(Pics) India wants peace in prayers amid terrorism, calamity

Bangalore, Karnataka: Be it the Durga Puja or the Eid, the celebrations in this festive month aim at a single goal-peace for a war-ridden and calamity-struck country. The atmosphere may not be holy, but the festivals have completed a difficult task of cleansing the minds of the people. At least, they have unified across religions in seeking peace of mind.

One Imran has rightly pointed out,"Though religions divide people, the spirituality unites. When calamity strikes, the prayers of all religions become more of spiritual than religious." He further adds saying, "it was nice to have both Durga puja and Eid at the same time, making the majority of the world's population to dwell in festive mood."

A welcome distraction for many from the current state of affairs in the country, the festivals beheld one and all, not only for their grandeur and the mood, but also for their chorus demanding, peace and prosperity.

"Faith takes you the path of achievement. Because what you believe is what you achieve. For a divided state like ours, I choose my faith in the people," said Naina.

Truely, this was the case when the chief priest of Kedarnath temple put his life at stake to save the "bhog murti", which needs to be fed something everyday. The priest Vageshling from Davanagre waded got the strength to wade through dead bodies and sludge and retrieve it from the premises.

There is hope amid the mass destruction caused by the Phailin cyclone that hit Orissa, but the spirits of people could not be bogged. Same with the Kedarnath flash flood calamity that left the people in the Himalayas with no jobs. But losing hope is not what India has learnt.

India may take time to cope up with the looming threats, but it may ride through the difficult times with its unity in faith.

In Kendrapada

A person uses bamboo boat to move in a flooded village after Cyclone Phailin triggered heavy rains, in Kendrapada on Wednesday.

In Kolkata

Idols of Goddess Durga being taken to the puja pandels for the upcoming Durga puja festival in Kolkata.

In Lahore, Pakistan

Pakistani policemen watch over worshippers praying at the Badshahi Mosque on the first day of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, or "Feast of Sacrifice," in Lahore, Pakistan, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2013.

In Kolkata

Widows of Vrindavan visit a Durga Puja pandal during Navratri festival in Kolkata.

In Puri

People queue up to get food at a relief camp in Puri ahead of Phailin cyclone that is expected to his the coastal areas of the Odisha state on Saturday.

In Puri

Artist Sudarsan Pattnaik creates a sand sculpture to appeal help to the victims of Phailin Cyclone at Puri beach of Odisha on Monday.

In Nowgam Sector

Army men patrolling at Kanyan bowl where Pakistani troops violated ceasefire and fired at Indian posts. Army has launched massive search operation in Nowgam (KMG) sector as they apprehend militants might have infiltrated under the cover of ceasefire violation.

In Guwahati

An idol of Goddess Durga being immersed in River Brahmaputra at the end of Durga Puja in Guwahati on Monday.

In Kendrapada

People wade through a flooded village after Cyclone Phailin triggered by heavy rains in the district of Kendrapada on Wednesday.