Page 19 - Religion Belief
Dalai Lama holds teaching sessions for Russian Buddhists at Dharamshala
Dalai Lama held teaching sessions on request of Russian Buddhists at Tsuglagkhang, the main Tibetan temple in Dharamshala, on Friday.Over six thousand people, including Tibetans, monks, nuns, and followers from different countries, gathered at the main Buddhist temple in the morning.Telo Rinpoche, representative of Dalai Lama's office to Russia and Mongolia said: "It is the tenth anniversary and we are very happy and grateful that his holiness the Dalai Lama has agreed to give teachings. Over 1200 Russians have come here especially for this. Originally it was scheduled in Delhi but due to certain circumstances we had to change the location to Dharamshala".Dolma Ann Kane, a nun from the United States said: " People from all over the world have come here to attend the teachings. I feel blessed and privileged that his holiness is giving teaching even at this stage of life as he is in mid-eighties.
Varanasi: Devotees gather to celebrate 'Ganga Saptami'
Celebrations are in full swing on the occasion of Ganga Saptami with chants echoing at the 'Kashi k Dashami ghat' on Saturday.Varanasi, which is known for celebrating Ganga Saptami in a traditional way every year, held Pujas. The occasion marks the birth of River Ganga.According to the mythological beliefs, on this day, Ganga came on the earth after being pleased with the harsh austerity of Rishi Bhagirath.Chief organizer and priest of Kashi Vishwanath temple, Pandit Shrikant said: "Like every year, we have gathered here at the 'Kashi k Dashami ghat' in Varanasi to celebrate the birth of Ganga Ma.""People from various sections of the national and international community have come to the ghat to celebrate this day. People from all over the world have come to dip in Ganga and wash their sins," he added.It is said that on this day taking a dip into the holy waters destroys the sins. This day also sprinkles light upon the significance of charity. It is believed that on this day, salvation
After Facebook ban, Farrakhan denies hating Jews
Racist demagogue and dangerous fundamentalist to some, heroic crusader for black rights to others, incendiary religious leader Louis Farrakhan is finding the audience for his message increasingly hard to reach. The head of the Nation of Islam -- barred for years from Britain and blocked from mainstream TV -- has been declared an undesirable by Facebook for his long record as an unrepentant merchant of anti-Semitism and homophobia. Farrakhan's black advocacy and mantra of self-reliance has lent him a measure of legitimacy over the years, bolstered by his role a quarter century ago in organizing the Million Man March that drew hundreds of thousands of African Americans to Washington. And while his continuing influence is undeniable, critics of the 86-year-old son of a Massachusetts seamstress point out that he has compared Jews to "termites," called Hitler a "great man" and claimed that the white race was created by an evil wizard. True to form, one of the most divisive political ...
Hyderabad-based trust serves food to around 500 people every day during Ramzan
It's Ramzan time, the Muslim month when the followers of the faith observe fast from before sunrise to sunset.Besides fasting, the holy month is also about feasting from dusk to dawn.And in this spirit of Ramzan, a Hyderabad-based trust provides food to almost 400-500 people every day- all without any funding from outside."We have been serving the poor people for 17 years. On the first day of Ramzan, we distributed ration consisting of various items to 1600 poor families and daily we arrange Iftar for the poor people. Around 400-500 people come here to have Iftari daily," Mohammed Nasiuddin Khan, a trustee of Mohammed Zaheeruddin Khan Memorial Trust, told ANI.Charity is one of the five tenets of Islam. Feeding the poor and needy, supporting orphans, relatives and travellers, spending in the way of Allah, all these find references in Quran, the holy book of the Muslims.Rich and well-off followers of the Islamic faith do charity during Ramzan. Some give money to the poor, several others
1 in 4 meditators suffer 'unpleasant' experience: Study
One out of four people who meditate regularly suffer an "unpleasant" psychological experience, reveals a new study.
Don't allow mosques to promote hatred; Submit recordings of sermons: Lanka govt
The Sri Lankan government on Friday said the trustees of all the mosques in the country should not engage in or allow any gathering to promote or propagate hatred and also directed them to send the audio recordings of the sermons to authorities. The government's move came after security forces recovered swords and other weapons from mosques during search operations following the April 21 bomb blasts in which over 250 people, including 44 foreigners 10 of whom were Indians, were killed and 500 others injured. All trustees of Mosques should not engage in or permit any gathering to promote or propagate hatred or extremism in any form, doing so will result in the Board of Trustees being held fully responsible under may laws including the Penal Code, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Muslim Religious Affairs. "In view of the prevailing situation in the country, the Trustees are directed hereby to send audio records all sermons of Jumma (Friday) or otherwise on their ...
