Page 37 - Religion Belief
As more are buried, emotional prayer service planned in NZ
Thousands of people were expected to come together for an emotional Friday prayer service led by the imam of one of the two New Zealand mosques where 50 worshippers were killed in a white supremacist attack. Six funerals took place Thursday, including for a teenager, a youth soccer coach and a Muslim convert who loved connecting with other women at the mosque. Imam Gamal Fouda said he is expecting 3,000 to 4,000 people at Friday's prayer service, including many who have come from abroad to be with members of Christchurch's Muslim community and to attend funerals. Fouda said he has been discussing plans for the prayer with city officials and lawmakers and expects it will take place in Hagley Park, a city landmark across from Al Noor mosque, where at least 42 people were killed. Members of the Linwood mosque, where the gunman killed at least seven people, also would attend the joint prayer, he said. Al Noor workers have been trying feverishly to repair the destruction at the mosque, ...
Trump says he uses Twitter to bypass corrupt media
US President Donald Trump has defended the frequent use of micro-blogging site Twitter to reach out to the public, asserting that it lets him bypass the "corrupt" and "fake" media. "I think that Twitter is a way that I get out the word when we have a corrupt media. And it is corrupt and it's fake. So Twitter is a way that I can get out the word," Trump told reporters at the South Lawn of the White House Wednesday. "On five sites, I have over 100 million people, and that includes Facebook and Instagram and Twitter and everything. And it's a way that I can get honesty out, because there's tremendous dishonesty with respect to the fake-news media," the US president added.
BJP not involved in Sabarimala Karma Samithi activities, says Kummanam Rajasekharan
BJP leader Kummanam Rajasekharan on Wednesday said his party had no active involvement in the activities of Sabarimala Karma Samithi in Kerala.This comes after Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor filed a complaint with Chief Electoral Officer Teeka Ram Meena against the BJP and the Sabarimala Karma Samithi.Rajasekharan said: "The BJP has no involvement or voice in the activity of Sabarimala Karma Samithi, which works on its own. It will answer to Tharoor's complaint.""BJP is working in compliance with directions of the EC. As a party, we are independent and not involved in the activities of Sabarimala Karma Samithi."Shashi Tharoor filed a complaint with the Kerala Chief Electoral Officer on Wednesday against the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Sabarimala Karma Samithi, accusing them of making malicious attempts to foment religious sentiments of voters.
President Kovind greets citizens on eve of Holi
President Ram Nath Kovind has greeted citizens on the eve of Holi.In a message to people on Wednesday, President said, "On the occasion of the joyous festival of Holi, I convey my greetings to all fellow citizens in India and abroad."This festival is a celebration of spring and of our sense of fraternity and mutual goodwill. May the confluence of colours bring positive energy to all our families and our shared society," Kovind said.Holi will be celebrated across the country on Thursday.
Litigants of Ayodhya dispute case play Holi
Primary litigants of the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title dispute- Iqbal Ansari and Mahant Dharamdas played Holi here on Wednesday while contending that 'misunderstanding" must be eliminated to reach a "reasonable" outcome."In order to reach a reasonable outcome, misunderstanding must be eliminated. Those who are trying to fill their votes banks based on this must be alerted that their tactics will not work anymore. We want to give a message to the world that there should be no politics in the name of religion, caste, temple or mosques," Iqbal Ansari told ANI."To keep the feelings of brotherhood alive, we played Holi with our brother. We have blended with our brothers just like two colours mix together, effortlessly," he added.Another litigant Mahant Dharamdas echoed the same sentiments.Speaking to ANI, he said: "Humanity is our priority. You cannot divide us for your votes. Our aim is to be together."He also requested the Supreme Court to take a final call on the issue. "Our Muslim
President extends Holi greetings
President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday greeted the nation on the occasion of Holi, calling it "a celebration of spring and of our sense of fraternity".
