Haryana temple gets foreign currency

CHANDIGARH – A Hindu temple in Haryana has got a Navratras bonanza: donations in US, Australian and New Zealand dollars as well as British pounds.

The Mata Mansa Devi shrine in Panchkula town, 10 km from here, attracted over 600,000 people during the nine-day festival.
Temple officials said that while devotees continued to offer Indian currency …. Source article  : Haryana temple gets foreign currency.

Delhi celebrates Ram Navami

NEW DELHI – Delhiites Wednesday celebrated Ram Navami, the birth of Lord Rama, with ritualistic fasting and special prayers at noon when the Hindu god is believed to have been born.

The festival is celebrated on the last day of the nine-day long Navaratri festivities.
“On each day of Navaratri, we observe fasts and there are … Read more »».

Swami Nithyananda Scandal: The Real Story and Tragedy

Kolkata (Gaea Times) – Swami Nithyananda’s intimate video is common knowledge in most of India today and among his devotees worldwide. There has been repeated and continuous airing his videos in Telegu news channels, videos involving his intimacy with Tamil actresses like Ranjitha. As most of you realize that intimacy of two adult human beings … Read more »».

CatholicTV introduces 3-D programs in move to attract youth, make faith message more vivid

CatholicTV rolls out shows in 3-D to attract youth

BOSTON – Avatars and Mad Hatters are already performing before American audiences in 3-D, and Shrek is coming soon. Now, a national Catholic television network is throwing priests into the mix.
CatholicTV debuted 3-D programs Tuesday in an effort to reach younger people and to make the faith …. Read the original article  : here.

Religions from around the world pledge to end stigmatization of AIDS, HIV sufferers

Religious groups pledge to end AIDS stigma

THE HAGUE, Netherlands – Religious groups from around the globe pledged Tuesday to prevent the stigmatization of people living with HIV and AIDS, in a joint statement welcomed by a senior U.N. official as a sea change in attitudes.
Representatives of some 40 religions and faith groups including Christianity, Judaism, …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Sri Lanka denies visa to US hip-hop star

COLOMBO – Sri Lanka has denied visa to US hip-hop singer Akon in the wake of protest over his controversial video album featuring scantily-clam women dancing around a statue of Lord Buddha.

Akon was to perform in Sri Lanka next month and a major tourism drive was also launched to attract fans from Asia and other [..] Read the original article: here.

Resolve issue of damaged Muslim shrines: court to Gujarat

GANDHINAGAR – The Gujarat High Court Tuesday directed the state government to amicably resolve with the Islamic Relief Committee of Gujarat (IRCG) the issue of restoring religious places that were damaged or destroyed during the 2002 riots.

The IRCG had filed a petition before the high court seeking directions to the government to restore and … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Resolve issue of damaged Muslim shrines: court to Gujarat.

Religions from around the world discuss how to end stigmatization of AIDS, HIV sufferers

Religious groups discuss ending AIDS stigma

THE HAGUE, Netherlands – Religious groups from around the globe discussed Tuesday how to help the global fight against AIDS by preventing victims becoming outcasts from society.
Canon Gideon Byamugisha, an Anglican priest from Uganda, said the way his church treated him after he discovered he had HIV should set an …. Original article  : Religions from around the world discuss how to end stigmatization of AIDS, HIV sufferers.

St. Louis museum to be only Midwestern stop for colelction of art from Vatican

St. Louis museum to host Vatican collection

ST. LOUIS – The Missouri History Museum in St. Louis will be the only Midwestern stop in a traveling exhibition of rarely seen art and artifacts from the Vatican.
“Vatican Splendors: A Journey through Faith and Art” opens May 15. Officials from the museum, the Archdiocese of St. Louis and …. Read the original article  : St. Louis museum to be only Midwestern stop for colelction of art from Vatican.

Austria: Priest resigns after admitting abuse; 2 others suspended

Austria: Priest resigns after admitting abuse

VIENNA – An Austrian diocese says a priest has resigned after admitting he abused a 17-year-old boy.
The Graz-Seckau diocese says the priest stepped down of his own accord and that the abuse happened more than 20 years ago on a vacation.
Spokesman Georg Plank says two other priests have been suspended …. Original article  : Austria: Priest resigns after admitting abuse; 2 others suspended.

