Milad-ul-Nabi: Sunni Muslims take out procession

         Lucknow: Sunni Muslims took part in a procession that was taken out on the occasion of Milad-ul-Nabi. Known also as Madhe Sahaba and 'Barah-Wafat', the procession was allowed to take place amid tight security. Youth and children sang devotional songs and carried exhibits depicting the mosques in Mecca and Medina. "300 people are participating in the procession and we expect that this procession will reach its destined place on time. Sentiments of all the Muslims are related to the procession. This procession is taken out in accordance with the Shia-Sunni agreement. This is very important for everybody", said Mohammed Ali Miyan, Sunni Maulana. Barah Wafat signifies the birth and death anniversary of the Prophet Mohammed. Born in 570 A.D., Mohammad is believed to have been the last Prophet of Islam. The Muslim era is said to have begun with his emigration from Mecca to Medina in 622 A.D., the year of the Hizra.
April 23, 2005

Baisakhi: Thousands take holy dip at Haridwar

          Haridwar: Thousands of Hindus on Wednesday ushered in the traditional new year and a harvest festival by taking bath in the holy Ganga river. It cleanses and purifies the souls. Hindus consider a bath at Haridwar, one of the holiest spots along the Ganges' 2,000-km journey from the Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal, as most auspicious and millions each year throng its banks performing special prayers and rituals. In most of the northern India, the Baisakhi festival celebrates the ripening of the Rabi or winter crop, heralding a time of great joy for farmers who thank the Gods for their bounty and seek their blessings for a successful harvest and trading. "Baisakhi at Haridwar is most auspicious and people from all over the country come here to offer their thanks and seek blessing ahead of the harvest. It is also a time to remember our ancestors. This is a time of great significance. It gives me great happiness when I enter this city," said Rampyara Chokker, a farmer from Punjab. Legend says Haridwar was one of the four places, where the drop of immortality fell to the earth after spilling out of a pitcher during an epic battle for its possession between gods and demons and for most Hindus a visit to the town is a must in their lifetime. "They wash away their sins and their problems with a dip in the holy Ganges. She (the river) is all encompassing. The devotees all live together, they sing in the praise of the lord, give alms and do good for all mankind, that is what Baisakhi is all about," said Ram Sharan, a priest. The spring harvest festival is celebrated around the same time, depending on local calendars and regions, across the entire length and breadth of the nation.
April 13, 2005

Hindu New Year begins

          Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh): The Hindu New Year means a whole new beginning. Almost all the Hindu New Year festivals fall in the beginning of the spring months when nature turns bountiful and blesses the earth with fruitful greenery. Hindu New Year has begun from today (April 9) according to Vikram Savant 2062 throughout the country. In Gwalior the begining of New Year at 4.40 in the morning today (April 9) was marked with processions , colourful dance performances and with people offering prayers and water at the time of sun rise (around 6.01 in the morning) at the Sarovar situated at the Jal Vihar. Although modern calendar or western calendar is used for normal everyday business there are various versions of the ancient Hindu calendar used to govern the religious festivals. Narendra Singh Tomar, Rural and Panchayat Minister, Madhya Pradesh said that we did not make sufficient efforts to convince the world about our traditional calender that is why we have two different systems today. "In 2005, this is according to the western system. We also count from the Vikram Samvat. Even after Independence, when India was making its calender at that time we did not make sufficient efforts that the whole world should understand this system. Today when we talk about nationalism or cultural nationalism, it means that the tradition and culture of India is you look at them, you will know that when the universe came into exsitense, then India also came into existence",said Narendra Singh Tomar. The Hindu New Year is celebrated differently in the different parts of the country. The customs of the New Year vary from region to region. The Hindu nav varsh is also known as Ugadi in Andhra Pradesh, while in Maharsshtra it is called Udi Padva.
April 9, 2005

Ram Mahotsav: Six lakh Sri Ram idols to be installed

          Ayodhya: Under the Ram Mahotsav programme of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) during the Navratras, six lakh idols of Lord Ram would be installed at various places in the country. The program is aimed at arousing consciousness among the masses about the life of Lord Ram and the Hindu religion as well. In Ramsevak Puram area of Ayodhya, a number of idol makers are working day and night to mould maximum number of idols. They have been provided with molds, like other idol makers in several other regions of the country, through which a number of identical idols are being shaped everyday. "One idol can be made in around 15-20 minutes. After taking it out from the mold, cleaning is done which takes a lot of time. Two men can make about 7 to 8 idols in a day. We have made numerous idols but we are not counting them," said Ranjit Mandal, an idol maker. According to Sharad Sharma, VHP Media In charge, Ayodhya, it is the endeavour of the Hindu organization to popularize "Ram Mahotsav" in order to make the people from all sections of the society aware of Lord Ram's high ideals. "Sages, saints and other religiously inclined people had decided to organize the "Ram Mahotsav" all across the country. So efforts are being made to popularize Lord Ram and his ideals among he masses. We want to make people aware about him at every nook and corner. The aim of this campaign is to destroy casteism and to make people aware about the life of Lord Ram," said Sharma. The idol installation would begin on the first day of Navratra (April 9, 2005). It seems to be yet another effort of VHP in their campaign to build a Ram temple at Ayodhya.
April 9, 2005

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