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Imphal (Manipur) [India], April 3 (ANI): Good Friday was observed at MBC Centre Church in Imphal on Friday, with special prayers and worship services marking the day that commemorates the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Speaking to ANI, Pastor Rev. Zuankamang Daimai said that Good Friday is one of the most significant days for Christians, as it marks the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, who sacrificed His life for the sins of humanity. He informed that the church organised a special service from 7 AM to 12 noon, followed by extended prayer sessions. "We are holding special prayers for people from all communities, for peace in the land, and for the well-being of the nation," he said. The pastor stressed that the message of Good Friday is rooted in love, forgiveness, and compassion. He urged people to follow the teachings of Christ by loving one another and forgiving even those who have wronged them. "As Christ gave His life for sinners, we must learn to forgive others and live in harmony," he added. The observance also focused on promoting peace, unity, and spiritual reflection among the faithful. In Thiruvananthapuram, Keralam, Good Friday was observed at St. Joseph's Metropolitan Cathedral in Palayam. The locals arrived at the church to offer prayers and take part in the day's traditions. In Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, devotees gathered at St. Mark's Church in Kuniyamuthur to observe Good Friday. Speaking to ANI, Father Palayil Bijo emphasised the significance of the day, saying, "Good Friday is observed worldwide as the day the Lord was crucified and saved us. It reminds us that the journey of the cross is the greatest truth of life." Furthermore, the day was also observed at St. Joseph's Cathedral Church, Hazratganj, Lucknow. Father Lawrence said, "Good Friday--also known as Holy Friday--marks the very day on which the Lord Jesus died on the Cross to redeem the sins of all mankind. Through His death on the Cross, the salvation of the entire human race was accomplished. The seven utterances of the Lord Jesus serve as a source of inspiration for all humanity; they are words that give life." Across the country, the observance of Good Friday highlighted the central Christian values of love, forgiveness, compassion, and spiritual reflection, bringing communities together in faith and prayer. Good Friday is a day of paramount significance for Christians worldwide, including those in India, who observe this solemn day on the Friday before Easter, which commences with Palm Sunday and concludes with Easter. The story behind 'Good Friday' is about the day when the Romans crucified Jesus. A disciple of Jesus, Judas, betrayed him, which led to his capture by the Romans. The Governor of the Roman province of Judea at the time, Pontius Pilate, ordered the execution of Jesus. Jesus was made to carry his cross through Jerusalem to the place of crucifixion known as Calvary. The day of 'Good Friday' is followed by the celebration known as 'Easter', which commemorates the event of Jesus' resurrection on the third day after his crucifixion. (ANI)
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 >
A conversion racket was busted in Lucknow. The Nigohan police arrested a man accused of converting more than 50 Hindus in Baktauri Kheda village of the Nigohan area by luring them with promises of miraculous cures and financial support. The accused has been identified as Malkhan, alias Matthew. He was targeting uneducated families belonging to the SC community and luring them to convert to Christianity. Healing sessions used for conversion Police said Malkhan had converted to Christianity about ten years ago in 2016 and changed his name to Matthew. Since then, he started conducting "healing ...Read More >
Chennai, Apr 2 (PTI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Thursday strongly condemned the proposed amendment to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act and alleged it was a direct attack on Christian NGOs, churches and other minority institutions. Stalin, also the president of the ruling DMK, said: "I strongly condemn the Foreign Contribution Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, proposed by the Union BJP Government, which is a direct attack on Christian NGOs, Churches and other minority institutions. After attempts to take over Waqf properties, the Union BJP Government is now moving to cho ...Read More >
PRAYAGRAJ, India: Tens of thousands of Hindus seeking absolution of their sins immersed themselves on Monday in freezing waters at the confluence of sacred rivers, as India began a six-week festival expected to draw the world's largest gathering of humanity. Held every 12 years, the Maha Kumbh Mela or Great Pitcher Festival, as the religious event in the city of Prayagraj in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh is called, attracts more than 400 million visitors, both Indians and tourists. As many as 40,000 police officers are on guard to provide security and help manage the crowds, while surv ...Read More >
