Connect with us

Spiritual

10 killed in shooting outside Egypt church (Lead)

Published

7 years ago

on

Cairo, Dec 29 (IANS) At least ten people were killed in a shootout outside a church here on Friday, state media reported.

“The security forces thwarted an attack on Mar Mina Church in the Helwan district,” said an Interior Ministry statement.

The Health Ministry said the ten killed include one attacker and one policeman, who are Muslims, and eight Copts with one of them a policeman, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Interior Ministry added that at least five others were injured, with two of them being in a serious condition. It said the other attacker fled the scene on a motorbike and was later arrested.

A bomb disposal team has defused two bombs planted near the church.

TV footage showed one attacker wearing a bulky ammunition vest lying on a street.

The other attacker was later arrested carrying a bomb, 150 bullets and an automatic gun, the head of the Cairo Security Directorate said.

In a statement, the church said the eight dead Copts include five church visitors, one security man of the church and two owners of an appliance shop nearby the scene.

Eyewitnesses told Xinhua that the two masked militants on a motorcycle entered the street leading to the western side of the church, and then got off and targeted the security post outside the church. They added that the exchange of fire continued for around 20 minutes.

The attack came in the run-up to Orthodox Christmas celebrations next week. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.

The Islamic State group’s affiliate in Egypt has killed dozens of Christians in church bombings and shootings over the past year.

Egypt’s Coptic Christians, the largest religious minority in the region, make up about 10 percent of the country’s 93 million people.

–IANS
him/bg

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Home

Chaitra Navratri 2022 Day 2: Maa Brahmacharini Significance and History

Published

3 years ago

on

April 3, 2022

By

Chaitra Navratri 2022 begins on the first day of the Hindu month (lunar-solar calendar) Chaitra. It marks the end of spring season and beginning of summer season, and that’s why it is also known as Vasant Navratri. The nine-day-long festival has already started from April 2. Tomorrow, that is April 3, is the second day of Chaitra Navratri, and Goddess Brahmacharini is worshipped on the second day of the holy festival.

Chaitra Navratri 2022 Day 2: Maa Brahmacharini Significance

Maa Brahmacharini is known for her pure and sincere devotion and determination. According to the drik panchang, Goddess Parvati took birth at the home of Daksha Prajapati. In this form, the Goddess Parvati was a great Sati and her unmarried form is worshipped as Goddess Brahmacharini. It is also believed that Lord Mangal, the provider of all fortunes, is governed by Goddess Brahmacharini. She did severe penance to get Lord Shiva as her husband and performed hard austerity. Due to this, she was called Brahmacharini. According to Hindu mythologies, Goddess Brahmacharini was on a diet of Bilva leaves for 3000 years while she prayed to Lord Shankar. Later, she even stopped eating Bilva leaves and continued her penance without any food and water.

Chaitra Navratri 2022 Day 2: Maa Brahmacharini Puja Vidhi

Step 1: The devotees should get up early and should take a bath.

Step 2: Then, the devotees should take flowers, roli, chandan, among other puja samagari and offer them to the idol of Maa Brahmacharini.

Step 3: The devotees should chant mantras and conclude the puja by performing a special Maa Durga Aarti.

The favourite flower of Maa Brahmacharini is Jasmine. The website also mentions the mantras to chant for Maa Brahmacharini.

Om Devi Brahmacharinyai Namah॥

Stuti:

Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu Maa Brahmacharini Rupena Samsthita।
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah॥

Continue Reading

Trending