Stay updated with the latest Other news, articles, and insights from trusted sources. Explore in-depth coverage and expert analysis on Other topics.
Mumbai: If some of your Shia friends in the city are currently not here, maybe they are walking down the nearly 90 km road from Najaf to Karbala in Iraq. Arbaeen, or 'fortieth' in Arabic, is 40 days after Ashura, or the day of the martyrdom of Imam Hussain at the battle of Karbala in 860, and draws millions from across the world. Many thousands from Mumbai are at the Arbaeen pilgrimage, enduring cruel heat of 52 degree celsius in the day, but mostly preferring to walk in the night.Arbaeen, which is also called Chehelum, symbolises commemoration of the Karbala tragedy when Prophet Muhammad's grandson Imam Hussain and many of his companions were massacred by Umaiyyad king Yazid's army in 860 as Hussain refused to pledge his allegiance to Yazid.Millions endure hardships to visit Hussain's mausoleum in Karbala to show solidarity with Hussain, who sacrificed his life and the lives of many of his dear ones to establish justice, truth and peace."This is not just a physical walk. This has more spiritual significance since it is in love with the third imam (Hazrat Ali, buried in Najaf, is the first imam), who suffered immensely because he wanted to set an example not just for Muslims but for entire humanity," said Congress MLA Amin Patel on Wednesday from Karbala. He, along with corporator Javed Juneja and Shia scholar Maulana Zaheer Abbas Rizvi and many others, reached Karbala after a walk of over three nights from Najaf, a town some 90 km away from Karbala. There are many traditions about who started the Arbaeen walk. Rizvi said it was Jabir Ibn Abdullah, a companion of the Prophet, who first walked from Medina to Karbala to pay tribute to Imam Hussain on Arbaeen. He added that a noted scholar, Murtaza Ansari, formalised the walk around two centuries ago and, except during Saddam Hussain's rule, when it faced difficulties, the walk and the gathering, one of the largest public gatherings in the world, has continued. Ali Akbar Shroff, president, Khoja Shia Isnaashari Jamat (Mumbai), said there is another tradition about why Shias undertake the commemorative walk and visit Karbala on Arbaeen. "After the Karbala battle ended in the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, many of his family members, including his sister Bibi Zainab, were captured and taken to Syria, the seat of Umaiyaad dynasty's rule. Forty days later, Bibi Zainab led a pilgrimage to Karbala and this Arbaeen walk and ziyarat or visit commemorate that journey by Zainab and her group of Hussain's followers," said Ali, whose four family members are currently in Iraq for the Arbaeen. The city-based WIN channel is among the many outlets broadcasting free live scenes from Arbaeen walk and prayers and recitations of nauha (mournful poetry for the martyrs of Karbala) from the mausoleum of Imam Hussain."The commitment and devotion of the pilgrims give goosebumps. All the services like food, water, laundry, stay are free. We are broadcasting live footage and also air sermons by noted scholars on our free channel," said WIN's owner Imran Rasool.Many Indian pilgrims are carrying the national flag as the Chehlum or Arbaeen coincides with Independence Day (August 15).Mumbai resident Asad Ali Shabbir Mukadam said he has participated in the Arbaeen walk many times in the last 12 years and everytime he has found the pilgrims filled with great devotion. All pilgrims visit the mausoleum of Hazrat Abbas in the vicinity of Imam Hussain's shrine in Karbala.
