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Film, TV producers' concert for tsunami victims

      Mumbai: The Film and Television Producers Guild of India will hold "Help Telethon Concert" on February 6 in Mumbai to raise funds for victims of tsunami tragedy. The fund-raising event is designed as a multiple TV channel simulcast comprising a live telethon across multiple news and entertainment channels, wherein film stars, TV stars and celebrities would perform and appeal for donations. According to Guild president Amit Khanna, this is a holistic integrated effort to raise money for the victims. All donations and proceeds would be directly credited to the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund. The event will be telecast by all the channels across the world, single feed comprising the event and commercials.

Church offers inter-religious prayer for tsunami victims (Go To Top)

     Velankanni (Tamil Nadu): Religious leaders read from holy scriptures at an inter-religious memorial for scores of pilgrims who died when the Indian Ocean tsunami hit Velankanni, a famous Catholic shrine in south India. Relatives of tsunami victims and local residents turned out in large numbers at the ceremony, led by the president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India, Archbishop Telesphore P. Toppo. Velankanni, famous for the sea-facing Marian Shrine of Our Lady of Health in Tamil Nadu state, was one of the worst hit towns, with about 850 deaths. "This is the time to convert ourselves to consensus, integrity and reaching out to those in difficulties and for selfless concerns, love and service. May our prayer obtain this blessing for us all," said Telesphore P Toppo, a religious head. The prayer meeting included readings from the Bible, the Koran and the Bhagavat Gita.

     The tsunami waves swept away about 300 pilgrims, who were either strolling on the beach close to the church or shopping at beachfront stalls. The waves also destroyed the homes of more than 800 families. The number of pilgrims has dropped dramatically since, and the centre at the shrine where pilgrims shave their heads is missing the normally long and winding queues of devotees. The number of pilgrims offering hair at the shrine has plunged to about 100 a day from between 1,200 and 1,500. Devotees shave their heads at the imposing Gothic-style shrine, with white walls and a contrasting red roof, as an offer of thanksgiving or fulfilment of a vow as in Hindu tradition. India has a strong tradition of cross-denominational worship.It is believed the Lady of Health appeared to a buttermilk boy in the 16th century and instructed him to make a chapel at Velankanni. Portuguese sailors who had reached the shores in the 17th century also built a church and it was conferred the status of a minor Basilica by Pope John Paul XXIII in 1962. The complex was not hit by the tsunami but the pilgrim quarters are now serving as a shelter for survivors.

Aftershocks rock Andaman and Nicobar (Go To Top)

     New Delhi: Earthquakes measuring from 5.1 to 5.4 on the Richter shook Andaman and Nicobar islands today morning and late last night. The tremors were recorded around the Camorta island with three taking place off the east coast of the isle and one off the west coast. Also while one aftershock measuring 5.7 on the Richter was recorded off the east coast of Little Andaman island on Sunday morning, another measuring 5.3 on the Richter shook the south coast of Great Nicobar islands last night.