Kumbh Mela 2021: Centre issues guidelines, makes THIS mandatory for devotees

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The Centre on Sunday (January 24) issued guidelines for the upcoming Kumbh Mela at Haridwar in Uttarakhand amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

As per the SOPs, all devotees desirous of attending the mela must register with Uttarakhand government. The devotees also have to obtain a compulsory medical certificate from Community Health Centre or district hospital or medical college in their state.

The 2021 Kumbh fair will be a 48-day-long event and the Uttarakhand government will issue the notification for the same by February end.

The Maha Kumbh Mela began on January 14, 2021, and will end in April. Due to the pandemic, this year the Kumbh Mela will be held for 48 days in Haridwar instead of three-and-a-half months. The Maha Kumbh is celebrated in a cycle of 12 years at four river-bank pilgrimage sites. The fair will conclude on April 27.

The National Security Guard (NSG) commandos will also be deployed at the mela. Uttarakhand Police Commissioner Ashok Kumar said, “To take action against the anti-national elements, two NSG teams will be deployed during Kumbh Mela. The NSG teams will also train our Anti-Terrorist Squad.”

The central government has also acknowledged that since the Mahakumbh receives devotees from various states of the country as well as from abroad, it is necessary to take precaution. To be sure, the state government has asked the Centre for 20,000 additional vaccines. The state COVID-19 Control Room chief Dr Abhishek Tripathi divulged that the state government has sent a proposal for the same to the centre.

Meanwhile, the Uttarakhand government on Friday authorised Garhwal Commissioner and the Kumbh Mela official to allocate works up to worth Rs 5 crore and Rs 2 crore respectively to speed up preparations for the Kumbh Mela. The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat on Friday (January 22) evening, PTI quoted Cabinet minister Madan Kaushik as saying.

The cabinet also gave its nod to release Rs 3.79 crore for payment of scholarship dues to scheduled caste students of Class 9 and 10 of 2017-18 and 2018-19 sessions

Greetings to Russia’s Jews on Rosh Hashanah

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http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/64048

Vladimir Putin sent greetings to Russia’s Jews on Rosh Hashanah.

The message reads, in part:

“Followers of Judaism in our country deeply respect the invaluable historical and spiritual heritage of their ancestors, and carefully pass on their ancient, distinctive religious and cultural traditions from generation to generation. Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is rightfully considered one of the most important occasions in the life of the Jewish community. On these days, people look back on the path travelled and make plans for the future. They aspire to purity of thoughts and deeds, and help others.

I would like to note that Jewish religious associations are doing great and important work implementing socially significant charitable, educational and patriotic projects. I would like to highlight their tireless concern for strengthening peace and harmony, mutual respect and neighbourliness between people and, of course, their contribution to the common fight against the threat of the novel coronavirus infection.”

Reopening of the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina

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https://twitter.com/AlArabiya_Eng/status/1267021536269086721?s=08

[RSN] Malaysian Buddhists celebrate Vesak from home during pandemic

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KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (RNS) — With all temples in Malaysia closed to the public in an effort to curb the coronavirus outbreak, the country’s 5.4 million Buddhists — the second largest faith group in the mostly Muslim nation — observed Vesak, or Buddha Day, from home this year. This important holiday commemorates the birth, enlightenment and death of Gautama Buddha.

Source: https://religionnews.com/2020/05/07/malaysian-buddhists-celebrate-vesak-day-from-home-during-pandemic/

South Korea’s big churches reopen with designated seats, size limits

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Source: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-southkorea-churche/south-koreas-big-churches-reopen-with-designated-seats-size-limits-idUSKCN2280A4?il=0

SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korea’s large churches reopened on Sunday, requiring worshipers to keep their distance and wear masks, after the government relaxed restrictions on religious gatherings aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus.

Onnuri Church, one of the biggest churches in Seoul, required members to sign up online ahead of the service and sit on designated seats to maintain distance.