Indian Jews in Israel a vital link between the two nations, says senior Indian diplomat
The 85,000-strong Indian Jews community in Israel is a vital link between the two nations that has seen rapid growth in relations over the years across a broad spectrum of areas, a senior Indian diplomat has said. Speaking at the launch of a book titled "The Synagogues of India," whose first copy of limited edition was presented to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Israel in 2017, Counsellor at the Indian embassy in Tel Aviv Muanpuii Saiawi said the future vision of cooperation between the two knowledge economies is of a strong hi-tech partnership. "The 85,000 strong Indian Jewish community here form a vital and important link between India and Israel. Both nations have excellent relations with over 25 years of full diplomatic relations. Relations have seen rapid growth across a broad spectrum of areas and the future vision of cooperation is of a strong hi-tech partnership as befits two knowledge economies," Saiawi said at the gathering that was attended by hundreds of .
Bishop accused in Kerala nun rape case appears before court
Bishop Franco Mulakkal, accused of raping a nun, appeared before a court in Pala on Friday.A charge sheet, that was filed by Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Kerala Police last month, has been handed over to Mulakkal.Prior to the appearance in the court, the accused bishop participated in a mass prayer at Bharananghanam church. In the court, he was accompanied by a group of supporters including women.The next hearing in the case has been posted to June 7.Mulakkal has been accused of raping a nun several times between 2014 and 2016. He is currently out on bail. The victim has also alleged that the probe is being delayed as the accused is an influential authority in the Roman Catholic Church.
Telangana CM offers prayers at Rameswaram temple
Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao Friday offered prayers at the Ramanathaswamy temple here. Rao, who arrived at the temple in this holy town along with his family members this morning, was received by the Joint Commissioner Kalyani. The Telangana Rashtra Smiti (TRS) chief went around the temple after offering prayers to the main deity. He appreciated the temple architecture and praised the authorities for maintaining the premises well. The Telangana Chief Minister, however, refused to talk to reporters. He had yesterday visited the memorial of former President A P J Abdul Kalam here.
Kerala HC refuses to interfere in ban on Thrissur Pooram elephant
The Kerala High Court on Friday refused to interfere in the matter pertaining to the ban on parading elephant Thechikottukavu Ramachandran, at the Thrissur Pooram festival.The district administration had earlier banned the 54-year-old jumbo king citing security reasons, according to reports.Reports suggest that the elephant is partially blind and has killed 13 people.Following the ban, the Kerala Elephant Owners Federation announced through a Facebook post that it would not make any elephant available for elaborate temple festivities starting May 11.The elephant symbolically pushes open the entrance to the Vadakkunnathan Temple in Thrissur that signals the start of the Pooram, a large cultural festival held annually at the temple.
Badrinath temple reopens
The doors of Badrinath temple nestling in the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand were thrown open for pilgrims on Friday after performing all Vedic rituals.
Kerala Bishop's bail extended till June 7
A court near here on Friday extended till June 7 the bail of former Jalandhar bishop Franco Mulakkal, accused of sexually assaulting a nun between 2014 and 2016.
Ramzan '19: Hindus, Muslims unite at Gujarat dargah to break fast; devotees say 'Iftar is for all'
Setting an example of communal harmony, people from different religions assembled at Dargah Hazrat Khwaja Dana in Surat on Thursday for Iftar - the meal consumed to break the day-long fast observed during the ongoing holy month of Ramzan.Speaking to ANI, K Gheewala, a frequent visitor to the dargah, said, "I have been coming to this Dargah for over five years. Many Hindus come to this Dargah. It is a great symbol of religious harmony."Another devotee said, "I have been coming here for the last 38 years. The number of people coming here has always increased with time. Also, I see people belonging from different religions coming here and praying. Iftar is not just for Muslims, it is for all."Echoing similar sentiments, a worker at the dargah said year after year, people have been gathering at the dargah cutting across all religious barriers to sit and pray together."If you want to see an example of religious harmony, then you should definitely visit this Dargah," he added.In Delhi, ...
