Latest news with #Buddhists
India.com
a day ago
- India.com
Top 5 Lakes Near Shimla City For Boating And Picnics
Shimla offers world travelers complete engagement because it rests comfortably in the Himalayas. People visit Shimla to appreciate its historical elegance together with its mountainous views and extensive plant life while exploring multiple nature-centered activities. The most popular leisure activities in Shimla involve enjoying boating and picnicking at the peaceful lakes within the area. When visiting Shimla for boating and picnic activities you must visit these carefully selected water reservoirs that combine enchanting settings with picturesque locations. 1. Chadwick Lake The artificial 7-kilometer stretch from Shimla city makes Chadwick Lake the most visited destination by local people along with visitors. A British English engineer constructed this artificial lake which serves Shimla with water supply during the British period. In its dense deodar forest setting the lake presents a peaceful atmosphere along with breathtaking views toward nearby hills. 2. Gyara Lake Located approximately 6 kilometers outside Shimla within the Sanjauli area lies the beautiful water reservoir called Gyara Lake which creates an excellent travel destination. The small lake attracts many locals who need to escape the busyness of city life in search of relaxation. As a less commercialized destination compared to others Gyara Lake remains a peaceful place for resting. 3. Kufri Lake Traveling about 15 kilometers from Shimla leads visitors to Kufri which has gained fame for its skiing slopes and adventure activities. A charming body of water named Kufri Lake distinguishes this area of Kufri from the rest. The lake provides beautiful natural surroundings because it is positioned among pine trees and mountains that create a picturesque location for photographers and people looking for relaxation. 4. Collegiate Lake Within Himachal Pradesh University Summer Hill property there lies Collegiate Lake which remains unknown to common vacationers. The lake maintains a low profile but students together with residents enjoy visiting it the most for peaceful moments. The lake rests among academic buildings and lush green surroundings which make it unique. 5. Rewalsar Lake Rewalsar Lake ranks among the important lakes in Spate despite its distance from Shimla (at 140 kilometers) due to its religious value and natural charm. Buddhists together with Sikhs and Hindus consider Tso Pema to be a venerable sacred lake. It is said that Guru Padmasambhava practiced meditation at this site prior to his mission to spread Buddhism throughout Tibet. Conclusion Several lakes near Shimla serve visitors who enjoy active and relaxing leisure experiences in the region. Chadwick Lake provides boating opportunities while Gyara Lake invites visitors for picnics and Rewalsar Lake allows exploration into its spiritual atmosphere which altogether create lasting memories for each visitor. Verify the operational schedule and facility accessibility since some locations implement seasonal restrictions before your visit. The lakes around Shimla present both natural beauty and recreational activities which will create an environment that refreshes and inspires you.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Dead chickens placed in odd position on ritzy NYC block — sparking ‘animal sacrifice' claims
The chickens didn't cross the road — but still made it to the other side. Two slaughtered chickens were found on an Upper West Side median in an odd position that has activists worried they were killed in an animal sacrifice ritual. The birds were found Saturday lined up with their feet facing at West 89th Street and Broadway less than a year after similar fowl play three blocks away on Broadway and West 92nd Street, local publication West Side Rag reported. '[It] appears to be animal sacrifice to me,' John Di Leonardo, executive director of Humane Long Island, told The Post. 'It's illegal for live slaughter markets to sell live birds to the public but we know they do it often,' he said. 'From Buddhists releasing live animals in Central Park who die if not recovered to birds tied to trees for Santeria in public parks to Shaktis killing pigs near Gateway National Park – to whatever this is.' Edita Birnkrant, of animal advocacy group NYCLASS, said 'it clearly was done purposely and placed in a visible spot. 'They look healthier than the birds usually look at live markets,' she added. 'The nearest live poultry market is in Harlem so I don't know [if] that's the culprit.' By Tuesday, the birds had been removed but not everyone was uneasy about the birds. 'I'm almost kind of glad,' said Harold Steinblatt, a self-described 'frequent bench-sitter' and longtime Upper West Side resident who said the incident sounded 'cultish.' 'That means it's not just all rich hedge fund managers here,' he said. 'Or maybe it was a disgruntled hedge fund manager who was the culprit.' Chickens are the most common sacrifice in the Santeria Afro-Caribbean religion, according to the BBC. The Supreme Court upheld the right to animal sacrifice on religious grounds in 1993 — but according to New York laws, aggravated cruelty to animals is a felony punishable by up to two years in prison. Evidence of sacrificial killings have been reported across the five boroughs, with chickens, pigs and even rats killed in 'twisted' religious rituals in parkland surrounding Jamaica Bay in Queens. In Upper Manhattan, whole dead chickens and cows, as well as fish and eggs, have been found as offerings on crypts at Old Trinity Cemetery, according to Scouting NY. Thousands of chickens are also killed each year in the Big Apple ahead of Yom Kippur during the ultra-orthodox Jewish ritual of Kaporos, which involves slitting a chicken's throat, per ABC New York.
