PURI ORISSA

NAT11National/Religion/EconomyTime for prayers to help soothe troubled marketsPuri Orissa, Oct 25 IANS Over a hundred Hindu priests performed a special ritual in an Orissa town to seek the intervention of Laxmi, the Hindu goddess for wealth, to tackle the global economic slowdown that has also hit India.The priests, dressed in saffron clothes, performed the fire ritual for about five hours at Akhandalamani temple in Puri city, some 56 km from state capital Bhubaneswar Friday, an organiser told IANS.The priests of the local YBC Vedic foundation came out in a procession carrying holy water of a pond in pots and assembled at the temple. Over 300 people, including women and children, witnessed the rite performed by the priests."The priests burnt sandalwood, ghee and offered flowers to the deity chanting various names of goddess Laxmi as a part of this special ritual," Surendranath Das, the founder of the temple, told IANS. "We hope the prayers will bring results," he said.--Indo-Asian News Servicejd/rd/jg170 Words25101306