PRAYAGRAJ, India (AP) -- Millions of Hindu devotees, mystics and holy men and women from all across India flocked to the northern city of Prayagraj on Monday to kickstart the Maha Kumbh festival, which is being touted as the world's largest religious gathering. Over about the next six weeks, Hindu pilgrims will gather at the confluence of three sacred rivers -- the Ganges, the Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati -- where they will take part in elaborate rituals, hoping to begin a journey to achieve Hindu philosophy's ultimate goal: the release from the cycle of rebirth. Here's what to know abo ...Read More >
Katra (J-K) | Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate on Friday the world's tallest bridge over Chenab river ahead of dedicating to the nation the much-awaited Kashmir rail service here. After his arrival at the Air Force station in Udhampur, the prime minister left in a chopper to inaugurate the bridge over Chenab. A multi-tier security setup has been put in place for the prime minister's visit, his first to the Union Territory post Operation Sindoor launched by the Indian Armed Forces across the border to hit terrorist infrastructure during the intervening night on May 6 and 7 in ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Axiom-4 crew members, including Shubhanshu Shukla, were welcomed with hugs and drinks as they stepped into the International Space Station on Thursday. The newly launched spacecraft -- the fifth in the Dragon series and named Grace -- successfully completed a soft docking with the International Space Station at 4.01pm while orbiting above the North Atlantic Ocean."At 6:31 am EDT (4:01 IST) on Thursday, the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft docked to the International Space Station for the fourth private astronaut mission to the orbiting laboratory, Axiom Mission 4," the National Aeronautics ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 12 (VOICE) The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered that no fresh suits would be registered under the Places of Worship Act in the country, and in the pending cases, no final or effective orders would be passed till further orders of the Apex Court. A Special Bench headed by CJI Sajiv Khanna asked the Union government to file within four weeks its reply to the clutch of petitions challenging the validity of the 1991 Act, which prohibits the filing of a lawsuit to reclaim a place of worship or seek a change in its character from what prevailed on August 15, 1947. The Bench, also c ...Read More >
Kanpur, January 27: Due to the massive influx of devotees for the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025, Varanasi's District Magistrate in Uttar Pradesh has announced that all schools in the district will be closed from Monday, January 27, 2025, to Wednesday, February 5, 2025. The decision is aimed at ensuring the safety of students and managing traffic congestion caused by the large number of pilgrims arriving in Varanasi for the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025. Despite the school closures, online classes will continue as usual to maintain the academic schedule, News18 reported. This directive applies to all CBSE, ICSE ...Read More >
Hyderabad: In a significant boost for 'Make in India' and 'Atmanirbharta' in the aerospace and defence sector, and Hyderabad's growing stature as a global aerospace hub, the complete fuselage of the Rafale fighter jet will now be made in India at Hyderabad. This move marks the first time that these Rafale components will be manufactured outside France for the Indian as well as global markets.French aerospace major Dassault Aviation has signed four production transfer agreements with Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) for manufacturing key sections of the Rafale fighter jet, including the lateral ...Read More >
Katra, June 06: The Chamber of Tourism, Trade and Industry Katra (CTTIK) Friday extended heartfelt gratitude to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi for inaugurating and flagging off the much-anticipated Vande Bharat Express on the Katra-Srinagar railway line. This significant milestone is hailed as a transformative development for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, promising enhanced connectivity, economic growth, and spiritual resurgence. In addition to launching the Vande Bharat service, the Prime Minister also inaugurated two of India's most remarkable engineering feats: the Chenab Rai ...Read More >
Jammu, June 26: One terrorist was killed on Thursday in an ongoing gunfight between the security forces and the terrorists in J&K's Udhampur district's Basantgarh area. Inspector General of Police (IGP), Jammu Zone, Bhim Sen Tuti said that four terrorists are believed to be trapped in the ongoing encounter. Speaking with reporters, the IGP said the contact with the terrorists was established around 8.30 a.m., but the weather is unfavourable. "The situation will become clear once the weather improves. As per our assessment, a group of four terrorists is holed up," he said. Earlier, the Army sa ...Read More >
Srinagar, June 26: The Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha on Thursday said that security measures have been strengthened to ensure the smooth conduct of the Amarnath Yatra this year. SInha acknowledged dip in the registration of Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra pilgrims post the terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam in April this year. Addressing media persons at Raj Bhawan, Srinagar, Sinha said that registration dropped by around 10 percent, but maintained that ìthe numbers are now rising again.î ìPublic confidence is returning, and I am hopeful it will continue to grow. Befor ...Read More >
