UK, June 24, 2008: A group of Indians are planning to present a statue of the revered Indian monkey God, Hanuman, to U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. The group decided to order the Deity after they read a Time magazine report saying that Mr Obama carried a good luck “monkey king” charm.
Convinced in their belief that the 46-year-old Illinois senator was a devotee of Lord Hanuman, the revered monkey god worshipped by Hindus as a symbol of courage and faith, the priests of the Sankat Mochan Dham Hanuman temple in Delhi organised an elaborate prayer service of the 15 kg Deity before presenting it to Carolyn Sauvage-Mar, chairperson of Democrats Abroad-India, who said she was receiving it on behalf of the presumptive Democratic nominee.
“We have heard that he carries a small monkey charm in his pocket. So he is a devotee of Hanuman.” a devotee said. “Obama stands for change. We are hoping that he will bring about change so that oil and food prices come down,” he said.
Hindu Marriages Act Is Breaking More Homes Than Uniting http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/002200806171864.htm
DELHI, India, June 8, 2008: The Indian Hindu Marriages Act is breaking more homes than uniting, said the Supreme Court. The apex court regretted that the growing number of divorce cases in the country was having a disastrous effect on children.
Enacted in 1955, the Hindu Marriages Act received several amendments with various provisions for validity of a Hindu marriage, restitution of conjugal rights and, recently, divorce, a concept from the English law. “Even at the time of marriages, anticipatory divorce petitions are being filed,” the bench remarked. “Ultimately the child suffers.” Justice Pasayat speaking for the Bench observed.
Ontario Keeps Lord’s Prayer, But In Rotation With Other Faiths
hpi
TORONTO, CANADA, June 20, 2008: (RNS) After four months of controversy over the roles of religion and the state, the government of Ontario has compromised by keeping the Lord’s Prayer in the provincial legislature — and adding invocations from other faiths. Members of the legislature voted unanimously to retain the daily opening recitation of the Lord’s Prayer, but the prayer was joined in rotation with eight new prayers from other faiths, and a moment of silence to appease non-believers. Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, Jewish, Baha’i, Sikh, First Nations (indigenous) and non-denominational prayers will alternate, along with a moment of silent reflection. The move follows Premier Dalton McGuinty’s announcement in February that the province would “move beyond” the Lord’s Prayer in favor of “a more inclusive approach” that “better reflects Ontario’s reality and celebrate(s) our diversity.”