Culture

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...

The last couple of weeks have seen daily demonstrations and confrontations between Israeli forces and Palestinians in the occupied Palestinian territories. Tensions have risen in occupied East Jerusalem's Old City after Israel shut down al-Aqsa Mosque compound for the first time since 1969, after a deadly gun battle between Palestinian citizens of Israel and Israeli forces. The attack, which took...

The terror attack on the bus of Amarnath yatris in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday evening would have claimed more innocent lives had it not been for the exemplary courage shown by Salim Sheikh, the driver of the bus, who drove the pilgrims to safety amid indiscriminate firing of bullets by militants. It was about 8.20 pm. A white-coloured bus (GJ09Z9979) with 56 Amarnath pilgrims on board was...

The ‘Sauhaarda Iftar Koota’ recently hosted by Sri Vishwesha Teertha Swamiji, the chief pontiff of Paryaya Pejawar Mutt in Udupi’s historic Krishna Temple/Mutt has triggered a widespread controversy as several hate-mongers have accused him of hurting the sentiments of Hindus. The seer has taken to social media to counter the continuous onslaught of the communal forces and uploaded a video wherein...

Today as the first rays of sunlight appeared, Muslims in many countries wake for Eid al-Fitr, the festival of the breaking of the fast. It marks the end of Ramadan, a month in which every Muslim (who is able to) fasts from food and water from dawn to dusk. The Qur’an, Islam’s holy book, was believed to have been revealed during this month. Eid al-Fitr is one of two annual festivals in Islam...

Madinah, Jun 18: The Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques announced the number of mutakifeen — those who seclude themselves in the Prophet’s Mosque for the last 10 days of Ramadan — numbered 13,575. Of this number, 11,432 are men and 2,143 are women, according to an undersecretariat official, Saud Al-Saedi, who was quoted by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). Three areas have been designated for men and...