Religion News – Weekly Newsletter for November 22-29, 2010

I just want my mom, pleads daughter of woman sentenced to death

LAHORE – The 10-year-old disabled daughter of Aasia Bibi, a Christian woman who has been awarded death sentence in a blasphemy case in Pakistan, breaks into tears and says she just wants to see her mother.

Aasia Bibi, 45, was given the death sentence by an additional sessions judge in Nankana Sahib district Nov [..] Read the original article: here.

Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary celebrated with fervour

AMRITSAR/CHANDIGARH – The Golden Temple complex in Amritsar Sunday shimmered with tens of hundreds of lights put up to decorate the holiest of Sikh shrines to mark Gurpurab, the 541st birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, Sikhism’s founder.

Devotees in their thousands gathered at the complex, where the Harmandar Sahib is located, to offer prayers on …. Read the original article  : Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary celebrated with fervour.

56 Hindu couples marry in Karachi

ISLAMABAD – Amid traditional songs and dances, 56 Hindu couples got married Saturday night at a glittering mass wedding in Karachi organised by the Pakistan-Hindu Council.

The couples belonged to Karachi as well as the interior parts of Sindh where there is a sizeable Hindu population.
As many as 31 couples from Karachi and 25 … Read : 56 Hindu couples marry in Karachi.

Punjab celebrates Gurpurab

AMRITSAR/CHANDIGARH – The Golden Temple complex in Amritsar shimmered in zillions of lights Sunday put up to decorate the holiest of Sikh shrines to mark ‘Gurpurab’, the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, Sikhism’s founder.

Tens of thousands of devotees lined up at the Golden Temple complex, where the sanctum sanctorum ‘Harmandar Sahib’ is located, …. Original source  : Punjab celebrates Gurpurab.

Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary celebrated in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD – Over 15,000 Sikh pilgrims from Pakistan, India, Canada and other parts of the world Sunday celebrated the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, at his birthplace in Pakistan’s Nankana Sahib district.

The three-day celebrations at the Gurdwara Janam Asthan concluded Sunday with a special procession and recitation from the Granth …. Source  : Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary celebrated in Pakistan.

Valuable letters handed over to Sarnath museum

BHOPAL – The Anagarika Dharmapala Museum of the Maha Bodhi Society of India has been gifted original letters written by two venerable Sri Lankan Buddhist monks who helped revive Buddhism in India.

Family members of the late Devapriya Valisinha handed over the original letters between Anagarika Dharmapala (1864-1933) and Devapriya Valisinha (1904-68) at Sarnath in …. Read the original article  : Valuable letters handed over to Sarnath museum.

Thousands attend Sai Baba’s birthday celebrations

PUTTAPARTHI – Thousands of devotees attended the 85th birthday celebrations of spiritual leader Sathya Sai Baba in this pilgrim town of Anantapur district Tuesday.

Devotees from India and abroad thronged Sai Hill View stadium to seek the spiritual leader’s blessings as a helicopter flying overhead showered petals on them.
Baba’s birthday was celebrated on a …. Original article  : Thousands attend Sai Baba’s birthday celebrations.

Islam one of the great religions of the world: Dalai Lama

NEW DELHI – The Dalai Lama Tuesday hailed Islam as one of the great religions of the world, saying true jihad was about fighting “negative emotions” within oneself.

Speaking after receiving an honorary Doctor of Letters (D. Litt) degree from Delhi’s Jamia Millia Islamia university, the Tibetan spiritual leader said that some mischievous elements … Read more : Islam one of the great religions of the world: Dalai Lama.

Vatican condemns China-sponsored ordination

Vatican City, Nov 25 (IANS/AKI) The Vatican Wednesday condemned China after its government-backed Catholic church ordained a bishop Saturday without papal consent.

Pope Benedict XVI learned of Father Joseph Guo Jincai’s ordination “with deep regret”, according to a statement released by the Vatican.
The ordination of Bishop Joseph Guo Jincai, took place in the … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Vatican condemns China-sponsored ordination.

Sikh group to launch global ecological movement

WASHINGTON – Two young Sikh professionals are joining EcoSikh, a community environment group to launch a global ecological movement with several diverse initiatives on behalf of the global Sikh community.

Ravneet Pal Singh from Ludhiana, Punjab and Bandana Kaur from New York started in their role earlier this month to further the mission of EcoSikh … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Sikh group to launch global ecological movement.

American filmmaker finds a way around ‘Buddhism fatigue’

PANAJI – Done-to-death stereotypes have given rise to ‘Buddhism fatigue’ in the United States, which is a tough challenge in movie making, according to California-based filmmaker Heather Kessinger who has made a film on Buddhist nuns.

