Page 41 - Religion Belief
Israeli group honors Nikki Haley with coin
An Israeli organization has minted a coin emblazoned with the face of Nikki Haley, President Donald Trump's former ambassador to the United Nations, to commemorate her defense of Israel in the world body. The Sanhedrin, a Jewish group that says it aims to restore the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem, is one of three organizations behind the coin. The collector's coin, which costs USD 50, features Haley's face set against the UN building, and a rendition of the Jewish Temple on the back. Hillel Weiss, spokesman for Sanhedrin, said Wednesday that Haley's criticism of the UN, which he says "seeks to destroy the state of Israel", earned her the recognition. He says the group last year sold 20,000 "Temple Coins" engraved with Trump's face to honour his recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
TTD opens Rs.20 crore Lord Venkateswara temple in Hyderabad
A colossal replica of the Lord Venkateswara shrine at Tirumala built in Telangana capital Hyderabad was thrown open to devotees Wednesday. The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam, which governs the over 2000 Lord Venkateswara shrine at Tirumala near here, has built the replica temple at a cost of Rs.20 crore on a 3.5-acre site in the posh Jubilee Hills area in Hyderabad, a temple official told PTI here. After priests performed special rituals, including Mahakumbabhishekam (consecration) at the crack of dawn, the the devotees were allowed to offer prayers at the new shrine. Early in 2014 when Congress was at the helm of affairs in the undivided Andhra Pradesh, the TTD had decided to build a Lord Venkateswara temple in Hyderabad. In 2017, Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao had made two princely golden ornament offerings, totally weighing about 19 kg and worth about Rs.5 crore, to the presiding deity. The TTD has opened a replica temple of Lord Venkateswara in ...
Russian Army General visits Golden temple
Russian Army General and current Commander-in-Chief of Ground Forces Oleg Salyukov visited the Golden Temple here on Wednesday. Before entering the sanctum sanctorum of the temple, Salyukov walked bare foot on the marbled periphery around the pond (pool of nectar) accompanied by senior SGPC officials, including Chief Secretary Roop Singh who briefed the general about the history of Sikhism. While paying obeisance, the Russian commander-in-chief offered 'parshad' as per Sikh tradition. Later he visited the Akal Takhat, the throne of the timeless. Roop Singh called Salyukov's visit a first-of-its-kind-visit. He said the general was happy to know about the community kitchen (langer) practice, which operates round the clock and all people are welcome to eat. Later, the general was given a robe of honour and a saffron scarf, along with other souvenir items.
Two UTs scrap Good Friday holiday, Christians upset
The Christian community is up in arms after the Union Territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu abruptly cancelled the Good Friday holiday on April 19.
Board of PVV Infra approves change in registered office
At meeting held on 13 March 2019
West using Christianity to subvert Chinese state: official
A Chinese official accused "anti-China forces" in the West of using Christianity to subvert the country's political power and said worshippers must follow a Chinese form of religion. China's officially atheist government, which oversees religious groups through state-sponsored institutions, has tightened its grip on all faiths in recent years. "Anti-China forces in the West are attempting to continue to influence the social stability of our country through Christianity, and even subvert the political power of our country," Xu Xiaohong, chairman of the state-backed National Three-Self Patriotic Movement Committee, which oversees the Protestant churches, said on Monday. Speaking at the annual gathering of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), a largely ceremonial advisory body, Xu described the introduction of Christianity in China as "accompanying the intense colonial aggression by the West". Only by incorporating Chinese culture into Christianity would the ...
'Chadars' offered at Ajmer Sharif Dargah on behalf of Swaraj, Fadnavis
'Chadars' were offered on behalf of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadanvis at the Ajmer Sharif Dargah here on Tuesday. The 'chadars' were offered during the ongoing Urs of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, SHO of dargah police station, Hemraj, said. Blessings were sought and prayers were offered for peace after the 'chadars' were offered at the mausoleum of the Sufi saint. Urs in Ajmer commemorates the death anniversary of Moinuddin Chishti.
