Ritualistic Bath at Hardwar on Kartik
Purnima
(November
19, 2002)
HARDWAR: Over 150,000 devotees converged
in this holy town on Tuesday, November 19,
to bathe in the Ganga on the occasion of
'Kartik Purnima' (the day of the new moon).
A bath at Hardwar, considered one of the
holiest spots along the river's 2,000-km
(1,250- mile) journey from the Himalayas
to the Bay of Bengal, is treated as auspicious
since Hindus believe that by doing so their
sins will be washed away and their souls
will get entry in the heaven.
On
Kartik Purnima, the ritual becomes more
sacred as it coincides with the worship
of Lord Shiva who, on this day, destroyed
Tripura-Sur (a demon) and made the world
once again a safe place to live in.
Sikhs Celebrate
Gurupurab (Go
To Top)
(November
19, 2002)
NEW
DELHI: Sikhs all over India celebrated
Gurupurab festival with religious fervour,
marking the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak,
founder of Sikh religion, on Tuesday, November
19.
Devotees
were seen queuing up in New Delhi outside
the holy gurdwaras and lighted candles to
mark the occasion. The people visited shrines,
chanted hymns and ate a community meal in
the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib.
On
the eve of the anniversary, on Monday, processions
were taken out in New Delhi, amidst chanting
of hymns, from the famous Sheesh Ganj Gurdwara.
A 'langar' or community meal was also organised
on the occasion.
Sikhs
celebrate the birthdays of all the ten gurus
as Gurupurab and Hindus too take part in
the festivities The
famous Golden Temple in Amritsar, Punjab,
was lit up on the eve of the anniversary.
A large number of people from across the
country visited the temple to pay their
respect to Guru Nanak.
Guru Nanak was born in 1469 in the then
Punjab region of undivided Indian sub-continent.
Troubled by frequent conflicts between Hindu
and Muslim communities, he tried to work
out a synthesis of the two religions.
His mission gained popularity among the
masses and eventually evolved into Sikh
religion. After his death in 1539, he was
succeeded by his disciples, who became Gurus
in their turn. The tenth and last Guru,
Guru Gobind Singh, converted the Sikhs into
a militant community to combat the then
Muslim rulers of the country. They were
baptised in water stirred by a dagger. Those
baptised were known as 'Khalsa' (pure) with
the designation of Singh (Lion).
The majority of the country's Sikhs, who
form two per cent of the estimated 100 crore
population, reside mostly in Punjab and
in the Capital city of Delhi
Ramadan
Month Begins, Devouts Unite in Fasting and
Prayer (Go
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(November
7, 2002)
NEW DELHI: Devout Muslims across
India began observing the holy month of
Ramadan on Thursday. In the Indian Capital,
Muslims offered their first prayers at the
historic Jama Masjid in the morning.
The faithfuls refrain from food and drink
during day time and focus on devotion and
good work throughout the month. Some also
give food to the needy and alms to the poor.
In the Muslim-dominated old quarters of
Delhi, the devouts could be seen having
their only pre-dawn meal of the day. People
crowded at food stalls and shops selling
dates and dry fruits. Later, prayers were
offered at Jama Masjid.
Ramadan is the ninth and the holiest month
of the Islamic lunar calendar. The start
and end of the month for most Islamic countries
depends on the sighting of the new moon
by the naked eye. Considered auspicious
for prayers, Muslims observe the month-long
fasting called 'roza'. The people also take
the opportunity to spread the message of
peace.
In
Ahmedabad, main city of Gujarat State hit
by riots recently, special prayers were
held to mark the beginning of Ramadan. Prayers
were held at the most important mosque,
Jumma Masjid, to augur in peace in the violence-torn
state.
It is believed that prayers and fasting
during Ramadan secure them a place in heaven
and also bring them face-to-face with Allah
on the day of 'kayamat' (doomsday). Fasting
has a very important place in Islam and
has been made one of the fundamental requirements
of the religion. It is considered the best
exercise for self-restraint. Muslims believe
that abstention from food is not only a
trial of endurance but also a manifestation
of their thankfulness to Allah.
HC
Notice to Govt, Imam on Alleged Misuse of
Jama Masjid (Go
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(November 6, 2002)
NEW
DELHI: The Union Urban Development Ministry,
Archaelogical Survey of India, Delhi Wakf
Board and Imam Bukhari have been sent notices
by Delhi High Court seeking replies by November
27 on a petition which has charged that
(a) terrorists and anti-social elements
take shelter in the city's Jama Masjid and
(b) the monument is being used by the Imam
as private property.
The Bench, comprising justices Anil Dev
Singh and RS Sodhi, also sent notices to
the Delhi Development Authority, Municipal
Corporation of Delhi and the Police Commissioner.
According to the court, violation of law
cannot be permitted "whosoever the person
might be".
A person called Raisuddin, resident of Walled
City, alleged in his public interest litigation
(PIL) that "respondent Number 8 (Ahmed Bukhari)
and his father had started using the surrounding
areas (of the mosque) for their private
use and all sorts of illegal activities,
bazars, terrorist activities and unsocial
elements take shelter in this monument".
Jama
Masjid was built by Mughal emperor Shah
Jahan and has recently been declared as
protected monument by the Archaelogical
Survey of India (ASI) for preservation as
a structure of great architectural importance.