Kolkata: Devotees across India observed Good Friday with solemn prayers and religious processions, marking the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. At the Motherhouse of the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata, devotees gathered to offer prayers and participate in special services conducted to commemorate the day. Meanwhile, in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, thousands of devotees took part in the traditional 'Way of the Cross' procession, a ritual retracing the path of Christ's journey to Calvary. The Way of the Cross, also known as the Stations of the Cross (Via Crucis or Via Dolorosa), is a Catholic devo ...Read More >
Karachi-born Shane Sabastian Pereira entered India to live in his ancestral village in Goa just four months after his birth, but it has taken him 43 years to obtain Indian citizenship. IMAGE: Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant hands over the Indian citizenship certificate to the Karachi-born Shane Sabastian Pereira. Photograph: @DrPramodPSawant/X Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday handed over the Indian citizenship certificate to the Pakistan-born Christian man under the Citizenship (Ame ...Read More >
Kochi (AsiaNews) - The controversy began after St. Rita's Public School in Palluruthy, run by the Latin Catholic Church, refused to allow a student to wear the hijab. In the days that followed, referring to Muslim organisations, an editorial in the Catholic daily Deepika said: 'Those who asked for prayer rooms in Christian schools have now come forward to claim the right to wear the hijab.' This has led to harsh criticism, a sign of the interreligious tension that the affair is causing in Kerala. The student at the centre of the hijab controversy in Kerala has finally decided to leave school. ...Read More >
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], April 3 (ANI): Devotees across India observed Good Friday with solemn prayers and religious processions, marking the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. At the Motherhouse of the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata, devotees gathered to offer prayers and participate in special services conducted to commemorate the day. Also Read | Good Friday 2026 Message: PM Narendra Modi Pays Tribute to Jesus Christ's Sacrifice, Calls for Harmony and Compassion in Society. Meanwhile, in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, thousands of devotees took part in the traditional 'Way of the Cross' pr ...Read More >
Amid relentless protests by the Opposition over concerns regarding minority rights and chokehold on NGOs, the BJP-led central government on Wednesday dropped a scheduled debate in Lok Sabha on a bill to amend the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). According to sources cited by PTI news agency, the debate is unlikely to come up again during the Budget session of parliament, which is likely to conclude on Thursday. Opposition parties and minority organisations, including some church head ...Read More >
New Delhi, April 4 (SocialNews.XYZ) President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday greeted citizens on the eve of Easter. In a message, the President said, "On the auspicious occasion of Easter, I extend my greetings and good wishes to all fellow citizens, especially to the Christian community residing in India and abroad." She said Easter is a significant festival of Christianity. "The resurrection of Lord Jesus Christ encourages us to embrace the values of truth, love, compassion, sacrifice, and forgiveness," she said. "On this occasion, let us renew our resolve to promote harmony, peace, and brothe ...Read More >
Panaji, Dec 10 (PTI) Karachi-born Shane Sabastian Pereira entered India to live in his ancestral village in Goa just four months after his birth, but it has taken him 43 years to obtain Indian citizenship. Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday handed over the Indian citizenship certificate to the Pakistan-born Christian man under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. Shane is the second person from the coastal state to receive the certificate, after Joseph Francis Pereira, another Pakistani citizen who was granted Indian citizenship in August this year. Shane, originally from Demello Wado ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jul 18 (PTI) The Supreme Court has said money cannot be recovered by filing an FIR and seeking help of police as it quashed a cheating case against the producer of Bollywood movie "Tanu Weds Manu". A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan expressed displeasure over the approach of the Allahabad High Court in dealing with the petition of producer Shailesh R Singh for quashing of the FIR against him by complainant Kunal Jain. "Money cannot be recovered, more particularly, in a civil dispute between the parties by filing a first information report and seeking the help of the ...Read More >
