Online news channel!

Tag: temple

What happened to funds collected for Ram Mandir, Congress asks BJP

Union Minister Mahesh Sharma had yesterday clarified BJP’s stance on the issue of construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya, saying his party and government had already given their opinion on the issue, that people of the country want the temple to be constructed as soon as possible.

<!– –>

0
0
0

TOP
<!– /.block –>TOP <!– /.block –>
<</h2>
Kargil war: New book narrates how Indian Army surprised the enemy and won <!– /.block –>
<!– /.block –>
<!– /.block –>
Also ReadIndiaCounting of votes for six MLC seats in Telangana underwayIndiaInfosys vows to take stringent action against rape accusedIndiaIconic Marathi poet Mangesh Padgaonkar passes awayIndiaIntelligence alert on terror attack by Lashkar-e-Taiba targetting PM Modi, ParliamentIndia11 women, one man convicted for stripping, parading woman nakedIndiaWatch: ‘I am Chennai’, a heartwarming tribute to those who helped the flood-ravaged city get back on its feet <!– /.block –>

<!– /#sidebar-second –>Kargil war: New book narrates how Indian Army surprised the enemy and won<!– /.block –> <!– /#content_bottom –>
<!– /11440465/DNA_Article_Desktop_970x90_BTF –><!– /.block –><!– /11440465/DNA_Article_Tablet_728x90_BTF –><!– /.block –> <!– /#bottom_bar –>

<!– footer start –>

Partner site: Zee News
©2015 Diligent Media Corporation Ltd.

<!– footer end –>
<!– ExpCom CGP –>

Ram Temple will be built with court’s order: Union Minister Mahesh Sharma

Sharma had yesterday clarified the BJP’s stance on the issue of construction of Ram Temple, saying his party and the government had already given their opinion that people of the country want the temple to be constructed as soon as possible.

<!– –>

0
0
19

TOP
<!– /.block –>TOP <!– /.block –>
<</h2>
Balco unions want PM Narendra Modi’s help to bail out local aluminium makers <!– /.block –>
<!– /.block –>
<!– /.block –>
Also ReadIndiaMadras High Court rejects plea to book those projecting women in bad tasteIndiaCounting of votes for six MLC seats in Telangana underwayIndiaInfosys vows to take stringent action against rape accusedIndiaIconic Marathi poet Mangesh Padgaonkar passes awayIndiaIntelligence alert on terror attack by Lashkar-e-Taiba targetting PM Modi, ParliamentIndia11 women, one man convicted for stripping, parading woman naked <!– /.block –>

<!– /#sidebar-second –>Australia coach Darren Lehmann praises improved West Indies ahead of final Test<!– /.block –>Balco unions want PM Narendra Modi’s help to bail out local aluminium makers<!– /.block –> <!– /#content_bottom –>
<!– /11440465/DNA_Article_Desktop_970x90_BTF –><!– /.block –><!– /11440465/DNA_Article_Tablet_728x90_BTF –><!– /.block –> <!– /#bottom_bar –>

<!– footer start –>

Partner site: Zee News
©2015 Diligent Media Corporation Ltd.

<!– footer end –>
<!– ExpCom CGP –>

After Congress mouthpiece says Sonia’s father had fascist link, party calls magazine ‘defunct’

The AICC spokesperson distanced the party from Nirupam’s act of sacking the magazine editor. “What does he do in his personal capacity is his responsibility. In his personal capacity, he can be editor of any magazine and decide to keep or sack any employee. The party has nothing to do with it,” he said. In Delhi, Congress leaders Salman Khurshid and Raj Babbar said that the issue should be seriously looked into.

<!– –>

0
0
2

TOP
<!– /.block –>TOP <!– /.block –>
<</h2>
Infosys Foundation grants Rs 4.5 crore to Somanatheswara Temple <!– /.block –>
<!– /.block –>
<!– /.block –>
Also ReadIndiaOdd-even formula: CNG cars to be given exemption stickers starting tomorrowIndiaAAP leader murdered in New Delhi, body dumped near swampIndiaAfter Congress mouthpiece says Sonia’s father had fascist link, party calls magazine ‘defunct’IndiaTreat citizens as your ‘boss’, Fadnavis tells policeIndiaDDCA row: No clean chit to Arun Jaitley, BJP begging for apology, says Arvind KejriwalIndiaCountry passing through crisis under NDA rule: Sachin Pilot <!– /.block –>

<!– /#sidebar-second –>New Year gift: MTNL to offer free roaming from January 1<!– /.block –>Infosys Foundation grants Rs 4.5 crore to Somanatheswara Temple<!– /.block –> <!– /#content_bottom –>
<!– /11440465/DNA_Article_Desktop_970x90_BTF –><!– /.block –><!– /11440465/DNA_Article_Tablet_728x90_BTF –><!– /.block –> <!– /#bottom_bar –>

<!– footer start –>

Partner site: Zee News
©2015 Diligent Media Corporation Ltd.

<!– footer end –>

Stung by Modi govt’s ‘cold attitude’, VHP says Ram temple to be made by dharmacharyas, masses

“);
}
$(‘.social-sticky’).addClass(‘sticky-social-top’);
}else{
$(‘.social-sticky’).removeClass(‘sticky-social-top’);
$(‘.social-sticky’).html(shtml);
}
});
}

Almost six months after VHP announced its nationwide drive to collect stones for construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya, two trucks of stones had arrived in the temple city earlier this week, even as police said it was monitoring the situation

AFP
Apparently miffed with the “cold attitude” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi towards the Ram Mandir issue, VHP leaders in Ayodhya said that the temple will be constructed by the ‘dharmacharyas’ (holy men) and masses.”We don’t take directions from Modi. Dharmacharyas use their own wisdom,” Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, president of Ram Janam Bhumi Nyas, who actively campaigned for the construction of Ram Mandir said. Das said that although they were hopeful that the temple construction work would pick up after the return of a Hindu party government, the NDA-led Centre “did not take any interest” in VHP’s Ayodhya movement.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>”We have thus decided to move forward with our agenda without any help,” he said. Another senior VHP leader Triloki Nath Pandey, seconded Das’s opinion. Pandey, who was awarded a part of Babri Masjid land by Allahabad High Court, said that the VHP never expected any help from the Prime Minister for the temple construction.The temple would be constructed by Dharmacharyas and Hindu masses, he added. Almost six months after VHP announced its nationwide drive to collect stones for construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya, two trucks of stones had arrived in the temple city earlier this week, even as police said it was monitoring the situation.

Ayodhya row: Opposition accuses BJP, RSS of trying to divide people; raises concerns of preparation of work on Ram temple

“);
}
$(‘.social-sticky’).addClass(‘sticky-social-top’);
}else{
$(‘.social-sticky’).removeClass(‘sticky-social-top’);
$(‘.social-sticky’).html(shtml);
}
});
}

Opposition members voiced concern over reports of two truck loads of stones for construction of the temple having arrived in Ayodhya earlier this week.

The Ayodhya temple row on Wednesday rocked the Rajya Sabha with Congress, BSP and JD (U) accusing the BJP and RSS of trying to divide Uttar Pradesh on communal lines ahead of the 2017 assembly elections in the state, a charge rejected by the ruling party at the Centre. Raising the issue during Zero Hour, K C Tyagi (JD-U) said the circumstances for a communally-charged atmosphere are being created ahead of assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh.Opposition members voiced concern over reports of two truck loads of stones for construction of the temple having arrived in Ayodhya earlier this week. Such activities are being planned “only to charge up the atmosphere,” he said, quoting a reported statement by Mahant Nritya Gopal Das that there was a “signal” from the Modi government that the temple will be built “now”. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said stone carving for construction of the temple has been going at a site 1.5 km away from the disputed site since 1990. The government and the BJP are of the view that the court decision on the dispute should be accepted, he said.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>There was no ban on carving of stones and the religious leaders quoted have been living in Ayodhya, he said, adding that stone carving does not mean that the temple was being built. “Please wait for court decision. All of us should respect it,” he said. Outside Parliament, BSP supremo Mayawati told reporters that “this has been the agenda of BJP and RSS for a long time. But the Government of India should apply brakes on such people.”But more than BJP, she used the opportunity to slam her arch rival, the ruling Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh, saying if the Supreme Court order to maintain status quo on the site is violated, then the “SP will be responsible as the ruling party.” The former Uttar Pradesh CM said it is the responsibility of the ruling party in the state to ensure that the SC directions are not violated. “In such a scenario, nothing wrong should be allowed to take place,” she said. Congress Rajya Sabha MP from Uttar Pradesh Pramod Tiwari claimed that BJP and its affiliates rake up such issues before every assembly election, especially in UP. “Be it shila pujan or rath yatra, BJP tries to draw a communal divide before every assembly election, especially in Uttar Pradesh. JD(U) President Sharad Yadav said though BJP tries to divide people on communal lines every time, “this time the people have understood their design”. “They divide people on communal lines before elections. But this time the people have understood their design. Like we did in Bihar, we would counter them in Uttar Pradesh,” he said. BJP MP from Gorakhpur in UP Adityanath rejected the charge that the party was raking up the temple issue again

VHP begins ‘Ram shila pujan’ in Ayodhya

“);
}
$(‘.social-sticky’).addClass(‘sticky-social-top’);
}else{
$(‘.social-sticky’).removeClass(‘sticky-social-top’);
$(‘.social-sticky’).html(shtml);
}
});
}

A fresh load of stone meant for temple construction arrived in Ayodhya from Rajasthan on Sunday. RJB Nyas president Mahant Nritya Gopal Das began a Ram Shila Pujan (stone worship) programme on Monday, saying construction of the Ram Temple would begin soon.

The RamJanmabhoomi (RJB) Nyas (trust) has restarted the work of polishing stones meant for the proposed construction of a grand Ram Temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya. However, the move is largely seen as an attempt by the saffron brigade to create the required momentum for the BJP in preparation for the crucial UP assembly election in 2017. This is what the oldest litigant of the dispute, Hashim Ansari (93), said on Monday.A fresh load of stone meant for temple construction arrived in Ayodhya from Rajasthan on Sunday. RJB Nyas president Mahant Nritya Gopal Das began a Ram Shila Pujan (stone worship) programme on Monday, saying construction of the Ram Temple would begin soon.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>With the Ayodhya tangle locked in a legal dispute, now before the Supreme Court, work at the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) Ram Mandir Karyashala (workshop) in Ayodhya had been stopped about eight years ago. Political watchers say the timing of the VHP restarting the work seemed to be linked to the upcoming UP polls.”The time has come for the construction to begin. Work will begin soon with the blessings of Lord Ram,” Das said.However, the mukhya pujari (chief priest) at the makeshift Ram temple, Mahant Satyendra Das said there was no way the temple construction could begin since the matter was under litigation. “It seems that the VHP wants to demonstrate that the fervour of the temple movement has not slackened with the death of Ashok Singhal,” he said.A firebrand Hindutva leader who spearheaded the temple movement in the late 80s and 90s, Singhal passed away recently.At least 2 lakh cubic metres of stone would be needed for the proposed temple. Out of this, the VHP workshop at Ayodhya has already polished and readied about half. Sources in Ayodhya said the stone needed for the structure up to the first floor has already been polished. The latest supply is for the roof of the first floor, they added, saying more stone-laden trucks were on the way.Political animals have already started tucking into the issue. “The Samajwadi Party (SP) government in the UP is responsible for this development,” said BSP chief Mayawati, alleging that the BJP and SP were hand in glove in trying to vitiate the communal atmosphere.Ansari said, “This is all a part of petty politics. The temple issue is being stoked again for the UP election in 2017.”

