Latest news with #Gurdwaras
BBC News
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Hundreds attend Vaisakhi event hosted by West Midlands Police
Hundreds of people gathered in Birmingham over the weekend for an event organised by police to celebrate the Sikh festival of West Midlands Police Sikh Association hosted the event at the force's Tally Ho! training centre in Edgbaston on Saturday, along with local gurdawaras and in Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Dudley and Walsall contributed to a Langar, a community kitchen open to everyone who attended for also called Baisakhi, is a festival that celebrates the founding of the Sikh community, the Khalsa, in 1699. It was originally a harvest festival in the Punjab region of India until it became the Sikh community's most important takes place in mid-April each year, and various events have been held across the West Midlands to mark it in recent weeks. Saturday's event started with the raising of the Nishaan Sahib, a sacred flag, and a small also included sports activities such as kabaddi and weightlifting, as well as arts and crafts for children. Sundeep Kaur Cheema, from the Sikh Association, said: "The event, seamlessly blending tradition with education and joyous celebration, undoubtedly left a lasting impact on all who attended, showcasing the profound strength and vibrant spirit of the community." Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Business Recorder
26-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Pakistan declared a sacred land for Sikhs around world
LAHORE :Provincial Minister for Minority Affairs, Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, while addressing Sikh congregations at a Gurdwara in Milan, Italy, described Pakistan as 'Pak Sthan' — a sacred land — for Sikhs around the world. He emphasized that Pakistan, particularly the Punjab government, has become a shining example of serving Sikh pilgrims and promoting religious harmony. He stated that by hosting and serving over seven thousand Sikh pilgrims, Pakistan has demonstrated that the guests of Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj are honoured with the utmost respect. Addressing the global Sikh community, he affirmed that Pakistan's doors are always open for them. Sardar Ramesh Singh added that the Punjab government, in collaboration with the federal government, is actively working to preserve, beautify, and maintain the functionality of religious sites of all minorities, including Gurdwaras. He informed that the first phase of Gurdwara restoration and renovation has been completed, with a cost exceeding 1.5 billion rupees. He assured that high-quality arrangements are being ensured for all Sikh delegations to provide them with the best possible facilities. On this occasion, Sardar Ramesh Singh appreciated Chief Minister Punjab Ms. Maryam Nawaz for her love and practical initiatives for minorities, especially the Sikh community. He noted that due to her special interest, not only has the security of Gurdwaras been ensured, but Sikh culture and heritage have also been promoted. He emphasized that Sikh pilgrims from India and across the globe will be warmly welcomed in Pakistan, as it is the land of Baba Guru Nanak Ji — home to his birthplace and several sacred sites. He also highlighted that all minorities in Pakistan are living freely and enjoying complete religious freedom, reflecting the country's commitment to interfaith harmony and inclusivity. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Time of India
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
CM Mamata removed word Dham from Digha temple, this is victory of Lord Jagannath devotees: Chief Servitor of Jagannath Puri Temple
In the wake of protests over the newly inaugurated Jagannath Temple in Digha being called Jagannath Dham, the word Dham was replaced with temple in the signboards. #Pahalgam Terrorist Attack India orders nationwide defence drills as Indo-Pak tensions rise From blackouts to bunkers: Inside India's civil defence mock drills across 244 districts on May 7 A woman spy who helped India defeat Pakistan in 1971 Daitapati BhabDas Mohapatra, Chief Servitor of Jagannath Puri Temple, said that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had to remove the word Dham from the Digha temple after the move sparked controversy. Mohapatra said, "This had to happen. This is a victory of righteousness. This is the victory of 4.5 crore devotees of Lord Jagannath. Mamata didi removed the word Dham from there. You have built the Jagannath temple, you have done good work, but write it by saying Jagannath temple, and you cannot write Dham... No wood has gone from here- Jagannath Puri Dham. Whatever conspiracy was planned by the Chief Minister of Bengal, religion has won in it." He further said that the Law Minister of Odisha has clarified that no sacred wood from Jagannath Puri Temple has been used to create the idol in Digha temple. Minister of Law, Prithviraj Harichandan, held a review meeting with Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Chief Administrator of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), Puri, regarding the newly inaugurated Jagannath temple in Digha, as Jagannath Dham. Live Events "Jagannath temples can be established worldwide, but they must adhere to the rituals and guidelines issued by the temple administration in Puri. The Odisha government plans to write to the West Bengal government requesting the removal of the word "Dham" from the name of the newly inaugurated Jagannath temple in Digha. A new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) will be issued for servitors (sevayats), specifying where they may perform rituals outside the Jagannath Temple in Puri." Prithviraj Harichandan, Minister of Law, said. He said that Dharu Katta (sacred wood) was not used for constructing Lord Jagannath idol at the newly inaugurated temple in Digha, only neem wood was used to construct idols in Jagannath temple in Digha Earlier West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on Monday emphasised the importance of respecting all religious institutions, including the Jagannath Temple in Puri and the Digha Jagannath Temple. Speaking to the media, CM Mamata Banerjee stated, "We respect the temple in Puri and we also respect Jagannath Dham. Kaali Temples and Gurdwaras are found throughout the country. Temples exist in all areas. Why is there so much anger on this issue?" This comes after West Bengal government, led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, referred to the Digha temple as "Jagannath Dham," a term traditionally reserved for the 12th-century Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha. The Chief Servitor of the Puri Jagannath Temple had strongly criticised the West Bengal government's decision to label the newly built Jagannath Temple in Digha as "Jagannath Dham, " describing it as a "political stunt."