Patna, Aug 1 (PTI) Healthcare services were affected at AIIMS-Patna on Friday as resident doctors went on an "indefinite strike" in protest against the alleged high-handedness of Sheohar MLA Chetan Anand. According to a press statement issued by the Resident Doctors' Association (RDA), AIIMS-Patna, on Friday, "The RDA expresses deep disappointment and anguish over the lack of action by the administration following the violent and traumatic incident that occurred on Wednesday, when MLA Chetan Anand, his wife and their armed guards breached hospital security, physically assaulted staff, and thr ...Read More >
A special court in Chhattisgarh's Bilaspur district has granted bail to two nuns from Kerala and one other person. They were arrested on charges of human trafficking and forced religious conversion following a complaint by a Bajrang Dal functionary. The court's decision came after a hearing where the prosecution did not request custody for interrogation. A special court in Chhattisgarh's Bilaspur district on Saturday granted bail to three persons, including two nuns from Kerala, arrested on char ...Read More >
The RBI bank holiday calendar will be followed by all public and private sector banks, including SBI, PNB, BOI, HDFC, ICICI, Axis Bank and others. Check out the full list of bank holidays this week: I. March 30: The banks will observe a holiday due to Mahavir Jayanti in Karnataka. II. March 31: Banks in Ahmedabad, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, New Delhi, Bihar, and Jharkhand will observe a holiday due to Mahavir Janmakalyanak/Mahavir Jayanti. ...Read More >
CHANDIGARH: Tibetan Spiritual Leader Dalai Lama on Tuesday endorsed the appeal made by Pope Leo XIV for peace amid escalating tensions in West Asia. In a message issued from Dharamsala, the Buddhist leader emphasised that violence has no place in any spiritual tradition, highlighting the shared values of compassion, tolerance, and harmony across religions. In a post on X, Dalai Lama wrote, "I wholeheartedly endorse the powerful appeal for peace made by the Holy Father, Pope Leo, during his Palm Sunday Mass. His call for the laying down of arms and the renunciation of violence resonated profo ...Read More >
The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) Amendment Bill will be passed in Parliament only after allaying the apprehensions raised by various Christian denominations, BJP State president Rajeev Chandrasekhar said here on Wednesday. Speaking to mediapersons, Mr. Chandrasekhar said that he had discussed the proposed Bill with various church leaders over the last three days. However, there still seemed to be a lot of apprehension, following which he made a recommendation to the Home Minister ...Read More >
Imphal (Manipur) [India], April 3 (ANI): Good Friday was observed at MBC Centre Church in Imphal on Friday, with special prayers and worship services marking the day that commemorates the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Speaking to ANI, Pastor Rev. Zuankamang Daimai said that Good Friday is one of the most significant days for Christians, as it marks the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, who sacrificed His life for the sins of humanity. Also Read | Delhi Police Files FIR Over Alleged FSSAI Document Tampering, Seeks X Account Details in Defamation Probe. He informed that the church organised a special ...Read More >
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his greetings on the occasion of Good Friday, emphasising the teachings and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. In a post shared on X, the Prime Minister said, "Good Friday reminds us of Jesus Christ's sacrifice. May this day further deepen the values of harmony, compassion and forgiveness. May brotherhood and hope guide us all." Meanwhile, devotees across India observed Good Friday with solemn prayers and religious processions, marking the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. At the Motherhouse of the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata, devotees gathered to of ...Read More >
PM Modi said that Kerala has great potential, yet continues to lag behind other states. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that the countdown for removal of the LDF government in Kerala has started, and a BJP-led NDA will come to power in the state. Speaking at a BJP-led NDA rally here in Pathanamthitta district, Modi said that the saffron party workers in the state have signalled a strong mood to bid farewell to the Left rule. Elections to 140 Assembly seats will be held on April 9 ...Read More >
Mumbai, July 18: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday said that if a person belonging to a religion other than Hinduism, Buddhism or Sikhism has obtained a Scheduled Caste certificate fraudulently, it will be cancelled. Action will be taken against such a person if he or she has secured reservation benefits, such as government jobs. If such a person has won an election using a fraudulently obtained SC certificate, their election will be declared null and void, Fadnavis said in the legislative council. Replying to a calling attention motion, he also said the state governmen ...Read More >