Get in line, no ‘special’ darshan on Ekadasi, Dwadasi days at Tirupati temple

The move will enable more common pilgrims to witness the ‘Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam’.
File Photo
RNA
There will be no special (privileged) darshans allowed this year on the occasions of ‘Vaikunta Ekadasi’ and ‘Vaikunta Dwadasi’ on December 21 and 22 respectively, according to a New Indian Express report.This was decided in a meeting held by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) on Tuesday, to discuss arrangements for the two days. The move will enable more common pilgrims to witness the ‘Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam’. The EDP wing has been reportedly instructed to release 10,800 online tickets, whereas the IT wing has been asked to keep booking slots open from 1pm to 9pm. Since each slot would accommodate 1,200 pilgrims, Temple Deputy Executive Officer C Ramana had been directed to check provisions for hassle-free ‘darshanam’, the report adds. <!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>The ‘Annaprasadam’ facility would commence from early hours of December 21 and light food such as ‘rava upma’, ‘atukula upma’, ‘pongal’ etc., would be served to the devotees.

Assam: Barpeta Satra temple head refutes Rahul Gandhi’s claims of being stopped by RSS

The head of Barpeta Satra, the Vaishnavite monastery, dimissed Rahul’s claim, saying there was no RSS worker at the religious place.

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi.

PTI
A controversy broke out over Rahul Gandhi’s charge on Monday that he was stopped from entering a Vaishanvite monastery in Barpeta by RSS workers during his recent visit to Assam, an allegation denied by the temple chief.As the claim by the Congress Vice President triggered a political slugfest, the BJP alleged it was “fabricated”, saying RSS does not run temples and without naming anyone said “wrong messages” are being spread to “mislead” people. Rahul claimed that what happened to him at the temple during his visit to Assam last week was BJP’s style of politics which was “unacceptable”.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>”When I went to Assam I wanted to visit a temple in Barpeta district. And at the temple the RSS people there stopped me from entering the temple. This is the way the BJP operates,” Rahul told reporters outside Parliament.”They made the women there stand in front of me and told me that I cannot enter the temple,” he said, and asked, “Who are they to stop me?”Rahul, who was in Barpeta last Friday, said he visited the monastery later in the evening when the suspected RSS workers had left the place. The head of Barpeta Satra, the Vaishnavite monastery, dimissed Rahul’s claim, saying there was no RSS worker at the religious place.Even as Barpeta Satra Bura Satriya (head) Bakhista Deba Sarma termed the allegation as “unfortunate”, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi stuck to his stand.”There is no RSS agent in the Satra. It is a religious place and only religious activities are undertaken here. Where does politics come into the Satra”?,” Sarma said while speaking to reporters in Barpeta.”The women here are simple people and they come twice a day for participating in the community prayers in the Satra. They were only waiting at the Satra gate to see Rahul Gandhi. They do not know anything about politics,” Sarma said.”Connecting a centre of religion and culture like the Satra with politics by Gogoi who is the chief minister is most unfortunate. In future, politics and the Satra should not be interlinked,” he said.Gogoi maintained that the Satra had told him that Rahul Gandhi will not be allowed to enter the monastery.”The Satra head had told me that Rahul Gandhi will not be allowed to enter the Satra. The RSS instigated it. Never heard anyone being prevented from entering the Satra before. I ask them even today why they prevented (Rahul from entering). Everyone has the right to enter. If RSS is not there, then why not question them why we were not allowed in,” the chief minister told reporters in Guwahati.”There were 40 to 50 women preventing our entry.” BJP termed as “fabricated” Rahul’s charge alleging he had become a “lying machine” and was resorting to such non-issues to disrupt Parliament.”Earlier somebody (Selja) claimed that she was stopped from entering a temple in Dwarka and she was exposed in Parliament. What Gandhi says is fabricated and a lie,” BJP leader and Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told reporters in Delhi.Another BJP leader and Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu without naming anyone said “spreading” wrong messages and to mislead people has become the habit. “Do RSS run the temples?,” he asked.

RSS used women to stop me from entering Assam temple: Rahul Gandhi

“When I went to Assam I wanted to visit a temple in Barpeta district. And at the temple the RSS people they stopped me entering the temple. This is the way the BJP operates.

Rahul Gandhi on Monday claimed that he was stopped from entering a temple in Barpeta by RSS workers during his recent visit to Assam, saying this was BJP’s style of politics which was “unacceptable”.A furious Congress Vice President, who said he wanted to raise three issues, also targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy being not invited to an event to be attended by him in Kollam on Tuesday, saying he has “insulted” the people of the state.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Rahul was interacting with reporters while taking part in a protest by the Congress outside Parliament House over the law and order situation in the state.”When I went to Assam I wanted to visit a temple in Barpeta district. And at the temple the RSS people they stopped me entering the temple. This is the way the BJP operates.””They made the woman there stand in front of me and told me that I cannot enter into the temple,” he said, and asked, “Who are they to stop me?,” Rahul said.Rahul, who was in Berpeta last Friday, said he visited the temple later in the evening when the RSS workers had left the place.Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi yesterday alleged that BJP and RSS had conspired to not allow Rahul to enter Barpeta Satra during his visit to the state.On the Chandy issue, Rahul alleged the Prime Minister has insulted the people of Kerala, claiming he has “stopped our chief minister” from going to a function.”Chief Minister of Kerala represents the people of Kerala. Chief Minister of Kerala is the voice of the people of Kerala and the Prime Minister had insulted that voice. This is simply not acceptable to us,” he said.A controversy had erupted last week over the decision of SNDP, an organisation of backward Ezhava community, to exclude Chandy from attending the unveiling of former Chief Minister R Sankar’s statue by the prime minister in Kollam on Tuesday.Chandy in a press note had stated that he was “deeply saddened” over him being kept away from the function following a request of Vellappally Natesan, organiser of the event.Referring to issues relating to Punjab, Rahul alleged that innocent people have been butchered in the state.”You are all aware what has happened in Punjab. Innocent people have been butchered. This is completely out of order, out of line,” he said. The Akali Dal-BJP combine is in power in Punjab.The Congress Vice President concluded by saying that the BJP has to change its style of functioning.”Whatever has happened is not acceptable to people of Kerala, not acceptable to people of Punjab, not acceptable to people of Assam,” Rahul said.Chandy had said that though he should have been present at the function being attended by the prime minister and also because Sankar was a former chief minister and Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) chief, he was forced to take the decision to stay away, following the organisers’ request.

Local leaders’ sentiments, RSS, caste to play crucial role in BJP’s Mission UP

The party, which has already begun the ground work for selection of candidates, is likely to give priority to those who lost by narrow margins or came second in the last assembly election in UP.

RSS

After Bihar, the BJP has started gearing up for its next high stake battle– the Uttar Pradesh assembly election. Though there are still 15 months to go, the party has lined out the broad contours of its strategy in the state, which like Bihar, it had swept in last year’s Lok Sabha elections. With the mistakes made in the recent Bihar assembly election still fresh in the mind, one of the first lessons for the BJP is to factor in sentiments of local unit in UP particularly in ticket distribution, according to party sources. In the aftermath of the Bihar debacle, several state leaders had alleged that the BJP leadership had ignored them and projected “outsiders” in the run-up to the election.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –> The party, which has already begun the ground work for selection of candidates, is likely to give priority to those who lost by narrow margins or came second in the last assembly election in UP. There are around 15%-20% of such candidates, sources said. Another experience from Bihar was the caste dynamics dominating all other narrative in the state where the BJP and its allies faced a humiliating defeat at the hands of the Nitish Kumar-Lalu Prasad Yadav combine, unlike in the Lok Sabha election when the NDA had won 31 of the 40 seats. Sources said the party will lay emphasis on the caste arithmetic in UP, focusing on the upper castes, OBCs and scheduled castes, while deciding on candidates and working out its strategy in the run-up to the 2017 election. In UP, where party President Amit Shah was in-charge during the Lok Sabha election, the BJP, which had projected Narendra Modi as Prime Ministerial candidate, had won 73 of the 80 seats. During the recent Bihar election, the BJP had pinned its hopes on the “uneroded” Modi wave, which had swept both UP and Bihar for it in 2014. In the Lok Sabha election, the BJP had even encroached BSP leader Mayawati’s dalit vote bank as Modi managed to woo the electorate cutting across caste lines. While in the general election, the BSP failed to win a single seat, the BJP is viewing her as its most formidable foe in 2017.With Mayawati, who is hoping to consolidate the dalit and Muslim vote, having a sway over Western UP, the BJP is planning to focus on development-craving Poorvanchal or Eastern UP. While the Dalit population in UP is around 20 per cent, the Muslims account for 19.3 per cent in the state. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the BJP’s ideological mentor, is also likely to be play a bigger role in the election to the state, which was the hotbed of hindutva politics and had pushed the party to the national centre-stage in the 1990s. The party strategy is to refrain from chanting about Ram Temple in Ayodhya, which is now in court and on the back burner of the party’s agenda, sources said. However, several of its Hindutva hardliners like Yogi Adityanath, Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti and Sakshi Maharaj are from UP. The BJP is toying with the idea of replacing its state unit chief Laxmikant Bajpayi, a Brahmin. Among the names doing the rounds are union minister of state for HRD Ram Shanker Katheriya, a pracharak and a Dalit leader, Swatantra Dev Singh, an OBC from Bundelkhand and Ashok Kataria, the state vice-president. Bihar debacle : With the mistakes made in the recent Bihar assembly election still fresh in the mind, one of the first lessons for the BJP is to factor in sentiments of local unit in UP particularly in ticket distribution, according to party sources. In the aftermath of the Bihar debacle, several state leaders had alleged that the BJP leadership had ignored them and projected “outsiders” in the run-up to the election.
RSS role: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the BJP’s ideological mentor, is also likely to be play a bigger role in the election to the state, which was the hotbed of hindutva politics and had pushed the party to the national centre-stage in the 1990s. The party strategy is to refrain from chanting about Ram Temple in Ayodhya, which is now in court and on the back burner of the party’s agenda, sources said. However, several of its Hindutva hardliners like Yogi Adityanath, Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti and Sakshi Maharaj are from UP.

Srirangam temple’s website allegedly hacked by Pakistani hackers

Cyber police suspect that some Pakistan-based hackers could have hacked the website, which was temporarily suspended.

