Latest news with #HinduCommunity
CTV News
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
‘We believe in peace, equality, and respect': Regina's Hindu community celebrates Ratha Yatra
Regina's Hindu community celebrated its fourth annual Ratha Yatra festival, also known as the Chariot Festival. (Sierra D'Souza Butts/CTV News) Through music, food, and a parade, Regina's Hindu community celebrated its fourth annual Ratha Yatra festival on Sunday. Also known as the Chariot Festival, the celebration symbolizes inclusion, unity and equality amongst the cultural heritage of Hinduism. '[Ratha Yatra] is not just a religious celebration. We believe it's a celebration of community, it's a celebration of peace, unity and of devotion,' shared Varun Sharma, president of the Hindu Temple Regina. The all-day event began at the Hindu Temple Regina, following a walk to Wascana Park to participate in prayer and rituals on site, as well as cultural activities. Hindu community Regina Regina's Hindu community celebrated its fourth annual Ratha Yatra festival, also known as the Chariot Festival. (Sierra D'Souza Butts/CTV News) With the annual commemoration being the biggest Hindu community event in India, Sharma said the organization aimed to bring the festivities to Regina. 'Regina, especially Canada, we believe it's a place where we value diversification. We value culture and we value our right for speech,' he said. 'We just wanted to show what Hinduism is, what we stand for, what we believe in so that everyone should know that we are here. We are making a contribution in the economy. We are making contribution in all and in every area in the community. That's the message we want to pass, and that everyone should know we believe in peace, equality and respect.' The event was open to the public, seeing around 5,000 people in attendance.
Arab News
06-07-2025
- General
- Arab News
Death toll from Pakistan building collapse rises to 23
KARACHI: The death toll from a five-story building collapse in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi rose to 23 late Saturday, the Sindh Health Department said after rescuers pulled more bodies from the rubble. The Fotan Mansion residential building, where several families were said to be living, crumbled around 10 am on Friday in the impoverished Lyari neighborhood of the city. Rescue workers, along with residents of the area, worked through the night to find survivors and bodies after the incident, which has once again laid bare the issue of unsafe housing in Karachi. '[Total deaths] from the Karachi building collapse have reached 23 now,' the Sindh Health Department said in a message sent to reporters. Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab said on Saturday morning the rescue operation was still ongoing at the collapse site. 'Rescue operation still continues at Baghdadi Lyari where the building had collapsed yesterday,' Wahab wrote on social media platform X. Many of the occupants were members of the low-income Hindu minority community and residents estimated that around 40 people were inside when the building collapsed. According to the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA), Fotan Mansion had been declared unsafe three years ago. 'This building was declared dangerous by the SBCA in 2022 and had been served multiple notices over the years,' SBCA spokesperson Shakeel Dogar told Arab News on Saturday. 'Before the recent rains, public announcements were also made in the area, but unfortunately, no one was willing to vacate.' Friday's incident is the latest in a string of deadly building collapses in Karachi. In February 2020, a five-story building collapsed in Rizvia Society, killing at least 27 people. The following month, another residential structure came down in Gulbahar, claiming 16 lives. In June 2021, a three-story building in Malir collapsed, killing four. And just last year, in August, a building collapse in Qur'angi led to at least three deaths. Mayor Wahab said on Friday evening that rescue efforts remained the city government's top priority, with accountability and investigation to follow. 'Once we're done with the rescue aspect, we will focus on who was responsible for this negligence or omission,' he added.
Arab News
04-07-2025
- General
- Arab News
Eight killed in Karachi building collapse, exposing city's crisis of unsafe housing
KARACHI: A five-story residential building collapsed in Karachi's densely populated Lyari neighborhood on Friday, killing at least eight people and trapping many others, in yet another tragedy underscoring the city's crisis of unsafe, aging structures. Rescue workers, aided by local residents, scrambled to pull people from the debris of the Fotan Mansion building, recovering both bodies and injured survivors. The collapse took place around 10:30 a.m., jolting the community. 'I suddenly woke up … it felt like there were tremors, like an earthquake,' said Salman Ahmed, who was sleeping in a nearby building at the time of the incident and later rescued two children. 'At the moment the building collapsed, nothing was visible,' he recalled. 'There was so much dust and smoke that no one could understand what had happened. 'We could hear voices coming from underneath [the rubble].' It was not immediately clear how many families lived in the building, but residents estimated that around 40 people were inside when it collapsed. Many of the occupants were members of the low-income Hindu minority community. As of Friday evening, a large rescue operation was still underway, with cranes clearing debris and rescuers working against time to reach those still trapped beneath the rubble. 'They handed me a three-month-old baby girl, she was alive,' said Maya Sham, a relative of a family living in the building. 'Right now, two of their sons and three daughters-in-law are still trapped. But we can still hear voices from inside.' The collapse devastated families like that of Megbhai, a member of the Hindu community, which largely resided in the building. Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab confirmed that six people had died and eight were rescued alive. He said the building had long been on the city's 'danger list.' 'This building was declared dangerous, and a couple of notices were issued to the occupants to vacate because of its structure,' Wahab told Arab News at the site. 