Source: www.indoamerican-news.com

HOUSTON, TX, USA, March 9, 2010: For the last 40 years, Indian-born parents have told the next generation stories of what Holi grand mela was like in India. This year’s Holi in Houston gives them a good idea.

“Over 11,000 people gathered at the Festival of Colors this year” said Lt. Hines of Sugar Land Police. Vijay Pallod of The Hindus Of Greater Houston proclaimed “This is the Largest Holi in the US. And we were happy to see at least 5% were non-South Asian!”

Pankaj Thakkar, owner of San Francisco’s Gold Palace exclaimed, “I flew to Houston just for Holi — there is no celebration like this in entire West Coast.” Holi 2010 rocked the Oyster Creek Park in Sugar Land on Sunday February 28th, from 11AM - 4PM, organized by Houston’s leading Indian Radio Show, Masala Radio 1480 AM, and pioneer community organizations Gujarati Samaj of Houston and Indian Culture Center. Three days prior, there was snow in Houston. Then Sunday clouds disappeared forming the warmest day in 2010.

First-time attendees like Pankaj Malani were overwhelmed, “I was very impressed by how organized the Holi event was. It was a great opportunity to see kids and adults from our community enjoying themselves together on this festive occasion. The dances, skits and variety of food definitely added to the fun atmosphere.

The entire event was directed by Masala Radio owners Sunil and Sandhya Thakkar, and coordinated by Event Manager Shilpi Sheth. What’s Next? Masala Radio is scouting for venues that can support over 10,000 for its next event, Diwali 2010, the Festival of Lights, more Hindu-American than ever.

Source: www.interreligiousinsight.org

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, March 12, 2010 (By Kusumita Petersen): The Parliament of the World’s Religions, held every five years, took place in Melbourne, Australia on December 3-9, 2009. For seven days participants thronged the brand new and dramatically modern Melbourne Convention Center on the east bank of Yarra River, which flows through the center of the city. At the beginning of the Australian summer, the weather is variable and Melbourne is said to have “four seasons in one day”.

The Melbourne Parliament made visible the maturing of the global inter-religious movement. This was the fourth “new” or “modern” Parliament beginning with the 1993 centenary in Chicago, which gave a broad impetus to interfaith.

Holding the Parliament in Australia gave an opportunity for Australian, Pacific and Southeast Asian participants to take part in greater numbers and to interact with those from other regions. The Parliament is convened on a movement model rather than with official representation and thus it is not a formal, deliberative meeting. It is, however, the world’s largest and most inclusive regular inter-religious gathering, bringing together in their individual capacities thousands of members of local religious communities and interfaith groups along with religious leaders, scholars, artists and experts. Says incoming CPWR Chair Imam Abdul Malik Mujahid, “The people who attended the Parliament were not just individuals but interconnected people. They are a part of existing networks of faith who are connected with partners in other faith communities struggling together to change the world.”

The issue of global warming loomed over the Parliament, which over- lapped at its end with the United Nations Climate Change Conference beginning in Copenhagen. Key religious leaders addressed the climate issue in a major panel and every religious tradition offered in-depth sessions on its approach to the environment. The first Convocation of Hindu Spiritual Leaders ever to be held at a Parliament focused largely on environmental ethics and culminated in the launch of the “Hindu Declaration on Climate Change”, drafted by a distinguished international committee chaired by Karan Singh and including Inter-religious Insight Co-Editor Seshagiri Rao, Arvind Sharma of McGill University and the Editors of Hinduism Today. With three resounding “Aums” the Hindu gathering affirmed the Declaration, which says in part, “Knowing that the Divine is present everywhere and in all things, Hindus strive to do no harm. We hold a deep reverence for life and an awareness that the great forces of nature - the earth, the water, the fire, air and space - as well as the various orders of life, including plants and trees, forests and animals, are bound to each other within life’s cosmic web.”

For more of the author’s insightful report, click on “source” above.

Source: Press Release

WASHINGTON, DC, USA, March 12, 2010 (by Sheetal Shah): Have you ever wanted to be a full-time Hindu American advocate? Or do you know someone who does? If so, now is your chance! HAF is accepting applications from energetic and highly motivated individuals for its full-time Associate Director (AD) position. Working closely with both Suhag and myself and providing valuable support to HAF’s Board of Directors and Executive Council volunteers, the AD will largely have a region-specific focus with respect to fundraising, membership development and networking responsibilities. Additionally, the AD will be instrumental in managing internal projects, participating in conferences and briefings, and providing strategic input into the future growth of HAF as an organization.

Applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree at a minimum along with strong interpersonal, organizational, writing and public speaking skills. A background in Hinduism or Hindu activism is also required.

We invite applications from across the country. As HAF has several virtually based offices, the AD will have the flexibility of working from his/her home office. Additional details about the position and the application procedure can be found online at http://www.hafsite.org/AssociateDirector . All applications must be submitted by Friday, April 2 to jobs@hafsite.org

Source: www.hinduismtoday.com

We live very close together. So, our prime purpose in life is to help others. And if we can’t help them, at least don’t hurt them.
   Dalai Lama

Source: www.nj.com

NEW DELHI, INDIA, February 28, 2010: After a year spent researching and clicking images of Indian street tattoos for his new book, French writer Stephane Guillerme found Lord Hanuman easily the commonest tattoo in all of India. “Hanuman represents absolute physical power. So I guess it matches the male subconscious mind,” he said. But tattoos of all the Hindu Gods are a common sight on people’s skins.

Guillerme, who lives in a small northwestern French town called Vannes, first visited India 12 years ago as a tourist. Since then, he has been coming here every year. Already the author of three books on India, Guillerme is wandering across the country to explore the stories and psychology behind tattoos, which have existed in India long before professional studios came on the scene.

The average Indian seeks an object of adoration, it appears. So, not surprisingly, actors come close behind Gods and Goddesses in the popularity stakes.