Source: www.zwire.com

FLUSHING, NEW YORK, June 25, 2009: The Hindu Temple Society of North America is in the midst of a $5 million expansion on its Ganesh Temple at 45-57 Bowne St, and for a good reason. There’s just not enough space for the 3,000 devotees who pray there every week.

The society offers outreach programs for seniors, children and the general public, including classes in yoga, guitar and dance. Its temple has become a popular tourist attraction, drawing people from around the world, and its canteen, open seven days a week, is a favorite stop for vegetarians.

The society will host a five-day rededication program that will culminate on July 13. Fourteen artisans from India have completed their task of carving 16 pillars showing the 16 forms of Ganesh for the front walkway.

The society continues to raise funds for the expansion project, which is expected to be completed next year. The last item will involve constructing a 62-foot-high tower that will face east.

Source: in.christiantoday.com

INDIA, June 23, 2009: Home Minister P. Chidambaram will be reviewing and making recommendations on the controversial “Freedom of Religion Acts,” enacted to prevent forced and fraudulent conversions. It is said that these Acts will be repealed.

Presently, anti-conversion laws are in force in five states - Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat. In two other states - Arunachal Pradesh and Rajasthan, the laws have been passed but not yet implemented. They are teh result of community pressure against deceitful and unethical conversions, especially those performed by some missionaries.

In Himachal Pradesh, the stringent anti-conversion bill declares that anyone found guilty of forcing an individual to change religion can be punished with a two-year jail term, a fine of up to 25,000 rupees (US$560) or both. The law also states that a person intending to change her or his religion should inform the government 30 days in advance.

Source: www.etravelblackboardasia.com

SRI LANKA, June 17, 2009: The Ramayana Trail of Sri Lanka revolves round the Ramayana, the great epic of Asia. Over 50 sites associated with the Ramayana, are located within Sri Lanka, with around 12 of them being sites with archeological evidence. The rest of the sites are largely based on unwavering faith and traditional beliefs.

A dedicated team from the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) and the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Bureau (SLTPB), is handling the promotion and development of the Ramayana sites, and have created interest among local travel agents and hoteliers on the subject. Nearly 30 guides have been trained and a brochure, a DVD, and a travel planner have been published.

Source: HPI

KAUAI, USA, July 2, 2009: When choosing a name for its new eco-friendly sports car, Florida-based Fisker Motors choose a Hindu word: karma.

The Fisker Karma, an electric hybrid,reaches 60mph in 5.8 seconds and has an autonomy of 50 miles before it needs any gas.

This car’s good karma? More than 100 miles a gallon and “a cleaner conscience than ever before,” the manufacturer says.

Karma has become the most widely-known Hindu word in the west. The Hindu concept of reincarnation is also widespread, but its sanskrit word — punarjanma — is not nearly as famous.

You can see the Fisker Karma http://karma.fiskerautomotive.com/

Source: HPI

KAUAI, HAWAII, July 4, 2009: Hinduism Today invites experts to write about the Hindu view of homosexuality from a historical perspective, creating an article for publication on Hinduism Today.

Please e-mail Arumugaswami, Managing Editor, at ar@hindu.org