Religion News – Newsletter for November 12, 2010

Chhath Puja Being Celebrated Today

PATNA, INDIA (GaeaTimes.com)- The festivities of Chhath Puja commenced across the country today with people from different states gearing up to participate in the three-day festival. In states across the nation especially in the northern parts of the country, the festival of ‘Chhath Puja,’ which is observed in the Kartik month in the sixth …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Chhath Puja Being Celebrated Today.

Selling arms, gambling not sins: Australian cleric

SYDNEY – Gambling, smoking and selling arms were not intrinsically wrong, and if they did not threaten the well-being of one’s family, they could not be considered as sins, a senior Australian cleric said Friday.

“I must confess I do feel a bit uneasy about that, but only a bit uneasy. Because culturally I’m an … Original source on Gaea Times at : Selling arms, gambling not sins: Australian cleric.

Many Muslim women celebrate Chhath

PATNA – They make religious lines blur. Nazma Khatoon and Hasanzado Begum – both devout Muslims – don’t think twice about observing a fast and performing other rituals of Chhath, the most popular festival of Bihar that is essentially celebrated by Hindus.

“I have celebrated Chhath for nearly two decades and will perform it … Original article on : Many Muslim women celebrate Chhath.

Yamuna banks in Delhi ready for Chhath Puja

NEW DELHI – The Yamuna river banks in the capital are all decked up as nearly 50 lakh people from Bihar, eastern Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand in the capital prepare for the rituals of Chhath puja Friday to worship the sun god.

Surya Shashthi, or Chhath puja as it is popularly known, is observed by … Read more »»».

Shirdi trust moots action against ‘duplicate’ Sai temples

PANAJI – The Shri Sai Baba Sansthan Trust (SSBST) is considering legal action against four Sai Baba temples in the country which claim to have samadhis (mausoleum) of the ascetic on their premises.

“Sai Baba undertook Samadhi at Shirdi on Vijaya Dashmi day in 1918. No other place can have his samadhi anywhere else … Read more >>.