Special prayers offered at Dehradun temple for victims of Hamas attacks

Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], October 18 : As Israel's war on Hamas entered its 12th day, special prayers were offered at Mata Vaishno Devi Gufa Yoga Temple here on Wednesday for those who perished in the Hamas terror attacks.
Prayers were also offered to rid the world of the scourge of terrorism.
The Hamas terror attacks on October 7 claimed 1,300 Israeli lives while leaving scores more injured. After the attacks, some of the attackers managed to sneak back into Gaza with civilian hostages from Israel.
Israel responded with air strikes on Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip and is also poised to launch a ground offensive in the area, which is under Hamas rule.
"Special prayers were offered for the civilians who lost their lives in the Hamas terror attacks in Israel and also the victims of the ongoing military conflict between Russia and Ukraine. We also prayed for world peace. We prayed to Mata Rani to rid the world of the scourge of terrorism," Acharya Bipin Joshi, a priest at the temple, told ANI.
In light of the Hamas attacks and the retaliatory strikes by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF), there's been a raft of public rallies and marches both in solidarity with the people of Israel and against the ongoing counter-offensive in Gaza.
On Monday, some protesters gathered near Delhi's Jantar Mantar to protest against Israel's offensive in Gaza. More than 100 protesters gathered at the spot to express solidarity with the Palestinians.
A team Delhi Police contingent, however, arrived at the scene and arrested some of the protesters, claiming that they did not have permission to hold the protest.
On Friday, last week, some people performed a Ganga Aarti in Varanasi in support of Israel.
Raising slogans in favour of Israel, they said they stood with the country in the ongoing fight against Hamas.
"We want a world free of terrorists. We should never let these terrorists succeed in their plans and objectives. We are with Israel at this hour and pray that they prevail in the ongoing war on Hamas," Rajesh Shukla, a local who organised the Ganga Aarti, told ANI.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a conversation with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu recently, reaffirmed India's position vis-a-vis the Hamas attacks saying it strongly and unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and that people in India were firmly with Israel.
The Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement saying there is a "universal obligation to observe international humanitarian law", adding that the onus was in the world to come together and fight terrorism.
MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, in response to questions at a weekly media briefing, called for "direct negotiations" toward a "sovereign, independent, and viable state of Palestine living within secure and recognized borders, side by side, at peace with Israel."
Israeli Consulate in Mumbai, in a social media post, said they were overwhelmed by the support from India.
"We are overwhelmed by the support of ordinary people in India who are writing us emails, making phone calls, putting up banners, and organising prayers for Israel. We will win the war against HAMAS-ISIS terror. Please tag us in the photographs and videos of the events that you are organising with Israel's support. We will be happy to share them and say THANK YOU," the Israel Consulate said in a post on X.
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