Source: Hindustan Times

ALLAHABAD, INDIA, December 27, 2000: January 9, 2001 marks the beginning of the first Maha Kumbha Mela of the millennium in Allahabad. Tens of millions of people are expected through the month. The Uttar Pradesh government has solicited the help of the Army and Air Force to keep peace in the area. There is fear of a militant uprising after a recent shoot-out in Delhi.

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KATHMANDU, NEPAL, December 25, 2000: The world's most famous Sherpa was really not a Sherpa at all. Tenzing Norgay, along with Edmund Hillary, were the first to conquer Mt. Everest in 1953. He was a Tibetan and not a Nepali, according to a new book. "Snow in the Kingdom," by American mountaineer Ed Webster claims Tenzing was born in Tibet and spent much of his childhood there. When Tenzing climbed Everest in 1953, both Nepal and India saw great propaganda value in claiming him, a humble-born Asian achieving global fame, as their own. Throughout his life, Tenzing remained vague about his background. This caution was partly explained by political wrangling. After climbing Everest, he was invited to England but lacked a passport. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru personally ensured the issuance of an Indian Passport which upset the Nepalese authorities. Nehru was also instrumental in the establishment of a mountaineering school in Darjeeling, which Tenzing helped to run. Tenzing died in 1986.

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HANOVER, GERMANY, September 4, 2000: The Indian Pavilion at the Expo 2000 in Hanover drew record crowds and rave reviews from the German public. 11,000 to 12,000 German visitors toured the Indian Pavilion every day to view the splendor and richness of both ancient and modern India. From the invention of zero to high tech achievements to culture and art, the Pavilion showcased India's knowledge and contributions. The theme of the India Pavilion, "Art of Living in Harmony," highlighted the power of knowledge, cultivated over centuries, and its extensive use in all facets of life. Visitors were shown how India has used this knowledge successfully to provide mankind with alternative solutions for peaceful co-existence with nature, medicine, technology, culture, arts and more. The German visitors showed great interest in meditation, yoga demonstrations, ayurveda, and Vedic astrology, besides cultural programs and artistic demonstrations.

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BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA, October 25, 2000: Yoga was recently introduced at both the primary and high school level as part of the gym curriculum in Slovakia. Swami Maheswarananda's "Yoga in Daily Life" organization worked for years to implement the program, which was welcomed by school officials and students alike. However, Catholic leaders have objected to this form of physical exercise protesting that it is affiliated with Eastern religions.

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IPOH, MALAYSIA, December 25, 2000: The descendants of Marimuthu Ammal created history by holding the largest Indian family gathering, with some 480 relatives from peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, Singapore and New Zealand turning up. They comprised a third of about 1,200 descendants of the matriarch, who first came to Malaysia in the 19th century. The oldest in the group was third-generation descendant Sundari Kandasammy Ammal, 87, of Kuala Lumpur, who said, "I am so glad that this gathering has materialized. I hope everyone will stay united.'' Marimuthu Ammal, a contractor, and her husband Muthu Ramalingam Pillai arrived in Taiping from Karaikal in South India and were said to have built a fortune through railways, roads and sanitary contracts.

Source: Religion News Service

WASHINGTON, DC, December 22, 2000: The "Return to Home" legislation was passed by Congress and signed by President Clinton on Thursday, December 21. A coalition of religious groups collaborated so that Medicare patients suffering from severe illnesses could be treated at care facilities close to home or those affiliated with their faith. Previously, loved ones were forced to stay at facilities outlined specifically by their health-maintenance organizations even if they were far from home or in an environment not suited to their religious culture. The bill is widely supported by those who believe spiritual practices and the support of family and friends are essential for healing. The bill should apply to Hindu homes for the elderly in the USA.

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KATHMANDU, NEPAL, December 24, 2000: Nepal, the world's only Hindu Kingdom, will begin paying a monthly maintenance allowance to its "living Goddesses," chosen girls worshipped by Hindus and Buddhists. The living Goddesses, all referred to as "Sri Kumari," are revered by thousands in Nepal. In accordance with Nepali tradition, a young girl is carefully chosen to serve as a living Goddess. She then moves away from home and resides in a special home, of which each major area of the city has one. She serves until the onset of puberty. Narendra Man Shrestha, a finance ministry official, announced the government would begin paying a monthly maintenance allowance of US$81.00 to the serving living Goddess and a $40.50 rupee monthly pension after retirement. The benefits are seen as a means to uphold the cultural and religious traditions of Nepal, as well as to compensate for the difficulty some of these girls have in getting married.

