Israeli Police storm Jerusalem holy disperse to quell Palestinian demonstrators

Israel police storm holy site to quell rioters

JERUSALEM – Israeli police forces stormed a Jerusalem holy site on Sunday to disperse Palestinian protesters hurling rocks at visitors.
Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said police dispersed some 20 masked protesters who were holed up inside the holy compound known to Jews as the Temple Mount and to Muslims …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Israeli Police storm Jerusalem holy disperse to quell Palestinian demonstrators.

Over three million women gather for Pongala festival

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM – More than three million women devotees lit earthen kilns to cook rice and jaggery as offering for the presiding deity of Attukal Bhagavathi temple here Sunday on the occasion of Pongala festival.

The ritual started after the chief priest lit a hearth with fire brought from the sanctum sanctorum of the temple. The [..] Read the original article: here.

Israeli Police storm Jerusalem holy disperse to quell Palestinian protesters

Israel police storm holy site to quell protesters

JERUSALEM – Israeli police say they have stormed a Jerusalem holy site to disperse Palestinian protesters.
Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld says the Palestinians were pelting tourists with rocks. Police entered the compound Sunday and dispersed 20 to 30 masked protesters.
There were no injuries and no arrests were made.
The holy … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Israeli Police storm Jerusalem holy disperse to quell Palestinian protesters.

‘Women’s Sabarimala’ Pongala festival begins

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM – More than three million women devotees patiently stood in lines, stretching up to main roads of the city, to pay obeisance at the Attukal Bhagavathi temple here on the occasion of mega festival Pongala Sunday.

The devotees carrying bricks, firewood, rice, jaggery and coconut waited to make an offering of cooked rice to the … Original article on : ‘Women’s Sabarimala’ Pongala festival begins.

Flaherty’s double-double helps Houston Baptist rocket past Texas-Pan American 76-62

Houston Baptist beats Texas-Pan American 76-62

HOUSTON – Mario Flaherty grabbed a double-double, scoring 20 points and pulling down 16 rebounds, as Houston Baptist beat Texas-Pan American 76-62 on Saturday.
The Huskies (9-19, 8-2 Great West) were down 31-32 at halftime, but pulled ahead on the first play after the break when Flaherty made a dunk to …. Source  : Flaherty’s double-double helps Houston Baptist rocket past Texas-Pan American 76-62.

Iraq’s top cleric orders aides to stay out of election campaigning in bid to stay neutral

Iraq’s top cleric says aides not to join campaigns

BAGHDAD – Iraq’s top Shiite cleric on Saturday ordered his representatives across the country not to campaign for any blocs or candidates contesting the March 7 parliamentary elections, a move designed to assert the Iranian-born cleric’s neutrality.
An official at the office of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani said … Original source on Gaea Times at : Iraq’s top cleric orders aides to stay out of election campaigning in bid to stay neutral.

Central Asia’s sole Muslim party seeks to seize the moment as Tajikistan turns to Islam

Islam seeks a perch in Tajikistan’s political life

DUSHANBE, Tajikistan – Islam is on the rise in Tajikistan, and the only legally registered Islamic party in former Soviet Central Asia hopes to capitalize on that momentum in Sunday’s parliamentary election.
More than a decade after a devastating 5-year civil war, Tajikistan is still mired in poverty, prompting … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Central Asia’s sole Muslim party seeks to seize the moment as Tajikistan turns to Islam.

Opposition leader, in strongest criticism yet, says dictatorial “cult” ruling Iran

Opposition leader: Dictatorial “cult” rules Iran

TEHRAN, Iran – Iran’s opposition leader said Saturday that a dictatorial “cult” was ruling Iran in the name of Islam – his strongest attack to date on the country’s clerical leadership.
Mir Hossein Mousavi also challenged the government to let his supporters take to the streets freely, saying that would allow …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Opposition leader, in strongest criticism yet, says dictatorial “cult” ruling Iran.

Holi 2010: Greeting Cards, Messages, Scraps, Wallpapers

NEW DELHI, INDIA (GaeaTimes.com)- The color of festival is back. It is the time to do away with all kind of differences and spread love and harmony. Holi is celebrated on the full moon day in the month of ‘Phalgun,’ which corresponds with March (as per the Gregorian calendar). It is celebrated in … Read : Holi 2010: Greeting Cards, Messages, Scraps, Wallpapers.

Opposition leader, in strongest criticism yet, says cult is ruling Iran through dictatorship

Opposition leader: A cult ruling Iran
TEHRAN, Iran – Iran’s opposition leader says a dictatorial cult is ruling Iran in the name of Islam.

