Kali Puja celebrated in Tripura with full fervour
Hundreds of devotees in Tripura's capital city Agartala celebrated 'Kali Puja' by offering prayers to Goddess Kali.Faithful devotees thronged the premises of the Umamaheshwari Temple in the city besides the Indranagar Temple of Kali, the 'Goddess of Destruction'.Swapan Majumder, a devotee, said, "It is celebrated as 'Shyama Puja', which resembles the women empowerment and signals the victory of good over evil."People irrespective of their religion, caste and creed gather to celebrate the annual festival at the Umamaheshwari Temple with full fervour. The history of puja dates back from the time of the Maharajas and is still celebrated in a traditional manner.Temples and houses are brightly illuminated on the occasion and devotees offer sweets to the goddess.Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, along with his wife Niti Deb, also took part in the celebration and conveyed their wishes on the occasion.Kali symbolises power and is an incarnation of Goddess Durga. She is worshipped to ...
ASI stopping Muslims from offering namaz in Taj Mahal, unjustified: Muslim clerics
Muslim clerics Sajid Rashidi, and Mufti Mukarram on Tuesday said, Archaeological Survey of India prohibiting Muslims from offering namaz at the mosque located inside the Taj Mahal is unjustified.The Muslim clerics also dubbed the ban as wrong and said the order violates their fundamental rights.The Archaeological Survey of India on Monday imposed a ban on the people belonging to the Muslim community from offering namaz at the mosque located inside Taj Mahal on all days, except for Friday.Speaking to ANI, president of the All India Imam Federation, Sajid Rashidi said, "The decision by the ASI is wrong, and they cannot have such double standards. In Delhi, they have around 123 properties, and within those 123 properties there are several mosques, they even wrote a letter to the Wakf board asking them to appoint imams in those mosques.""What are these double standards? And why did they choose this particular time for coming out with such an order? All these government institutions, be it
Bihar Governor, CM greet people on Diwali
Bihar Governor Lalji Tandon and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday extended their greetings to the people of the state and the country on the eve of Diwali. National integrity, social harmony and patriotism get strengthened with the festival of lights, Tandon said. "Apart from illuminating our external surroundings on Diwali, the festival of lights, it also gives us the message of bringing light of love, brotherhood and happiness to our inner selves," the governor said in a message. Chief Minister Kumar said, "Diwali symbolizes the victory of good over evil. May this festival bring peace, prosperity and happiness into people's lives." Kumar appealed to the people of the state to celebrate Diwali with traditional gaiety and harmony.
Sabarimala protesters target women, police book 200
Sabarimala protesters on Tuesday raged, intimidated and sent back at least one woman from the hitherto banned age group of 10-50 years as they refused to allow them to break the tradition. Police registered cases against 200 protesters.
President Kovind greets nation on Diwali eve
President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday extended Diwali greetings to the nation, hoping that the Festival of Lights will foster fraternity and unity among all citizens.