India

Controversy over Mizoram chief minister Lal Thanhawla’s lighting a candle in front of a Durga idol in 2011 has resurfaced again with the opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) announcing a protest rally on May 23. The MNF has announced that the party would organize a rally called ‘Milem Biak Duhlohna Kawngzawh’ or anti-idol worshiping rally [...]

Almost two months have passed since the largest human gathering, the Maha Kumbh Mela, concluded here, registering a mammoth 100 million devotees over 55 days. Huge banners and hoardings welcomed visitors to an eco-friendly, ‘Green Kumbh,’ spread this time over an extensive 4,000 acres. While the Uttar Pradesh government receives accolades for its management of [...]

KANPUR: In a horrific incident, two temple priests were burnt alive by unidentified miscreants in Orai district late on Wednesday night. Another priest is reported to be missing, police said adding, his role in the crime is being investigated. “Unidentified miscreants raided the Balkhandi Devi temple near Tikri village under the limits of Sirsa Kalar [...]

CHENNAI: Nearly 11 years ago, DMK president M Karunanidhi reportedly made a controversial statement that the term ‘Hindu’ meant ‘thief’. A criminal case filed against him for hurting the sentiments of Hindus by making the statement has now returned to haunt him. On Friday, Justice N Kirubakaran of the Madras high court issued a notice [...]

While the mantle of the world largest beef exporting nation has traditionally been a three-way race between Australia, Brazil and the US, 2012 has seen India race ahead of the pack, with expectations for Indian beef exports to grow again in 2013  Indian lean and low priced beef is marketed mainly in the Middle East, [...]

Defying stereotypes, a Muslim boy and girl have bagged all three medals instituted for the BA course in the ancient Indian language by the Gujarat University. Two of the medals for Sanskrit were won by Taiyab Sheikh, a student of Y S Arts and Commerce college in Devgadh Baria in Panchmahals district. The third went [...]

 Lord Shiva, Hanuman and goddess Durga do not represent any particular religion but are regarded as supernatural powers of the universe, the Nagpur income tax appellate tribunal has said. The observation came when the tribunal was hearing an appeal by Nagpur-based Shiv Mandir Devstan Panch Committee Sanstan against an income tax commissioner’s order denying it [...]

KOCHI: The Kerala high court has ruled that the Arya Samaj cannot conduct marriages between people if they are not followers of the samaj and it will not be legally valid if it takes place. Arya Samaj mandirs are found in all Indian cities and towns and solemnize love, arranged, inter-religion and inter-caste marriages. The [...]

Please Also read how Kerala is turning into the next Kashmir : Kerala: The Death of Adi Shankara’s Own Country [...]

The enticing advertisements by the Department of Tourism by the administration of the Indian state of Kerala entice visitors with seductive images of natural beauty in the tropics, capping it all with the slogan “God’s Own Country”. However it is becoming increasingly apparent that this begs the question, exactly whose ‘god’ does this refer to? [...]