mha.gov.in NEW DELHI, INDIA, December 27, 2007 (HPI note): Each year, the Government of India’s Ministry of Home Affairs releases a report (URL above) entitled, “Receipt of Foreign Contributions by Voluntary Associations.” Most of the donations go toward relief work, rural development, medicine and education. “Maintenance of priests/preachers/other religious functionaries” is 15th on the list of purposes, receiving $21 million…
www.hinduonnet.com KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, December 24, 2007: In the wake of protests by ethnic Indians over the demolition of Hindu temples in Muslim-majority Malaysia, Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi has ordered continuous monitoring of all Hindu shrines, a move to assuage the feelings of the community alleging their marginalisation in the country. The task of monitoring has been given to Works…
geongrid.geo.arizona.edu KAUAI, HAWAII, November 16, 2007: Kauai’s Hindu temple got a foundation built to last 1,000 years, and it just took longer to dry. Sure, builders love modern reinforced concrete which reaches full strength in two days, whereas the ancient fly ash concrete takes three months. Yet, the quick-curing concrete only lasts for decades, while the other lasts for millennia.…
www.hindu.com KUNMING, CHINA, December 23, 2007: Indian troops shared their expertise in yoga with their Chinese counterparts and learned martial arts skills from them on Saturday, the second day of their first-ever joint military exercise. It happened in the capital city of southwestern Yunnan province. The People’s Liberation Army men’s “Chak De, Chak De” cheers filled the air as they…
www.hinduismtoday.com/digital Hinduism Today’s latest issue is one of its richest yet. Here are a few highlights: Is the question, “How can I improve the world?” impossibly difficult? It is not necessarily so, according to Publisher Bodhinatha who suggests practical approaches and application of some basic principles. He shows that raising our children to be spiritual, for instance, will have a…
geongrid.geo.arizona.edu KAUAI, HAWAII, December 22, 2007: Hinduism Today magazine is seeking a writer to produce a feature story on the impact of sea level change on the Hindu religion. At the URL above is an interactive map showing the areas inundated by a one to six meter change in sea level. The task would be to ascertain what Hindu populations…
Hinduism Today, January/February/March 2008 Issue (HPI note: This article appears in the January/February/March 2008 issue of Hinduism Today. Full text below.) Hinduism Today was recently asked to provide a definitive estimate of Hindus in America. Our conclusion: as of 2008, there are more than 2,290,000 Hindus in the US. There are no official government statistics on the number of adherents…
www.swaminarayan.org CHANDKHEDA, AMDAVAD, INDIA, December 17, 2007: Celebrating both the organization’s anniversary and the 87th birthday of His Divine Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, hundreds of thousands gathered in a magnificent tribute. The programme focused on Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s engaged spirituality and his great saying, “In the joy of others lies our own”. A 3-hour cultural programme performed by thousands of…
www.siasat.com HYDERABAD, INDIA, December 22: Chilkur Balaji Temple chief priests have appealed to the people not to rush to temples on January 1 as the day does not usher in the New Year as per Hindu tradition. The practice of making it a point to visit temples on the day is an alien concept and has been creating stampede in…
www.hindustantimes.com SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO, December 18, 2007: The senate of New Mexico, a southern US state, will open with the chanting of Hindu prayers on January 28. Rajan Zed, a Hindu chaplain who made history by reading Hindu prayers in the US senate in July, will read Sanskrit mantras from ancient Hindu scriptures before the senate in Santa Fe.…