It has also limited attendance to 700 in a hall with a capacity of 3,000 people, a church official said.

Last Sunday, South Korea extended its social distancing policy until May 5 but offered some relief for religious and sports facilities previously subject to strict restrictions.

    A secretive church, the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, was at the epicenter of South Korea’s coronavirus outbreak, with about half of the country’s total infections of 10,728 linked to its members.

The first confirmed patient in the church, South Korea’s 31st overall, was discharged from a hospital on Friday after being treated for over two months, the hospital in the southeastern city of Daegu said on Sunday.

    South Korea managed to curb the first major outbreak outside China with massive testing and aggressive contact tracing but there have been a series of small outbreaks involving churches and other clusters.

South Korea on Sunday reported 10 new cases, marking the eight day when the number of new infections hovered around that level.  

Church members expressed faith in the ability by South Korea and churches to tackle the coronavirus outbreak.

“I did not have fear. I believed that the church would abide by safe principles,” Kang Hye-mi, a 29-year-old worshiper, said at Myeongdong Catholic Cathedral in Seoul.

    When restrictions were put in place, South Korean churches turned to online or drive-in services where churchgoers attended by parking their cars on school playgrounds. 

Yang Sun-kyung, who went to the Onnuri church for the first time in two months, said she is able to concentrate better when attending church rather than during online worship which was sometimes distracting.

    “I hope this (our church) can be an exemplary case for others,” Han Jin-gun, a 34-year-old worshiper at Onnuri said.

On Sunday, South Korean health authorities expressed concerns about the resurgence of virus, with more people going out on weekends as social distancing rules ease and ahead of a holiday that will start on Thursday.

There is a higher chance of infection in confined and dense places like churches, clubs and bars, especially among those in their twenties who account for the biggest portion of infected people, Jeong Eun-kyeong, director of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), told a briefing.

US Commission on International Religious Freedom Welcomes SC Decision on Assam Detention Centres

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Link to https://www.news18.com/news/world/us-commission-on-international-religious-freedom-welcomes-sc-decision-on-assam-detention-centres-2578043.html

Washington: The US Commission on International Religious Freedom on Tuesday welcomed the decision of India’s Supreme Court to relax conditions for the release of individuals detained as “foreigners” in Assam due to concerns over the spread of COVID-19.

“We welcome this decision as a first step,” said USCIRF Chair Tony Perkins.

On an application submitted by the Justice for Liberty Initiative, the Supreme Court on Monday ordered the release of detainees held for at least two years and lowered the personal bond amount necessary to secure release from Rs 1,00,000 to Rs 5,000.

Perkins, in a statement, urged the Supreme Court to continue on this promising path and order the release of all those detained in the detention centres on humanitarian grounds.

“Even two years as a minimum time for release is unreasonable given the threat of detention centres becoming a breeding ground for the spread of COVID-19, he said.

USCIRF claimed that nearly 1,000 people under suspicion of being a “foreigner” are currently housed in six detention centres in Assam as they await deportation. Some individuals have been detained for as long as 10 years without being sentenced to a crime, it said.

“It is encouraging that India’s Supreme Court recognized the vulnerability of detainees in the detention centres, said USCIRF Commissioner Anurima Bhargava.

“We remain concerned, however, that these individuals were wrongfully labeled as foreigners’ and detained in the first place. Moving forward, we hope the government ends the practice of detaining individuals within these centres, especially given the overriding concerns with COVID-19, she said.

India has recorded over 11,000 COVID-19 infections with at least 353 deaths.

Tōkyō-jāmii: Extension of cancellation of event/lectures (Updated for April)

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Link: https://tokyocamii.org/notice/3029/

Thank you always for your kind support and understanding.

We’re sorry to inform you that we have canceled all events, lectures, classes, and Friday Prayer Services until April 23.

Working hours of Tokyo Camii have changed as follows:

・Prayer Hall is open until Isha prayer.
・The halal market is open from 10 am to 7 pm.
・The culture center is open from 10 am to 5 pm.

