Category: Devotional

Devotional Today's Special

Happy Lohri 2020: Send Special Messages To Loved Ones

HT News

Every year, 13 January is celebrated as Lohri but preparations for the celebrations start early. For example, people get their homes ready to invite guests and prepare delicious items for serving guests.Even markets are decorated for Lohri festival. Shopkeepers of Delhi NCR especially in Old Delhi markets are happy to see buyers in the market. Sikh community is more enthusiastic about Lohri than others.

Best wishes for Lohri

The best way to make Lohrimemorable for self and others is to enjoy it in the traditional manner. Also, you can send beautiful messages to family and friends on this occasion.

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Spiritual

Chandra Grahan 2020: The First Lunar Eclipse On January 10 Would Be A Fractured Eclipse

HT News

The first lunar eclipse of 2020 will be on 10th January. It would be a sub-shadow eclipse with a short duration of 4 hours. Lunar eclipse is divided into three broad categories – partial, full and fragmentary or sub-shadow. The sub-shadow lunar eclipse is weaker in comparison to the other two.

Full lunar eclipse: The earth comes between the sun and the moon and blocks the light going to the moon. In other words, it covers the moon with its shadow.

Partial lunar eclipse: Shadow of the earth covers some parts of the moon. The sunlight doesn’t reach the covered parts.

Sub-shadow lunar eclipse: The moon gets covered under its own shadow and for this reason, this lunar eclipse remains weaker in comparison to others.

Lunar eclipse timing in India

The eclipse would start at 10:36 pm on January 10 and reach its midway at 12:40 am and will complete on 2:44 am. The total length of this astronomical event will be a little over 4 hours.

Lunar eclipse in 2020

The first lunar eclipse of 2020 would be on January 10; the second lunar eclipse would happen from June 5 to June 6 and the third lunar eclipse will fall between July 5 to July 6. The fourth and the last lunar eclipse of 2020 will be on 30 November.

None of the 2020 lunar eclipse would be full or partial. And Sutakisn’t applied to fractured eclipse because here the moon isn’t covered with the earth’s shadow.

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Devotional International

Gurudwara Nankana Sahib Attacked And Anti-Sikhism Slogans Shouted In Pakistan

HT News

Gurudwara Nankana Sahib in Pakistan came under attack on Friday. According to initial reports, hundreds of angry people surrounded the iconic gurudwara and started pelting stones at the devotees inside. Nankana Sahib was the birthplace of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism.

Attack on Gurudwara Nankana Sahib

It was said that the group attacking the gurudwara was led by a family whose boy abducted the daughter of a gurudwara official from her home and forcibly converted her to Islam. Jagjit Kaur was abducted from her home in Nankana Sahib in August last year.

Another report told that the scuffle was the result of a minor altercation between two Muslim groups in the city of Nankana Sahib. It happened at a tea-stall but the district administration swung into action and controlled the situation.

India condemns the incident

Punjab CM Amarinder Singh appealed Pakistan PM Imran Khan to intervene and assure the safety of the devotees stuck inside the iconic gurudwara. Akali Dal MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa also tweeted to condemn the wanton act of destruction.

Pakistan PM Imran Khan replied

In response to the tweets of Indian leaders, Pak PM tweeted a video alleged to be of Indian police attacking Muslims. But on checking, the video was found to be of Bangladesh and was shot in 2013. The Pak PM wasted no time in deleting the tweets.

Pak Foreign Office statement

The authorities in Punjab province released a midnight statement to assure the world community that the gurudwara remained unchanged and undamaged in the attack.

Source: https://bit.ly/2QM8Im0

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Devotional International

Why Pakistan Charges Rs. 200 From Each Muslim Devotee Of Kartarpur Sahib?

HT News

Gurudwaras are open to all but in Pakistan, Muslims are discouraged from visiting the Gurudwara Darbar Sahib, Kartarpur Sahib. While the government has levied a charge of Rs. 200 for paying obeisance to Bana Nanak, the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) doesn’t allow Muslims to visit the sanctum Sanctorum.

PSGPC on Muslims visiting the gurudwara

According to PSGPS president Satwant Singh, Muslims are kept out of the sanctum Sanctorum for fear of violations of Sikh code of religious conduct that makes it mandatory for visitors to remove socks, wash hands and cover head before entering the gurudwaras.

The president further said that since the staircase leading to the sanctum at first floor is narrow, the PSGPC had to prevent locals from entering the gurudwara to make way for visitors. He said that up to 5000 to 6000 visitors visit the gurudwara daily.

On the Rs. 200 charge levied on Muslims for paying obeisance to Bana Nanak, the president reasoned that had written to the government to waive the charge from Muslim devotees. But he said that Muslims should also follow the Sikh code of religious conduct and avoid activities like taking selfies in the gurudwara.

