ISTANBUL - The assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II in St Peter’s Square may have taken place almost 30 years ago, but the event remains seared in the minds of many around the world.

Haridwar temples to close their doors during solar eclipse

HARIDWAR - The temples of Ganga Maiya, Lord Shiva and Lakshmi-Narayan at Har-ki-Pauri in this Uttarakhand town, which is hosting the three-month Mahakumbh Mela Jan 14-April 28, will remain closed during the solar eclipse Friday.

Iraq’s electoral commission bars 500 candidates from vote, including prominent Sunni lawmaker

Former Iraqi PM says effort to bar some parties from March election amounts to intimidation

Coach of Egypt’s national soccer team only wants players who observe Islam

Inter-faith meet condemns Swiss mosque minarets ban

MUMBAI - Religious scholars and intellectuals Thursday condemned the Swiss government’s recent ban on minarets of mosques in their country and decided to approach the United Nations and Amnesty International in the matter.

Millions witness celestial Makara Jyothi light at Sabarimala

SABARIMALA - Millions of devotees waiting anxiously for hours to witness the celestial light, shouted in joy and thanksgiving when the Makara Jyothi appeared thrice on the horizon at the Sabarimala temple here Thursday evening.

It’s faith divine at Mahakumbh: millions take dip (Second Lead)

HARIDWAR - It was a sight for the gods to behold. Amid Vedic chants and temple bell chimes, wave upon wave of pilgrims tumbled into the freezing waters of the Ganga river for a holy dip, marking the beginning of the Mahakumbh Mela here Thursday.

Stampede At Ganga Sagar Mela Kills Seven

Kumbh Mela 2010

A dip into peace, contentment, say bathers at Mahakumbh

HARIDWAR - Deep, unquestionable faith. That’s what millions of bathers at the first ritual bath of the Mahakumbh Mela in Haridwar shared as they carried forward a centuries-old Indian tradition by taking a holy dip in the Ganges river Thursday and emerged feeling blissful.

CPI-M does not bar those with religious belief: Karat

NEW DELHI - The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) does not bar people with religious belief from joining, but they should not let their faith intrude into the affairs of the state, party chief Prakash Karat said Thursday.

Roman Catholic bishops criticize Israel’s Jerusalem policies, urge contacts with Palestinians

Catholic bishops criticize Israel on Palestinians

Haryana expecting 10 lakh pilgrims during solar eclipse

CHANDIGARH - Haryana is expecting nearly 10 lakh people to visit the holy city of Kurukshetra on the occasion of solar eclipse Friday, officials said Thursday.

Hundreds of thousands dip India’s Ganges as festival begins; stampede leaves 7 dead

Festival expected to draw millions starts in India

Andhra legislators join in cockfights despite ban

HYDERABAD - Throwing to wind the ban and police warnings on cockfights, legislators and other public representatives in Andhra Pradesh openly participated in the gambling sport on the occasion of Sankranti Thursday.

Chow Yun-fat says ‘Confucius’ will succeed along with blockbuster ‘Avatar’

Chow says Confucius will succeed along with Avatar

Bihar celebrates Makar Sankranti with dahi-chura

PATNA - Residents of Bihar celebrated Makar Sankranti Thursday with traditional fervour. Local politicians joined the festivities gorging on traditional food items, including chura, yogurt, tilkut, and khichri.

Unprecedented rush at Sabarimala to witness Makara Jyothi

SABARIMALA - The Sabarimala temple witnessed an unprecedented rush of pilgrims who have gathered to witness the Makara Jyothi or the celestial light that is to appear on the horizon later Thursday on the occasion of Makar Sankranti.

Ritual bath at Mahakumbh Mela amid tight security (Lead, with image)

HARIDWAR - At least five million pilgrims beat the early morning chill and the mist to bathe in the river Ganges in the temple town of Haridwar Jan 14, beginning an auspicious cycle of an over three-month long Mahakumbh Mela Thursday amid stringent security.

Sankranti celebrated with gaiety in Andhra Pradesh

HYDERABAD - Sankranti, the colourful Telugu harvest festival, was celebrated with gaiety and traditional fervour across Andhra Pradesh Thursday.

Buddhist monks end hunger strike for control over temple

PATNA - A group of Buddhist monks Thursday ended their hunger strike for control over Bodh Gaya’s 1,500-year-old Mahabodhi temple.

Bird fights, bonfire, feasting on Bhogali Bihu in Assam

HAJO - For a trophy and cash reward of Rs.2,001, up to 400 birds and their owners are locked in a bitter fight — an event that marks Bhogali Bihu, the harvest festival in Assam beginning Thursday.

Rainbow shades of faith on the banks of the Ganga

HARIDWAR - Faith has taken on every shade and meaning on the banks of the Ganga here with boundaries between caste, creed, age and colour blurring at India’s biggest religious gathering - the Maha Kumbh - often dubbed the world’s biggest show of faith.

Pongal celebrated with traditional fervour

CHENNAI - The Tamil harvest festival Pongal was celebrated with traditional fervour Thursday.