Page 49 - Religion Belief
Thirty years after Rushdie fatwa, blasphemy still a potent weapon
Thirty years after Iran called for the killing of Salman Rushdie, the British novelist remains a figure of hate for extremists across the Muslim world, and though the level of outrage has dropped, the issue of blasphemy is as incendiary as ever. Rushdie's novel "The Satanic Verses" triggered mass protests from London to Islamabad and, analysts say, closed down the space for debate around Islam in a way that still resonates today. Iran's spiritual leader, the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, issued the fatwa calling for Rushdie's murder on February 14, 1989. A day earlier thousands of protesters enraged by the novel's publication had attacked the American Cultural Centre in Islamabad. Five people were killed in the ensuing clashes with police. Pakistani journalist Shahid ur Rehman told AFP he was among the first to arrive on the scene that day, and watched as men stormed the roof of the centre and pulled down its American flag while police fired tear gas, then live bullets. Rehman said the
Bandel Church observes 'World Day of the Sick'
The 420-year-old Bandel Church here observed the 27th 'World Day of the Sick' Monday with special prayers, the church said in a release. Apart from prayers for healing, it also anointed 50 sick people. Anointing of the Sick is a sacrament of the Catholic Church that is administered to a Catholic "who, having reached the age of reason, begins to be in danger due to sickness or old age". A commemorative 4x6 mural, created by Church Art of Kolkata - depicting the story of Good Samaritan, a parable of Jesus Christ - was unveiled by Papal delegate Cardinal Patrick DRozario of Dhaka. "Some 200 international and national delegates arrived in Kolkata," said Prior of Bandel Basilica Father T L Francis. The Bandel Church was chosen for the conclusion of World Day of the Sick as people of all faiths visit this Shrine to seek favours. February 11 marks the date of the miraculous apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Lourdes in France. On this day, sick people come in large ...
Badrinath to reopen on May 10
The sacred portals of Badrinath will be thrown open to public in the wee hours on May 10. The gates of the Himalayan shrine will be reopened after the annual winter break at 4:15 am on May 10. The auspicious hour for reopening the gates of the famous temple were announced on the occasion of Vasant Panchmi Sunday at the residence of erstwhile Tehri royals in Narendra Nagar. Located at a height of 10,279 ft above the sea level in Chamoli district, Badrinath temple which is dedicated to lord Vishnu is closed annually during winter when the area is snowbound.
Abu Dhabi's first Hindu temple's foundation stone to be laid in April
Abu Dhabi is all set to get its first Hindu temple with the foundation stone laying ceremony of the place of worship going to be held in April, according to a media report. The plan to build the temple in the UAE's capital was approved by the Abu Dhabi government during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first visit to the country in 2015. BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, a worldwide Hindu religious and civic organisation, is building the temple, the Gulf News reported. The foundation stone laying ceremony of the temple on April 20 will be presided over by Mahant Swami Maharaj, the present guru and president of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, it said. The spiritual leader will be in UAE from April 18 to 29. Dubbed as an icon of tolerance and religious harmony in the UAE, the temple is being built on a 13.5-acre land gifted by Abu Dhabi's crown prince Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. An equal area of land has also been gifted by the UAE government for building parking facilities in the temple
China trashes Turkey's remark on Uighur camps
China on Monday trashed Turkey's allegations that nearly one million Uighur Muslims were subjected to torture and political brainwashing at concentration camps and prisons in the Xinjiang region.
Angry tribals block highways, pelt stones on personnel in Pakistan
Scores of people from the Khugakhel tribe had blocked the Pakistan-Afghanistan highway here in protest against the unavailability of electricity.The agitators also pelted stones in retaliation to law enforcement personnel firing shots in the air to disperse the demonstrators.The peaceful protests were being held by the tribe against the power unavailability in the Landi Kotal subdivision, reports The News International.The demonstrators held black flags and chanted slogans against Tesco officials for drawn-out load-shedding in the erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) region when the police personnel were brought in to disperse the crowd.The situation went awry when shots were fired in the air by the Khassadar and Levies personnel. Angry protesters pelted stones in retaliation.They have threatened more protests if the incidents of firing are not investigated by the government.Activists, however, have alleged that the protests were held against the trading company, ...
Kirti Mandir in Barsana Opens in a Grand and Historical Opening Ceremony
/ -- Jagadguru Kripalu's Kirti Mandir opened to the public today after a grand and historical celebration spanning three days. Thousands of people from all over India and the world attended the event, which included elaborate 'puja' ceremonies, daily prayers and meditation (sadhana). The Presidents of Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat, Sushri Dr. Vishaka Tripathi Ji, Sushri Dr. Shyama Tripathi Ji and Sushri Dr. Krishna Tripathi Ji officiated at the event, leading thousands to the entrance and cutting the ribbon as Vedic chanting took place. The doors were then opened as they walked in to see a unique sculpture that has never been seen in any temple before. The temple is dedicated to Shri Radha and her childlike form is the main focus of this unique temple. Within the temple, unique paintings that do not exist anywhere else have been placed and Vedic teachings can be found on the walls. It is interesting to note that no cement or steel has been used to build the temple. Instead, it is built .