Bishop asks priests not to take political position in LS polls
: A Bishop of a Catholic diocese in Kerala has urged its priests not to take any political position favouring any sides in the Lok Sabha election, saying 'it will harm us all." In a circular issued to priests of the Idukki diocese, Bishop Mar John Nellikkunnel said taking sides in the election "will harm us all". "As spiritual leaders of our people we should not take any position favouring any sides," the Bishop said According to him, the faithful do not want the priests to be actively involved in election poltics in the present context. "Our people are intelligent enough to decide in elections", it said. The Bishop's stand is seen as a departure from the positions taken by the Catholic Church, which holds sway over voters of Central Kerala, in the previous elections. The diocese had supported an independent candidate supported by the CPI(M) in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. "We all have the duty before God to be symbols of charity and unity. Therefore I appeal to all of you ..
US envoy calls China's Muslim camps 'horrific,' wants probe
A US envoy on religion has described China's internment of an estimated 1 million Muslims as a "horrific situation." Sam Brownback, US ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom, on Tuesday called for an independent investigation into the detentions and the release of those being held. China has already angrily protested Brownback's remarks last week in Hong Kong criticising Beijing's polices on religious minorities and accusing the country of being "at war with faith." China at first denied the existence of the internment camps in the far northwestern region of Xinjiang, but now says they are vocational training facilities. In a telephone news conference with journalists, Brownback appeared undeterred by Beijing's ire, describing China's explanations as "completely unsatisfactory answers." China is listed by the US among the worst violators of religious freedom.
Sabarimala temple opens for 10-day annual festivities
A large number of devotees Monday thronged the famed Lord Ayyappa shrine here as it opened for 10-day annual festivities and monthly poojas. Head priest Kandararu Rajeevaru presided over the rituals after the portals of the hill shrine were opened after a gap of nearly one month. The routine purification ritual and dedication of the new gold-plated door of the sanctum sanctorum were held soon after the shrine opened at 5 PM, temple sources said. The old door is being replaced as it had developed cracks. The new holy door, made of quality teak wood, has been plated with at least four kilograms of gold after engraving and embossing it with copper. A group of Sabarimala devotees, led by one Unni Namboothiri, bore the expenses of the new door as an offering to the presiding deity, they said. Before being closed on March 21, the temple would witness various rituals as part of the festivities, the sources added. Compared to the heavy security blanket witnessed at the temple ...
Ramzan fasting will not impact poll percentage: Owaisi
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi Monday said coinciding of Lok Sabha polls with Ramzan would not hamper poll percentage, rubbishing claims made by some leaders to the effect. The general election will be held from April 11 to May 19 and the results will be declared on May 23 while Ramzan is expected to commence either on May 5 or 6, depending on sighting of the moon and lasts about 29 days. Leaders of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have claimed that elections during the Muslim holy month will inconvenience the community, largely seen to be backing the opposition parties, and help the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). "They say poll percentage will come down because they are fasting. That is all rubbish. Nothing of that sort will happen. I am confident that the spirituality of Muslims will increase during Ramzan. On the contrary, poll per cent will go up," Owaisi told reporters. "Elections are constitutional obligation and they must go on. Why Muslims will ...
Modi becoming PM once again 'inevitable'; S M Krishna
Former Karnataka ChiefMinister S M Krishna Monday said he believes that Narendra Modi becoming the Prime Minister once again was "inevitable". The former External Affairs Minister also said he would campaign for the BJP in Karnataka in the Lok Sabha polls to ensure that more number of party candidates win from the state and Modi becomes Prime Minister once again. "I believe in the principle that Narendra Modi becoming the Prime Minister of this country once again is inevitable," Krishna said. Speaking to reporters here, he said "For this reason, I will visit as many constituencies as possible and thereby ensure that more number of BJP candidates win from Karnataka and Narendra Modi becomes Prime Minister once again. With this one vision we are all putting our efforts together," he said. Senior state BJP leader R Ashoka Monday met Krishna todiscuss about the preparations for the Lok Sabha polls and requested him to campaign for the party candidates. Krishna, a former ...
Oppn parties deliberately creating row over polls during Ramzan: BJP
The BJP Monday accused some opposition parties of deliberately triggering a row over the Lok Sabha polls being held during Ramzan, when Muslims fast, saying it is a "communal" ploy to divide the country ahead of the elections. Leaders of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) are among those who have claimed that holding elections during Ramzan will inconvenience Muslims and help the BJP as the community is largely seen to be backing the opposition parties against the ruling alliance. BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain pointed out that Navratas, when many Hindus observe fast, will also fall during the elections. "Muslims do not observe roza by not doing their work. Islam also does not ask us to stop our work for worship. It is not that people who have jobs do not attend them during Ramzan. They keep roza and do their work as well. Creating such a controversy is unfortunate," he said. People who want to divide the country on communal lines are causing a controversy .