Ranganathaswamy temple at Srirangam. Image Courtesy: srirangaminfo.com

The website of the famous Ranganathaswamy temple at Srirangam in the district was temporarily suspended after it was hacked allegedly by some hackers based in Pakistan, police said on Saturday. They said the website, which was found hacked on Friday night by some unidentified persons, was used for booking rooms and poojas besides making donations.Cyber police suspect that some Pakistan-based hackers could have hacked the website, which was temporarily suspended.The problem was later sorted out and the website started working from this morning, officials said.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>

Sadhvi again: Shah Rukh, Aamir tarnishing image of the country

“Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan and Azam Khan are tarnishing the image of the country by their statements on intolerance. They have been doing it along with AICC President Sonia Gandhi,” the VHP leader told a press conference here.

Vocal VHP leader Sadhvi Prachi on Tuesday alleged that actors Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan along with SP leader Azam Khan were “tarnishing” the image of the country by claiming that intolerance was prevailing in the nation.The entire campaign against alleged intolerance was a conspiracy to give a bad name to the country, she said, adding that some ‘deshdrohis’ (anti-nationals) were bent on doing so by returning awards.”Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan and Azam Khan are tarnishing the image of the country by their statements on intolerance. They have been doing it along with AICC President Sonia Gandhi,” the VHP leader told a press conference here.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Referring to Dadri incident, she said Hindus never start riots anywhere, but some people were deliberately inciting them by killing cows and hosting beef parties, which the Hindu community would not tolerate.She wondered why the Uttar Pradesh Government was reluctant to recommend the case to CBI. Let the case be probed by CBI, then truth would come out.About building the Ram Temple at Ayodhya, she said the temple would be constructed at the site during the regime of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.To a question on the demand of AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi to set aside the Haj subsidy and the fund be disbursed as scholarship among Muslim girl students, she extended her support to the demand.She said Muslim girls should come out of their veils and enjoy freedom.

After Mohan Bhagwat, now Praveen Togadia pitches for construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya

“I am hopeful that the way the son of Gujarat, Sardar Patel, got Somnath temple built, in the same manner, the son of Gujarat Narendra Modi, who is firm on will power, will decide about the construction of a huge Ram temple,” Togadia said at a public meeting.

Praveen Togadia
File Photo

Days after RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, VHP leader Praveen Togadia on Sunday made a pitch for the construction of a Ram temple at Uttar Pradesh’s Ayodhya.”I am hopeful that the way the son of Gujarat, Sardar Patel, got Somnath temple built, in the same manner, the son of Gujarat Narendra Modi, who is firm on will power, will decide about the construction of a huge Ram temple,” Togadia said at a public meeting. “If the need so arises, he (Modi) will enact a law in a joint session of Parliament,” he said.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Togadia said that a resolution for the construction of a Ram Temple was passed at BJP’s national executive at Palanpur in Himachal Pradesh in 1987. “This (construction of Ram Temple at Ayodhya) has a mention in BJP’s manifesto as well,” he added.The VHP leader said he was “hopeful” that under the leadership of Modi, work on a Ram Temple will be completed. “For this, Hindus must be ready to support Modi,” he said.”On Shaurya Diwas (observed by Hindu outfits on Dec. 6), we take two resolutions; one: to build Ram Temple, and to establish Ram Raj,” he said. Defining ‘Ram Raj’, Togadia said “it means employment to 10 crore youths, education to scores of children, free health facility to poor Hindus and well-being of farmers”. Togadia said that VHP was providing education to children and free medical treatment to poor Hindus in a big way.On December 2 in Kolkata, RSS chief Bhagwat had expressed hope that the Ram temple in Ayodhya would be constructed in his lifetime.

Babri mosque anniversary: ‘Day of victory’ vs ‘day of sorrow’

Meanwhile in Delhi, members of Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad today pleged to work for early construction of Ram Temple at Ayodhya as they marked the day as ‘Shaurya Diwas’.

Muslim groups observed ‘day of sorrow’ while Hindu outfits celebrated ‘shaurya divas’ on the 23rd anniversary of Babri mosque demolition today, which passed off peacefully amid tight security in Ayodhya, as well as in other parts of the country. Babri Masjid Action Committee (BMAC) observed the day as ‘Yaum-e-Gham’ (day of sorrow) while VHP observed ‘shaurya divas’ (day of victory). On the occasion, Uttar Pradesh’s Additional Advocate General Zafaryab Jilani, who is also a BMAC member, said that the battle for Babri mosque is being supported and fought by Hindus. “The case of Babri mosque is being pleaded in Supreme Court by a group of eminent lawyers who are members of Hindu community,” Jilani said in Ayodhya.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>”We are fighting the legal and political battle of Babri mosque on the support of 90 per cent of secular Hindus of the country,” he said. Muslims in the twin town of Ayodhya-Faizabad observed black Sunday today. Incidentally, the mosque was razed on a Sunday on December 6, 1992. People of the Muslim community did not open their shops and hoisted black flags to protest against the demolition of Babri mosque. Indian Union Muslim League observed a ‘dharna’ outside SSP office in Faizabad.Meanwhile in Delhi, members of Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad today pleged to work for early construction of Ram Temple at Ayodhya as they marked the day as ‘Shaurya Diwas’. VHP Delhi President Rampal Singh said the temple should be build through an act of Parliament. “Trusting the judicial system, Hindus waited for 60 years from 1950 till 2010. But now the Hindu community wants the temple to be built throgh an act of Parliament on the lines of Somnath Temple,” Singh said.In Punjab, activists of Shiv Sena observed the anniversary as ‘Shourya Divas’ by holding a function in a local temple in Phagwara. In Hyderabad, a bandh called by All India Majlis-e- Ittehad-ul Muslimeen and other local outfits passed off peacefully and no untoward incident was reported in the city, police said.

Babri Mosque demolition: To ‘avoid drama outside court’, security beefed up in Ayodhya

The district administration is making all efforts to ensure peace and harmony in the temple town and adjoining Faizabad.

Security beefed up in Ayodhya
File Photo

Security has been stepped up in Ayodhya on the 23rd anniversary of Babri Masjid demolition on Sunday.The district administration is making all efforts to ensure peace and harmony in the temple town and adjoining Faizabad.Related Read: 22nd anniversary of Babri Masjid demolition peaceful in Uttar Pradesh”6th December is celebrated as ‘Vijay Parv’. The Babri structure was a stain on the Ram Mandir. We respect their religion and their devotion but the structure was made on the Ram Mandir. Why the structure of Babar should remain when he is no more? So, it was decided to demolish the structure. With the blessings of god, the construction of Mandir will begin. Temple should be constructed there,” said Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, the president of Ram Janam Bhoomi Nyas.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Related Read: Why the incident was an institutional failureMeanwhile, Mohd. Hashim Ansari of Muddai Babri Masjid accused the Hindu Mahasabha of indulging in politics on this issue.”We have this case in the court. There should be no drama outside the court. If any government give us our Masjid than we will support them. This is the politics of the government, we will fight the case of Babri Masjid peacefully in the court,” he said.

Shiv Sena asks RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat to announce a date to begin construction of Ram Temple

“This issue cannot be prolonged anymore. It needs to be finished now. The blood that has been shed over the issue should not be disrespected,” an editorial in Saamana said

Mohan Bhagwat
File Photo

Welcoming RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s remarks on construction of a Ram temple during his lifetime, the Shiv Sena on Saturday said he should announce a date for its commencement.”We welcome the stand taken by Mohan Bhagwat on the issue. He should now announce a date for the commencement of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya to give an impetus to the issue…. If a temple cannot be built there despite the bloodshed that happened over the issue, what about the hundreds of people who sacrificed their lives for the cause,” the Sena said in an editorial in its mouthpiece ‘Saamana’.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Related Read: Mohan Bhagwat asks society to prepare for a grand Ram templeIt said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has the “courage” to build a Ram Temple in Ayodhya and that his popularity will only increase once he takes the issue in his hands. “To show that it is not only the minorities who are pampered by the government, construction of a Ram temple is a necessity…. If it is not built now, it can never be built,” it said.”This issue cannot be prolonged anymore. It needs to be finished now. The blood that has been shed over the issue should not be disrespected,” the Sena, which is an NDA constituent, said.Bhagwat had on Wednesday said, “The grand goal may be realised in our own time. May be we can see it with our own eyes.” “None can say when and how the temple will be constructed, but we need to be prepared and ready,” he had said.

Attempting to corner Kumari Selja, BJP gets into its own web

Re-igniting the controversy surrounding Selja’s statement that she was asked about her caste while entering Bet Dwarka temple, Jaitley tabled Selja’s remarks made in the visitors book during her visit to a Dwarka temple, in which she had praised the temple for its upkeep and maintenance.

Union finance minister Arun Jaitley’s fresh attempt to spin a web around Congress leader Kumari Selja’s backfired on Wednesday landing BJP again in trouble on Wednesday.Re-igniting the controversy surrounding Selja’s statement that she was asked about her caste while entering Bet Dwarka temple, Jaitley tabled Selja’s remarks made in the visitors book during her visit to a Dwarka temple, in which she had praised the temple for its upkeep and maintenance.Referring to his own statement made on Monday in which he had questioned Selja – what she did as a cabinet minister after being meted out such a treatment — Jaitley poked further saying, “But she did not want to answer that question. I have now received an intimation through some people that, let alone not complaining, she had, on her visit, said very complimentary words in writing about the temple itself,” Jaitley said on Wednesday.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>”Now, she compliments the temple in writing, let alone complaint against any kind of discrimination which took place there,” said Jaitley.While reading out Selja’s comment from the visitor’s book, Jaitley apparently failed to take into account that Selja during her speech on Monday had mentioned about discrimination faced at Bet Dwarka temple and not the new Dwarka temple.Supplied fuel to rekindle fire afresh, Selja retorted, “I made it very clear that it was the Bet Dwarka, not the main Dwarka. Please don’t do this Mr Leader of the House. It doesn’t behove well if you are carrying it on like this one day after another.”An otherwise meticulous Jaitley turned around to check from his colleagues to know whether Selja had referred to Dwarka or Bet Dwarka.Even before he could manage, other leaders from the treasury bench jumped into the debate, with senior BJP leader Piyush Goyal calling it “another incident of manufactured problem and manufactured discrimination.”Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi added, “She does not want to accept the truth and is trying to mislead the house.”This was enough to break the calm in the house that was prevailing after Prime Minister Modi’s conciliatory effort to reach out to the opposition in his reply on Constitution Day debate.The congress members entered the well of the house demanding an apology from the Prime Minister. The faux pas brought the CPI, TMC and the JD(U) together to back the Congress.”Sir, after three days of discussion, when everybody was gracious, unnecessarily, a provocative remark has come from that side,this is very serious. The member should either withdraw or te4nder apology for the remark,”said Derek O’Brien of the TMC.Sitraman Yechury also demanded an apology from the BJP for their remark.The Rajya Sabha kept facing repeated adjournments on the issue as deputy chairman P J Kurien failed to bring tempers down. He even tried to take the senior members of the house tom his chamber to settle the issue which proved futile.Finally the deadlock broke after Kurien raising the issue of grave flood situation in Chennai asked the members to postpone the thorny issue till tomorrow and concentrate on conveying solidarity to people of Tamil Nadu and suggest ways to provide help.The Congress yielded to the request with assurance that the matter will be taken up in the presence of Rajya Sabha chairman, vie president Hamid Ansari on Thursday.

