January, February, March, 2003

USA

Miss Delaware's Dance

Anticipating a possible turn as Miss America, Miss Delaware put on quite a show in the final competition for America's highest beauty honor. Although Shoha Kirti Parekh, 24, did not win, she was first to feature the classical Indian dance of bharata natyam in a major show of talent. Indian ladies have won six Miss Universe and Miss World crowns in the last seven years. No Indian-Americans have yet become Miss America.

USA

Ganesha's Big New York Party

It was Ganesha Chaturthi 2002 at New York's famed Hindu Temple in Flushing. For nine days from September 7 through 15, thousands turned up from all around the world to join in this favorite festival of Hinduism's wisest, friendliest, luckiest, most jovial and famous God. Ganesha was the star of the show. There was little doubt about that. For the entire nine days, a continuous homa (fire ceremony) was performed while a special mantra for the Deity was chanted 400,000 times. Highly trained festival musicians were flown in from Singapore to perform. More than 35,000 food packets were distributed. During each of the nine days, the Ganesha murti (statue) was newly and creatively decorated: one day with peanuts, another with tomatoes. On the day the children helped, He was artistically adorned in popcorn (see photo below). The festival culminated with a grand procession of the Deity through the streets of Flushing.

VIETNAM

The Indochina Connection

The kingdom of Champa in Vietnam, which flourished from the second to the 15th centuries, was strongly influenced by Hinduism. Hindu temples were constructed, Sanskrit was used as a sacred language, Indian art was idolized and Hindu Deities, especially Siva, were worshiped. In fact, Lord Siva was regarded as the founder and protector of the Champa dynasties. After the fall of Champa, most Hindus became Muslim, yet continued the practice of some Hindu rituals and customs.

USA

For the Care of the Cows

When Dr. Sankar sastri retired from his professorshipa few years back, he established the Lakshmi Cow Sanctuary as a heartfelt service to his Hindu faith. Today on his 42 acres, he provides a few cows—famously sacred to Hindus—a little solace and protection from slaughter. Anyone interested in helping Dr. Sankar can contact him at 1515 Ridge Road, Bangor, PA 18013. Phone: 610-599-8824. E-mail: sankar1@yahoo.com

TRINIDAD

Chinmaya Expands in West Indies

Swami Tejomayanda, leader of the chinmaya mission worldwide, personally opened another mission branch in Trinidad on October 2, 2002, with a lecture based on the Bhagavad Gita. The Chinmaya Mission has been especially active in Trinidad over the past four years, with primary concentration on the country's youth. Currently they teach Sanskrit language, Vedic chanting and the traditional performance of puja (ritual worship), often organizing special youth camps for classes.

PANAMA

Gulf Coast Worship

I t seems there is no place where theworld's most ancient faith is not practiced. Hindu women give sanctified food offerings into the ocean after ritual worship at a temporary banyan tree shrine in Panama City on June 24, 2002, during the Vath Purnima festival.

USA

Tamil Television Goes Global

The USA now has a 24-hour TV channel just for Tamils. It's called TVI and is already well-established in Singapore, Sri Lanka, India, Malaysia, throughout Europe and elsewhere around the world wherever the Tamil diaspora has spread. With a satellite receiver, a dish antenna and a $20 monthly fee, anyone can get what TVI boldly proclaims to be "the best the Tamil-speaking world has to offer." Whether it be movies, made-for-TV serials, world news, sports, medical education, computer instruction, beauty tips, cooking clues, family counseling or interviews with artists, movie stars and political leaders—even guided temple tours, complete with pilgrimage routes—TVI says it has it all. For more information please go to http://www.tviusa.net/

GERMANY

Keeping the Faith in Style

Europe's largest Hindu Temple is finally open for business in Hamm, West Germany. Following much anticipation and two years of construction, the Sri Kamadchi Ampal Temple was inaugurated in grand ceremony on July 7, 2002. The temple priest-in-residence, Siva Sri Paskarakurukkal, says that 300 devotees visit the temple daily. Many of these are Tamils relocated in Germany as a result of Sri Lanka's long ethnic strife.

BRIEFLY...

THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT HAS approved spending ^us$88 million for the further preservation and development of India's famous Ajanta Ellora Caves, already under renovation. The Japanese financial aid will also be used to improve other famous Indian monuments like the Elephanta Caves.

THE WORLD'S LARGEST SOLAR cooking system was set up in September of 2002 at the popular Tirumala Tirupati temple in Hyderabad, India. The system, which will save the temple an estimated ^us$35,000 a year, is designed to cook 30,000 meals a day with steam generated by solar energy.

ONE COUPLE FROM CHENNAI HAS spent the past 15 years cleaning and renovating more than 50 South Indian temples. Inspired by the words of Adi Sankara, B. Rajesh, his wife Rajani, their family and friends have become famous for their uncommon efforts in and around the Kancheepuram district, just south of Chennai. The best news is they plan to keep performing this selfless service.

CURCUMIN IS A KEY INGREDIENT in many Indian curries and is the compound that gives turmeric its yellow tone. Long known as an effective home remedy in fighting infection and improving digestion, it is now being tested for use in treating radiation burns and even colon cancer. Researchers claim evidence suggests that members of the Asian community who use the spice regularly in cooking are better able to resist colon cancer.

MISS AMERICA GOT IN TROUBLE for publically advocating abstinence but not for long. "I will not be bullied," said 22-year-old Erika Harold, the winner of the 2003 crown, when pageant officials "strongly suggested" she keep quiet on the principle of sexual purity. The officials later backed down, withdrawing their suggestion. For years the pageant has tried to improve the image of Miss America to include brains as well as beauty. Now that they have succeeded, they must deal with the results.