Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre Presents Spectacular Yoga and Meditation Festival



International Desk, Barta24.com
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The Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre (MIMC), established by the renowned spiritual leader and socially engaged Buddhist monk Venerable Bhikkhu Sanghasena, has exciting news for yoga and meditation enthusiasts around the world. The center has announced the upcoming International Festival of Yoga and Meditation, set to take place from June 20th to 27th.

In line with the ninth UN International Day of Yoga on June 21st, the MIMC, in collaboration with the Administration of the Union Territory of Ladakh, is organizing a week-long event that aims to celebrate the transformative power of yoga and meditation. This grand festival welcomes participants from both national and international backgrounds, attracting prominent spiritual leaders, yogis, meditation masters, government officials, artists, scientists, peace activists, academics, social leaders, and a significant number of students from Ladakh.

Venerable Bhikkhu Sanghasena, the driving force behind socially engaged Buddhism in the region, has dedicated his efforts to numerous humanitarian projects, events, and initiatives. His visionary outreach work encompasses providing educational opportunities and shelter to underprivileged children, empowering women and marginalized groups through literacy programs, offering healthcare to the sick and needy, and establishing a care home for the elderly and destitute. As a result, the MIMC has become a bustling hub for various socio-cultural and community programs in the northern reaches of India.

In 1986, Ven. Bhikkhu Sanghasena founded the Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre (MIMC) in Leh, the capital of Ladakh. This non-sectarian Buddhist charitable organization has since served as a launching pad for Dharma-based activities and social outreach programs targeting vulnerable communities in the region.

“The International Festival of Yoga and Meditation of this year provides a unique opportunity to delve into the rich traditions, ancient cultures, distinctive lifestyles, and magnificent heritage of Ladakh. These elements are deeply rooted in the essence of Buddhism, as well as the diverse ethnic cultures and communities that thrive here,” shared Ven. Bhikkhu Sanghasena. “Through this program, people from all walks of life will come together, fostering cultural understanding and preservation of our heritage.”

The International Yoga Day aims to raise awareness about the numerous physical and spiritual benefits that yoga and meditation offer to the world. Ven. Bhikkhu Sanghasena describes it aptly, saying, “What the sun is to the flower, meditation is to the mind!”

In addition to promoting spiritual development and human welfare, Ven. Bhikkhu Sanghasena and the MIMC actively engage in peace-building initiatives, interfaith dialogue, environmental conservation, and the preservation of Buddhist and Himalayan cultural heritage through national and international festivals. Ven. Bhikkhu Sanghasena himself has traveled extensively to participate in international conferences, seminars, and workshops, advocating for spiritual and cultural values, environmental consciousness, non-violence, world peace, and the empowerment of women, particularly those from underprivileged communities.

In 2021, Ven. Bhikkhu Sanghasena led a team from the MIMC on a humanitarian relief mission to the border regions of Ladakh. The team provided essential COVID-19 relief and much-needed emotional and spiritual support to local residents who were living in fear amidst the dual crises of the pandemic and the military-led border standoff between Indian and Chinese troops. Additionally, the team spearheaded a peace campaign in the conflict zone, appealing to both nations to seek nonviolent resolutions to their differences.

The International Festival of Yoga and Meditation organized by the Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre promises to be an extraordinary event, blending ancient wisdom with modern practices, and uniting people from diverse backgrounds in a celebration of well-being, peace, and spiritual growth. It is an occasion not to be missed for those seeking enlightenment and harmony in their lives.

   

Iran is cracking down on women who don't wear Hijab



International Desk, Barta24.com
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Iran is cracking down on women and girls who don't wear Hijab. The country has started a new campaign named 'Noor' from last April 13. Since then, the implementation of the Hijab law has started to become stricter.

Iran has strict laws on wearing the Hijab. Strict action is taken against those who break this law.

Some videos of women being assaulted have gone viral on social media. In them, it is seen that women who go out without Hijab are forcibly picked up in cars by the members of the 'Morality Police'.