The Supreme Court halted new temple-mosque legal battles. The court will review the 1991 law impacting religious site status. This law froze the status of religious sites as of August 15, 1947. Several cases, including Gyanvapi and Shahi Idgah, challenge this law. The law's validity is being questioned. The court's decision impacts ongoing and future disputes.In its ruling on the keenly-watched Place of Worship Act case, the Supreme Court said on December 12 that no new Mandir-Masjid suits are to ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 18 (PTI) The Pakistan high commission on Wednesday said it issued 84 visas to Indian pilgrims to visit the Shree Katas Raj temples in Punjab province's Chakwal district. The group has been given visas to visit the Katas Raj temples from December 19 to 25. The temples are also known as Qila Katas. It is a complex of several Hindu temples connected to one another by walkways. Under the provision of a bilateral protocol on visits to religious shrines, Sikh and Hindu pilgrims from India visit Pakistan every year.Pakistani pilgrims also visit India every year under the protocol. ...Read More >
Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor, Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Union ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw and Jitendra Singh reached Katra in Reasi district on Thursday to review arrangements a day ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit, officials said. On Friday, the prime minister is scheduled to inaugurate the Chenab bridge and the Anji bridge, India's first cable-stayed bridge, the symbol of the country's engineering excellence, before flagging off Vande Bharat trains to mark the completion of the 272-km Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL) that will provide ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday accused Pakistan of attacking 'insaniyat' and Kashmiriyat by targeting tourists in Pahalgam, saying the intent was to trigger communal clashes in India and rob Kashmiri people dependent on tourism of their livelihoods. The prime minister was speaking after flagging off the first train service to the Kashmir Valley, and inaugurating several development projects, including the world's highest railway bridge over the Chenab river and India's first cable-stayed Anji bridge. He said tourism provided employment and acts as a connecting link between ...Read More >
Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], June 7 (ANI): Kerala Governor, Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, on Friday, greeted the Muslim brothers and sisters of Kerala on the joyous occasion of Eid-ul-Ad'ha. "Eid-ul-Ad'ha glorifies the spirit of sacrifice and everlasting faith in the Almighty, inspire humanity to stay united through love, compassion and kind deeds that foster brotherhood and social harmony," the governor's X post read. Also Read | Indus Waters Treaty Suspension: Desperate Pakistan Wrote 4 Letters to India, Pleading Reinstatement of IWT, Say Sources. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pinarayi ...Read More >
Hyderabad (Telangana) [India] June 7 (ANI): Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy conveyed his greetings to the Muslim community on Bakrid (Eid al Adha), a festival celebrated as a symbol of sacrifice, an official statement said. The Chief Minister remembered that Muslims all over the world celebrate Eid al-Kabir in memory of one of the Islamic prophets, Ibrahim Assalam, who announced his readiness to sacrifice his son, obeying the orders of Almighty Allah. Also Read | Indus Waters Treaty Suspension: Desperate Pakistan Wrote 4 Letters to India, Pleading Reinstatement of IWT, Say Sources. ...Read More >
Srinagar: Before towering cranes and cutting-edge engineering transformed the Himalayan landscape, the monumental dream of connecting "Kashmir to Kanyakumari" by rail began with the plodding footsteps of humble mules. This extraordinary backstory underpins the official realization of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 6, 2025, a project crowned by the awe-inspiring Chenab Bridge. According to Afcons Infrastructure Limited, the company behind the Chenab Bridge, the earliest and most formidable hurdle wasn't just the design of ...Read More >
New Delhi, June 7 (SocialNews.XYZ) In a major boost to connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir, regular services of the Vande Bharat Express between Srinagar and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra commence on Saturday. The Northern Railway has confirmed that the semi-high-speed trains will operate six days a week, significantly reducing the travel time between Kashmir Valley and the prominent pilgrimage hub in Katra. This development marks a transformative step in the region's transport infrastructure. The new Vande Bharat service will cut the travel time between Srinagar and Katra to just three hours, ...Read More >
Srinagar: Lieutenant governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, on Thursday said that the Pahalgam attack has impacted tourism and the number of registrations for the Amarnath yatra has fallen 10% so far, compared to last year. Speaking to the media in Srinagar, he said elaborate security arrangements have been put in place to ensure a smooth yatra and urged all pilgrims to ensure that they move in a security convoy - right from Lakhanpur in Jammu to the holy cave in Kashmir. The LG was hopeful of an increase in the number of yatris. The duration of the yatra, starting from July 3, has been ...Read More >
New Delhi, December 5: Uttar Pradesh's Tourism and Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh expressed confidence that Mahakumbh 2025 will play a pivotal role in showcasing India's rich cultural heritage and Sanatan traditions globally. Speaking on the progress of preparations, he told IANS, "The arrangements for Mahakumbh are progressing in full swing. We are committed to welcoming all devotees, irrespective of their origin -- whether from different states of India or other countries. We aim to host them with unmatched arrangements that combine magnificence, divinity, and cultural vibrancy." "This gran ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 7 (ANI): President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday extended greetings on the occasion of Eid-al-Adha. On the occasion, the President urged the countrymen to take a pledge to work with a spirit of dedication for the society and the country. In a social media post on X, the President wrote, 'On the auspicious occasion of Eid-uz-Zuha, I extend my heartiest greetings and best wishes to all my countrymen, especially my Muslim brothers and sisters. This festival explains the importance of sacrifice, faith and many noble ideals. On this auspicious occasion, let us all take a pled ...Read More >
