GO TO SOURCE

ALLAHABAD, INDIA, January 21, 2001: Environmentalists are monitoring the Ganga's source, the Gangotri glacier. Receding at a rate of 6 to 12 meters every year and thinning in depth, the glacier is the primary source of water feeding the Ganga River. Information for a UN-sponsored study on snow and ice collected by satellite imagery predicts that, "If the present scenario does not change, most of the Himalayan glaciers will disappear by 2035." The reduction of the glaciers has been attributed to global warming, increased pilgrim and tourist traffic, use of generators in towns located on the river, deforestation and the release of green house gases such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and fluro carbons.

GO TO SOURCE

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, January 25, 2001: This website maintained by the Vegetarian Resource Group is an amazing summary of ingredients in many fast food restaurants, which are aggressively researched by the group. For example, in 1997, McDonalds confirmed to the group that the natural flavor in their french fries came "from an animal source." This information comes after the company stopped frying the fries in animal fat, leading many vegetarians to think the fries were now vegie. There are more revelations too, such as the beef base in Pizza Hut pizza sauce. But despair not, at least the Taco Bell bean burrito is pure vegie.

Source: The Hindu

MADURAI, INDIA, January 20, 2001: A digital version of an English-Tamil dictionary is making waves in the fast expanding sphere of Tamil computing. With meaning and related information for 22,000 main words and 35,000 derived words, the Pals e-Dictionary CD-Rom packs all that's available in a conventional version 1,160 page dictionary.

GO TO SOURCE

ALLAHABAD, INDIA, January 19, 2001: The Allahabad High Court has directed the Kumbha Mela authorities to strictly follow the United Province Mela Rules which specifically state that no one can take photographs of the bathing ghats of the mela. The ruling was in response to a public interest petition seeking ban on photos and telecasts of the bathing area after several Indian and foreign TV channels were freely telecasting shots of nude women and naga sadhus taking holy dip in the Sangam. Festival official Journalists and amateur photographers rushed in when a horde of naked, ash-smeared holy men charged into the Ganges on Sunday. While some pilgrims enjoyed the attention, others complained. Photographers will now have to stay at least 500 meters from the waters edge. See also www.hindustantimes.com/ nonfram/ 200101/ detNAT01.asp

GO TO SOURCE

INDRAPRASTH, INDIA, January 21, 2001: Can anyone have exclusive right to use the name of a Hindu God as trade mark? The issue has been brought before the Delhi High Court in a writ by a software company challenging Maruti Udyog Ltd's (MUL) claim over the trade mark "Maruti", another name of God "Hanuman." Maruti Software Pvt Ltd (MSPL) has challenged a recent decision of Switzerland-based international arbitrator World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) quashing the registration of domain name "marutionline.com" by it with US Network Solution Inc on the grounds that "Maruti" is a trade mark of MUL. WIPO had ruled that the domain "marutionline.Com" was identical or similar to the service mark of the automobile company.

GO TO SOURCE

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, January 19, 2001: Fueled by a growing and increasingly affluent Indian population, construction at Chicago area Hindu temples is booming, with two established temples expanding and new structures in the works. The Hindu temple in Lemont is building a $4.5 million community center, in Aurora workers have renovated the towers atop the Balaji Temple, and Bartlett recently finished a 100,000 square-foot Indian community center, the first phase of a plan to build one of the largest Hindu facilities in the country. The structures, elaborate and expensive, are the most visible sign of the Indian-Americans' growing influence in the Chicago area. According to recent census figures, the number of Indians living in the area has increased from 58,000 in 1990 to 150,000. All of the projects are funded by contributions from area Hindus, a combination of established families and newcomers often lured to the area by high-paying jobs in information technology. A fundraiser has been scheduled for construction of another Hindu temple in DuPage county and as many as six other groups are looking for funding.

Source: Religious New Service

COLOMBO, SRI LANKA, January 18, 2001: After 18 years of civil war, Norwegian diplomats have attempted to bring peace to the island nation of 19 million by initiating talks between the Sri Lankan government and the separatist Liberation Tigers of the Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Unlikely adversaries to stopping the conflict, Buddhist conservative monks are vocally promoting the war. Fearful of loosing their place as the most "Prominent country in the world for Orthodox Buddhism," they view the war as necessary to protect their 2,300-year-old faith historically and culturally. Rather than granting the Hindu Tamils autonomy over affairs in their northern homeland, the monks are pushing for a complete military victory.

GO TO SOURCE

ALLAHABAD, INDIA, January 20, 2001: Members of the press from India and other countries of the world suffered abuse at the hands of the police force present at the grand Kumbh Mela in Allahabad. Protesting the press facilities available at the sacred event, the journalists sit-down according to a police inspector provoked the police. Several were injured, some critically.