“In the Shadow of Buddha”, focusing on the nuns in Buddhism and shot in the highlands of Tibet, is …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : American filmmaker finds a way around ‘Buddhism fatigue’.

President opens Indian Islamic Centre in UAE

Abu Dhabi, Nov 24 (IANS/WAM) President Pratibha Patil, who is on a visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Wednesday inaugurated the Indian Islamic Centre (IIC) here and said the centre will prove to be a cultural bridge between the two countries.

“IIC will no doubt prove to be a valuable cultural bridge between the …. Read the original article  : President opens Indian Islamic Centre in UAE.

Oman to allow temple, gurdwara

NEW DELHI – Oman has assured India that it will soon allow a temple and a gurdwara to be built in the country, home to some 500,000 expatriate Indians, it was announced Wednesday.

The assurance was given by Omani Minister of Awqaf and Religious Affairs Shaikh Abdullah bin Mohammed al Salmi to India’s Minister for … Read : Oman to allow temple, gurdwara.

Stop slaughtering animals, appeals Himachal monastery

SHIMLA – A prominent, centuries-old Buddhist monastery in Himachal Pradesh’s Spiti Valley Wednesday appealed to the people to stop slaughtering animals and be more humane to other species, a spiritual head said.

The appeal has been issued in the wake of the upcoming local festive season mainly in Kinnaur and Lahaul and Spiti districts where … Read more >>.

Malaysian Hindus protest Obama’s portrayal as Lord Shiva

KUALA LUMPUR – A Malaysian Hindu organisation has urged the government to ban the latest issue of American magazine Newsweek for “insulting Hindus” by depicting US President Barack Obama as Lord Shiva.

P. Murugiah, deputy chairman of the Malaysia Hindu Sangam’s Penang state branch, Tuesday said the November issue of the magazine portrayed Obama as … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Malaysian Hindus protest Obama’s portrayal as Lord Shiva.

Vatican releases Papal book

Rome, Nov 24 (IANS/AKI) A book consisting of the first series of exclusive interviews ever granted to a reporter by a pope was presented Tuesday at the Vatican.

“Light of the World. The Pope and the sign of the Times”, a new book on Pope Benedict XVI, featured interviews with the 83-year old pontiff in …. Source article  : Vatican releases Papal book.

Pope’s condom comments not a change of tack: Vatican official

VATICAN CITY – Remarks on the possible use of condoms to combat HIV/AIDS made by Pope Benedict XVI in a new book should not be taken out of context – and do not represent a change in Catholic teaching against contraception – a top Vatican official cautioned Tuesday.

Monsignor Rino Fisichella said to reduce six-hours … Original source on Gaea Times at : Pope’s condom comments not a change of tack: Vatican official.

Dalai Lama won’t exit any time soon

DHARAMSALA – Even if the Dalai Lama decides to quit public life, as he indicated recently, his aides say the entire process is likely to take about a year’s time.

In any case, the Tibetan spiritual leader is bound to discuss his retirement plan with the Tibetan parliament-in-exile which is based here, they say.
Tenzin …. Source  : Dalai Lama won’t exit any time soon.

Israel slams Palestinian study denying Jewish link to Western Wall

JERUSALEM – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slammed Thursday a Palestinian document claiming that Judaism’s holiest prayer site was not Jewish, and called on the Palestinian Authority to “disavow and condemn” the study.

“The Palestinian Authority Information Ministry’s denial of the link between the Jewish people and the Western Wall is reprehensible and scandalous,” a …. Original source  : Israel slams Palestinian study denying Jewish link to Western Wall.

Muslims too voted for Nitish Kumar’s development plank

PATNA – Saba Zafar has become the first Muslim to be elected as a legislator from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Bihar. The new Bihar assembly will see an increase in Muslim representation – from 15 to 19, including two women.

Parween Amanullah and Razia Khatoon are the two Muslim women elected … Read more : Muslims too voted for Nitish Kumar’s development plank.

Queen goes shoeless to tour Abu Dhabi mosque

LONDON – Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II visited a mosque in Abu Dhabi dressed in an Islamic-style headscarf and in stockinged feet, a media report said Thursday.

The Queen is on a five-day visit to the Gulf. She visited the huge mosque in Abu Dhabi, dedicated to founding president of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed, Daily Express …. Original source  : Queen goes shoeless to tour Abu Dhabi mosque.

Christians flee Karachi after getting threats

KARACHI – Several Christian families in this Pakistani city have fled their homes while many have sent their women to safer places after a Christian boy eloped with a Muslim girl, causing tension in their neighbourhood, a media report said.

The situation in Karachi’s Saeedabad area has become tense after an 18-year-old Muslim girl … Original article on : Christians flee Karachi after getting threats.