Hyderabad (Telangana) [India] June 7 (ANI): Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy conveyed his greetings to the Muslim community on Bakrid (Eid al Adha), a festival celebrated as a symbol of sacrifice, an official statement said. The Chief Minister remembered that Muslims all over the world celebrate Eid al-Kabir in memory of one of the Islamic prophets, Ibrahim Assalam, who announced his readiness to sacrifice his son, obeying the orders of Almighty Allah. CM Revanth Reddy expressed that the festival conveys a powerful message to humanity: people should strive to lead joyful lives while ...Read More >
Silchar: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday visited the flood-ravaged districts of Hailakandi and Sribhumi in the Barak Valley. He assured affected residents of providing timely disbursement of rehabilitation grants and swift repair of damaged infrastructure.This marks Sarma's second visit to the flood-hit region within four days, underscoring the gravity of the situation. Speaking to the media in Sribhumi after inspecting multiple relief camps, the CM said, "Flood-related problems may persist till July. I will return before Durga Puja to ensure that roads and infrastructure ar ...Read More >
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday directed courts across the country to refrain from admitting or passing any new orders on pleas seeking surveys of mosques to determine if temples lie beneath them. This decision extends to existing suits, halting any further orders on the matter. The directive was issued as the apex court continued hearing petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991. This Act prohibits filing lawsuits to reclaim places of worship or alter their character from what existed on August 15, 1947. Judicial Revie ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 5 (ANI): The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday announced that it would streamline its technology-driven system for generating Index Cards and various other post-election statistical reports. The new system will ensure faster reporting through automation and data integration. "This upgraded mechanism replaces the traditional manual methods, which were often time-consuming and prone to delays. By leveraging automation and data integration, the new system ensures faster reporting," the press note issued by the Election Commission read. Also Read | Delhi: Hig ...Read More >
Bengaluru: The Karnataka government on Thursday took strong action against the police officers allegedly responsible for the Bengaluru stampede, suspending several high-ranking officials, including the city's police commissioner. Addressing a press conference, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also announced a one-man commission to probe the lapses that triggered the deadly stampede. "Cubbon Park Police Station police inspector, station house master, station house officer, ACP, Central Division DCP, cricket stadium in-charge, additional commissioner of police, commissioner of police have been susp ...Read More >
Pakistan's former Foreign Minister and Chairman of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, recently faced public embarrassment at a United Nations press briefing after he was fact-checked by a reporter for making unsubstantial claims that Muslims were being 'demonised' in India. Bilawal Bhutto, part of Islamabad's diplomatic team at the UN, made the remarks during a press conference to clarify Pakistan's stance on Kashmir. Pahalgam attack was politicised to demonise Indian Mus ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 7 (ANI): Union Minister Kiren Rijiju extended warm greetings to the Muslim community on the occasion of Eid al-Adha on Saturday. In a post on X, Rijju wrote, 'Happy Eid al-Adha! Heartfelt congratulations to all Muslim brothers and sisters on this occasion.' Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished the nation on the occasion of Eid ul-Adha, extending his warm greetings and expressing hope that the festival would further foster harmony and peace within the country. In a post on X, PM Modi wrote, 'Best wishes on Eid ul-Adha. May this occasion inspire harmony a ...Read More >
Guwahati: The sacred doors of Kamakhya temple's sanctum sanctorum reopened for devotees at 5.00am on Thursday, marking the conclusion of the annual Ambubachi Mahayog. Approximately 20,000 devotees had gathered in the early hours to offer prayers to Maa Kamakhya after the four-day long religious congregation.The Ambubachi Mahayog, which celebrates the annual menstruation cycle of goddess Kamakhya, traditionally draws lakhs of pilgrims from across India and beyond. However, this year witnessed a notable decline in the number of visitors due to newly implemented night-time entry restrictions.The ...Read More >
Ayodhya, Dec 5 (PTI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday accused the Opposition parties of trying to divide society, saying what Mughal ruler Babur's army did in Ayodhya and Sambhal is what is happening in Bangladesh. The chief minister, who was in the temple town for the inauguration of the 43rd Ramayan Mela, said Lord Ram united the whole society. "Had we given importance to unity and not let the strategy of nation's enemies succeed in creating social animosity, this country would have never become a slave. Our pilgrimages would not have become impure. A handful of inv ...Read More >
Hyderabad: Ali Khan Mahmudabad, a 42-year-old Ashoka University associate professor and head of political science department, was recently arrested for social media commentary on 'Operation Sindoor,' thrusting the academic, writer, and former spokesperson of Samajwadi Party into the national spotlight. The Supreme Court on Monday has agreed to hear a plea challenging his arrest, with senior advocate Kapil Sibal calling his statements "entirely patriotic." Academics, opposition leaders and rights activists have widely condemned the arrest. Mahmudabad's social media remarks on the defence oper ...Read More >