Guru Nanak had Muslim devotees

Muslims call Guru Nanak Dev ji as Bana Nanak and the come to Kartarpur Sahib to pay their obeisance to Guru Nanak Dev. When Guru Nanak passed away, their devotees decided to cremate the departed soul according to their religions. While Hindus made Samadhi of Guru Nanak, Muslims made mazar of Bana Nanak.

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Devotional National

SC Refers Sabarimala Temple All-Women Entry To A Larger Seven-Judge Bench

HT News

Supreme Court decided that the decision to review to end ban on women between 10 and 50 entering Sabarimala Temple in Kerala should be taken-up by a larger seven-judge bench. Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi related the question of women of all ages entering into Sabarimala Temple to issue of Muslim and Parsi women and female genital mutilation in the Dawoodi Bohra community.

What was Sabarimala Temple ban?

The apex court with a majority of 4:1 ended the centuries-old ban on women of mensural age – 10-50 – from entering the famous Ayyappa shrine last year. The SC called the religious practice of prohibiting women from 10-50 years of age as “illegal and unconstitutional”. It upheld the constitutional right of evert individual to practice their faith.

What is present status of Sabarimala Temple ban?

The court didn’t put hold on its earlier order hence there’s no ban on women of all ages entering Sabarimala Temple. The matter is only referred to a larger bench for decision.

What is the status of Sabarimala Temple ban?

Two women tried to enter the temple but were vehemently opposed by the society and political parties. It is what made people request the apex court to reconsider its decision.

Source: https://bit.ly/2qWfIDl

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Devotional International

Trump Would Celebrate Diwali Three Days Ahead In The White House

HT News

US President Donald Trump will celebrate Diwali in White House three days ahead of the festival. He would mark the beginning of Diwali festival in America by lighting a ceremonial “diya” on Thursday. No other details of the celebrations were shared by the White House spokesman.

Who started the tradition of celebrating Diwali in White House?

Barack Obama started the tradition of celebrating Diwali by lighting a ceremonial lamp in the US. It was in 2009 when Obama then the US President first lit a lamp to celebrate Diwali in his office. Trump is the second US president to celebrate the festival of lights in White House.

It is Trump’s third Diwali celebration in White House

Trump celebrated his first Diwali in 2017 in his Oval Office in the presence of a select group of Indian-American community leaders. He hailed the contribution of Indian community in the development of America after lighting the ceremonial lamp.

In 2018, Trump invited then Indian Ambassador to the US, Navtej Singh Sarna for Diwali celebrations. It is third time that Trump will celebrate Diwali by lighting a ceremonial lamp in White House. But it isn’t known whether he would invite members of Indian-American community.

Both in 2017 and 2018, Trump referred to his good friendship with Indian PM Narendra Modi while lighting the ceremonial lamp. It is to be seen how he addresses the Indian community in the US.

Meanwhile, Diwali celebrations in the US have already begun. The Indian-American community has started preparations for celebrating the festival of light.

Source: https://bit.ly/2pIOq2G

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Devotional News & Politics Today's Special

Dhanteras 2019 Is Two-Day Shopping Festival

HT News

This Dhanteras is going to be very special due to lagnadi, chanra, mangal, sadasanchar and ashtlakshmi faldaayi shubhsanyong. Also, it is going to be two-day shopping festival according to leading astrologer SudhanandJha. He further said that this Dhanteras the sun is making the great suryakritaubhyacharisanyog. Worship goddess Lakshmi, Ganesha, Saraswatiand Kuber in sthirlagna to get sukh-samridhi.

Start puja in sthirlagna

Dhanteras would mark the beginning of five-day festival of light. 25th October is to worship father of Ayurveda, Dhanwantari Rishi. According to Varanasi and Mithila panchang, Dhanteraspuja should start on sthirlagna and you can keep worshipping according to your convenience.

Shubh Lagna for Dhanteraspuja

VrishaLagna: 6:50 PM to 8:42 PM

Sinha Lagna: 1:13 AM to 3:29 AM

Tula Lagna: 5:44 AM to 8 AM

VrishchikLagna: 8 AM to 10:15 AM

KumbhLagna: 2:10 PM to 3:40 PM

Pradoshkaleen Puja

It is auspicious to worship goddess Lakshmi, Ganesha etc. in Pradoshkaleentime that is just after sunset. Those who are unaware about their lagnascan start puja past half-an-hour of sunset.

Astrologer Sughanand Jha said that Deepawali and Kali puja is on 27th October. He further said that the auspicious time for Kali puja is 10:30 PM. Pran Pratishta would be on 11:40 PM after which you can start the puja.