Our Ramadan program will be announced later, depending on the decisions of the Japanese government. Thank you for your continuous kind understanding.

Prayers and concerns are with you all during this hard time.
Best Regards.

[NOTICE] Extension of cancellation of event/lectures (Updated for April)

Archdiocese of Tokyo: Precautionary Measures Concerning COVID-19

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Link: https://tokyo.catholic.jp/english/information/37816/

23 March 2020

Dear brothers and sisters in the Archdiocese of Tokyo:


Precautionary Measures Concerning COVID-19 from 30th March and Beyond

Infections due to COVID-19 continue to spread on a global scale, with severe cases being reported one after another in various places. As you all know, Church activities such as “public masses” have been suspended in many countries around the world.

Taking into consideration the recent views of the government’s Expert Meeting last 19 March, the Tokyo Archdiocese has determined the following specific measures in response to the situation from 30 March onward:

1: All parishioners of the Tokyo Archdiocese are dispensed from their obligation to attend Sunday mass for the time being from 30 March (Monday) onward.

2: From 30 March (Monday) and beyond, all “public masses” with unspecified number of people attending will also be suspended for the time being.

3: Concerning weddings and funerals, kindly take adequate precautionary measures against infection before proceeding as usual.

4: For other events, except for small gatherings of up to about 20 persons, kindly consider as much as possible postponing or canceling them. In case of holding such events, in addition to hand disinfection, kindly provide sufficient ventilation, keep a distance between each other, and try to finish the gathering as quickly as possible.

5: The Holy Week liturgy, including the Chrism Mass, will not be celebrated in public. However, concerning baptisms on Easter Sunday, kindly follow the instructions of your parish priest.

6: In order to protect life, especially those of the elderly and with chronic disease, we call on everyone to be united with the community in prayer while staying at home.

7: For those who would like to offer their special donations during this liturgical season, including “Donation with Love” of the Lenten Campaign, kindly consult personally your parish priest.

In addition to continuing the broadcast of the Sunday mass via internet, we will also be live streaming the Holy Week liturgy with the help of a parishioner of Sekiguchi Church.

Concerning the video streaming, it may not always be possible to provide subtitles. And so, I ask for your understanding since we are relying on the generous service of the person who volunteered to take charge of the broadcast.

Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi, SVD
Archbishop of Tokyo

Coronavirus: Yogi Adityanath’s Tough Move Against Quarantined Islamic Sect Members

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The Tablighi Jamaat members, quarantined at Ghaziabad’s MMG Hospital, have also been accused of endangering staff by violating coronavirus precautions.

Reported by Akshay Kumar Dongare, Alok Pandey, Edited by Deepshikha Ghosh

New Delhi: 

Some members of the Islamic missionary sect Tablighi Jamaat, which organised a religious gathering in Delhi linked to hundreds of coronavirus cases, face charges under the National Security Act (NSA) after allegations of assault on nurses and obscene behavior at a hospital in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. Describing them as “enemies of humanity”, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ordered charges under the tough law that allows detention without charges for up to a year.

“They will not follow the law, nor will they accept order. They are the enemies of humanity, what they have done with women healthcare providers is a heinous crime. We are invoking the National Security Act against them, we will not spare them,” Yogi Adityanath said.

“An incident like Indore where doctors were attacked should not be seen anywhere in the state. For this, we will take whatever action is required by law,” he said.

The Tablighi members, quarantined at Ghaziabad’s MMG Hospital, have been accused of endangering staff by violating coronavirus precautions. They passed lewd comments, roamed about without clothes in the isolation ward, used expletives, refused medicine and kept asking for beedis and cigarettes, according to a written complaint to the police by the Chief Medical Officer of the hospital.

In Ghaziabad, officials have tracked down 136 who attended the religious gathering last month at Markaz Nizamuddin, the Delhi headquarters of Tablighi Jamaat, which is a major coronavirus hotspot linked to nearly 650 cases and 12 deaths. Six of them had symptoms of coronavirus and were admitted to MMG hospital on March 31. One tested positive.

