Muslims celebrate Eid

          New Delhi: Muslims attended special Eid prayers in the country today. The festival signifies the feast of sacrifice celebrated across the world. Eid-ul-Zoha, also known as Eid-ul-Azha or Baqr-e-Eid, is celebrated to mark the end of pilgrimage to the Muslim holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. In Delhi, devotees assembled in the 17th century Jama Masjid in the city's old quarters to offer Eid `namaz' or prayers. As is customary, Muslims embraced each other and exchanged Eid greetings after the prayers. Devotees said that festivals should foster harmony among different religions. "Eid means that we are all one. We are pray to the same God, Allah. Hindu, Muslims, Sikh, Christians, we are brothers and we are all one," Rashid Bhai, a devotee said. People in Srinagar, offered prayers amidst tight security. All of them prayed for peace in the Valley which has faced the brunt of rebel violence in the last 15 years. "All the people of Kashmir, we pray that peace be restored to Kashmir. It's raining today, it's beautiful and this rain is an indication of peace and it is feeling great. We read the Namaz and after that we prayed and we prayed for peace," said Irfan Ahmed, a local said. Popularly known as Baqr ("Goat" in Hindi) -e-Id, the Eid-ul- Zoha is celebrated on the tenth day of Zil-Haji, the last month of the year according to the Islamic calendar. Muslims sacrifice goats on Eid-ul- Zoha and donate the meat among family, friends and poor. Devotees believe that the sacrifice of a goat reflects one's own spiritual sacrifice, which is essential for achieving communion with Allah. Rich or poor, everybody has to offer some sacrifice according to one's ability. According to the Holy Quran, God appeared in Prophet Ibrahim or Abraham's dream and asked him to sacrifice something that was most dear to him. Prophet Ibrahim decided to sacrifice his own son, Ismail. However, when he put a knife on Ismail's throat, God replaced his son with a goat through a miracle. The festival seeks to convey that sacrifice is supreme. Jan 21, 2005

Guru Gobind Singh's birth anniversary

          Patna: Sikhs all over offered prayers at the birthplace of their 10th guru, Guru Gobind Singh, in Patna in Bihar as part of the ongoing 300th birth anniversary celebrations. The city has the unique distinction of being honoured by the holy presence of Buddha, Guru Nanak and Guru Tegh Bahadur apart from being the birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh. The Sikh guru was born here on December 22, 1666. At his birthplace stands a magnificent holy shrine, called Takht Sri Harmandir Sahib, worshipped by hundreds of devotees. "We have come to offer our prayers on Gurupurab at the holiest shrine from UK. We have just come here to offer our prayers on the auspicious day," said Gurnaam Singh, a devotee from UK. "For the Sikhs he is the biggest of all as he was the founder of the Khalsa panth. He made such a khalsa that people from UK, Russia, Canada come to pray at his birthplace," said Rajinder Singh, head priest of Sri Harmandir Sahib gurudwara. The shrine is regarded as one of the holiest of five shrines, the seat of the Sikh authority and is one of the two shrines located outside Punjab. The other shrine being Takht Sri Hazoor Sahib at Nanded in Maharashtra.
Jan 17, 2005

Exposition of Francis Xavier's relics

         Old Goa: Lakhs of devotees today flocked to Goa at the conclusion of the 16th exposition of relics of Saint Francis Xavier. About 2.2 million people have visited the Se Cathedaral to venerate the body of St. Xavier, in a ritual that only takes place once a decade. The Spanish missionary's body, placed in a glass-topped intricately carved silver casket, was on a ceremonial display for more than 40 days. Hundreds of devotees gathered to participate in the procession to carry back the relics to its resting-place in the Basilica of Bom Jesus. Devouts thronged the procession. Afterwards there was a Mass held for the people present. "Not only form Goa but from all around India people came around and paid their homage, respect. But above all I think they have carried the message of love and unity because that was the central message of this, building of all communities," said Father Valerio Vaaz, a senior priest. The casket is usually placed high up in an altar of Goa's Basilica of Bom Jesus. In a ceremony held every 10 years since 1964, the relics are taken in a procession to the more spacious Se Cathedral across the street for the pilgrims to take a closer look. The first public display of the body of the 16th century saint was in 1782, prior to which only important government officials had been allowed to see it. St. Xavier was born in Spain in 1506 and devoted his life to religion and the service of the poor and downtrodden. He first arrived in Goa, then a Portuguese colony, in 1542. St. Xavier travelled throughout Asia, founding Christian communities in southern Japan and parts of what are now Indonesia and Malaysia. His efforts earned him the appellation "Apostle to the Indies," and he was canonised in 1622. Two years after St. Xavier's death in 1552 near China, his body was brought back to Goa. It is believed that when his body was exhumed, it was remarkably intact. In 1614, one of his arms severed and was taken to Rome where it is preserved at the altar of the Church of Gesu. Priests say the body, which the faithful credit with many miracles, has never been embalmed.
Jan 2, 2005

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