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Time of India
16 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
From churches to temples & gurdwaras, city prays for crash victims
Kolkata: Churches across Kolkata offered prayers and tributes to the victims of the tragic Ahmedabad plane crash that occurred on Thursday. Several Durga Puja organisers also offered prayers and tributes during Khuti Puja, the formal ritual marking the start of the preparations for Durga Puja. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now On Friday, several mosques, including Nakhoda Mosque on Zakaria Street, where worshippers gathered after the Friday prayers to recite verses and offer collective dua, sought peace for the victims and strength for their grieving families. Several gurdwaras also held special prayers. On Sunday, churches, including the Old Mission Church on RN Mukherjee Road, St John's Church on Council House Street, and the Cathedral of the Most Holy Rosary in Burrabazar, observed special prayers for the victims, their family members, and the people involved in rescue operations during their regular Sunday mass. Devotees lit candles and prayed for the deceased and their loved ones in an atmosphere marked by quiet reflection and sorrow. At St John's Church, Father Pradip Kumar Nanda led the Sunday service. "We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of so many lives in the Ahmedabad plane crash," said Rangan Dutta, church officer. "During our Sunday service, we offered prayers for the souls of the departed and comfort to their grieving families. At times like these, we are reminded of our shared humanity, and we pray for healing, peace, and strength for all those affected," he added. "Let us remember the distressed families of those passengers who were on the London-bound Air India flight which crashed on Thursday. May God's peace and comfort help them to cope with this tragedy. Also, let us pray for God's wisdom and strength for those who are helping the victims and families of this tragedy," was the prayer at the Old Mission Church. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Many city-based Durga Puja organisers also paid homage to the departed souls of the Ahmedabad plane crash victims on Sunday. Samaj Sebi Sangha, in their 80th year of puja, dedicated their Khuti Puja to the deceased and their family members of the tragic incident, where all the participating male members of the club were dressed in white clothes as a mark of respect. "We worship Maa Durga as 'Durgatinashini', who is the destroyer of all sufferings, eliminates hardships and obstacles. We pray to her so that in the future this type of horrible incident should not happen again," said Arijit Maitra, general secretary of the club. Before the heart-breaking incident took place Maitra had planned to dedicate the event to all the fathers as it was organised on Father's Day. Bhowanipur 75 Palli, during Sunday's theme banner release programme along with a blood donation camp, observed a minute of silence to honour the deceased before the beginning of the event on their 61st year of puja. "We are all dumbfounded after the disastrous incident and what we can do more except pray to Maa," said Subir Das, club secretary. Soumojit Das, joint secretary of Entally Kanthal Bagan Sarbojonin, has already put up condolence hoardings in their locality and plans to pay homage to the crash victims during their upcoming Khuti Puja on June 27. BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Temple in Joka organised a special prayer during the Sunday morning assembly which happened as per schedule worldwide. "Monks prayed for the strength for the families of the crash victims during the last 15 minutes of the assembly," said Manish Jasani, a senior devotee.
Time of India
24-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Hawkers hem in places of worship across Kolkata
Kolkata: After pavements, carriageways, and markets, hawkers have now turned their attention to the city's places of worship. In central Kolkata, several historical shrines — cutting across faiths — are almost invisible behind the dense sprawl of unauthorised stalls, a canopy of plastic sheets, and stacked goods. Devotees say their access to these sacred spaces is increasingly hindered, and civic authorities remain largely unmoved. The problem is most visible around the Maghen David Synagogue, located at the junction of Canning Street and Brabourne Road. Once a prominent landmark, the synagogue is now hidden behind layers of illegal stalls selling bangles, cosmetics, and clothes. Just across the road, the Cathedral of the Most Holy Rosary faces a similar plight. Covered in blue tarpaulin and surrounded by hawkers selling everything from belts to electronics, the church's entrance is nearly indistinguishable. "We've informed the civic body several times. It's not a hidden problem — anyone passing by can see the mess," said a church official. "It's heartbreaking," said Miriam Cohen, a visitor from Bowbazar. "One has to zigzag through stalls just to get to the gate. There's no respect for the sanctity of the place." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo The Tipu Sultan Mosque, another landmark in Esplanade, is similarly surrounded by hawkers. All four sides of the mosque are occupied by vendors, resulting in a congestion that adds to traffic snarls in an already vehicle-heavy thoroughfare. "This creates problems during the time of prayers when several devotees head to the mosque," said Arif Hossain, a regular visitor. Temples, too, are not spared. In Burrabazar, Shree Sitalnath Temple, Sri Panchayati Jain Temple, and Sri Digamber Jain Naya Mandir on Kalakar Street find themselves hemmed in. "There's barely any space left to walk, let alone stand and pray," said Harsh Jain, a devotee. "The stalls often block the entrance itself." "We cleared several stretches around New Market, Burrabazar, and College Street last year following directives from the chief minister. But the hawkers returned within weeks," said a senior KMC officer. "Political pressure and lack of sustained enforcement make it difficult to implement long-term solutions."