5th Dham - seam reap to Prayagraj, Sanatan dharm journey starts
Cambodia and India are preparing themselves for a holy pilgrimage trip that will encompass millions of the Indian Diaspora from across the world that will send them on a spiritual trail culminating at the 5th Dham at Seam Reap, Cambodia.Cambodia as most people know being a predominantly Buddhist society but has deep rooted ties with Hinduism, Hindu Idolatry and Hindu mythology.The magnificent Angkor Wat, the largest Hindu Temple built by a Hindu King. The same is metamorphasised at Continuing the tradition the 5th Dham is being consecrated at the very place in Seam Reap by 1008 Names of Shivas Association, a trust which has visions of a united Sanathana Culture to prevail among all its followers.The fist of the same is being conducted currently at the Kumbh Mela 2019, the epitome congregation of more than 100 million pilgrims, nearly 1/10th of India's population, gathered to rejuvenate their mind, body and soul. Regardless of age and gender the Kumbh mela represents the stream of ...
Pak has Mecca, Medina for Sikhs: Imran in Dubai
Pakistan has the Mecca and Medina for the Sikhs and the country is opening up those sites for the minority community, Prime Minister Imran Khan said in the UAE on Sunday. Prime Minister Khan in November last year laid the foundation stone for the corridor linking Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan's Kartarpur - the final resting place of Sikh faith's founder Guru Nanak Dev - to Dera Baba Nanak shrine in India's Gurdaspur district to facilitate visa-free movement of Indian Sikh pilgrims. Khan is paying a day-long trip to the UAE to take part in the 7th edition of the World Government Summit on the invitation of Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum. "We have the Mecca and Medina of the Sikhs... and we are just opening up those sites for Sikhs," Khan said. Mecca and Medina are the two holiest sites in Islam. "We have opened our visa regime. For the first time in Pakistan, we have 70 countries from where people can come and get visas at the ...
Saraswati Puja fostering communal harmony in UP locality
Nestled in a narrow bylane in the Muslim-dominated locality of Mohatsimganj here, the Saraswati Puja at Suraradhana Sangeet Vidyalaya has been a symbol of communal harmony and bonhomie with both Hindus and Muslims eagerly looking forward to the annual festival. The over-a-decade-old puja, near the Civil Lines bus station in this city in Uttar Pradesh, draws the young and the old from both communities. "The atmosphere is absolutely good and lively," said Moazzam Raza, a hafiz at Badi Masjid Mohatsimganj, just a stone's throw from the music school. "Whenever Azaan is held, cultural programmes organised during the Saraswati puja are briefly stopped...People -- both Hindus and Muslims -- respect each other's religious sentiments here," he said. Seventy-year-old Naseeruddin, who runs a salon below the mosque, said, "I have been witnessing the Saraswati Puja for over a decade, and it is one of the joyous occasion that children in the locality look forward to." He said that people belonging
Mass prayer in Mizoram churches to oppose Citizenship Bill
Special mass prayer was held in churches across Mizoram for the defeat of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in the Rajya Sabha, Presbyterian church's Mizoram Synod sources said on Sunday. Members of 16 major churches of different denominations held prayers on Saturday night. The appeal made by the Mizoram Kohhran Hruaitute Committee (MKHC), a conglomeration of leaders of major churches, had asked the local churches of all the denominations to pray so that the bill gets stalled in the Rajya Sabha. The MKHC had earlier appealed to members to hold mass prayer on the night of February 16, but issued another circular on Friday last to conduct the mass prayer on February 9 or February 10. A press statement issued by the MKHC said that the bill is "harmful" for Mizoram and Christians. The bill, being vehemently opposed in the Northeast, was passed in Lok Sabha on January 8 and the Centre has said it will try to get the Rajya Sabha nod in this budget session. The bill seeks to ...
Foundation stone laid for Sree Narayana Guru pilgrimage circuit
Union Tourism Minister K.J. Alphons on Sunday laid the foundation stone for the Sree Narayana Guru spiritual pilgrimage circuit at a function held near here at the spiritual abode of the renowned social reformer.
Muslims must be part of India's growth: Frank Islam
Muslims must take active part in shaping the future of India and be "equal partners" in the country's "shared prosperity", India-born American philanthropist Frank Islam said here.