Lanka's Catholic schools likely to reopen next week, mass services to resume from Sunday
Sri Lanka's Catholic Church on Thursday announced that all Catholic schools are likely to reopen next week, while mass services would resume from Sunday depending on the country's security situation after the Easter bombings that killed 258 people. The schools were shutdown and public mass services were suspended following fears of a repeat of the April 21 attacks on three churches and three luxury hotels here. Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malclom Ranjith in a press conference said that Catholic private schools might be opened on May 14. However, these schools would be closed till Vesak Holidays if there are fresh threats. "We are hoping to open the schools on May 14. The decision is still not final as we continue to observe the country's security situation. We want to be absolutely sure before we open our schools because we don't want even a single child to suffer as a result of any unwanted attacks," Cardinal Ranjith said after a meeting between the country's 12 bishops and ...
Temple Run: How much gold do Kerala temples have?
In 2011, former IPS officer-turned-lawyer T.P. Soundarajan filed a plea in the Supreme Court seeking to know the stock of gold in the famed Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple here. Since then, speculation has pegged the value of the gold stored in the temple at over Rs 1 lakh crore.
Lanka's Catholic schools to reopen next week
Sri Lanka's Catholic Church on Thursday announced that all the Catholic schools will reopen next week while mass services would resume from Sunday depending on the country's security situation after the Easter bombings that killed 258 people. The schools were shutdown and public mass services were suspended following fears of a repeat of the April 21 attacks on three churches and three luxury hotels here. Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malclom Ranjith in a press conference said that that Catholic private schools might be opened on May 14. However, he said these schools would be closed till Vesak Holidays, if there are fresh threats, the Daily Mirror reported. We cannot allow even a single child to suffer. Therefore, we intend to watch the situation closely and carefully, Cardinal Ranjith said following a meeting between the country's 12 bishops and President Maithripala Sirisena in Colombo on Thursday. Vesak, the Day of the Full Moon in the month of May, is the most sacred day to ...
Indian Christian serves iftar to nearly 800 Muslim workers
An Indian Christian businessman, who built a mosque for Muslim workers in the UAE, is serving iftar meals to nearly 800 workers during the ongoing month of Ramzan. Saji Cheriyan, 49, who hails from Kerala's Kayamkulam, built the mosque last year for Muslim workers living in a worker accommodation that he rented out to 53 companies in Fujairah. He built the Mariam Umm Eisa (Mary, the Mother of Jesus) mosque after he saw workers spending their earnings on taking taxis to go to the nearest mosque to offer prayers during the holy month. Ramzan this year began on May 7. Cheriyan, who landed in the UAE in 2003 with just a few hundred dirhams, hosts iftar for about 800 people including workers and other senior employees of various companies at an air conditioned convention centre in the same complex, the Gulf News reported. The mosque opened on the 17th night of Ramadan last year. So, I could offer iftar to the worshippers only for the remaining days. From this year, I would be doing it ...
Kedarnath temple reopens
The Kedarnath temple in the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand was re-opened for pilgrims on Thursday.
Images show rarely seen UAE ruler greet sheikhs for Ramadan
State media in the United Arab Emirates has published images of the country's rarely seen president greeting other ruling sheikhs for Ramadan. The state-run WAM news agency early Thursday published images of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan at Al Bateen Palace in Abu Dhabi. In the images, the 71-year-old Sheikh Khalifa wears white sneakers under his traditional robes. He is greeted by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the powerful crown prince of Abu Dhabi who analysts believe runs day-to-day affairs in the UAE. Sheikh Khalifa became the UAE's president in 2004. He is also the ruler of Abu Dhabi, the oil-rich capital of the UAE's seven sheikhdoms. Sheikh Khalifa suffered a stroke on Jan. 24, 2014, and underwent emergency surgery. He has rarely been seen in public since.
Heat wave grips Andhra Pradesh; temperature likely to touch 47 degrees
People here are likely to witness "severe" heat wave in the next three days, Andhra Pradesh government's Real Time Governance Society (RTGS) has said.The temperature in the state is oscillating between 41 to 45 degrees for the past week."There is a heat wave condition going on in Andhra Pradesh especially in state's central parts. It mainly includes districts of Guntur, Krishna, Prakasam and Nellore. For the next two to three days, the severity will be high in Krishna, Guntur, Nellore and Prakasam," Anantha Krishnan, an RTGS official said on Wednesday."The temperature is likely to rise till 47 degrees. We request the general public to be cautious. The government has also taken steps to mitigate the situation. It has already asked district collectors to take necessary actions," Krishnan said.The agency has advised people not to venture outside between 9 am to 5 pm. 13 districts of the state have been categorised in Red Alert.