Muslim prisoners fast and pray during Navratri

BARABANKI – They are Muslim prisoners but they have been fasting, singing hymns and performing ‘yagnas’ at a jail here, hoping their prayers will be heard during Navratri. Never mind if it is a Hindu festival.

Nearly 30 Muslim prisoners of the district jail in Barabanki, about 35 km from Lucknow, are taking part in prayers …. Read the original article  : Muslim prisoners fast and pray during Navratri.

Security in and around Delhi temples beefed up

NEW DELHI – Barricades, door-frame metal detectors have been set up and a large posse of policemen has been positioned in and around temples in the national capital on the eve of Ram Navami Thursday.

“We have taken adequate measures to prevent any untoward incident in the capital. At various places, closed circuit television cameras …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Head of Vancouver Olympics, other sports dignitaries pay tribute to Georgian luger

Sports dignitaries pay tribute to Georgian luger

BAKURIANI, Georgia – The head of the Vancouver Olympics, an Olympic gold medalist and other dignitaries attended a ceremony Tuesday at the grave of the Georgian luger who died during a practice run at the games.
Vancouver organizing committee president John Furlong, luge gold medalist Felix Loch, International Luge Federation [..] Read the original article: here.

President, PM greet nation on Ram Navami

NEW DELHI – President Pratibha Patil, Vice President Hamid Ansari and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Tuesday greeted the nation on the eve of Ram Navami.

Patil said in her message: “May this day inspire us to spread Lord Ram’s message of righteous conduct and selfless service and strengthen our resolve to strive for justice and human …. Original article  : President, PM greet nation on Ram Navami.

Sri Rama Navami 2010: Dr. Manmohan Singh Wishes All

DELHI, INDIA (GaeaTimes.com)- The Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has offered his best wishes to the countrymen on the eve of Sri Rama Navami 2010. The Prime Minister on Tuesday said that he hopes that Sri Ram Navami 2010 ushers in happiness for all countrymen and all be blessed with Lord Rama’s blessings. Dr. …. Read the original article  : Sri Rama Navami 2010: Dr. Manmohan Singh Wishes All.

Krishna jazz from faraway Congo

NEW DELHI – The tall dark African servitor from Congo spreads the gospel of Hindu god Krishna on the east coast of Africa with a saxophone, guitar and jazz.

\”Hare Rama, Hare Krishna, Rama Rama, Hare Hare…\”, his gentle baritone fills the air as he plucks a plaintive riff — in the American bluegrass tradition … Read more : Krishna jazz from faraway Congo.

PM greets nation on Ram Navami

NEW DELHI – Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Tuesday greeted the nation on Ram Navami, the birthday of the Hindu god Ram, which will be celebrated Wednesday.

Praying that the festival would bring “joy and happiness for all”, Manmohan Singh said in his message: “The life of lord Ram inspires us to follow the path of righteousness … Read more >>>.

Muslim prisoners fast during Navratri to atone for sins

BARABANKI – They wake up early, keep fast, undertake Hindu rituals, sing hymns and eat a special diet like their Hindu brethren during the ongoing Navratri festival. These Muslim inmates of a Barabanki jail believe this will help them seek pardon from the almighty for their crimes and sins.

Nearly 30 Muslim prisoners of the district … Read : Muslim prisoners fast during Navratri to atone for sins.

Niqab becoming a flash point in Canada

TORONTO – The niqab worn by Muslim women has become a flash point in Canada, with most people seeking ban on the veil in public. But liberals and the media are comparing the ban demand to a Taliban dress code.

Canada has about one million Muslims in its population of 34 million, and their population is … Read more »»».

US Army gets its first Sikh graduate in 25 years

WASHINGTON – Captain Tejdeep Singh Rattan, a 31-year-old dentist, has become the first Sikh in over 25 years to be allowed to complete US Army officer basic training without giving up his turban or shaving his full beard.

Rattan graduated Monday at Fort Sam Houston after the army made an exemption to a uniform policy that … Original source on Gaea Times at : US Army gets its first Sikh graduate in 25 years.