New York Post
4 days ago
- New York Post
Dead chickens placed in odd position on ritzy NYC block — sparking ‘animal sacrifice' claims
The chickens didn't cross the road — but still made it to the other side. Two slaughtered chickens were found on an Upper West Side median in an odd position that has activists worried they were killed in an animal sacrifice ritual. The birds were found Saturday lined up with their feet facing at West 89th Street and Broadway less than a year after similar fowl play three blocks away on Broadway and West 92nd Street, local publication West Side Rag reported. Advertisement '[It] appears to be animal sacrifice to me,' John Di Leonardo, executive director of Humane Long Island, told The Post. 'It's illegal for live slaughter markets to sell live birds to the public but we know they do it often,' he said. 'From Buddhists releasing live animals in Central Park who die if not recovered to birds tied to trees for Santeria in public parks to Shaktis killing pigs near Gateway National Park – to whatever this is.' Advertisement Edita Birnkrant, of animal advocacy group NYCLASS, said 'it clearly was done purposely and placed in a visible spot. 'They look healthier than the birds usually look at live markets,' she added. 'The nearest live poultry market is in Harlem so I don't know [if] that's the culprit.' A pair of dead chickens were bizarrely found on an Upper West Side curb median on Broadway over the weekend. J.C. Rice Advertisement By Tuesday, the birds had been removed but not everyone was uneasy about the birds. 'I'm almost kind of glad,' said Harold Steinblatt, a self-described 'frequent bench-sitter' and longtime Upper West Side resident who said the incident sounded 'cultish.' 'That means it's not just all rich hedge fund managers here,' he said. 'Or maybe it was a disgruntled hedge fund manager who was the culprit.' Advertisement The dead chickens (not pictured) being found occurred less than a year after another pair were discovered three blocks away, as animal activists believe these are sacrificial killings. Hanoi Photography – Chickens are the most common sacrifice in the Santeria Afro-Caribbean religion, according to the BBC. The Supreme Court upheld the right to animal sacrifice on religious grounds in 1993 — but according to New York laws, aggravated cruelty to animals is a felony punishable by up to two years in prison. Evidence of sacrificial killings have been reported across the five boroughs, with chickens, pigs and even rats killed in 'twisted' religious rituals in parkland surrounding Jamaica Bay in Queens. In Upper Manhattan, whole dead chickens and cows, as well as fish and eggs, have been found as offerings on crypts at Old Trinity Cemetery, according to Scouting NY. Thousands of chickens are also killed each year in the Big Apple ahead of Yom Kippur during the ultra-orthodox Jewish ritual of Kaporos, which involves slitting a chicken's throat, per ABC New York.
Scroll.in
4 days ago
- General
- Scroll.in
Nepal's sacred tradition of burning sang incense could wither away
In Bhraka village of western Nepal's Manang district, 72-year-old Buddhist nun Tashi Lama sits in silence, chanting as she turns her prayer wheel. Ever since she took her vows at 25, her mornings begin with prayers and the lighting of sang, a sacred incense made from dried branches and leaves of black juniper (Juniperus indica) and wild wormwood (titepati) among others. 'Lighting sang purifies our environment. It's something we do every day wishing that peace prevails in the world,' Lama told Mongabay. 'Its cedar-like scent evokes calm and hope.' Like Lama, thousands of Buddhists in Nepal's Trans-Himalayan regions such as Manang and Mustang, and those with roots to the area residing around the world light the sang as part of a sacred tradition at the break of dawn wherever they are. However, the sacred tradition which has been going on for centuries is under growing threat from overharvesting, tightening conservation regulations and a warming global climate. At the centuries-year-old Kagyu Monastery in Bhraka – situated at an elevation of 3,475 metres (11,400 feet) above sea level – 48-year-old caretaker Karma Chhiring Gurung, also begins his day by lighting the incense. 'Our ancestors taught us that God will be happy and satisfied if we light sang, and we have been doing it ever since,' he told Mongabay. Black juniper, locally known as dhupi, trees grow only between 3,600 metres-4,800 metres (11,800-15,750 ft) above sea level in Nepal, China, Bhutan, India and Pakistan. Although the global conservation authority IUCN classifies the species as ' least concern ' it warns that, in Nepal, subpopulations of the species face the dual challenge of fragmentation and exploitation for incense and firewood. To address these challenges, communities have long designated areas for leaf collection so that plants in specific areas get time to regenerate. This means that collecting leaves within the village bounds is prohibited. Lama and other residents hike to areas such as Tanke to gather leaves for their personal use. But all that is changing, mainly due to migration and demand for the leaves outside of Manang, Nepal's least populated district with just 5,658 residents (0.019% of the national population, 2021 census). Residents continue to leave behind the villages to move to cities such as Pokhara, Kathmandu and Chitwan for better opportunities, but they take with them their reverence for sang and their religious beliefs. Those who have left their ancestral lands, continue to burn sang wherever they go, be it in Nepal or abroad. In addition to this, residents gift sang as a token of love from Manang to their relatives when visiting them. 