GO TO SOURCE

ALLAHABAD, INDIA, January 18, 2001: Kumbh Nagari has become the focus of intense politicking over the Vishwa Hindu Parishad sponsored Dharam Sansad. The VHP is attempting to use the Maha Kumbh Mela to advance its Ram Temple agenda. By setting up a camp that towers over the camps set up by the akharas (traditional monastic orders, several with tens of thousands of monks), Shankaracharyas and assorted savants, the VHP is attracting lines of pilgrims to view the Ram temple model as 24-hour pujas and non-stop bhajanas are led by VHP-supporting sadhus. The VHP is attempting to use the association of the Kumbh to sanctify the project and win support of religious leaders at the gathering, and this is where the controversy lies. The Akhara Parishad, an apex body of the traditional orders, had decided to boycott the Dharam Sansad. The VHP has been suspected of funding several akharas to gain their support. Earlier this month three senior Shankaracharyas blasted the VHP for politicizing the issue of temple construction and dissociated themselves from the Dharam Sansad. However, the VHP's diplomatic politicking has since weakened their united stance. (see next, more recent HPI item)

GO TO SOURCE

ALLAHABAD, INDIA, January 20, 2001: After attempting to organize an event where the next Sansad would be inaugurated, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad was left with a no-show by the established dharmacharyas. Thirteen major akharas refused to attend the Dharam Sansad, meeting of saints, aimed at discussing issues facing the Hindu world. Relenting somewhat in the final moments, the Akhara Parishad did allow 3 or 4 members to attend, but no Shankaracharyas were present. In the background, heads of the various monastic orders and ashrams met on their own to bring about a workable solution or strategy.

GO TO SOURCE

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, January 19, 2001: By introducing the consequence of caning for delinquent acts of gambling, swearing or carrying cigarettes, Malaysia's Penang state hopes to deter the bad habits in students. Under the demerit system where 10 points brings one stroke of the cane, even dyeing hair or wearing costume jewelry can earn a student 5 points. An accumulated 50 demerits results in a one-week suspension. Education Minister Musa Mohamed told the media, "Even as a last resort, punishment should be aimed at educating." The action is contrary to numerous studies which show corporal punishment does far more harm than good to children.

GO TO SOURCE

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND, January 21, 2001: The New Zealand Hindu Temple Society will conduct Thai Pusam festival on February 6. Special rituals and pujas to Lord Subramaniya are scheduled at Leichester Hall, 20 Findlay Street, Ellersile, Auckland, New Zealand beginning at 6.00pm. All contributions go towards the temple building fund. For more details email "Source" or write to PO Box 5180, Wellesley Street, Auckland, New Zealand.

Source: Associated Press

LUCKNOW, INDIA, January 18: The BBC and an independent TV station were accused by state authorities of being insensitive to Hindus when they focused their filming on scantily dressed women bathers and naked holy men at the Kumbha Mela in Allahabad, northern India. Sadakant, the festival commissioner alleged that the two networks misused their access to the festival by ignoring the religious significance. Sadakant said the Uttar Pradesh government has received complaints from Indians living in Britain protesting the televised coverage of the Kumbha Mela. Festival authorities have asked all the TV networks to submit footage for inspection before airing them and plan to restrict photographers and TV crews to spots at least 200 meters away from the bathing area.

GO TO SOURCE

FARIDABAD, INDIA, January 13: In protest of the demolition of the Sidhdata Ashram, a crowd of over 1,000 devotees marched in angry protest, raising anti-government slogans and snarling traffic on major highways. On January 9, the Faridabad Administration demolished Sidhdata Ashram, a huge temple complex. While the ashram people assert that they had applied for allotment of the disputed land and the application was pending, the HUDA claimed that the application for the land's allotment had already been rejected. An HUDA official stated the ashram was issued a statutory notice to vacate the encroached land, before carrying out the demolition. They stated the ashram illegally encroached on around 6 acres of prime land and it was on this land that the administration demolished the illegal construction.

Source: Hinduism Today, Paras Ramoutar

SAN JUAN, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO: With Gandhian spirit Pundit Rambachan, spiritual leader of the El Socorro Hindu Temple in San Juan, uplifts the Hindu community. At 43 years of age he serves the Hindu faith tirelessly by conducting regular visits to homes, leading satsangs, offering personal guidance, and hosting a radio program. Instilling religious pride in the youth, his humanitarian approach opens the doors for a safe and peaceful nation where Pundit Rambachan's simple philosophy "Love all, serve all" and "Loving God is the quest of life" will be nurtured. His outreach ministry with the personal touch affected at least 100,000 members of the community in 1999.