'They should be given a strong message that they are not the ones who decide the rule of the land, and they are not the ones who decide what justice is.' IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets the heads of various Christian organisations during his visit to Kerala. Photograph: ANI Photo It was on the 26th of July that Preethi Merry and Vandana Francis, two Catholic nuns from Kerala, working in the tribal areas of Chhattisgarh, were arrested along with Sukaman Mandavi, a youth from Narayanpur ...Read More >
Bengaluru, Sep 12 (SocialNews.XYZ) Questioning the categorisation of castes within the Christian community by the Congress-led government in Karnataka, the state unit of BJP urged the government to provide immediate answers on whether there are multiple castes in Christian community and questioned if it was done to promote conversions to Christianity and to break Hindu community. Speaking to the media at BJP State Office Jagannath Bhavan in Bengaluru on Friday, the opposition party's chief whip ...Read More >
The BJP slammed Akhilesh Yadav for his remarks, saying that he has a "problem when Ayodhya is shining". ShowQuick Read Summary is AI-generated, newsroom-reviewed * Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav questioned government's spending on Diwali celebrations * Yadav suggested India should learn from global cities that illuminate for months during Christmas * BJP criticised Yadav, citing past violence against devotees under Samajwadi Party rule in UP Did our AI summary help? Let us know. Swi ...Read More >
New Delhi/Thiruvananthapuram, March 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) The proposed amendments to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) have snowballed into a major political flashpoint in Kerala ahead of the Assembly elections, with Church leaders and the Congress raising strong objections, even as the Centre firmly rejected allegations of targeting minorities. Supreme head of the Orthodox Church Baselios Marthoma Mathews III Catholicos led the criticism from the Christian community, warning that the amendments could "suffocate" the functioning of churches and disrupt long-standing social servic ...Read More >
Thiruvalla | Kottayam | Pala: While BJP is making an ambitious electoral outreach in central Kerala, which comprises major Christian belts, the party is also facing tricky curves in fully gaining the confidence of the minority community it has been wooing for some time now. The proposed amendment to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) has emerged as the latest sticking point, with sections of the Church questioning its intent. The Left-led LDF and Congress-led UDF, already cautious about BJP's overtures to the Christian community through engagement with Church heads and Christian ...Read More >
Palakkad (Keralam) [India], April 2 (ANI): Congress MP and General Secretary K.C. Venugopal slammed the BJP over the FCRA Amendment Bill 2026 on Thursday, asserting that his party has exposed the BJP's double standards to the common people. Speaking to ANI, the Congress leader alleged that while the BJP approaches the Christian community with cakes during the Christmas season, they simultaneously target nuns and introduce FCRA amendment legislation to systematically attack the community. Also Read | Vivo V70 FE Launched in India; Check Prices, Features and Variants. "Congress is exposing th ...Read More >
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], April 3 (ANI): Devotees across India observed Good Friday with solemn prayers and religious processions, marking the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. At the Motherhouse of the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata, devotees gathered to offer prayers and participate in special services conducted to commemorate the day. Meanwhile, in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, thousands of devotees took part in the traditional 'Way of the Cross' procession, a ritual retracing the path of Christ's journey to Calvary. The Way of the Cross, also known as the Stations of the Cross (Via Cruci ...Read More >
Panaji, Apr 3 (PTI) Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday urged people to reflect on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and the values of love and redemption on the solemn occasion of Good Friday. In a post on X, Sawant said the teachings of Jesus Christ on compassion, forgiveness and selflessness should continue to guide people towards peace and righteousness. "On this solemn occasion of Good Friday, let us reflect on the sacrifice of Lord Jesus Christ and the values of love and redemption he stood for," the chief minister said in the post. He said Christ's message of love, compassion and ...Read More >
Kochi, April 3 (SocialNews.XYZ) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday called upon Bharatiya Janata Party workers in the poll-bound Kerala to take inspiration from cricketer Sanju Samson's turnaround performance in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, describing it as a lesson in overcoming adversity and delivering under pressure. Addressing party members ahead of the April 9 Assembly elections, Modi referred to Samson's initial struggles in the tournament and his decisive comeback in the latter stages, which proved vital in securing India's second T20 World Cup title. "Sanju showed how to rise ...Read More >