Take that patriarchy: Woman offers prayer at male-only temple in Maharashtra

Villagers also performed a ‘dudh abhishek’ (milk purification) of the idol today and observed a ‘bandh’ in the morning to protest the incident.

Representational Image

Nine small steps taken by a woman to enter and offer prayers at a famous Shani shrine at a village in Ahmednagar district in ‘breach’ of the age-old practice of prohibiting entry of women has prompted the temple committee to suspend seven security men and the villagers to form purification rituals.The woman climbed the security barricade to the ‘chauthara’ (platform) where the idol is installed and offered prayers yesterday, before disappearing in the crowd.Startled by this ‘breach’ of the age-old practice of prohibiting women from offering prayers to the Shani idol, the temple committee swung into action today and suspended seven security personnel.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Villagers also performed a ‘dudh abhishek’ (milk purification) of the idol today and observed a ‘bandh’ in the morning to protest the incident.However, the woman’s action has been lauded by various quarters, including women and social organisations. “She should be felicitated for doing what she did,” Congress MLA from Solapur Praniti Shinde said.”I will raise the issue in the Winter session of Legislature, beginning in Nagpur next month,” Praniti, daughter of former Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, said. “We welcome the daring shown by the woman in offering prayers. The incident is revolutionary. The ‘chauthara’ should be thrown open for women,” said Ranjanan Gavande, Ahmednagar district unit president of the Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti (committee for eradication of blind faith).Social activist Mangal Khinvsara said, “Constitution Day was celebrated recently and the woman who breached the security wall to offer prayers has only embodied the spirit of Constitution which ensures gender equality.” The idol of ‘Shani Devsthan’, a black rock over five feet tall, installed on a platform without a roof, sits at the heart of the Shani Shingnapur village in Ahmednagar district. It is this temple that strengthens the local tradition of not installing doors and locks to the village houses. Once a humble affair, the temple has now grown into a large trust with extensive property and donations that run into lakhs. But it still does not have a door, much like most homes of the 4,000-odd residents of the village, where empty door frames mark the entrance to houses.

Yes, we bleed! say women taking on menstrual taboos in the country

Today, some women have taken on this taboo, and those propagating it in the country, on social media.

Menstrual taboos continue to exist in India despite the efforts of many activists and campaigns to dispel the myths around a natural feminine physical phenomenon. Talking about periods or menstruation still is taboo for many people and there are many don’ts associated with it. Women are not allowed to enter the kitchen, visit places of worship and even touch food items like pickles while they are on their periods. They are considered ‘impure’ during their menstruation and hence the rules. Today, some women have taken on this taboo, and those propagating it in the country, on social media. Nikita Azad, a 20-year-old girl has taken on the keepers of the Sabarimala Temple after a decision was taken by them to scan women to see if it was the ‘right time’ for them to enter the temple. Author Kiran Manral, who initiated the online volunteer network India Helps after the Mumbai terrorist attacks, has also started a similar online campaign. And it’s not just women who extending their support to these campaigns but men too.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –> The #HappytoBleed Campaign On November 20, Nikita Azad wrote an open letter to Prayar Gopalakrishnan, the Devaswom chief of the Sabarimala temple after he told media about this on November 13. She also started a #HappyToBleed campaign on social media. In the #HappyToBleed Facebook page which she started with some friends, it reads, “Devaswom chief of Sabrimala temple, Kerala has given a sexist statement that once purity checking machines are invented, that check whether it is “right time” or not, (whether women are menstruating or not), he will think about letting women enter.By this statement, he has reinforced misogyny and strengthened myths that revolve around menstruation. Although this has become the immediate reason of our campaign, our focus is identifying all forms of patriarchy and preparing ourselves for struggle.” Nikita Azad’s campign also urges women to hold up “placards/sanitary napkins/charts saying Happy To Bleed, take their pictures, upload it to their profiles, and send it to us, in order to oppose the shame game played by patriarchal society since ages.” (Read her letter here)The #IBleedDealWithIt Campaign Meanwhile, author Kiran Manral has also launched an online campaign called #IBleedDealWithIt against the taboos and myths that surround menstruation. “I grew up knowing absolutely no menstrual taboos. I guess I was lucky. When I was older, I realised there were a host of things women were not supposed to do during their menstrual cycle and it quite flummoxed me, because if anything menstruating is a natural process and is part of being fertile as a woman,” Kiran said.”I began this campaign #IBleedDealWithIt in response to the realisation that we are still carrying a lot of myths and taboos about menstruation with us, even though we might be educated women of the 21st century. The change must come from us, we must realise that if we refuse to follow menstrual taboos which are restrictive and discriminatory, and counter superstition with rational explanation, we could initiate change,” she explains.People took to social media to extend their support to these campaigns by tweeting and posting pictures.

Bring law in Parliament for building Ram temple: Pravin? Togadia

Pravin Togadia

Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) general secretary Pravin Togadia on Monday called for building of Ram Temple at Ayodhya by passing a law in Parliament.”Ashok Singhal was synonymous to Ram Temple Movement. The real ‘shrandhanjali’ (tribute) to him will be to build Ram Temple,” Togadia said at the condolence meeting for Singhal held here. Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel and Governor O P Kohli were also present at the meeting. “We demand that to build the temple, way of Sardar Patel should be used. For building Somnath Temple, Sardar Patel did not go to talk to people, nor did he wait for court order, but he brought a resolution in the Parliament,” Togadia said.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>”In the same way, present Parliament should bring in a law for building of Ram Temple,” Togadia said. The Ram temple issue is presently before the Supreme Court. “Following western culture there was an attempt before and after independence to separate religion from social and political life of India contrary to its age old tradition. However, Singhal’s main contribution was he succeeded to bring religion back to social and political life of the country,” Togadia said.Togadia went on to describe Singhal as one of the “tallest” Hindu leaders of the time and listed many movements started by him. Kohli said, “Before Singhal, Hindus were feeling ashamed to assert their identity but after his various agitations now Hindus proudly assert themselves.”The Chief Minister heaped praise on work carried out by Singhal to revive Hinduism in the country and remembered how he was instrumental in imparting training to thousands of Sangh Parivar workers.Many saints who had come from various parts of state also offered condolence to Singhal.89-year-old Singhal passed away on November 17 following cardio-vascular failure and septicaemia after he was admitted to a hospital in Gurgaon with complaints of acute breathlessness and pneumonia.

Jathedar appointed by Sikh hardliners arrested from Golden Temple

Akal Takht head Gurbachan Singh in his address asked Sikhs to remain vigilant against “anti-panthic forces”.

Jagtar Singh Hawara, the convict in Beant Singh (above) assassination case, as jathedar of Akal Takht

File Photo
Akal Takht head Gurbachan Singh’s customary address on the occasion of Diwali drowned in the din on Wednesday amid slogan shouting by Sikh hardliners, even as parallely “appointed” jathedar of Akal Takht also managed to address the gathering but was arrested soon after. Amritsar Commissioner of Police Jatinder Singh Aulakh said,”Dhian Singh Mand, a former MP of SAD(A), was arrested this evening from inside the Golden Temple.”Yesterday, Sikh hardliners had convened ‘Sarbat Khalsa’, a grand assembly of Sikhs, here and appointed Jagtar Singh Hawara, the convict in Beant Singh assassination case, as jathedar of Akal Takht. Since Hawara is in prison, Mand was to take charge as jathedar of Akal Takht, as per the hardliners. <!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Akal Takht head Gurbachan Singh in his address asked Sikhs to remain vigilant against “anti-panthic forces”. On the other hand, Mand sought Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s social boycott. Mand delivered his address in front of the Darshani Deodi (entrance of the Golden Temple). He gave an appeal for social boycott of Badals.Meanwhile, SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar appealed to people to maintain peace. Sikh protesters brandished swords and waved black flags in Golden Temple complex. However, no one was hurt in the melee.Gurbachan in his address said that “what the Sikh gathering did yesterday at Chhaba village has hurt the sentiments of the community and shaken it deeply.” “These forces have created an unrest among the community,” the Akal Takht head said.Speaking on the incidents of sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib, Gurbachan said that the state government must ensure round the clock surveillance of Sikh shrines. “Sikh warriors imprisoned since long must be released forthwith,” he demanded while asking the Centre to take a decision on the issue at the earliest.Mand, however, asserted that Badals’ political influence over Sikh institutions must be ended. He alleged that Badals have eroded the sanctity of Sikh institutions. Earlier, several leaders of hardline Sikh groups were detained here ahead of their proposed march to Golden Temple to address Sikhs on Diwali, a day after they had “appointed” Jagtar Singh Hawara, the convict in Beant Singh assassination case, as jathedar of Akal Takht.Apart from Akal Takht, which is the supreme temporal seat of the Sikhs, the yesterday’s congregation (Sarbat Khalsa) also “removed” jathedars of two other Takhts– Takht Kesgarh Sahib and Takht Damdama Sahib. In a preemptive move, police took into custody Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann and United Akali Dal leader Bhai Mokham Singh. Both of them were the key organisers of ‘Sarbat Khalsa’.

Kerry lays out steps to ease Israeli-Palestinian strife | Reuters

AMMAN/JERUSALEM The United States on Saturday proposed steps, including 24-hour video surveillance, to end weeks of violence over a Jerusalem site holy to Muslims and Jews.

Speaking in Amman after meeting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Jordan’s King Abdullah, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Israel had embraced “an excellent suggestion” by the king, who is the custodian of the site within Jerusalem’s walled Old City, for round-the-clock monitoring.

Kerry said Israel had also given assurances it had no intention of changing the status quo at the al-Aqsa mosque compound that is the third holiest site in Islam. Muslims refer to the site as the Noble Sanctuary, or Haram al-Sharif, Jews call it Temple Mount.

In a detailed statement, Netanyahu said Israel recognised “the importance of the Temple Mount to peoples of all three monotheistic faiths… and reaffirms its commitment to upholding unchanged the status quo of the Temple Mount, in word and in practice.”

He echoed Kerry’s statement that Israel would enforce its long-standing policy under which Muslims may pray at the site but Jews, Christians and members of other faiths may only visit but not pray, and that Israel had no intention of dividing up the compound.

Kerry said that Israeli and Jordanian officials would meet soon to work out the details of the video monitoring.

Authorities from both Israel and the Jordanian waqf, or Islamic trust, that administers the site, will also meet shortly “to strengthen security arrangements” at the compound, he said. Netanyahu said Israel welcomed greater coordination with the waqf.

Violence has flared in Israel, Jerusalem, the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip in recent weeks, in part triggered by Palestinians’ anger over what they see as Jewish encroachment on the compound.