Hans India
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Temple Tensions Rise Between Bengal And Odisha Over New Jagannath Shrine In Digha
A religious controversy has erupted between West Bengal and Odisha following the inauguration of a new Jagannath temple in Digha, named "Jagannath Dham." The dispute centers around allegations that sacred Nabakalebara wood from Puri's centuries-old shrine was diverted to construct deities for the new temple. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee strongly refuted these claims on Monday, despite no formal accusations being made against her government. "Why would we use stolen neem wood? We have our own sources. These allegations are completely baseless," Banerjee stated during her visit to Murshidabad. She further claimed that Bengali-speaking migrant workers were facing attacks in BJP-ruled Odisha, announcing that West Bengal's Director General of Police would address this issue with Odisha authorities. The controversy stems from the questioning of Ramakrushna Dasmohapatra, secretary of the Daitapati Nijog (considered the Lord's bodyguards), by the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration. Dasmohapatra reportedly presided over the consecration ceremony at the Digha temple on April 30 in Banerjee's presence. The Daitapati Nijog is responsible for maintaining the sacred wood storage facility at Puri. Nabakalebara is a significant ritual where the idols of Lord Jagannath and his siblings at the Puri temple are replaced every 12 or 19 years, with the last ceremony held in 2015. The remaining consecrated wood is meant exclusively for rituals at the original shrine. Beyond the wood controversy, objections have been raised about naming the new temple "Jagannath Dham." Puri's BJP MP Sambit Patra emphasized, "There is only one Jagannath Dham in the world, and it is not possible to call any other place Jagannath Dham." The Odisha government has stated its intention to formally request Banerjee to stop using this designation. Banerjee dismissed these concerns, suggesting political motivations behind the backlash. "Why are they so angry just because we built a Jagannath temple in Digha? Is it a crime to worship Lord Jagannath in West Bengal?" She equated the significance of both temples, noting that "Kali Temples and Gurdwaras are everywhere across the country." The dispute has taken on political dimensions, with the new Digha temple being perceived as a religio-cultural counter-narrative to Puri's centuries-old shrine. Trinamool MPs Yusuf Pathan and Samirul Islam have escalated the migrant worker issue by writing to Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding the alleged attacks on Bengali speakers in Odisha.
India Today
05-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
We respect both Puri temple, Jagannath Dham: Mamata Banerjee reacts to row
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, while reacting to the controversy over the newly-inaugurated Jagannath Temple in Digha, said she respects both the temples. Her response came as objections are being raised over the state government promoting the temple as 'Jagannath Dham', a title traditionally associated with the 12th-century Jagannath Temple in Puri, the controversy, the Odisha government also said on Sunday it intended to send a letter to Banerjee, requesting her to stop referring to the recently constructed Jagannath temple in Digha as "Jagannath Dham".advertisementBanerjee, addressing the issue, appeared to equate the significance of both temples and reiterated her reference to the Digha site as "Jagannath Dham." "We respect the temple in Puri and we also respect Jagannath Dham. Kaali Temple and Gurdwaras are everywhere across the country. Temples are there in all is there so much anger on this issue?," she May 4, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra raised objections to the Digha temple's name and said "no other temple can be called a dham"."I strongly object to one thing. There is only one Jagannath Dham in the world, and it is not possible to call any other place Jagannath Dham because there is no other place."Notably, there are four Dhams in India, and among them, Puri temple is one of them. The BJP leader said "there should be no doubt that no other place can be called Jagannath Dham."advertisementThe Jagannath Temple in Digha was officially inaugurated by the West Bengal government on April 30. The temple is architecturally inspired by the 12th-century Jagannath Temple in Puri and enshrines the same after the inauguration, devotees in Odisha requested that the temple should not be called Dham as the title belongs to the original temple in Puri. A row also erupted over the participation of servitors from Puri temple in the Digha temple's inauguration May 3, the Odisha government asked authorities at the Puri Jagannath Temple to look into the controversies. The government also called for an 'internal inquiry' into 'naming the newly built Digha temple as Jagannath Dham, the participation of servitors from Puri, and using the surplus sacred neem wood of Nabakalebara rituals to craft the idols for the new shrine.