Mehbooba praises Imran Khan for naming forest after Guru Nanak
Jammu and Kashmir's former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday praised Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan for deciding to name a forest reserve in Nankana Sahib district after Sikhism's founder Guru Nanak.
Lost whatever little respect I had for him: KPCC chief on SM Krishna's remarks
Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president Dinesh Gundu Rao on Sunday criticised former Union minister SM Krishna for his statement on 'interference' by Rahul Gandhi and said that by making such remarks he has lost whatever little respect he had.Rao said, "Today when I hear his statement, even that 1 per cent of respect I had for him is gone. For a person of his stature to speak like this, is absolutely disgusting. I don't know what is making him speak like this."Krishna on Saturday had said that Rahul Gandhi issued diktats during the Manmohan Singh dispensation without holding any post in the government, which led him to quit both the party and government.Referring to the comments by Krishna, Rao added, "People even in their old age don't seem to have enough, want more recognition. These drive them to say such things. No damage done to our party, it only damages his legacy. No BJP person is going to remember Krishna, it will only be the Congress who will talk about him".Krishna .
Nitish takes part in Saraswati Puja
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar Sunday extended his greetings to the people on the occasion of Basant Panchmi and also took part in a Saraswati Puja. In his message, Kumar expressed hope that the festival would foster happiness, peace and prosperity, an official release said. Kumar offered prayers at a Saraswati Puja organised at IAS Colony at the residence of Chief Information Commissioner Ashok Kumar Sinha in the state capital, it said. Kumar was accompanied by state Assembly Speaker Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, Health Departments Principal Secretary Sanjay Kumar, CMs Secretary Manish Kumar Verma and other senior officials.
Mehbooba lauds Imran Khan, hits out at Centre over Ram Temple
PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti Sunday praised Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan for taking steps to name a forest reserve after Guru Nanak Dev, but hit out at the Centre saying its "top priority" seems to be renaming ancient cities and building Ram temple in Ayodhya. "How times change. Centre's top priority is seemingly renaming historic cities & building Ram Mandir. On the other hand , heartening to see that Pak PM has initiated steps to name Baloki forest reserve after Guru Nanak ji & create a university under his name," the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister tweeted. She was reacting to Khan's announcement that he was taking steps to name the wild life reserve after Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism. "The Baloki Forest Reserve and a new University in Nankana Sahib will be established and named after Baba Guru Nanak. Pakistan belongs to all citizens equally and we will ensure that Sikh pilgrims are facilitated for 550th anniversary of Guru Nanak," Khan said at a ...
Protesting nuns accuse Bishop Mulakkal of interfering in Jalandhar diocese functioning
Rape-accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal, who was relieved of his pastoral responsibilities by Pope Francis, still interferes with the administrative matters of Jalandhar diocese of the Roman Catholic Church, nuns protesting against him alleged here Sunday. "We believe that Bishop Angelo is the apostolic administrator of Jalandhar diocese. But when we see the kind of letters (being issued by the diocese PRO and Missionaries of Jesus congregation head), we doubt whether Bishop Franco still wields power in the diocese," Sister Anupama, a representative of the protesting nun, told reporters at Kuravilangad near here. Their statement comes a day after Jalandhar diocese PRO Fr Peter Kavumpuram, who is allegedly close to Bishop Mulakkal, issued a clarification statement countering an e-mail issued to nuns by its apostolic administrator Bishop Angelo Ruffino Gracias. In his e-mail, Bishop Angelo had assured the five nuns, who are staying with the rape survivor nun, that "there will be no move ...
India dazzles me, may use it as backdrop of my book: Yann Martel (IANS Interview)
Yann Martel, the Canadian author of the Man Booker Prize-winning "Life of Pi", finds India diverse, dazzling and a place with a great tradition of storytelling and says the country may very well be the backdrop of one of his future novels.
President, PM greet nation on Basant Panchami, devotees throng ghats to take holy dip
On the occasion of Basant Panchami, the festival celebrating the spring season, President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday extended their greetings to people of the country.Both leaders took to micro-blogging site Twitter to wish the nation on the joyous occasion."Greetings to fellow citizens on Basant Panchami, Sri Panchami, and Saraswati Puja. May this festive occasion, which heralds' spring and celebrates learning, spur us to expand the frontiers of education and knowledge in our families, our society and our country," President Kovind said.Prime Minister Modi in his greetings wished for blessings of knowledge and goodwill for all."Many greetings to citizens on the festival which symbolises new energy, new ambition and new vigor- Basant Panchami. I wish that Goddess of learning mother Saraswati will provide knowledge and goodwill to all," he tweeted.The day is also dedicated to the goddess of knowledge, arts and music, Saraswati, who is worshipped on this .