At least 52 Palestinians, half of whom Israel says were assailants, have been shot dead by Israelis in the West Bank and Gaza since Oct. 1. Nine Israelis have been stabbed or shot dead by Palestinians.

In the latest incident, a Palestinian was shot dead on Saturday after he tried to stab an Israeli security guard at a crossing between the West Bank and Israel, Israeli police said.

“Today I hope we can begin to turn the page on this very difficult period,” Kerry said, standing beside Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh, who welcomed his announcements.

Netanyahu said Israel respected the “importance of the special role” played by Jordan as reflected in the 1994 peace treaty between the two countries and of the “historical role” of Jordan’s King Abdullah as custodian of the site.

“PROVOCATIONS”

A U.S. official told reporters it had not yet been decided who exactly would conduct video monitoring of the site, saying this would be discussed by Israeli and Jordanian technical officials when they meet.

An Israeli official who declined to be named, said: “Israel has an interest in placing cameras across the Temple Mount in order to refute the claims that it is changing the status quo.

“We are interested in showing that the provocations are not coming from the Israeli side,” he added.

Standing beside Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh in Amman, Kerry said the cameras “could really be a game-changer in discouraging anybody from disturbing the sanctity” of the site.

In addition to the shooting of the Palestinian at the West Bank crossing, a 25-year-old Palestinian protester died of wounds he suffered last week when he was shot by Israeli troops during a border clash near the Gazan town of Khan Younis, a Gaza health official said.

On Friday, Israeli authorities lifted restrictions that had banned men aged under 40 from praying at al-Aqsa, a move seen as a bid to ease Muslim anger.

Palestinians are also frustrated by the failure of numerous rounds of peace talks to secure them an independent state. The last round of negotiations collapsed in 2014.

From Amman, Kerry flew to Riyadh, where he met King Salman of Saudi Arabia and other senior officials.

Those talks were expected to focus on efforts to end Syria’s four-year civil war and on the crisis in Yemen, where Saudi Arabia has led an Arab military intervention since March to try to restore President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi’s government and fend off what it sees as creeping Iranian influence.

(Additional reporting by Ali Sawafta in Ramallah and Nidal al-Mughrabi in Gaza, Writing by Ori Lewis; Editing by Mark Trevelyan and Sandra Maler)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.

Did you know this UP temple that worships Ravana on Vijayadashmi

KK Tiwari, care taker of the Dashanan Mandir, according to a Punjab Kesari report, told that established in 1868, this temple only opens on Dussehra every year for the devotees and they visit in huge numbers on this day.

Image Courtesy: fbphotocomment.com
A mannequin of Ravana is set on fire as a symbol of victory of good over evil on Dusshera, one of the major Hindu festivals, across the country. However, there is a temple in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh that does the exact opposite. It worships Ravana, a character from Hindu mythology that was killed by lord Rama on Dusshera also known as Vijayadashmi.On the very day of Dusshera, the Dashanan (A man with ten heads, an alias for Ravana) temple located in Shivala area of Kanpur worships Ravana as a symbol of power with a complete set of rituals that also includes lighting candles along with reciting prayers. Devotees visit the temple on the day of Dusshera to make their wishes.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>KK Tiwari, care taker of the Dashanan Mandir, according to a Punjab Kesari report, told that established in 1868, this temple only opens on Dussehra every year for the devotees and they visit in huge numbers on this day.Tiwari told that the Kailash temple compound in the very area has as many as 23 incarnations of goddess Durga and the temple of Ravana is very adjacent to that. The Dashanan temple was built by Maharaj Guru Prasad Shukl of Unnav district about 147 years ago. Hindu mythology portrays Ravana in different shades; one of which is that Dashanan who was a true disciple of lord Shiva, was the biggest scholar of the time too. It is said that Ravana was first to know that to appease lord Shiva, he must worship Durga. Ravana was, therefore, established here as a keeper to all incarnations of goddess Durga. Born on Dashawin (10th day), he died on the very day too. After the mannequin of Ravana is set on fire, the gates of temple are closed for one year until Dusshera next year.

Kerala: Sabarimala Ayyappa temple gets a new head priest

He will be head priest for a period of one year.

Sabarimala Temple

Wikimedia Commons
The new Melsanthi (head priest) at the Lord Ayyappa Temple at Sabarimala is SE Sankaran Namboodiri of ‘Sooryagayatrom’ (Karackattu Illom), The Hindu reports. He was selected by a draw of lots.According to the report ES Unnikrishnan Namboodiri of Edackanom Illom has been selected as the next Melsanthi of the Malikappuram Devi Temple. Both the head priests will take charge of their new duties on November 17 and will hold the post for one year.Kerala High Court appointed K Babu as Special Commissioner to oversee the selection process of the head priests. He was the one to announce the results.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>The report adds that the two head priests will undergo training at the Tantri household of Thazhamon Madhom at Mundankavu near Chengannur before they join their new posts.

Conflict arises when radicals force ideologies on others: PM Narendra Modi in Bodh Gaya

India would like to develop Bodh Gaya so that it can become the spiritual capital, he said aboutthe holy city.

Modi said both Gautama Buddha and Lord Krishna taught the world about establishing dharma

PTI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said while there is no problem in practising one’s religion, the potential for conflict arises when radical elements try to force their own ideologies on others. Speaking to delegates of a Hindu-Buddhist conference at the Maha Bodhi Temple here, he said scholars of the two religions, who attended the just-concluded deliberations in Delhi, have also promised to deepen the notion of conflict avoidance philosophy and environmental consciousness in Asia and beyond.”The two day conference seems to have arrived at a broad consensus on both issues. On the issue of conflicts- most of which are being driven by religious intolerance- the participants in the conference seem to have agreed that while there is no problem about the freedom to practise one’s religion, it is when the radical elements try to force their own ideologies on others, that the potential for conflict arises,” he said. Modi said the themes of the conference, informed and shaped by the Hindu-Buddhist civilisational and cultural perspectives, promise to deepen the notion of conflict avoidance, philsophy and environmental consciousness in Asia and beyond. <!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>The Delhi conference was hosted by Vivekananda International Foundation and Tokyo Foundation with support of International Buddhist Confederation and concluded in Delhi two days ago.The Prime Minister described Bodh Gaya as the “land of enlightenment” and said his government would develop the site as the spiritual capital for it to serve as a civilisational bond between India and the Buddhist world. “I recognise how Buddhists all over the world revere Bodh Gaya as a place of pilgrimage. We in India would like to develop Bodh Gaya so that it can become the spiritual capital and civilisational bond between India and the Buddhist world. “The government of India would like to provide all possible support that its Buddhist cousin nations need for the satisfaction of their spiritual needs from this holiest of holy places for them,”he said after visiting Mahabodhi Temple.Modi said both Gautama Buddha and Lord Krishna taught the world so much, as Krishna gave his message before the start of the great war in Mahabharata and Buddha repeatedly emphasised on rising above warfare. “The message by both of them was about establishing Dharma,” he said, adding that both of them gave great prominence to principles and processes.Modi said the themes of the conference in a way was inspired by values and ideals given by these two greats. “Gautama Buddha gave the eight-fold path and the Panchsheel, while Shri Krishna gave invaluable lessons of life in the form of Karma Yoga. These two divine souls had the strength to bring people together, rising above differences. Their teachings are most practical, eternal and are more relevant in this day and age than ever before,” he said

Onam being celebrated with great festivity by Keralites this year

Between the celebration, there was also a protest carried out in front of the secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram by a group of BJP youth wing, Yuva Morcha activists who staged a dharna demanding ban of liquor sale during the festival days.

Keralites are celebrating Onam with great festivity this year

PTI
Keralites across the state on Friday celebrated Onam with traditional fervour and gaiety.People offered prayers in temples early in the morning while the day was marked by feast and festivities, including cultural programmes organised by various institutions. Heavy rush was witnessed at major temples, including the famous hill shrine of Lord Ayappa at Sabarimala, Sree Krishna Temple at Guruvayur and Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram.Onam is celebrated to honour King Mahabali, who according to legend ruled the state once, under whom the people were equal, prosperous and happy. People believe that it was on this particular day of Thiruvonam in the Malayalam calender month of Chingam when Lord Mahavishnu took his fifth avatar as Vaamana, appeared in the kingdom of King Mahabali and sent him to the netherworld. According to legend, on Thiruvonam day the spirit of King Mahabali visits the people of Kerala. Flower mats (Pookalam) were laid in houses and family members enjoyed the grand feast (Onasadya). <!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>A week-long cultural extravagance organised by the state tourism department as part of Onam festival is underway in several places and would end with a pageantry on August 31. People thronged markets till late on Thursday night to buy their favourite items for Onam celebrations. Long queues of people were seen at the fair-price shops opened by State Civil Supplies Corporation, Horticorp and Consumer fed, as part of government efforts to control spiralling prices in the open market.The day also witnessed a protest in front of the secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram with a group of BJP youth wing Yuva Morcha activists staging a dharna demanding ban of liquor sale during Onam festival days.

Navroz Mubarak: Parsi community celebrates New Year at Fire Temple

Photos: 1 of 5

<![CDATA[.social_sharing_panel li{float:left;margin-right:7px}.social_sharing_panel li .sos_fb_icon, .social_sharing_panel li .sos_tw_icon, .social_sharing_panel li .sos_gp_icon{float:left;width:42px;height:28px;background:url(http://s2.firstpost.in/wp-content/uploads/promo/social_icons.png) no-repeat}.social_sharing_panel li .sos_fb_icon{background-position:0 0}.social_sharing_panel li .sos_tw_icon{background-position:-53px 0}.social_sharing_panel li .sos_gp_icon{background-position:-105px 0}.soscial_count{border:1px solid #d1d1d1;border-left:none;border-radius:0 3px 3px 0;height:26px;padding:0 10px;float:left;color:#a3a3a3;font:600 18px/27px Arial;box-shadow:inset 2px 2px 1px #f2f2f2}.social_sharing_panel li .grybox{background:#ababab;height:28px;padding:0 10px;min-width:35px;border-radius:3px}.social_sharing_panel li .grybox a.PT7{padding-top:7px;display:block}.social_sharing_panel li .grybox a.PT4{padding-top:4px;display:block}.social_sharing_panel li .email_ic{background:url(http://s2.firstpost.in/wp-content/uploads/promo/social_icons.png) no-repeat -166px 0;width:19px;height:13px;display:block;margin:0 auto}.social_sharing_panel li .print_ic{background:url(http://s2.firstpost.in/wp-content/uploads/promo/social_icons.png) no-repeat -202px 0;width:23px;height:22px;display:block;margin:0 auto}]]>

Citizens call for ban on film shoots at temples, archaeological structures in Tamil Nadu

Despite the fact that there are several film studios available in Chennai for filmmakers to erect sets, shoots have continued to take place in real temples versus studio sets. Some put this down to the cost factor.