Highlights of Dhanteras

• Falling on Chandra, mangal, ashtlakshmi faldaayi subhsanyog

• Shubh Muhuraton 25th October from 4:42 PM to 26th October 2:29 PM

• Full night puja muhuraton Dhanteras and shopping on two-days

• Govardhan puja would be on 28th October

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Devotional

Make Karwa Chauth 2019 Special For Your Wife

HT News

October 17 will be Karwa Chauth, a religious ceremony special for married Hindu women called “Suhagan”. Every Suhagan keeps fast from sunrise to sunset to pray for well-being and long-life of her husband.

About Karwa Chauth

Every year the fourth-day of Krishna Paksha in the month of Kartik is celebrated as KarwaChath. This day is considered auspicious for fasting for a happy married life. This fast is exclusively for women. On this day, Suhagans wake up early and have breakfast before the sun rises. It is so because they are prohibited from eating or drinking till sunset. The fast is opened only when the moon rises.

How the Karwa Chauth performed?

It starts with listening to a religious story related to Karwa Chauth in the evening before the sunset. Women observing fast can perform the puja in groups or go to a nearby temple, according to their convenience. After the puja is complete, they wait for the moon to rises. Suhagans first see the moon and then their husbands. Finally, the husbands give water to their wives for opening the fast.

Highlights of Karwa Chauth

  • Women spend an entire day without food and water
  • They spend lavishly on makeup and dressing
  • Husbands buy expensive gifts for their wives
  • People exchange quotes and messages for Karwa Chauth on social media
  • Women can fast even after engagement

The modern lifestyle also has a say in Karwa Chauth. Boutiques and hotels offer special discounts and packages for Karwa Chauth. Today it is celebrated as a national festival.

Source: https://bit.ly/2VQnDhe

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Devotional News & Politics

Ravana Effigy Went Into Flames While Setting In Vidhsha, MP

HT News

In a freak incident in Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh, an effigy of Ravana burnt to ashes after colliding with electricity powerline. The incident happened just a day before Dusshera celebrations.

How Ravana effigy burnt before Dusshera?

It happened in Sironj area of Vidisha district. At the time of incident, the effigy was being installed at a predetermined place. The authorities were trying to setup the Ravana near a bus stand to celebrate Dusshera when the mannikin hit the 132 KV power line passing over it. Soon the Ravana was in flames and came down heavily in the form of ashes. The persons holding the effigy became mute spectators to the flames.

How tall was Ravana effigy?

It was a 33-feet tall Ravana stuffed with firecrackers of different shapes and sizes. As soon as it touched the high-tension electric line, it burst into flames with the firecrackers setting off the effigy. It was a horrific scene as the area was packed with audience gathered to see the effigy being set for Dusshera festival. Also, there were passerby who stopped hearing the sound of firecrackers. But luckily there was no accident at the site. All the persons working on the Ravana effigy and passerby were safe.

Who was responsible for the Ravana burning incident?

Locals blamed the Sironj Municipality and the authorities for the unfortunate incident. According to locals, the responsible persons should have taken precautionary measures to prevent the collision of the effigy with the powerline. It was a clear negligence on the part of the authorized persons.

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Devotional

Tamil Nadu Governor, Chief Minister, Deputy CM And Other Leaders Extend Greetings For Ayudha Pooja And Vijayadasami

HT News

Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit extended his greetings for Ayudha Pooja to countrymen. Also, the Chief Minister K Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam extended their greetings for Ayudha Pooja on the eve of the festival of Viajaydasami started on Monday.

What did the governor say in his greetings?

Banwarilal Purohit said that Ayudha Pooja marked the triumph of the good forces over evil. He further elaborated that the concept of Durga as a protector of human race was embodied in Navarathri celebrations. He said that people chant hymns of Durga’s victory over evil forces.

The Raj Bhawan greeting message states that the governor extends his best wishes to the people of Tamil Nadu to promote communal harmony, diversity and creatively offer opportunities for civic pride and improve their standard of living.

What did the CM say in his greetings?

CM K Palaniswamiwith his Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam extended best wishes of Ayudha Pooja and Vijayadasami to the people of Tamil Nadu. They said the ritual is performed to honour the tools people use and pray for their businesses to flourish.Amma MakkalMunnetraKazhagam leader TTV Dhinakaran also joined the leaders in extending his best wishes for the coming festivals.

How is Viajayadasami celebrated in Tamil Nadu?

The festival marks the beginning of good initiatives including education, industrial ventures and projects to hold the social values. The festive mood grips the entire state and brings a new energy to the markets. It is a ritual for political leaders to extend their best wishes.

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