Culture

Allahabad, Sept 11: Irked by recent controversies surrounding self-styled godmen, the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad, the top body of Hindu sadhus, today released a list of 14 "fake babas" and demanded a crackdown on "rootless cult leaders" by bringing in a legislation. Giving out the list, which includes names like Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, Rampal, Asaram and his son Narayan Sai, the parishad's...

Sept 1: Crores of Muslims around the world are celebrating the Eid al-Adha holiday as some two million pilgrims carry out the final rites of the annual Hajj in Saudi Arabia. Hundreds of thousands of Muslim pilgrims on Friday made their way towards a massive multi-storey complex in Mina after dawn to cast pebbles at three large columns. It is here where Muslims believe the devil tried to talk the...

Bengaluru, Aug 27: As the festivities for Ganesh Chaturti began on Friday in the city, as many as 2.08 lakh idols were immersed in various tanks in the city. Though the Plaster of Paris (PoP) variety dominated the bigger idols that were taken out in processions, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officials said it was heartening to note that only around 12,000 idols immersed were PoP...

Udupi, Aug 23: After being discharged from the Kasturba Hospital in Manipal on Tuesday, Vishwesha Tirtha Swami of Paryaya Pejawar Mutt spent time at the Vadiraja Mandira located next to the Sri Krishna Mutt/Temple complex by reading books and chanting mantras. The 87-year-old seer had undergone surgical procedure for hernia on Sunday. Though the seer has been discharged, the doctors have advised...

New Delhi, Aug 16: The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered a National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe into the plea of a Muslim man whose marriage with a Hindu convert Muslim woman (Akhila alias Hadiya) was annulled by the Kerala High Court as per the request of her Hindu parents. A bench of Chief Justice of India Jagdish Singh Khehar and justice DY Chandrachud ordered NIA to launch a probe into...

Rajamahendravaram, Aug 6: Two NRI sisters — Sindhu Vagdevi Vipparthy (12) and Shruti Vagdevi Vipparthy (9) — won appreciation from one and all when they recited 700 slokas in Bhagavad Gita from memory at Datta Mukthi Kshetram, on the banks of the Godavari, here on Saturday. Devotees from Iskcon temple, near Datta Mukthi Kshetram, also were mesmerised by the recitation. The Krishnashtami...

New Delhi, Aug 4: Even as 24-year-old Hadiya, who was forced to end relationship with her husband and stay in her ‘Hindu’ father’s home by Kerala High Court has been reeling under depression, the Supreme Court has been presented with two conflicting versions about her decision to embrace Islam. Her husband, Shafeen Jahan, portrayed Hadiya as an independent and devout woman who converted to Islam...

Kasaragod, Aug 2: A college student, who had to leave her home to study Islam in Kasaragod, has now returned home after the Kerala High Court assured her that she would be allowed follow any faith. Athira, who now prefers to be known as Ayisha, appeared before the Court after her father had filed a Habeas Corpus petition. The Hindu-converted-Muslim girl went with her parents after urging the court...

Mangaluru, Jul 27: Hindus across coastal Karnataka on Thursday celebrated Nagara Panchami, the first festival of Shravan month, with pomp and gaiety amidst rising prices of essential commodities including fruits and vegetables. Devotees thronged to temples and snake pits to worship Serpent. Kukke Shree Subramanya temple, Kudupu Shree Anantha Padmanabha Temple and Anantha Padmanabha temple at...

Belagavi, Jul 27: Endorsing the idea of independent religious status for Veerashaiva-Lingayat community, Jaya Mrutyunjaya Swami of Panchamasali Peetha, Kudalasangama, has said that the 12th century reformer Basavanna had strongly opposed Vedic (Hindu) religion and its practices. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, the seer said Basavanna fought against caste system in the Vedic religion and for...