Akal Takht head priest justifies murder of social media influencer 'Kamal Kaur Bhabhi'
'As per Sikh religion's teaching, nobody, including Hindus and Muslims, should listen to obscene songs, especially the young Sikh generation,' Giani Malkeet Singh, the head granthi of the Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikhism, told reporters on Monday.
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Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Yogini Ekadashi 2025: When is Yogini Ekadashi? Know Date and Significance
Ekadashi carries significant religious and spiritual importance for Hindus. As per Drik Panchang, Yogini Ekadashi occurs during Krishna Paksha in the month of Ashadha. There are 24 observances of Ekadashi throughout the year and two Ekadashi falls in a month. Yogini Ekadashi being one of them. This sacred day is dedicated to honor Lord Vishnu. On this holy day, devotees participate in fasting and puja rituals. This year, the Yogini Ekadashi Vrat will be observed on June 21, 2025. Yogini Ekadashi 2023: Date and Time Ekadashi Tithi Begins - 07:18 AM on Jun 21, 2025 Ekadashi Tithi Ends - 04:27 AM on Jun 22, 2025 On 22nd Jun, Parana Time - 01:46 PM to 04:34 PM On Parana Day Hari Vasara End Moment - 09:41 AM Gauna Yogini Ekadashi on Sunday, June 22, 2025 Ekadashi Tithi Begins - 07:18 AM on Jun 21, 2025 Ekadashi Tithi Ends - 04:27 AM on Jun 22, 2025 On 23rd Jun, Parana Time for Gauna Ekadashi - 05:23 AM to 08:11 AM On Parana Day Dwadashi would be over before Sunrise Yogini Ekadashi 2025 : Significance Yogini Ekadashi possesses profound religious significance in Hinduism. On this auspicious occasion, Lord Vishnu is honored. Devotees who observe this fast are believed to cleanse themselves of past sins and liberate themselves from the cycle of birth and death. Those who worship Lord Vishnu on this special day are blessed with happiness, wealth, and prosperity in their lives. This fast is believed to purify the body, mind, and soul. Devotees on a spiritual path are encouraged to observe the Ekadashi fast each month, as it is believed to grant them a place in the abode of Lord Vishnu, known as Baikuntha Dham. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo On this sacred day, many individuals engage in various spiritual and religious activities. The Yogini Ekadashi fast can be observed by anyone, irrespective of age, caste, or religion. Those seeking relief from health and mental challenges are encouraged to observe the Ekadashi fast; if unable to do so, they should perform puja to Lord Vishnu on every Ekadashi while adhering to all rituals. It is believed that the benefits derived from listening to the story of Yogini Ekadashi are equivalent to feeding thousands of Brahmins. Yogini Ekadashi 2025: Puja Rituals Before observing the Ekadashi fast, one should make a sankalp. It is essential to rise during Brahm Muhurat and clean the temple area. Subsequently, one must take a bath prior to starting the puja rituals. The bath should be performed using only pure water, refraining from any body cleansers or soap. After this, initiate the puja rituals by placing an idol of Lord Vishnu, lighting a diya with desi ghee, and offering flowers or a garland, applying tilak, and presenting fruits and sweets. Devotees are encouraged to spend their day reciting Om Namo Bhagvate Vasudevaye. They should maintain a tranquil mind and relax, ensuring that no tamasic food is included in their meals.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Watchtower, museum to boost Prakash Punj's appeal
Patna: A watchtower will be developed within the Prakash Punj premises, the state-of-the-art facility near 'Guru ka Bagh' in Patna Sahib, over the next three months. The ghat on the bank of the pond, which spans one and a half acres, will also undergo beautification. The work at the 10-acre Prakash Punj Park is nearing completion and is set to emerge as a major tourist attraction, especially for Sikh pilgrims visiting the holy city. The comprehensive renovation project, estimated at around Rs 9.49 crore, includes a restored pond with a circumambulatory path, solar-powered lighting and modern sanitation facilities. The Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation (BSTDC) is executing the project with all works scheduled for completion by Aug. A senior BSTDC official said, "The beautification works at Prakash Punj are almost complete. Work is in progress on the top floor of the watchtower, which will feature a lift. Visitors will be able to view the grand sword installation atop Prakash Punj from the watchtower." The park's design pays tribute to Sikh heritage with four grand entrance gates named after Guru Gobind Singh's sons – Ajit Singh, Jujhar Singh, Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch xu hướng AUD/USD? IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Five circular structures represent key Sikh pilgrimage centres – Hemkund Sahib, Paonta Sahib, Nanded Sahib, Keshgarh Sahib and Patna Sahib. A major highlight of the park is a state-of-the-art museum that portrays the life and teachings of Guru Gobind Singh through multimedia displays, artefacts and historical exhibits. Circular walls within the premises feature miniature models of gurudwaras, offering visitors a glimpse of Sikh architectural traditions. Landscaping and eco-friendly features such as solar lighting and water conservation systems have been incorporated. "This project represents our commitment to preserving and showcasing Bihar's rich religious and cultural heritage," said a senior tourism official. "It will serve both as a tourist attraction and an educational centre on Sikh history," he added.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- The Hindu