Shore Temple in Mahabalipuram

Getty Images
When Akshay Kumar was set to shoot Rowdy Rathore at the historical site of Hampi (Karnataka), local protests against the use of the historical site for shooting forced them to change location. Historical structures in Karnataka, like Hampi, Bidar fort, Badami cave temples, were a favourite for Hindi filmmakers till the Karnataka government banned film shoots at heritage sites to protect them from damage.In Tamil Nadu, in contrast, temples have been seen in countless number of films or televisions serials especially as locations for boy-meets-girl scene. But these sacred structures being used as a film or a TV serial set has irked many people in Chennai including the former director of Department of Archaeology, Dr R. Nagaswamy. “A temple is sacred; it is meant for worship. It can’t be converted into a film studio,” says Dr Nagaswamy. “The Endowments Department has already issued a circular stating that shoots cannot happen in temples. The existing structures and backdrops of sacred pictures cannot be used for commercial purposes. These shoots will damage these archaeological structures and cause irreparable damage,” he added.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Despite the fact that there are several film studios available in Chennai for filmmakers to erect sets, shoots have continued to take place in real temples versus studio sets. Some put this down to the cost factor. While recreating a temple set would involve heavy expenditure, shooting in a real temples would involve minimal cost.Temples are not the only archaeological structures that have attracted film and TV serial producers. For instance, movies have also been shot at the famous Shore Temple in Mahabalipuram (where Krish and Ananya get married in 2 States).Asks blogger Aarti Krishnakumar, “I see song-and-dance sequences in Hampi or Halebid and it makes me wonder why permissions are given to them. Why can’t they erect a set and do it there? Also, do movie makers donate anything for maintenance of these places?”While the Karnataka government has already put in place strict measures for film shooting at their archaeological structures to protect them and the environment, Tamil Nadu still needs to enforce their rules.Budding entrepreneur Lakshmi Kala Varadarajan agrees that Tamil Nadu should also should ban such shoots. “People don’t take precautions when they shoot. In the name of film shoots, people litter the place and the beauty of the place is completely spoilt,” she says.Krishnakumar also agrees, adding, “People, sound and equipment will damage the structure and we will not be able to preserve the heritage. Most of them are already in ruins so any kind of additional tampering is going to be detrimental and there will be nothing left of our history for us or for future generations.”Actor Narayan Lucky who understands the issues faced by both filmmakers and the government, says, “How we wish shoots could happen without any damage, but prevention is better than regretting later. In these locations if the damage is done, then it loses the charm and value. Also if it’s a public space and has historical value, it’s good to leave it alone and for the public to experience and enjoy that.”Dr Nagaswamy adds, “The Tamil Nadu government should take some strict action against such shoots in temples and archaeological structures.”

Jharkhand temple stampede leaves 11 dead and 24 injured, rescue operations on

A stampede at a Durga temple in Deogarh town in Jharkhand has left at least 11 dead early on Monday, police said. Police said that at least eight women died and another 24 were injured.

The incident occurred around 4 am while the devotees tried to overtake each other, according to Deogarh district Deputy Commissioner Amit Kumar.

Representational image. Image courtesy- ReutersRepresentational image. Image courtesy- Reuters

Representational image. Image courtesy- Reuters

According to the police, more than 100,000 people were in a queue, many waiting since Sunday night, to get into the famous Baidyanath Temple, when the stampede occurred.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das expressed grief for the dead persons. The chief minister also issued directions for better treatment of the injured, an official statement said here. Home Secretary N N Pandey, Additional Director General of Police S N Pradhan and other officials have been supervising the rescue operation and treatment of more than 30 persons, the statement said.

The chief minister has announced compensation of Rs two lakh to the kin of those killed in the incident. The injured would be given Rs 50,000, an official statement said.

Deograh is around 350 km from Ranchi.

The stampede took place on the second Monday of the auspicious Shrawan month when thousands of devotees visited Degoarh to offer prayers after fetching water from Bihar’s Sultanpur, about 108 from Deogarh.

According to an NDTV report, last week, about a lakh people had converged at the temple. The district administration is said to have called a review meeting of the arrangements made on Sunday.

Jharkhand Labour and Employment Minister Raj Paliwal reached Sadar hospital where the injured were being treated.

With inputs from agencies

President Pranab’s wife admitted to ICU in hospital following illness

Bhubneswar: President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday night cut short his visit to Odisha and was returning to the capital after his wife Suvra was hospitalised following illness.

President Pranab Mukherjee with wife Suvra. PTI

President Pranab Mukherjee with wife Suvra. PTI

Official sources said Suvra, who has been ill for sometime, has been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in the hospital in Delhi.

The President was on a two-day visit to Odisha and he was scheduled to attend a convocation of National Law University at Cuttack.

The President performed puja at Puri’s Jagannath Temple this morning and later visited Puri beach to see sand sculptures of famous artist Sudarshan Patnaik.

Mrs Mukherjee is under observation and her condition is stated to be stable.

PTI

Water enters Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain after heavy rains

The water has been pumped out and instructions were given to the concerned authorities to ensure that water should not enter into the ”Garbh Grah” again.

Submerged temples along the banks of flooded Shipra river after heavy rains in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh on Monday.

PTI
The sanctum-sanctorum of the Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas in the country, was inundated following heavy rains since the last three days.Due to heavy rains, the water entered into the Nandi Hall and sanctum-sanctorum of the temple forcing the priests to perform early morning Bhasma Arti in the same state, a temple official said. It is probably for the first time in the history of the temple that rain water gushed into the sanctum-sanctorum, a priest claimed.Ujjain Collector and Temple Committee Chairman, Kavindra Kiyawat said that due to heavy rains, water gushed into the Garbh Grah of the Mahakaleshwar temple on Tuesday morning.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>The water has been pumped out and instructions were given to the concerned authorities to ensure that water should not enter into the ”Garbh Grah” again.Because of heavy rains, nearly 5,000 people were shifted to safer places in the city and educational institutions remained closed since last two days.The district has recorded more than 25 inches rain in last three days, MeT department officials said.

Scandalous lapse in Lord Jagannath’s rituals: Why this will be too hot for Naveen to handle

Bhubaneswar: The first Nabakalebara of the century (and indeed the millennium), which also happens to be its first fully televised edition, has unfortunately turned out to be also the most controversial.

Everything that could have gone wrong has gone horribly wrong so far. But the bigger worry is there is a lot that can go wrong between now and July 18, which would mark the culmination of the gigantic, four-month long religious exercise called ‘Nabakalebara’ that comes roughly every 19 years and involves a ceremonial change of bodies for the three deities of the Lord Jagannath temple in Puri.

It has been a seemingly unending saga of unsavoury happenings, crash materialism and violation of every tenet of the scriptures that have laid down the elaborate and intricate set of rituals that go into the making of the Nabakalebara. What has made it worse is the deadly mix of politics, personal ambition and plain greed. Things have got to a stage where the faith of the average Odia – for whom the Nabakalebara is as big, if not bigger, as the Kumbh – in the sanctity of the whole exercise has been badly shaken.

The signs that this is not going to be a smooth Nabakalebara were visible even before the process got underway on March 29 with the start of the Banajaga Yatra, the search for the ‘darus’ (the neem trees with divine signs out of which the new wooden idols of the deities are carved).

While the selection of the ‘dalapati’ (team leader) of the Banajaga Yatra team consisting of Daitapati servitors of the Lord Jagannath temple did not pose too many problems, things came to a head over the selection of the ‘upadalapati’ (deputy team leader). Anxious not to displease any factional leader of the powerful Daitapati community, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) settled for the unprecedented step of appointing no less than four of them, throwing time-honoured practice out of the window in the process.

Twitter @sarvankarthik6Twitter @sarvankarthik6

Twitter @sarvankarthik6

As events proved later, the wrangling over the selection of the Banajaga team positions was only a minor irritant. It is the selection of what the team had set out in search for – the darus – that has been the biggest scandal this Nabakalebara. For the uninitiated, the selection of the four darus for the making of the idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Sudarshan is supposed to be a divine exercise that involves Goddess Mangala coming in the dream of the Banajaga team leader and telling him the exact location of the daru for each of the deities.

But in a talk show on leading Odia news channel OTV, the dalapati of the Banajaga team admitted, without so much as batting an eyelid, that there had, in fact been no dream!

The candid admission was only the first of many shocks that the average devotee was to receive in the days that followed. Instead of moving on foot in this sacred search as ordained by the temple manual, Daitapatis were seen zipping around in fancy SUVs, stopping every now and then to give interviews to TV channels. The image of the Daitapati as an austere religious emissary in search of something sacred with his attention not wavering for a minute from the task at end went for a toss as the new age Daitapatis took pictures and shot videos of their televised journey on their high-end smart phones and uploaded them on the social media.

But this was nothing in comparison with what came next: allegation of ‘daru fixing’, the new term that entered the lexicon of the Jagannath cult this Nabakalebara. Subsequent events proved that this was not a frivolous allegation and had a sound basis to it. For one thing, three out of the four darus – those of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra – were found in a small area in Jagatsinghpur district, something that was too glaring to be accepted as mere coincidence. [The local media, in fact, had predicted the precise locations where the darus of particular deities would be found at least a fortnight in advance!]

For another, at least two of darus did not meet the stringent criteria laid down in the manuals for idol making. While one had nails driven into it – a strict no-no – the other had a family of owls nesting on a branch, something that should have automatically ruled it out.

Austerity and solemnity went for a six as the first timers in the Banajaga tam, who comprised nearly 70% of the team this time, made it into an occasion for merry making even as their seniors converted it into an occasion for money making (even selling the ‘sacred’ leaves of the neem tree for hefty sums!). Hundis were placed at the site of each daru and generous donations consisting of cash, gold and silver collected every day for the entire fortnight that they spent at the location. Ministers and other VIPs were seen sneaking in and out of the supposedly no-go area called Sabarapalli, their temporary abode, even during the secret rituals. There were reports of glucose sachets vanishing from the shop nearby and ending up at the Sabarapalli on the day when the Daitapatis were supposed to be on a ‘nirajala’ (sans water) fast!

The vulgar display of wealth and greed and the nonchalant violation of established practice and procedure continued through the entire exercise of the felling of the darus, axing them into logs and then transporting them to Puri on wooden carts.

But nothing that had happened till then had prepared the devotee for what transpired on the night of June 15 and the better part of June 16 during the Brahma Parivartan, the transfer of the ‘brahma padartha’ (soul) from the old idols to the new ones. The all-important ritual that should have been mandatorily completed in the dead of the night (as prescribed in the scriptures) on June 15 got completed only around 5 pm the next day.

What sent shockwaves throughout the state was not so much the over 12-hour delay, but the reason for it: an unseemly fight breaking out over entry into the ‘anasara pindi’, the place where the soul transfer takes place. While the centuries-old temple tradition mandates that only the four ‘badagrahis’ (body protectors) of the deities do the Brahma Parivartan blind-folded and in complete darkness, the warring Daitapatis themselves revealed after coming out that nearly a 100 had barged inside, many of them had ‘darshan’ of the ‘Brahma’ and even touched it. The revelation that most of them had taken their mobile phones inside spawned fanciful stories about the ‘Brahma’ having been ‘shot’ on camera and sold out for a huge but undisclosed amount! Pictures of the supposed ‘Brahma’ are already doing the rounds on the social media.

