Jammu, Feb 21 (IANS) The process of registering pilgrims for this year's Amarnath pilgrimage will commence from March 18 for both the Baltal and Pahalgam routes through over 400 designated bank branches, said a shrine board spokesman Thursday. A health certificate will be mandatory.

New Delhi, Feb 21 (IANS) The Jamiat Ulema-Hind, which virtually controls the Islamic seminary Darul-Uloom at Deoband, appears sharply divided over Gujarat Chief Minister Naremdra Modi.

Chandigarh, Feb 20 (IANS) British Prime Minister David Cameron was a devout, a politician regretting a historical tragedy and a business leader -- all rolled into one within a space of four hours during his visit to Sikh holy city Amritsar Wednesday.

Amritsar, Feb 20 (IANS) British Prime Minister David Cameron Wednesday offered prayers at the holiest of Sikh shrines, Harmandar Sahib, popularly known as the Golden Temple, in this Punjab town.

Allahabad, Feb 19 (IANS) After three days of partial blackout, electricity was restored in the Kumbh mela premises late Tuesday, officials said.

Allahabad, Feb 18 (IANS) After incessant rains that turned the Kumbh mela site into a swamp, rising waters of the Ganga and Yaumna rivers here have added to the problems of the mela officials.

Bhubaneswar, Feb 17 (IANS) More than five lakh devotees Sunday took a holy dip in Odisha's temple town Konark and offered prayers to the sun god on the occasion of Magha Saptami.

Rome, Feb 17 (IANS/RIA Novosti) The conclave to elect a successor to Pope Benedict XVI could start before March 15 if all the cardinals were already in Rome, the Vatican has announced.

Allahabad, Feb 16 (IANS) Heavy rains that lashed the city Saturday created a crisis at the Kumbh mela premises, sending pilgrims, seers and journalists scurrying for cover as tents collapsed under the deluge.

Kolkata, Feb 15 (IANS) Goddess Saraswati, considered the deity of music, culture and learning, was worshiped across the city Friday, with women clad in traditional yellow saris offering flowers, children participating in cultural programmes and families sharing 'prasad'.

Hyderabad, Feb 15 (IANS) MIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi was granted bail Friday by a court in Nizamabad district of Andhra Pradesh in a hate speech case.

Moscow, Feb 15 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Russian migration authorities have revised a decision to deport an Afghan teenaged girl who claimed to be facing death penalty at home because she converted from Islam to Christianity.

Vatican City, Feb 14 (IANS/AKI) Pope Benedict XVI fell and hit his head during a March 2012 trip to Mexico, the Vatican authorities confirmed Thursday.

New Delhi, Feb 14 (IANS) A two-day conference on India and the Muslim world begins here Friday to discuss issues related to cultural heritage, educational cooperation and diplomacy.

Vatican City, Feb 13 (IANS/AKI) Pope Benedict XVI will stay at the papal summer residence outside Rome when he officially steps down Feb 28 before moving into a former nunnery within the Vatican walls, the Holy See announced.

Mumbai, Feb 12 (IANS) Temple trusts and religious bodies, flush with funds, have decided to chip in for drought relief in water scarce regions of Maharashtra, officials said Tuesday.

Allahabad, Feb 12 (IANS) Action will be taken against officials if found guilty of lapses for the Feb 10 stampede due to the Kumbh Mela rush at the Allahabad railway station here, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said Tuesday.

Shillong, Feb 12 (IANS) Pope Benedict XVI's announcement to resign due to his frailty has shocked and surprised everyone in the predominantly Christian Meghalaya.

New Delhi, Feb 11 (IANS) The family and neighbours of a 40-year-old woman who died in the stampede at the Allahabad railway station mourned her at her residence in the capital Monday.

Kochi, Feb 11 (IANS) Two cardinals from Kerala are among the four from the country to leave for Vatican to cast their vote in elections for a new pope to replace Pope Benedict XVI, the leader of the Catholic church, who has announced that he would step down in view of advanced age.

Allahabad, Feb 11 (IANS) Even as the state government ordered a probe into Sunday's stampede at Allahabad railway station, sources said pressure on Kumbh officials to clear the town of millions of people led to the 36 deaths and injuries to over 24 others.

London, Feb 11 (IANS) Pope Benedict XVI is to resign at the end of February, BBC reported Monday.

New Delhi, Feb 11 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Monday said the stampede at Allahabad railway station Sunday night exposed the failure of the central as well as the Uttar Pradesh government in managing large congregations.

Patna, Feb 11 (IANS) An influential group of Hindu priests Monday objected to the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) projecting Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as a prime ministerial candidate in the next general election.

Allahabad, Feb 11 (IANS) At least 36 people were killed and over a dozen injured in an stampede following the collapse of an overbridge railing at the Allahabad railway station Sunday owing to the Kumbh Mela rush, an official said Monday.

Allahabad, Feb 10 (IANS) At least 10 people were killed and over a dozen injured when the railing of an overbridge at Allahabad railway station collapsed Sunday due to the Kumbh Mela rush, state government officials and Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said. A probe has been ordered.