A novel that captures the reconversion of Catholic fishermen to Hinduism
A Vinayagar temple in front of a church, especially in the southern coast of Tamil Nadu where the entire fishermen community converted to Catholicism centuries ago, is a rare sight. The Siddhi Vinayagar Temple, facing Our Lady of Lourdes Church at Idinthakarai in Tirunelveli district, is only a few decades old. Behind it lies a tumultuous history that led to the reconversion of a significant section of the fishermen to Hinduism in the 1960s. It is a story vividly told in the novel Alaivaikaraiyil by Rajam Krishnan, whose centenary is celebrated this year. Alaivaikaraiyil is the fictionalised name for Idinthakarai. 'At least 200 of us become Hindus and join the larger population outside. There is an organisation called the Hindu Parishad. They are ready to offer us all help. After all, we were Hindus in the past. St. Xavier converted us to Christianity,' says Benjamin, one of the characters. He says this while convincing his friends and relatives who faced police brutality for refusing to sell shark fins to contractors appointed by the church. Taxes paid to the church As Rajam Krishnan says in the preface, the Idinthakarai fishermen had been paying taxes and offering shark fins to the church ever since their conversion to Christianity. 'In 1965-66, a section of fishermen, realising the value of fins, refused to part with them. This angered the church and some priests, who excommunicated the protesting fishermen. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) brought them back to Hinduism,' she writes. A vivid scene in the novel captures the confrontation between the fishermen and the church contractor. Blood oozes from Jebamalayan's hands. Irudhayam Mama (uncle) lies curled up on the sand. 'Aatha' (the mother of the novel's hero Mariyan) is shouting. Samsalamma is cursing someone. Siluvai Moduthavam is holding a club and vows to root out those who were against the church. 'I suffered heavy losses this year. Ask them to give me at least half the fins from the catch. I have paid ₹4,000 for this contract,' contractor Periya Sayubu pleads with Benjamin, a friend of Mariyan. 'Did we ask you to bid for the contract? Even at last year's auction, we made our stand clear...,' Benjamin retorts, collecting the bag of fins from Issac. Reading the novel, written in the fishermen's dialect of southern Tamil Nadu, is no easy task for an outsider. Yet Rajam Krishnan, an outsider herself, delved deep into the daily lives of the fishermen. Until the arrival of Joe D'Cruz, who won the Sahitya Akademi Award for Korkai, Alaivaikaraiyil remained the only authentic work on the lives of the region's fishermen. Standing near the Vinayagar temple — now attached to the Murugan temple in Tiruchendur — is Anbu. His father Soosai Anthony was one of the fishermen who resisted the church's diktat in real life protests in 1966. 'The local parish priest and the Bishop excommunicated them, a decision that led to a clash, and the police ravaged our village. My father was tied to a post and beaten. I still remember my mother rushing to the spot and seeing him vomit blood,' recalls Anbu. His father resembles Mariyan's father Irudhyaraj in the novel, who is kept in a secret room in the church and tortured by the police. It was while hiding from the police that Benjamin established contact with the VHP. According to the novel, the fishermen made the final attempt to negotiate with the Bishop through Paul Samy, the former priest of Alaivaikaraiyil, beloved by the villagers. But the Bishop remained firm. The village split into two factions. For months, the police camped there, and only those with police-coupons could move freely. 'Our number dwindling' 'Around 300 families converted to Hinduism as the last resort. But our number is dwindling because we depend on others for our livelihood. Marriages often result in either the bride or the bridegroom going back to Christianity. We are firm in our desire to remain Hindus. But we can survive only with support for the education of our children,' says Anbu. A huge kodimaram (flagpole) of the church stands before the Vinayagar temple, emblematic of the enduring power of the church as an institution. As the novel explains, the VHP made arrangements to support the livelihood of the converted families. Women also earned an income by making beedis. 'We visit temples and our favourite is the Murugan temple in Tiruchendur. My father's soul will not forgive the traitors. He insisted that his body be taken around the village before burial, and we fulfilled his wish,' adds Anbu. Today, Idinthakarai has undergone changes. Once the nerve centre of the agitation against the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant, the church stands as a symbol of this complex history. But Mariyan's father in the novel speaks for both Christians and Hindus, when asked about his identity after the conversion: 'Even now, I utter the word, Jesus, when I hear the church bell. They go to Hindu temples, chant the names of Ganapathy, and sing in praise of Murugan. They visit Tiruchendur. They burn camphor. But none of this has become part of my blood. As far as I know, only the sea is certain. When the police beat us in the priest's room, he was praying. For whom?'