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BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA, October 25, 2000: Yoga was recently introduced at both the primary and high school level as part of the gym curriculum in Slovakia. Swami Maheswarananda's "Yoga in Daily Life" organization worked for years to implement the program, which was welcomed by school officials and students alike. However, Catholic leaders have objected to this form of physical exercise protesting that it is affiliated with Eastern religions.

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IPOH, MALAYSIA, December 25, 2000: The descendants of Marimuthu Ammal created history by holding the largest Indian family gathering, with some 480 relatives from peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, Singapore and New Zealand turning up. They comprised a third of about 1,200 descendants of the matriarch, who first came to Malaysia in the 19th century. The oldest in the group was third-generation descendant Sundari Kandasammy Ammal, 87, of Kuala Lumpur, who said, "I am so glad that this gathering has materialized. I hope everyone will stay united.'' Marimuthu Ammal, a contractor, and her husband Muthu Ramalingam Pillai arrived in Taiping from Karaikal in South India and were said to have built a fortune through railways, roads and sanitary contracts.

Source: Religion News Service

WASHINGTON, DC, December 22, 2000: The "Return to Home" legislation was passed by Congress and signed by President Clinton on Thursday, December 21. A coalition of religious groups collaborated so that Medicare patients suffering from severe illnesses could be treated at care facilities close to home or those affiliated with their faith. Previously, loved ones were forced to stay at facilities outlined specifically by their health-maintenance organizations even if they were far from home or in an environment not suited to their religious culture. The bill is widely supported by those who believe spiritual practices and the support of family and friends are essential for healing. The bill should apply to Hindu homes for the elderly in the USA.

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KATHMANDU, NEPAL, December 24, 2000: Nepal, the world's only Hindu Kingdom, will begin paying a monthly maintenance allowance to its "living Goddesses," chosen girls worshipped by Hindus and Buddhists. The living Goddesses, all referred to as "Sri Kumari," are revered by thousands in Nepal. In accordance with Nepali tradition, a young girl is carefully chosen to serve as a living Goddess. She then moves away from home and resides in a special home, of which each major area of the city has one. She serves until the onset of puberty. Narendra Man Shrestha, a finance ministry official, announced the government would begin paying a monthly maintenance allowance of US$81.00 to the serving living Goddess and a $40.50 rupee monthly pension after retirement. The benefits are seen as a means to uphold the cultural and religious traditions of Nepal, as well as to compensate for the difficulty some of these girls have in getting married.

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GANDHINAGAR, INDIA, December 21, 2000: Christian religious conversions by enticement or force has segmented the tribal communities in Gujarat. As a result, the State Reserve Police has been called upon to restrain any violence that may be targeted against the Christian community during Christmas celebrations. Meetings between Hindu and Christian groups have attempted to curb the violence, but unrest between the two groups has been prevalent in the state since 1998.
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LUCKNOW, INDIA, December 20, 2000: In a colorful ceremony, Priyanka Chopra,18, was crowned Miss World in London, England, in November of this year. However, upon arrival in her home state of Uttar Pradesh, no reception was given. Chief minister Rajnath Singh, supported by both Hindu and Muslim conservative, banned beauty contests in the state last week, declaring them to be a violation of traditional culture.

Source: Reuters

MUMBAI, INDIA, December 21, 2000: An international animal rights group, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), said it planned to urge some Middle Eastern countries to boycott meat from an Indian abattoir (slaughter house) because of its unhygienic and inhumane conditions. They will present a video of the conditions in the Deonar abattoir in the city of Bombay as evidence. Jason Baker, PETA's India head, said he would meet government officials in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Oman and Qatar. Members of PETA are demanding that the government-owned slaughterhouse be closed until animal protection laws were met. "I will investigate the matter, and if it is true, then I will stop these practices," Hareshwar Patil, mayor of Mumbai, told Reuters. PETA estimates around 13 million cows are slaughtered in India every year for beef and hide despite their sacred status in Hinduism.

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ANDAMAN ISLANDS, INDIA: December 21, 2000: The Catholic news service Zenit out of Rome reported that Hindu radicals in India murdered a Catholic priest. A group of men raided the residence of Port Blair priest John Peter December 15 and killed him with knives and clubs, and left behind materials denouncing the priest's activities in converting Hindus, Zenit reported. Port Blair is the capital city of the Andaman Islands, located in the Bay of Bengal. Catholic officials urged the New Delhi government to find those responsible and guarantee the safety of Christians in the islands. No news of this event was reported in Delhi papers.