1. Fourteen Temples in India Will Receive New Chariots
2. Four-Million-Dollar Temple In Mississipi Reflects Hinduism's Growth
3. Hindus of Greater Houston Celebration To Honor Olympic Medalist
4. Daily Inspiration

1. Fourteen Temples in India Will Receive New Chariots

timesofindia.indiatimes.com

CHENNAI, INDIA, August 11, 2008: Works for providing golden chariots in 14 temples across Tamil Nadu are under various stages of execution and they willready by next March, an official of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department said. At present, 35 temples have golden chariots. With the approval of 14 more golden chariots, nearly 50 temples in the state will have such glowing cars for parading the Deities.

A government official, Mr. Periyakaruppan, said these chariots are using technology and tradition at the same time. "Work is currently on. With technological development, making golden chariots has become easy, even though it is costly. Some temples feel that having a golden chariot takes them a grade higher and improves the devotees' view of the temple. The government plays a facilitating role," he said.

Each golden chariot costs between US$ 35,000 and $50,000. This amount will be borne by the temples themselves. The temples where the chariots are coming up are Kottai Mariyamman temple, Dindigul, Arthanareeshwarar temple , Thiruchengodu, Masaniamman temple, Coimbatore, Vekkaliyamman temple, Trichy, Angala Parameswari Amman temple, Melmalaiyanur , Kaliyur Amman temple, Subavaneswar temple, Salem, Sholingur Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy temple, Murugan temple, Azhagarkoil, Vekkudiar Kaliamman temple, Ariya Kuruchi and Bhagawathi Amman temple, Kanyakumari.

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2. Four-Million-Dollar Temple In Mississipi Reflects Hinduism's Growth

www.clarionledger.com

BRANDON, USA, August 9, 2008: Suseela Reddy slipped off his shoes before walking into the Hindu temple here out of respect for the sacred space. Once inside, the Jackson State University professor joined some 150 devotees awaiting the arrival of a renowned Indian guru, Sri Ganapathi Sachchidananda Swamiji, who is known for his healing and meditation music and has established more than 50 temples worldwide.

The special occasion this week drew Hindus from throughout the region, who flocked to the temple for a glimpse of the holy man. The crowd also got to survey the progress of a new, Indian-style temple that's been under construction on the grounds for close to four years. The nearly $4 million building project signals the growth of the metro area's Hindu community, which over the past two decades has swelled from about 100 to 500 families.

"We need a new temple because the old one was very small and our community is growing," said Reddy, a native of south India who has lived in Mississippi for 15 years. Founded in 1990, the original house of worship is a one-story, cinder-block building that lacks the ornate architectural details for which Hindu temples are known. The new temple is expected to be complete for a dedication ceremony in late November, said Baldev Patel, a business owner and chairman of the Hindu Temple Society of Mississippi.

About 10 artisans from India have been working six days a week for close to four years hand carving intricate designs, patterns and figures into nearly every inch of the structure. Though it's not yet complete, the uniqueness of the new temple already causes some motorists to stop and take a closer look, Patel said. "It is a one-of-a-kind, beautiful temple," he said.

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3. Hindus of Greater Houston Celebration To Honor Olympic Medalist

press release

HOUSTON, TX, USA, August 12, 2008 (Press release): The group Hindus of Greater Houston will honor Raj Bhavsar during their Janmashtami celebration, on August 30. Raj Bhavsar, a 27-year-old artistic gymnast, earned a bronze medal as a member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team, becoming the third Indian-American ever to medal at the Olympics, after Mohini Bhardwaj and Alexi Grewal.

"Hindus of Greater Houston would like to congratulate our own Raj Bhavsar of Houston on his accomplishment at the Olympics. Hindus are great leaders in many fields in the US, but were lacking in sports. Today Bhavsar has filled the void. He is someone our youth can look up to," Girish Naik, president of Hindus of Greater Houston, said.

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4. Daily Inspiration

www.hinduismtoday.com

To speak or not to speak--when that is the question, silence should take the place of speech.
   Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948)

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