Nothing wrong in holding elections during Ramadan: Owaisi
MIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday said elections during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan would have no impact on the voter turnout and slammed the political parties for raking up a controversy over this.
Over 4.47 cr people eligible to vote in Apr 23 Guj LS poll
Over 4.47 crore electors are eligible to cast their votes for 26 Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat, elections to which will be held on April 23, state Chief Electoral Officer S Murali Krishna said here Sunday. Notification for the election will be issued on March 28 and candidates can fill nomination forms between March 28 and April 4, Krishna told reporters. Scrutiny of nomination forms will be held on April 5, and candidates can withdraw their nomination forms by April 8, he said, adding that the model of conduct had now come into force. "There are around 4.47 crore voters in the state. Votes will be cast across 51,709 booths. Of these 4,47,464,179 voters, 2,32,56,688 are men and 2,14,88,437 women," he said. He said bypolls would also be held during this period though the state election commission had not yet received any notification regarding them. Krishna said voters can use toll-free number 1950 to get information regarding polls, voting, and also to register violations ..
RSS resolution talks of protecting Hindu society, Sabarimala
The RSS passed a resolution on Sunday stressing on the need to protect the beliefs and traditions of the Hindu society. The resolution was passed on the final day of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's three-day Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha (ABPS) meet here. The resolution described the Supreme Court ruling on Kerala's Sabarimala temple as "unfortunate" and one given without considering the "nature and premise of traditions". The RSS said it was the considered opinion of the ABPS that there was a "systematic design to insult and hurt Hindu beliefs and traditions" on the basis of a non-Bharatiya perspective by entities with vested interests. "The case of the Sabarimala temple is a recent example of this design," it said in the resolution. "A resolution to protect Hindu traditions and beliefs was passed at the RSS Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha," RSS general secretary Bhaiyaji Joshi told reporters here. The Supreme Court, in an order on September 28 last year, had allowed women in ..
Need to protect beliefs, traditions of Hindu society: RSS
The RSS, on the third day of its Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha (ABPS) meet here, Sunday passed a resolution stressing on the need to protect beliefs and traditions of Hindu society. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh said it was the considered opinion of the ABPS that there has been a "systematic design to insult and hurt Hindu beliefs and traditions" on the basis of non-Bharatiya perspective by entities with vested interests. "The case of Sabarimala temple is a recent example of this design," the RSS said, in a resolution passed at the conclusion of its three-day meet. It said "Hindutva is not a monolithic or exclusivist thought but a view of life" manifested in diverse and varied ways of cultural expressions, characterised by the uniqueness in the modes of worship, local traditions and festivities. It is anomalous to impose monotonous homogenisation over the beauty of diversity in our traditions, the RSS further said. The ABPS is the Hindutva organisation's highest decision-making ..
Amarinder for passport, visa-free travel on Kartarpur Corridor
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Sunday welcomed the Union Home Ministry decision to fast track the development of the Kartarpur Corridor, but demanded "passport and visa free 'khule darshan' for pilgrims visiting the historic gurdwara" across the international border with Pakistan.
Need to protect traditions, beliefs of Hindus: RSS
The Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) on Sunday urged Ayyappa devotees in Kerala to continue their struggle to save the Sabarimala temple traditions and sought the country's support in protecting the beliefs of the Hindu society.
China protests US criticism of policies on religion
China has issued a protest over remarks the US ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom made criticising Beijing's polices toward Muslim and Tibetan Buddhist minorities and saying the country was "at war with faith." The foreign ministry's office in Hong Kong said the speech Sam Brownback gave Friday "slandered" China's religious policies. It said it had registered its dissatisfaction Saturday with the US Consulate in the semi-autonomous Chinese region, where the speech was given. China's constitution and laws protect freedom of religion and critics should "cease their slander of China's policies on religion and the situation with freedom of faith and cease using religious issues to interfere in China's internal affairs," the office said in a statement. US officials and UN experts say China is believed to be holding 1 million Uighurs, Muslims and members of other majority Muslim ethnic groups in political education camps in Xinjiang. The US and other governments have ...