Source: Hinduism Today
RUSSIA, November 16, 2001: A letter arriving from the Hawaii ashram home of Hinduism Today containing sacred ash, vibhuti, from the temple ceremonies, to a devotee here attracted considerable interest from the local postal authorities. They summoned the recipient to the post office, where 15 officials waited, concerned that they had just discovered an anthrax-laden letter. The very nervous devotee explained that he was certain the material in the letter was ash. The authorities took the material for testing, and that was the end of the matter. Hindu ashrams and temples should be aware holy ash, a fine white powder, may attract the attention of nervous postal inspectors around the world.