Assam guv, chief minister greets people on Holi eve
Assam Governor Jagadish Mukhi and Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal Wednesday greeted the people of Assam on the auspicious occasion of Holi and hoped the festival of colours marks the onset of warmer season and victory of good over evil. "I extend my warm greetings and good wishes to the people of Assam in particular and the country in general on the auspicious occasion of Holi-the festival of colours," the governor said in a message here on the eve of the festival of colours. He further hoped that this festival may bring peace, harmony, prosperity and happiness in everyone's life. The colours of Holi reflect the state's diversity and multi-cultural heritage, and may the "festival become a harbinger of joy, happiness and merriment for all cutting across all caste, creed and ethnicity", the governor added. The chief minister, in a statement Wednesday, said that the celebrations of Holi would strengthen the bond of brotherhood, friendship and harmony. The colours of Holi .
PC George's party in Kerala not to contest LS polls
Kerala Janapaksham headed by P C George, which supported protests by Hindu outfits over the Sabarimala issue, Wednesday said it would not contest the Lok Sabha elections but asked its workers to defeat "forces trying to humiliate and tarnish religious faith and traditions". Kerala Janapaksham will not field candidates in any constituency, including Pathanamthitta, party Chairman and Poonjar MLA P C George said in a statement here. This marks a shift in the party's stand as George had earlier said he would contest from Pathanamthitta constituency where the hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa temple is situated. He had said the party would also field candidates in Thiruvananthapuram, Alappuzha, Chalakkudi and Idukki seats. In his statement Wednesday, George said it was time for the Kerala Janapaksham party workers to ensure the defeat of the forces trying to humiliate and tarnish religious faith and traditions" in the April 23 elections. George had supported protests by various ...
Former hockey captain Sardar Singh named in OCA Standing Committee
Former India hockey captain Sardar Singh has been named in the Standing Committee of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) at its 38th General Assembly in Bangkok earlier this month. Sardar is part of a 10-member panel which has been nominated for a four-year term from 2019 to 2023. The OCA General Assembly was held in Bangkok on March 2 and 3. "As per the authority vested in me by the OCA Constitution and the OCA General Assembly, I have nominated the members of the OCA Standing Committees," OCA President Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah said in a statement. "I wish the Chair and the members of the OCA Standing Committees the very best of luck and look forward to cooperating with your good self in the coming 4 years to strengthen further," he added.
Pak PM Imran wishes Hindu community on Holi
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan Wednesday extended his greeting to the country's Hindu community on the occasion of Holi. "Wishing our Hindu community a very happy and peaceful Holi, the festival of colours," Khan said in a tweet. The festival of Holi marks the end of winter and the start of spring. The festival is also known as the "festival of colours" or the "festival of love". Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Chairperson of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), also took to twitter to wish people on Holi. "Happy Holi to all my Hindu brothers and sisters. On the happy occasion of Holi, let us spread the wonderful massage of peace and happiness," he wrote. The Hindu community in Pakistan celebrates the festival by playing with colours. They also burn logs of wood to symbolise the victory of good over evil and observe Holi Pooja. According to Pakistan Hindu Council, the Hindus constitute about 4 per cent of Pakistan's total population of 200 million.
5 unmarried couples whipped publicly in Indonesia
Five unmarried couples were on Wednesday flogged publicly in Indonesia - the world's largest Muslim-majority country that practices Sharia or strict Islamic law.
Delaware declares April 2019 as 'Sikh Awareness and Appreciation Month'
Delaware Governor John Carney has signed an executive proclamation naming April 2019 as the "Delaware Sikh Awareness and Appreciation Month" in recognition of the contribution of the small but influential Sikh community in the economic and social milieu of the state. In his proclamation on Tuesday, Carney said the contribution of Sikh-Americans to Delaware and the United States has been immense. Earlier, the Delaware House of Representatives and the Senate unanimously had passed a concurrent resolution declaring April 2019 as the "Delaware Sikh Awareness and Appreciation Month". This year's resolution is especially meaningful because it comes in the 550th birth year of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak, Delaware Sikh Awareness Coalition (DSAC) chairman Charanjeet Singh Minhas said. Before the resolution was introduced in the state legislature, the DSAC had sponsored an interfaith luncheon session and a presentation that discussed the universal aspects of Guru Nanak's teaching and their ...