'But unfortunately, people chose to risk their lives, and they did not vacate.' Pakistan's largest city — home to over 20 million people — faces a chronic housing shortage. Many low-income residents live in dilapidated buildings that have escaped regular maintenance. Authorities have declared nearly 588 buildings dangerous in Karachi, most in the congested Old City area. According to the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA), Fotan Mansion had been declared unsafe as far back as 2012. 'This building was declared dangerous by the SBCA in 2012 and had been served multiple notices over the years,' SBCA spokesperson Shakeel Dogar told Arab News. 'Before the recent rains, public announcements were also made in the area, but unfortunately, no one was willing to vacate,' he said, adding that it was the responsibility of the district administration to enforce the SBCA's evacuation directives. Mayor Wahab said rescue efforts remained the top priority, with accountability and investigation to follow. 'Our administration, our machinery is here on the ground,' he said. 'Once we're done with the rescue aspect, we will focus on who was responsible for this negligence or omission.' RECURRING TRAGEDY Friday's incident is the latest in a string of deadly building collapses in Karachi. In February 2020, a five-story building collapsed in Rizvia Society, killing at least 27 people. The following month, another residential structure came down in Gulbahar, claiming 16 lives. In June 2021, a three-story building in Malir collapsed, killing four. And just last year, in August, a building collapse in Qur'angi led to at least three deaths. Most of these structures had either been declared unsafe or were built without proper approval. Experts say that despite repeated disasters, there has been little progress in enforcing building codes or relocating residents from hazardous structures. 'The incident of the building collapse in Lyari is deeply tragic,' said Muhammad Hassan Bakhshi, chairman of the Association of Builders and Developers of Pakistan (ABAD). 'It is alarming that despite having a list of dangerous buildings, the SBCA did not take action to get them evacuated.' He urged the Sindh government to reassess buildings citywide and equip rescue teams with modern tools and technology. With hundreds of buildings still listed as unsafe, authorities now face mounting pressure to prevent future disasters. 'The way out is that we must follow what the law says,' said Mayor Wahab when asked if anyone would be held accountable. 'If citizens don't listen to us, the political leadership and the administration have to play their part to convince those people.' 'Nobody wants to leave their house... but we must learn from our mistakes and ensure no such untoward incident takes place in the future,' he said.
The Independent
03-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
India's Modi arrives in Trinidad and Tobago to strengthen ties in first official visit
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Trinidad and Tobago on Thursday for a two-day trip expected to boost investments in energy, health, security and other sectors. It is Modi's first official visit to the diverse, twin-island Caribbean nation. More than 35% of its 1.4 million inhabitants are East Indian, descendants of indentured workers brought from India during the colonial era. Modi said on X prior to the trip that he was 'looking forward to deepening ties with a valued partner in the Caribbean, with whom we share very old cultural linkages.' Hours before Modi landed in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad's prime minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, closed schools and non-essential government offices as a security measure aimed at reducing traffic. Modi was scheduled to meet with officials on Thursday evening and address both Houses of Parliament on Friday, as well as sign several agreements. While many in Trinidad and Tobago's Hindu community were excited about Modi's visit, the nation's largest Muslim organization, the Anjuman Sunnat-ul-Jamaat Association, had its reservations. In a letter sent to a local newspaper, the association criticized Modi's government, saying it has 'emboldened religious intolerance and targeted the Muslim community' in India. 'We cannot ignore Mr. Modi's political legacy and its ramifications for Muslim communities globally,' the association said. About 18% of Trinidad and Tobago's population is Hindu, while 5% is Muslim. Modi is scheduled to travel to Buenos Aires, Argentina this weekend and meet with President Javier Milei.
Associated Press
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
India's Modi arrives in Trinidad and Tobago to strengthen ties in first official visit
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (AP) — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Trinidad and Tobago on Thursday for a two-day trip expected to boost investments in energy, health, security and other sectors. It is Modi's first official visit to the diverse, twin-island Caribbean nation. More than 35% of its 1.4 million inhabitants are East Indian, descendants of indentured workers brought from India during the colonial era. Modi said on X prior to the trip that he was 'looking forward to deepening ties with a valued partner in the Caribbean, with whom we share very old cultural linkages.' Hours before Modi landed in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad's prime minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, closed schools and non-essential government offices as a security measure aimed at reducing traffic. Modi was scheduled to meet with officials on Thursday evening and address both Houses of Parliament on Friday, as well as sign several agreements. While many in Trinidad and Tobago's Hindu community were excited about Modi's visit, the nation's largest Muslim organization, the Anjuman Sunnat-ul-Jamaat Association, had its reservations. In a letter sent to a local newspaper, the association criticized Modi's government, saying it has 'emboldened religious intolerance and targeted the Muslim community' in India. 'We cannot ignore Mr. Modi's political legacy and its ramifications for Muslim communities globally,' the association said. About 18% of Trinidad and Tobago's population is Hindu, while 5% is Muslim. Modi is scheduled to travel to Buenos Aires, Argentina this weekend and meet with President Javier Milei.