The criticism was the strongest yet by Mir Hossein Mousavi.
In comments posted on his Web site Saturday, Mousavi says his movement’s strategy is to effect reform by raising the consciousness of the Iranian … Original article on : Opposition leader, in strongest criticism yet, says cult is ruling Iran through dictatorship.

Sikh festival Holla Mohalla starts at Anandpur Sahib

ANANDPUR SAHIB – The three-day Sikh festival Holla Mohalla started here at the Keshgarh Sahib Gurdwara Saturday amid huge fanfare and enthusiasm.

Thousands of devotees, including many NRIs and Sikhs from the traditional warrior sect Nihang, thronged the gurdwara to participate in the festival and pay obeisance to the high seat of Sikh religion.
This is …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Sikh festival Holla Mohalla starts at Anandpur Sahib.

Pongala festival to see more than 3 mn women devotees

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM – Hundreds of thousands of women carrying bricks, firewood, rice, jaggery and coconut have converged around the Attukal Bhagavathi temple here for a mega festival known as pongala Sunday. Authorities expect the crowd to exceed last year’s three million.

The women devotees from Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu will make a cooked rice offering to …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Pongala festival to see more than 3 mn women devotees.

Trinidad prime minister defends his spiritual adviser, denies she benefits from taxpayer money

Trinidad PM: Spiritual adviser gets no gov’t help

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad – Trinidad’s prime minister delivered a fiery, hour-long speech on church-state relations Friday while flatly denying that his spiritual adviser travels with him at the expense of taxpayers.
This Caribbean island is a highly religious society of Roman Catholics, Hindus, Anglicans, Baptists and Muslims. Religion plays a …. Original source  : Trinidad prime minister defends his spiritual adviser, denies she benefits from taxpayer money.

Historical meets spiritual in Roman Catholic paintings, sculpture exhibit at National Gallery

National Gallery unveils sacred Spanish art show

WASHINGTON – Depictions of Jesus Christ’s wounds and suffering on the cross are on rare display at the National Gallery of Art as the museum presents its first comparison of painting and sculpture from the Roman Catholic Church.
Eleven paintings by Diego Velazquez, Francisco de Zurbaran and others will be … Read : Historical meets spiritual in Roman Catholic paintings, sculpture exhibit at National Gallery.

Detroit Institute of Arts acquires, restores and unearths treasures for new Islamic gallery

Detroit art museum opening Islamic gallery

DETROIT – In the heart of the largest concentration of Muslims in the U.S., the Detroit Institute of Arts this weekend is opening a new permanent gallery of Islamic art showcasing exhibits including a rare 15th-century Quran of a Mongol conqueror.
“The Arab and Islamic community is significant enough that it …. Original source  : Detroit Institute of Arts acquires, restores and unearths treasures for new Islamic gallery.

Danish newspaper apologizes for offense caused by reprint of Prophet Muhammad drawing

Danish daily issues apology over prophet drawing

COPENHAGEN – A Danish newspaper on Friday apologized for offending Muslims by reprinting a cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad with a bomb-shaped turban, rekindling heated debate about the limits of freedom of speech.
Danish daily Politiken said its apology was part of a settlement with a Saudi lawyer representing eight [..] Read the original article: here.

President, PM greet nation on Prophet’s birthday

NEW DELHI – President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Friday greeted the nation on the eve of Milad-un-Nabi, the birthday of Prophet Mohammed to be celebrated Saturday.
Patil in her message prayed may the message of compassion, tolerance and service to humanity preached by the Prophet inspire and guide us to follow [..] Read the original article: here.

Author, two others held for hurting Muslim sentiments

HYDERABAD – Two men N. Innaiah and Subba Rao were Friday arrested in Andhra Pradesh’s Khammam town for helping an author in writing a book that reportedly hurt the religious sentiments of Muslims, police said.
Police Thursday arrested Macha Laxmaiah alias Krantikar, author of “Crescent over the world – is a boon or the …. Source article  : Author, two others held for hurting Muslim sentiments.

PM greets nation on Milad-un-Nabi

NEW DELHI -Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Friday greeted the nation on the auspicious occasion of Milad-un-Nabi, the birth anniversary of Prophet Mohammed.
The universal teachings of love and compassion of Hazrat Mohammad inspire us to work for universal peace and brotherhood, the prime minister said in his message.
… Read : PM greets nation on Milad-un-Nabi.

Report: Turkish police detain 18 more military officers over alleged coup plot

Report: 18 more Turkish officers detained
ANKARA, Turkey – Television reports say Turkish police have detained 18 more military officers over an alleged 2003 coup plot.

CNN-Turk and Haber-Turk televisions say 17 of the officers were on active duty. They say police detained them in 13 separate cities in a nationwide sweep on Friday.
The detentions are the …. Read the original article  : Report: Turkish police detain 18 more military officers over alleged coup plot.