First burial for mosque massacre victim planned for Wednesday: official
Burials will begin Wednesday for the victims of Christchurch's mosques massacre, after a lengthy delay that has anguished families, officials said. "The first burial of a victim of Friday 15 March's tragic mosque shooting will take place this morning," Christchurch City Council said. The names and nationalities of those being buried have not been released.
Mamata takes potshots at BJP over Ram temple
Taking a dig at the BJP-led central dispensation, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said while they could not even construct one Ram temple, her government has spruced up the pilgrimage spots as part of its development programmes.
Mamata challenges Modi, Shah to compete with her in chanting 'mantras'
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Tuesday lashed out at the BJP for questioning her religion and challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah to compete with her in chanting 'mantras' (hymns). Stating that her government had renovated several temples in the state, she accused the saffron party of engaging in political rhetoric over Ram Mandir ahead of general elections. "Worship does not mean only putting a 'tilak' on the forehead. One must understand the meaning of the mantras (Hindu religious hymns). I challenge Modi-Shah to compete with me in chanting mantras," the Trinamool Congress supremo said. Mamata, one of the harshest critics of BJP, said, "There are people who question my religion. I want to say that my religion is humanity and I do not need lecture from others about religion. "They try to point fingers at me and say I do not allow puja to be conducted in Bengal. They should go and see how many 'mandir' (temples) have been constructed .
HC notice to EC on church seeking change in TN poll date
The EC Tuesday informed the Madras High Court that it has rejected a plea by the Tamil Nadu Bishops' Council seeking re-scheduling of the April 18 Lok Sabha elections and assembly bypolls in the state as the date clashed with Easter Triduum. The submission was made by the Election Commission (EC) counsel Niranjan Rajagopalan when a petition by council president and Madurai Archbishop Antony Pappusamy seeking a direction to the commission to change the poll date came up for hearing. The counsel said even the news about the EC rejecting the representation had come in the media. The division bench comprising Justice S Manikumar and Justice Subramonium Prasad then directed Rajagopalan to file an affidavit in this regard by Thursday and posted the matter for hearing on that day. The archbishop in his public interest litigation petition said that the council had already submitted a memorandum to the EC on the issue and there was no response from it. He submitted that there were around 50 ...
'Egg Boy' to give fund to NZ mosque attack victims
The Australian teenager, who threw egg at a far-right senator over his offensive comments about the Christchurch mosque attacks, has said he would donate most of the money raised for him towards the terror attacks' victims, the NZ Herald reported.
Volunteers descend on Christchurch with burial process to start
As the first bodies of the Christchurch mosque shooting victims were returned to grieving families, Muslim volunteers from across New Zealand and Australia descended on the small town to help in the burial process. Islamic custom dictates that people have to be buried as soon as possible, but the scale and devastation of Friday's massacre -- that saw 50 killed in the usually quiet southern New Zealand city -- has delayed the handover of bodies to next of kin. Police said Tuesday that just six bodies have been released so far and a total of 12 victims identified. As anguished relatives wait, waves of volunteers have driven or flown in to ease the burden on exhausted locals. "We are a Muslim community, regardless of where we are situated through the country and the world, there is always going to be a connection with other Muslims when tragedy occurs," Javed Dadabhai, a volunteer from Auckland, told AFP. "Quite specifically, Christchurch is a small community, so... when you see a loss ..
International Sanskrit conference commences in Nepal
A three-day international Sanskrit conference that aims to endorse the ancient language as common treasure of Nepal and India commenced here on Tuesday. Titled "Sanskrit a common treasure of Nepal and India", the conference is being jointly organised by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu, India's Ministry of Culture in collaboration with the Balmiki campus of Nepal Sanskrit University. More than 45 working papers on different aspects of Sanskrit language, literature and philosophy will be presented by scholars from the two nations during the conference, according to an official statement. "Sanskrit is not an ordinary language, rather it is a language meant for salvation and a language that can connect us with the God," Abhiraj Rajendra Mishra, a scholar from India, said. The Chancellor of Nepal Academy, Ganga Prasad Upreti was the chief guest at the function, which was also attended by India's ambassador to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri.
Pro-Modi slogans as Priyanka prays at UP temple
Pro-Modi slogans were raised by BJP supporters gathered outside a temple near here on Tuesday as Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi offered prayers.