- Title: INDIA: Japanese devotees pray for rains at temples in North West
- Date: 23rd July 2010
- Summary: JODHPUR, RAJASTHAN, INDIA (JULY 21, 2010) (ANI - NO ACCESS BBC) JAPANESE DEVOTEES SITTING AND CHANTING HOLY SONGS JHULKO TAGASAKI, A JAPANESE DEVOTEE, READING HANUMAN CHALISA (HOLY TEXT DEVOTED TO LORD HANUMAN, THE MONKEY GOD AND AIDE OF RAMA) JAPANESE DEVOTEES SITTING AND CHANTING HOLY SONGS TAGASAKI, CHANTING HANUMAN CHALISA TAGASAKI DEVOTEES SITTING AND CHANTING HOLY SONGS (SOUNDBITE) (English) JHULKO TAGASAKI, A JAPANESE DEVOTEE, SAYING: "I started in Indian religions Hindu religion and Jainism for six years. When I come to India my friend������� told me about Chalisa, how can we get the good power. So he explained everything with meaning and why do I have to chant Hanumaan Chalisa." JAPANESE DEVOTEES PERFORMING RITUALS A JAPANESE DEVOTEE RINGING THE TEMPLE BELL JAPANESE DEVOTEES PERFORMING RITUALS IDOL OF LORD HANUMAN (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) JITENDRA JOSHI, TEMPLE PRIEST, SAYING " In Rajasthan state on seeing people's inclination towards religion and God, they asked, 'What should we do so that rainfall is received?' so they performed Rudrabhishek of Lord Shiva at Pataleswar Mahadev Temple so that Rajasthan receives good rainfall for the benefit of the farmers in reaping it rich with a bumper harvest." JAPANESE DEVOTEES PERFORMING RITUALS OF RUDRABHISHEK DEVOTEES POURING MILK ON SHIVALINGAM DEVOTEES PERFORMING RITUALS OF RUDRABHISHEK DEVOTEES STANDING WITH FOLDED HANDS DEVOTEES PERFORMING RUDRABHISHEK RITUALS
- Embargoed: 7th August 2010 03:32
- Keywords:
- Location: India
- Country: India
- Topics: International Relations,Religion
- Reuters ID: LVA49JWTPP357684UPKMB45XTEH0
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Story Text: A group of Japanese who have developed immense faith in Hinduism joined the locals at Jodhpur city in India's northwestern Rajasthan state on Wednesday (July 21) and offered prayers to Hindu divinities for good rains in the desert state.
They prayed for monsoon at Manak Chowk Hanuman Temple by reciting Hanumaan Chalisa (prayers dedicated to Lord Hanuman, the monkey God and aide of Lord Rama) and the Sundar Kand from the Ramayana epic.
They also performed the ritual of Rudrabhisheka (bathing the Shivalingam with milk and water) at the Pataleswar Mahadev Temple in the city.
These tourists from the Orient have shown interest in Hindu philosophy as evident from the ease with which they read and recited holy verses of Hanumaan Chalisa.
"I started in Indian religions Hindu religion and Jainism for six years. When I come to India my friend������� told me about Chalisa, how can we get the good power. So he explained everything with meaning and why do I have to chant Hanumaan Chalisa," said Jhulko Tagasaki, a Japanese devotee.
Watching the prayers offered by the Indian devotees for a good monsoon, the Japanese too joined them and took part in the various rituals. So much so, the visitors from the Land of the Rising Sun sought the temple priest's guidance during the prayers.
"In Rajasthan state on seeing people's inclination towards religion and God, they asked, 'What should we do so that rainfall is received?' so they performed Rudrabhishek of Lord Shiva at Pataleswar Mahadev Temple so that Rajasthan receives good rainfall for the benefit of the farmers in reaping it rich with a bumper harvest," said Jitendra Joshi, the priest at Pataleswar Mahadev Temple, Jodhpur.
While the monsoon showers have ushered relief in some regions, Rajasthan is still facing an acute water shortage due to deficit rainfall.
The city this year has had to suffer extreme heat conditions and to add to its woes, there have been not favourable signs of rain.
Usually, till the onset of the monsoon, the months of May-June are the hottest in the country with the temperatures often hovering in the range of 40 to 45 degrees Celsius at many places.
However, this year the mercury shot beyond the 40 degree mark in April itself, portending extreme temperatures ahead. - Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
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