A video shows a mother and daughter walking through Tehran's busiest square in the capital. At that time, they were surrounded by five female and two male members of the police. When they tried to evade arrest, they were violently beaten and taken into a car.

Dina Ghalibaf, a female student at Tehran's Shahid Beheshti University, wrote on the micro-blogging site X that she was barred from boarding the metro. When she insisted, she was taken to a room. She claimed that she was beaten and sexually harassed there.

The student was arrested a day after making such a post and taken to Evin prison.

British newspaper The Guardian spoke to some of those arrested. One of them told the media that eight members of the police surrounded her last Saturday. At that time, she was called "prostitute", "naked American prostitute" and insulted her. Apart from this, the young woman claimed that men also touched her during the arrest.



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Boeing incurs huge losses after door open incident



Special Correspondent, Barta24.com, Dhaka
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Boeing lost a huge amount of money due to the opening of the doors of the Boeing aircraft of Alaska Airlines in mid-air. US aircraft manufacturer Boeing reported a loss of US dollar 343 million in the first quarter of this year (January-March).

An unused door on an Alaska Airlines Boeing Max 9 collapsed moments after takeoff from Portland, Oregon last January. Although the Alaska Airlines plane was able to land safely in this incident, questions about Boeing's safety have been raised around the world.

As a result, Boeing reduced the production of the aircraft according to their target. As a result, Boeing is forced to pay huge losses in the first quarter of this year.

After the Alaska Airlines incident, the United States Aviation Agency ordered the grounding of 171 Boeing Max 737 aircraft. In the wake of the incident, Boeing's chief immediately admitted the mistake and promised to fix the problem with 100% transparency. But even this did not save the end. Boeing's CEO was eventually forced to resign.

In order not to cut the heat of this incident, a former Boeing engineer recently talked about the manufacturing defects of the Dreamliner 787. He recommended grounding all Dreamliner aircraft worldwide. In this incident, the safety of Boeing was questioned again.

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Rahul Gandhi sick in heat



International Desk, Barta24.com,Dhaka
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Lok Sabha election campaign is going on in India amid intense heat wave. Political leaders are continuing to campaign despite the unbearable heat.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has fallen ill. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh disclosed the news of Rahul Gandhi's illness on Sunday (April 21).

Jairam Ramesh said that Rahul Gandhi has fallen ill. He cannot leave Delhi right now. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge will address the Ranchi rally after attending the Satna meeting.

Rahul was scheduled to attend the opposition camp's mega shows in Satna in Madhya Pradesh and Ranchi in Jharkhand on Sunday.

Ahead of the mega show, Ranchi is decorated with posters of India Alliance leaders. The poster has pictures of Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and his wife Kalpana Soren.

Apart from Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party national president Akhilesh Yadav, RJD chief Lalu Prasad, Kejriwal's wife Sunita and Hemant Soran's wife Kalpana were scheduled to address the meeting. 

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Erdoğan's meeting with Ismail Haniyah



International Desk, Barta24.com Dhaka:
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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held a meeting with Ismail Haniyah, the leader of the Palestinian independence organization Hamas, who is visiting Turkey. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stressed the importance of Palestinian unity in the meeting.

On Saturday (April 20), the two leaders met in Istanbul for about two and a half hours, Turkish media reported.

Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh was welcomed at Dolmabak Palace in Istanbul. Members of his delegation were also with him at that time. One of the most important leaders of Hamas was Khaled Mashal.

Turkish state media TRT reported that Erdogan and Haniyah discussed a ceasefire and relief in Gaza.

"It is very important that the Palestinians work together in this process," Erdogan said in a statement after the meeting, calling on Palestinians to unite in order to win against occupying Israel. The strongest action against Israel and the path to victory depend on unity and integrity.”

Erdoğan's meeting with Haniyah was not taken well by the occupying Israel. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz condemned the meeting in a post on the micro-blogging site X.

On October 7, the war between the Palestinian armed group Hamas and Israel began. More than 34,000 Palestinians have lost their lives in this war so far. Turkish President Erdogan has been condemning Israel's brutality since the beginning of the war. He said he and his country would side with Hamas in the war against Israel.

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