Also doing the rounds of the social media – and now even the mainstream media – are photographs of Law minister Arun Sahu, the man in official charge of the affairs of the temple, getting up, close and pally-pally with the Daitapatis. No wonder, went the reasoning, the Daitapatis are calling all the shots, breaking every rule, flouting every tradition and hurting the religious sentiments of the people.

Predictably, the Opposition has started baying for the heads of Sahu and chief administrator of the SJTA Suresh Mohapatra and now Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik himself.

The extent of the public outrage over the incestuous relationship between leaders of the BJD and some senior Daitapatis (a few of them card holding members of the ruling party) leading to the gross bungling of the Nabakalebara rituals became clear when people across the state lent their unstinted support to the 12-hour bandh called by the Congress on Friday.

In his 15 uninterrupted years in power, Naveen has hit every challenge thrown at him for a six. But he may find this one too hot to handle. Because Odias would tolerate anything, but not anything that even remotely hurts their sentiments for Lord Jagannath.

Andhra Pradesh: At least 21 pilgrims killed after van falls into Dowlseswaram Barrage

According to reports, a van fell into Dowleswaram Barrage​ near Rajahmundry in Andhra Pradesh’s East Godavari district at 5:30 am.

Image Courtesy: ANI Twitter
A group of 21 pilgrims, including six children, were killed when the vehicle they were travelling in fell off a bridge here early on Saturday, while they were returning after visiting Tirupati Temple, police said.The victims include nine women, six men and six children, they said, adding, a young boy survived the accident.Citing preliminary information, a police official at the spot said, “a group of people were returning from Tirupati after visiting the temple. The vehicle driver appeared to have lost control and hit a wall of the bridge and fell off into Gaodavari River.”<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>However, the water-level at the point of accident was very shallow, he said.All the deceased belonged to Achyutapuram area, near Visakhapatnam.The incident is understood to have happened in the wee hours and police received information at about 5 AM. The relatives of the deceased have been informed, police said.

Protesters raise pro Khalistan slogan inside Golden Temple

Pro Khalistan slogans were raised inside the Golden Temple and there was clash between two groups.

Image Courtesy: ANI Twitter
Clashes broke out between two Sikh groups inside the premises of Golden Temple on 31st Anniversary of Operation Blue Star. The situation is currently under control, and the miscreants have been handed over to the police. Pro Khalistan slogans were raised inside the Golden Temple and there was clash between two groups. Police intervened on time and broke up the fight. Some were hauled up for questioning. Earlier, supporters of Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), led by former MP Dhian Singh Mand, assembled at Golden Temple and raised ‘Khalistan Zindabad’ slogans besides brandishing swords. As many as 25 Sikh youths were detained, police said.Tight security arrangements were made by Punjab police to prevent any untoward incident. Policemen in civil dress along with SGPC task force were present on premises of the Golden Temple, officials said.Heavy barricading was done by the SGPC officers around Akal Takht to prevent entry of any suspicious element to disturb peace, police said.SAD President and former MP Simranjit Singh Mann could not reach Akal Takht because of ill health.On the occasion, the family members of slain militant leader Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale were honoured by Akal Takht Jatehdar Giani Gurbachan Singh. Addressing the gathering, Jathedar Akal Takht said, “Sikh community will, all over the world, remember the unhealed wounds of Operation Bluestar.” Memorial made in the memory of those killed during Operation Bluestar in 1984 witnessed sizable footfall of devotees today.Radical Sikh group Dal Khalsa has called for Bandh here in the memory of those killed during the Operation in June 1984 in Punjab. Security forces in Amritsar and other areas of the state were asked to remain on alert ahead of the anniversary.Punjab Police personnel conducted a flag march in Amritsar on June 4 in areas leading to the Golden Temple Complex where the Operation Bluestar was undertaken in 1984 to flush out militants. Punjab Police sources had said that the security personnel in the districts have been asked to remain extra alert in view of the killing of a Sikh youth during protests in Jammu yesterday against the removal of posters of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. With agency inputs

Communal harmony: Muslims in Bihar donate land for world’s largest Hindu temple

<![CDATA[#bottom_popup{width:344px;background:url(http://s3.firstpost.in/wp-content/themes/firstpost2.0/images/promo/bottom_popup.gif) repeat-x;border:3px solid #6b6565;position:fixed;z-index:99;bottom:-130px;right:-350px}#bottom_popup .contbox{padding:5px 6px 25px 6px;position:relative;background:#F1F1F1}#bottom_popup .bptitle{border-bottom:1px solid #d3d3d3;font:19px/30px ‘FPfont’;color:#000;text-transform:uppercase;padding-bottom:5px}#bottom_popup .bptitle span{color:#F00}#bottom_popup .bptitle span.dot{color:#F00;font-size:30px}.f_flash_icon{background:url(http://s1.firstpost.in/wp-content/themes/firstpost2.0/images/promo/f_flash_icon.png) no-repeat 0 0;width:29px;height:29px;display:inline-block;vertical-align:bottom;margin-right:3px}.close_bottom_popup{background:url(http://s3.firstpost.in/wp-content/themes/firstpost2.0/images/promo/clost_bottom_popup.png) no-repeat 0 0;width:13px;height:13px;position:absolute;right:5px;top:5px}.bottom_infobox{font:14px Georgia, “Times New Roman”, Times, serif;color:#333;border-top:1px solid #FFF;padding-top:10px}.bottom_infobox a{color:#333}]]> <!– FP CRONTAB –>

PM Narendra Modi’s ‘super visit’ will leave big imprint: Chinese ambassador

China’s Ambassador to India Le Yucheng writes about PM Modi’s ‘super visit’ to China

Spring is the season of hope with flowers in full blossom. Amidst the fresh spring air, Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India paid an official visit to China from May 14-16, at the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. As Chinese ambassador to India, I am happy to witness the historic visit.The visit, the first by Mr Modi as Prime Minister of India, can be characterized by three ‘supers’. First, Prime Minister Modi was accorded a super high-level reception. In the first stop of the visit, Xian, the capital of the home province of President Xi Jinping and a long-time ancient capital of China, a grand Tang-dynasty welcome ceremony was held to escort Prime Minister Modi into the city, the first ever such ceremony for a foreign dignitary in more than a decade.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>President Xi and Prime Minister Modi spent more than 5 hours together. In addition to official meetings, the two leaders also visited Dacien Temple and Wild Goose Pagoda, built in commemoration of Xuanzang, the eminent Chinese monk who went on a pilgrimage to India for Buddhist scriptures, and watched traditional cultural performance together. President Xi held a special banquet for Prime Minister Modi at the ancient city wall complex.It’s particularly worth-noting that it is the first time for President Xi to host a foreign leader outside Beijing. And the visit in a way reciprocates President Xi’s visit to Prime Minister Modi’s home state, Gujarat, last year.There is a special bond between the two places as Xuanzang pursued Buddhist learning in Gujarat and it was from there that he brought Buddhist scriptures back to then capital of Tang Dynasty, Xian, and translated and taught the scriptures there.In Beijing, Premier Li Keqiang held a warm official welcome ceremony and state banquet for Prime Minister Modi. The two leaders spent almost a whole day together, including official meetings that went much longer than expected, attendance in the first China-India State/Provincial Leaders’ Forum and a Yoga-Taichi demonstration event. A cabinet minister accompanied Prime Minister Modi throughout his visit in Beijing and Shanghai as representative of the Chinese government, a rare practice in many years. Each leg of the visit was marked by senior-level attendance, including Vice Speakers of the parliament, several cabinet ministers including the Foreign Minister and the Commerce Minister, governors and mayors.All these special arrangements, senior attendance and high-level reception attest to the importance China attaches to the visit and the friendly relations between our two countries. Second, the visit yielded super fruitful results. The leaders of our two countries had an in-depth exchange of views on a host of major issues of mutual interest, reached important consensus while not shying away from differences. They took stock of China-India relations and charted the course for its future growth. The visit builds on the consensus to foster a Closer Developmental Partnership, further enriches the partnership and raised the regional and global significance of China-India cooperation.A joint statement was issued, which noted that India-China bilateral relations are poised to play a defining role in the 21st century in Asia and indeed, globally. Peace and tranquility on the India-China border was recognised as an important guarantor for the development and continued growth of bilateral relations. Pending a final resolution of the boundary question, the two sides commit to implementing the existing agreements and continue to make efforts to maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas. Prime Minister Modi pointed out in his speech that “the prospects of the 21st century becoming the Asian century will depend in large measure on what India and China achieve individually and what we do together”.A record number of 45 agreements were signed during the visit, including 24 inter-governmental agreements in outer space, cyber space, earthquake preparedness, maritime science, smart city, consular establishment, finance, education, exchanges between political parties, local States/Provinces and think tanks, etc, and 21 business agreements worth $22 billion.I remember saying to the Indian press before the visit that the business agreements signed would be no less than $10 billion. I thought at the time of the interview that I was giving a rather bold number, but it turned out to be too modest. Prime Minister Modi also brought a special gift to the Chinese people by announcing the extension of e-visas to Chinese nationals.All these deliverables are bound to inject fresh dynamism to our relations. Third, the visit was conducted in a super friendly atmosphere. Prime Minister Modi opened a Chinese Weibo account to say “Ni Hao” (hello) to the Chinese people and met with Chinese journalists before the much-anticipated visit. Throughout the visit, he was warmly received by the Chinese government and people. Everywhere he went, the feeling of warmth and friendship was very much in the air. The choice of Xian, the symbol and witness of the millennium-old friendly exchanges between the Indian and Chinese peoples, is in itself of great significance.There, Prime Minister Modi visited the famous Terracotta Warriors and Daxingshan Temple, where three eminent Indian monks taught and promoted Buddhism more than 1,400 years ago. Hundreds of thousands local residents lined up the streets to welcome Prime Minister Modi, waving and shouting “Modi, Modi”, all eager to catch a glimpse and maybe a picture of the Prime Minister. Moved by their enthusiasm, Prime Minister Modi stopped the motorcade to interact with local people. At the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, the Yoga-Taichi event brought together more than 400 people from 8-year old to 80-year old. At Tsinghua University and the opening ceremony of Center for Gandhian and Indian Studies at Fudan University, Prime Minister Modi’s remarks were a big hit. At the State/Provincial Leaders’ Forum, many local leaders from the two countries queued to have photos with Prime Minister Modi and Premier Li. At the business forum in Shanghai, many top Chinese CEOs expressed their desire to invest in India. During the visit, Prime Minister Modi posted dozens of Tweets and Weibo, including the much-liked-and-forwarded selfie with Premier Li. All this speaks volume of the strong will of our two peoples to build on the traditional friendship and open up new prospects in China-India relations.The three-day visit is now successfully concluded, but with its fruitful achievements and wide-ranging impact, it will leave a big imprint in our relations. Like our cooperation in high-speed railway, the train of China-India relations has entered a fast track of high-speed growth. As Chinese ambassador to India, I am truly encouraged by this milestone visit. We will implement the outcomes of the visit, enhance exchanges and cooperation across the board in the interest of our two countries and two peoples, and jointly write a new chapter in the duet of the Chinese dragon and the Indian elephant.Le Yucheng is China’s Ambassador to India

The Modi tour of China: Here’s what the PM will see during his three-day visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s visit to China on Thursday will focus on strengthening the relationship between the two countries by leveraging on their growing trade and economic ties, even as the two countries grapple with contentious issues of boundary and strategic regional rivalry.