'Devotees prefer sang from Manang as it has superior quality and aroma,' said 54-year-old Karma Chhiring Ghale. Jandhen Gurung, 82, who now lives with her daughter after her sons left the village, often travels to Kathmandu and prepares sang by collecting, sun-drying and grinding it for these trips. 'The day is not complete without burning the sang, even in the city, I burn sang. I consider it as a gift for relatives. It cheers me up.' As of April, around 4,490 kg of juniper leaves have legally been collected this fiscal year – which ends on July 15 – from Manang. In 2023-'24, the figure stood at 5,000 kg and, in the previous two years, 1,593 kg and 1,488 kg respectively. The uptick in demand for juniper leaves in Manang, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP). To discourage overharvesting, conservation area authorities now issue permits to collect juniper leaves. Under the prevailing rules, each person is allowed to collect only 10 kg of juniper leaves every year for household use. The rules don't allow collection of leaves for commercial use. Rabin Kadariya, chief of ACAP, says that his office came up with the rules recognising the value of the plant to the local community, but it must not be exploited commercially. 'We increased the quota per person from 3 kg to 10 kg after discussions with local communities,' he adds. Former Bhakra ward chair Karma Gurung was once detained by ACAP for allegedly exceeding the 3 kg limit before the rule change. 'We needed more. That's why I advocated to increase the quota to 10 kg,' he says. Even with the rules in place, 'outsiders' are illegally harvesting and selling juniper leaves, says Karma Chhiring. All this is happening as researchers warn that a warming global climate could have devastating impacts on the Himalayan region and its flora and fauna. Of particular concern to scientists is the prolonged winter drought in the region. This year, Manang witnessed snowfall only after the end of the winter season in April, raising concerns about long dry spells and their impact on vegetation. 'Plants take longer to recover when it is dry,' explains Kadariya. Kadariya's statement is corroborated by a 2024 study on juniper in the central Himalaya. The authors of the study suggest that with the increase in droughts, which can be attributed to climate change, are likely to increase the vulnerability of juniper shrubs. Despite difficult environmental conditions, a 2020 study found, juniper shrubs continue to regenerate effectively, due to its deep roots and ability to withstand dry, rocky soils. However, the study also warns of overexploitation. While local religious use may not threaten its survival, commercial harvesting could.
Herald Malaysia
5 days ago
- General
- Herald Malaysia
Catholic and Buddhist delegations to hold 8th Colloquium in Cambodia
The Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue announces the 8th Buddhist-Christian Colloquium, which will take place in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh on May 27-29. May 27, 2025 A delegation of Thai Buddhists met with the late Cardinal Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot in the Vatican on June 15, 2023 (Vatican Media) CAMBODIA: The Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, together with Buddhist universities and monasteries in Cambodia and the Bishops' Conference of Cambodia, will host the Eighth Buddhist-Christian Colloquium in Phnom Penh on May 27-29, 2025. According to a comunique from the Holy See Press Office, the event's theme is: 'Buddhists and Christians Working Together for Peace through Reconciliation and Resilience.' Around 150 Christian and Buddhist participants from across Asia and elsewhere will meet in the Cambodian capital city to 'reflect, dialogue, and collaborate on promoting peace in our time.' Representatives will hail from 16 countries and the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC). 'In a world ravaged by conflict and violence,' noted the comunique, 'this colloquium is a timely reminder of the power of religion not only to prevent violence but also to foster healing, reconciliation, and resilience.' The colloquium seeks to continue a tradition of 'fostering mutual understanding and strengthening cooperation between Buddhists and Christians in the service of peace.' 'Held in a land marked by the legacy of His Holiness Maha Ghosananda, this international gathering will explore how sacred texts, spiritual teachings, and lived experiences can offer healing and hope,' concluded the comunique. The 7th Buddhist-Christian Colloquium took place in Bangkok, Thailand, on November 13-16, 2023, and focused on finding common actions to 'heal the wounds of humanity and the planet.'--Vatican News