Jammu, Feb 10 (IANS) Pilgrims under 13 and above 75 years of age as also women who are more than six weeks pregnant will not be allowed to undertake the annual pilgrimage to the Amarnath shrine in south Kashmir, an official said Sunday.

Allahabad, Feb 10 (IANS) Officials at the Maha Kumbh mela premises had a tough time Sunday as they found themselves caught between the incessant rush of devotees and the steady spin of rumour mills on Mauni Amavasya, the biggest bathing day.

Maramon (Kerala), Feb 10 (IANS) Asia's biggest Christian convention got underway here Sunday with Philipose Mar Chrysostum, senior metropolitan of the Mar Thoma Church leading the opening worship.

Dharamsala, Feb 10 (IANS) An eerie silence prevails at McLeodganj near Dharamsala, where thousands of Tibetans and their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, have been living for over half a century, ahead of the sacred Losar festival, beginning Monday.

Cairo, Feb 10 (IANS/RIA Novosti) A court in Cairo has ordered popular video sharing website YouTube to be blocked for hosting the controversial film "Innocence of Muslims", state media reported.

Allahabad, Feb 10 (IANS) Amid blowing of conch shells, the biggest bathing day 'Mauni Amavasya' at the Maha Kumbh began early Sunday as millions of visitors walked to take a dip at the Sangam - the holy confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and the mystical Saraswati.

Mohit DubeyAllahabad, Feb 9 (IANS) It is not just the millions trickling into the sprawling 58 sq km campus of the Kumbh Mela that officials worry about. There is also an 'army' of mosquitoes to tackle.

Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh), Feb 9 (IANS) Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa returned to Colombo Saturday after praying at the Lord Venkateswara Temple here.

Allahabad, Feb 9 (IANS) Security at the Kumbh Mela, where millions of Hindus and others have congregated, was further tightened Saturday as Afzal Guru, convicted for his central role in the attack on the Indian parliament over 11 years ago, was hanged at the Tihar Jail in New Delhi.

Bangalore, Feb 8 (IANS) Around 750 business leaders from India and abroad Friday began a two-day discussion here on "Corporate Culture and Spirituality".

Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh), Feb 8 (IANS) Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived in this temple town Friday evening for pilgrimage amid protests by Tamil groups.

Lucknow, Feb 8 (IANS) Anticipating a huge media presence from across the world to cover Mauni Amavasya, the most important royal bathing day, the Kumbh administration Friday issued fresh guidelines to journalists.

Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh), Feb 8 (IANS) Scores of activists from Tamil groups were arrested and prohibitory orders imposed in this temple town as police went on high alert ahead of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa's visit here Friday evening.

Allahabad, Feb 8 (IANS) A rare planetary configuration after 147 years, unprecedented security and a multitude of faithfuls has set the stage for the biggest of all holy 'shahi snans' (royal baths) at the Maha Kumbh Sunday. More than 30 million pilgrims were expected for Mauni Amavasya, officials said.

Bodh Gaya (Bihar), Feb 8 (IANS) Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived here Friday to pray at a temple site where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment, on the first day of a two-day trip to India.

Allahabad, Feb 7 (IANS) Making history of sorts, the ongoing Maha Kumbh here Thursday saw 100 former scavenging women, considered "untouchable" for centuries, take a holy dip at the Sangam here and share food with top Hindu seers.

New Delhi, Feb 7 (IANS) Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa arrives Friday in India for pilgrimage and he will not visit New Delhi to meet the country's leaders, official sources said.

Jammu, Feb 6 (IANS) Toilets with bio-digester technology should urgently be installed on pilgrimage routes and at tourist posts in Jammu and Kashmir, Governor N.N. Vohra said Wednesday.

Chandigarh, Feb 6 (IANS) To boost tourism in the state, Punjab's chief minister Wednesday approved a Rs.250 crore plan for Sikh circuit tourism for developing Sikh religious places.

New Delhi, Feb 5 (IANS) The digital revolution is spurring a slow transformation in the spiritual classrooms of one of most conservative bastions of faith. More and more Muslims in India, South Asia and around the world are logging on to the internet to read the Holy Quran, which is moving to the digital domain keeping in tune with the proliferation of e-books.

New Delhi, Feb 4 (IANS) Union Women and Child Development Minister Krishna Tirath Monday criticised the 'fatwa' against the all-girl rock band in Kashmir, asserting that women's progress was linked to nation's progress.

Allahabad, Feb 3 (IANS) As the administration gears up for the holy bathing day Feb 10 on Mauni Amavasya at the Maha Kumbh here, women scavengers (untouchables) of the yore will perform rituals at the Sangam with Hindu priests Feb 7, marking a departure from a tainted tradition.

Moscow, Feb 3 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Following a high number of anti-church posts that have appeared on the internet, Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church has said the church he leads should be present in social networks to tell the "truth".

New Delhi, Feb 2 (IANS) BJP president Rajnath Singh Saturday said the Indian government was responsible for the plight of Hindus in Pakistan as it never expressed its resentment against the exploitation of the community by fanatics in that country.