“Our nurses and paramedical staff have complained about obscene behavior by these patients,” Ravindra Singh, the chief medical officer of the hospital told NDTV.

“My staff complained many times, I spoke to the patients but they refused to listen. Finally our staff said they cannot work under such circumstances, we were compelled to send a written complaint to the police,” he said.

An FIR or First Information Report charges the Tablighi members with assault or criminal force on women, obscenity and “malignant behavior likely to spread infection”.

Several states are tracking down members of the group, who travelled across the country in the middle of the coronavirus crisis, violating all social distancing guidelines and escalating worries of COVID-19.

There are over 2,300 coronavirus cases in India, including 56 deaths.

Asia News.it – Uzbeks saved from coronavirus by ‘blessed smoke’ of isryk

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by Vladimir Rozanskij

Only 150 infections in the country. People attribute the low number to the properties of isryk, the Syrian rue made from the harmala seed, already used as a sacred drink in the Aryan (Vedas) and Zoroastrian rites. But for the ministry of health “there is no scientific evidence” on the good effects of smoking the rue. The “Mongolian triangle”, which also includes Turkmenistan and Tajikistan, is however one of the areas least affected by the pandemic.

Tashkent (AsiaNews) – On the streets of the Uzbek capital, there has been a strong burning smell for days, with the pungent aromas, so much so as to force people to close doors and windows, despite the high temperatures.

The women of the municipal department warn the Novaja Gazeta reporter: “We keep our door closed, but not because of the smoke: we are afraid that the coronavirus will enter”. On the contrary, the smoke is “blessed”: it is from the isryk, the Syrian rue also called harmala, despised even by wild animals, but very popular these days throughout Central Asia.

The yellow or light green bunches of isryk are burned together with the waste paper in special boxes, where the bitter seeds of the plant are placed, which are snapped up in all the bazaars of the country. In pharmacies, the herb is also sold in powdered form, in small packs that cost less than a dollar. The label states that isryk is used for “prophylaxis of respiratory infections, flu and colds, and also against domestic insects”, and it is recommended to “place it on a fireproof surface and burn it”. Each bazaar counter has placed metal colanders on the sides, from where the miraculous herb is fumigated continuously.

The effect is also slightly hallucinogenic. Isryk is also known as somi or khaomi, used in massive doses for “sacred” drinks of the ancient Aryans, according to the Indian Vedas or the Zoroastrian Avesta. It is also used by Central Asian Sufis as “mystical incense” to reach ecstasy. It was a Muslim sage, the famous Avicenna (Abu Ali ibn Sina, a native of the Uzbek city of Bukhara), often quoted by St. Thomas Aquinas, who wrote in the “Canon of healing science” that isryk is the best medium to treat respiratory inflammation, and can also be used as a diuretic and pain reliever.

The Uzbek ministry of health issued a statement in early March that “there is no scientific evidence that isryk is effective against coronavirus.” But this did not affect citizens’ trust in the alfalfa. Also because there are still few infections in the country (50 cases out of 2.5 million in the capital Tashkent), and it would be part of an area of ​​central Asia called in these days the “Mongolian triangle”, which seems refractory to the epidemic. This is explained by the particular dryness and healthiness of the air and by the use of the isryk / hermala herb, also recommended in Turkmenistan and Tajikistan, two other “triangle” countries.

The first cases of infection, however, have nonetheless emerged post March 30, and there would already be about 150 across the country, with some deaths, for which there is currently no official information. The government has announced quarantine measures, to which even the most famous billionaire in the country, Alisher Usmanov, Putin’s great supporter and Ella Musk’s Tesla financier, voluntarily submitted.

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has tried to reassure citizens, terrified after weeks of great security, saying that “if our people remain united and follow the indications, we will quickly defeat this disease”, also by burning a few more isryk bushes.