PM Narendra Modi. ReutersPM Narendra Modi. Reuters

PM Narendra Modi. Reuters

But in the midst of all the diplomatic talks and political reasoning, we forget that the visit is also an interaction of the two cultures. After Xi Jinping visit to India, its China’s turn is to host PM Modi.

China remains one of the most culturally rich countries in the world and during his three day visit; the Prime Minister will get a glimpse of some of the best it has to offer.

Three days is quite a short span of time for a visit to a country like China for a visit. Famous author and chef Anthony Bourdain once said, “Saying that I’ve been to China is like saying that I have been to planet Earth. It means, at best, that you have seen a little, a slice, a nibble of the edge.”

Here’s is a look at all the places the Prime Minister is to visit and why .

Xi’an: The ancient town, once the terminus of the Silk Road and a meeting point of cultures and religions, is now a busy modern day city.

Although the visitors may be let down by the modern version of it, “the Ming-era city walls remain intact, vendors of all descriptions still crowd the narrow lanes of the warrenlike Muslim Quarter, and there are enough places of interest to keep even the most diligent amateur historian busy,” reports the Lonely Planet.

Xi'an. ReutersXi'an. Reuters

Men wearing Chinese ancient warrior costumes stand at the City Wall in Xi’an. Reuters

Terracota Warriors Museum: The museum houses a collection of terracotta sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China. It is one of the most significant archaeological excavations of the 20th century. The collection of over 8000 fantastic life-size clay warriors aka the Terracotta Army – is now referred to as the eighth wonder of the ancient world, according to the Terracotta Warriors Museum.

Unearthed terracotta warriors from the Xian period are displayed at a museum in the ancient Chinese capital of Xian. ReutersUnearthed terracotta warriors from the Xian period are displayed at a museum in the ancient Chinese capital of Xian. Reuters

Unearthed terracotta warriors from the Xian period are displayed at a museum in the ancient Chinese capital of Xian. Reuters

Da Xing Shan Temple: Built in 265-289 in the Jin Dynasty (265-420), this temple is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in China and a birthplace of Chinese Tantric Buddhism.

dada

Da Xing Shan Temple. Flickr CC

Big Goose Pagoda: This pagoda (Hindu or Buddhist temple or sacred building) is one of Xi’an’s most famous landmarks. The pagoda was completed in AD 625 to house Buddhist sutras brought back by Hsuan Tsang from his India tour.

The pagoda attracts numerous visitors with its simple, yet appealing style of construction.

big goosebig goose

Big Goose Pagoda. Flickr CC

South City Wall: Xī’ān remains one of the few cities in China where the old city walls are still standing. It’s the most complete city wall that has survived in China, as well being one of the largest ancient military defensive systems in the world, according to Travel China Guide.

South City Wall. Flickr CCSouth City Wall. Flickr CC

South City Wall. Flickr CC

Beijing: A powerhouse driving economics and politics of China, Beijing is also one of the most vibrant and dynamic cities of the country.

Author Daniel McCrohan describes his love for the city’s capacity to surprise. “After a decade of living here, I still find something unexpected almost every day: a phrase I hadn’t heard, a mannerism I hadn’t noticed, a new shop, a new bar, or even, when I’m especially lucky, a long-abandoned temple I never knew existed,” he writes.

Beijing. Flickr CCBeijing. Flickr CC

Beijing. Flickr CC

Great Hall of the People: Perhaps not ‘tourist spot’, but the building, used for legislative and ceremonial activities by the PRC and he Communist Party of China, is a sight to behold.

The Great Hall of the People. ReutersThe Great Hall of the People. Reuters

The Great Hall of the People. Reuters

Subramanian Swamy seeks special session of BJP National Executive

The former union minister also suggested that a national ban on cow slaughter could be done through enacting a Central law which is permissible under the Concurrent List of the Constitution.
File Photo

Pushing the Hindutva agenda, BJP leader Subramanian Swamy has pressed for convening of a special session of the party’s National Executive to draw an “actionable” programme to implement the promises like building a Ram Temple in Ayodhya, abolition of Art 370 and a national ban on cow slaughter.A National Executive member, he has told his party President Amit Shah in a letter that there was “anxiety” among the people to know the roadmap to fulfil some of the promises made in the 2014 election manifesto on Hindutva issues.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>The letter, copies of which were sent to some members of the National Executive, urges the BJP-led government to find solutions to these “outstanding” issues to bring a “renaissance” in the country’s religion, culture, history and heritage.Swamy, who had recently launched Virat Hindustan Sangam for pursuing Hindutva issues, has said a negotiable settlement could be worked out by Hindus and Muslims for building a Ram Temple in Lord Ram’s birth place. Hindus can agree to build for Muslims a new masjid across the Saryu river in place of the demolished Babri Masjid, he has said.The former union minister suggested that a national ban on cow slaughter could be done through enacting a Central law which is permissible under the Concurrent List of the Constitution.The abolition of Art 370 of the Constitution that gives special status to Jammu and Kashmir does not require a vote of Parliament or the state Assembly but by a notification of the President on the recommendation of the Union Cabinet, he said.Swamy demanded a law barring the government from taking over the management of religious institutions, which is in the Concurrent List for more than three years and declaring Ram Setu a national heritage monument.Making Sanskrit an optional language in all southern states and an alternative choice to Hindi in Hindi-speaking states and setting up of a committee to “correct” the history of India in text books were the other demands he has made in his letter to Shah.

PM Modi pays tribute to freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday paid tributes to freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev on their death anniversary.

AFPAFP

Woman stands with Bhagat Singh poster. AFP.

“Salute to Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev who laid their lives for the country. Tributes to these great patriots,” tweeted Modi, who is on his first visit to Punjab after assuming office to pay homage to the freedom fighters at Hussainiwala where their last rites were performed in 1931.

“In Punjab today. Will pay homage to Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru at Hussainiwala and will go to Golden Temple and Jallianwala Bagh,” Modi tweeted.

Born in September 1907, Bhagat Singh, one of the most influential revolutionaries of the Indian independence movement, was hanged on March 23, 1931 along with Rajguru and Sukhdev in Lahore.

IANS

Mahatma’s grandson thinks temple for Godse hurts Gandhi’s memory

London: The proposal to build a temple to Nathuram Godse by a section of the Indian society is denigrating Mahatma Gandhi, according to Gopal Krishna Gandhi, the Mahatma’s grandson.

Asserting that India needs Gandhi more than ever before, Gopal Krishna mentioned in an article that the work of the Father of the Nation succeeded in more ways than one can imagine.

Courtesy: ibn liveCourtesy: ibn live

Courtesy: ibn live

The article, published in Asian Lite newspaper here, marked the unveiling of a nine-foot-tall statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Parliament Square in London, next to a statue of Nelson Mandela.

Gopal Krishna, former governor of West Bengal, who has worked in top bureaucratic and diplomatic positions in the government, said that while Britain honoured Mahatma with a statue in a prime area, a section in Indian society was denigrating him by thinking of building a temple to his assassin.

He was referring to the move by the Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha to build a Godse temple at Sitapur district in Uttar Pradesh.

The veteran diplomat also wrote about the women in India in his article saying that they were worshipped in concept but neglected, exploited and abused in reality.

“You were not infallible Mohandas Gandhi, you erred often, as your wife, Kasturba knew more than any other person. But you owned your errors, tried always to be better than your best,” he added.

IANS

Kumbh Mela is VHP’s platform for Ram temple campaign

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) will enlist the support of Hindu religious heads during the Kumbh Mela in Nashik and Tryambakeshwar this July, to turn up the pressure on the Narendra Modi-led government for the construction of a Ram temple at Ayodhya and a ban on religious conversions. The VHP will also seek the seers’ support in pressing for a ban on cow slaughter and removal of untouchability. This development was confirmed by VHP central secretary Prof Venkatesh Abdeo. WHY CHOOSE THE KUMBH?Because the Kumbh Mela draws millions of devotees from across the country, VHP considers it the ideal site to draw the attention of the masses to the centrepiece saffron agenda. WHAT PART WILL THE SEERS PLAY?”An action plan in this regard will be declared,” said Abdeo, adding that the ‘sants’ may also lay down a deadline for the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. He pointed out that the seers had given a similar impetus to the Ram Janmabhoomi agitation in the past. IS VHP BECOMING MORE HARDLINE ABOUT THE TEMPLE ISSUE?Abdeo’s statements signify that the VHP is prepared to be more aggressive over the temple issue even today. Earlier, VHP international secretary general Champat Rai had told dna that before the bill to construct a Ram Temple at Ayodhya was passed, the Muslim community had to be “persuaded” to withdraw their claim on the disputed land and their case from the Supreme Court. He had said that the verdict of the Allahabad high court was sufficient for the government to make a law for the temple. WHAT IS THE VHP’S MASS CAMPAIGN?Now, the VHP will hold a mass campaign covering one lakh villages, including 9,000 in Maharashtra, to create a mass wave behind the Ram temple issue. The VHP’s campaign lasting from Gudi Padwa to Ram Navami in March, will consist of processions, religious discourses, keertans, speeches and contests. The VHP is seeking a law for the construction of the temple. WILL GHAR VAPASI BE PART OF ANTI-CONVERSION LAW?Speaking of pressing for a law banning conversions to religions other than Hinduism, Abdeo added that VHP would not stop its ghar vapsi programme (which re-converts Muslim and Christian converts to Hinduism). The VHP wants ghar vapsi to be left out of this legislation, as ghar vapasi signifies the reversion of converts to their original fold. Abdeo said the religious heads will also pass resolutions against undesirable social practices such as untouchability. Abdeo added that the VHP, which was formed in Mumbai in 1964, had brought about reform by allowing women to chant the Vedas and training women priests to perform religious rites.

Unclaimed bag found near Bodh Gaya’s Mahabodhi Temple

IANS
An unclaimed bag was found near Bodh Gaya’s Mahabodhi Temple on Friday.The bomb disposal squad was rushed to the spot immediately. “An unidentified bag has been found. It has been lying there since nine in the morning. Some people are saying it is there from Thursday night. It is dangerous if it is unclaimed,” said Bhante Chalinda, one of the chief monks of the temple. “The police is looking into the matter. They have restricted movement in the nearby area,” he added.Further details are awaited.