www.hindustantimes.com UNITED STATES, June 11, 2007: Wedding planners and marriage venues have reported a marked increase in the number of Indian Americans, especially in Las Vegas, who want to get married on July 7 in the belief that the date (7-7-07) has good luck written all over it. Couples have been advised (incorrectly, as we shall see) that the date…
www.atmajyoti.org KOLKATA, INDIA, June 11, 2007: The pilgrims arrive at Belur Math north of Kolkata as the sun rises and bathe in the Ganga in preparation for a long awaited visit to the Dakshineshwar Kali Temple. For decades they have read about Sri Ramakrishna and the places associated with his remarkable and inspiring life, and now these sites are about…
www.rediff.com KERALA, INDIA, June 7, 2007: Kalathill Ravindran, chairman of the Guruvayur Dewaswom Board, has found himself in the middle of a dispute that arose when a purification ceremony was performed by the head priest of the temple after the May 18 visit of Union Minister for Overseas Indians Vayalar Ravi, his son Ravi Krishna, daughter-in-law Nisha and infant grandson.…
hinduismtoday.com KAUAI, HAWAII, June 10, 2007: Hinduism Today has released at URL above a 17-page analysis of the proposed rule change to the religious worker visa. The executive summary, below, is followed in the analysis by an extensive discussion of the various issues involved. This rule change is quite drastic, and will definitely impact the use of the R-1 visa…
www.washingtonpost.com VARANASI,INDIA, June 9, 2007: Deep in a labyrinth of stucco buildings, in a dark, cave-like warehouse, Mohamed Javen, 18, switched on a light bulb, sat before his rickety loom and began working on what was once the prize possession of every Indian bride: the hand-woven silk sari. His feet operated the bamboo pedals, making a rhythmic clopping sound. He…
www.hindu.com CHENNAI, INDIA, June 7, 2007: A funds crunch has come in the way of the Kuppuswami Sastri Research Institute’s project to preserve thousands of old manuscripts and books. Such preservation initiatives are important for the over-six-decade old Institute at Madras Sanskrit College, Mylapore, as it serves as a reference library for researchers and scholars. The collection at the Institute…
news.bbc.co.uk The government of the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh has banned the propagation of other religions in the holy venues of Hindus across the state. The authorities say the move is to ensure that Hindu sentiments in holy places are not offended. It follows a dispute over alleged Christian missionary activity around a shrine in the town of…
www.columbusdispatch.com COLUMBUS, OHIO, June 9, 2007: No matter your faith, you can learn something from the Dharma. That is the message of Sri Karunamayi Amma, a Hindu spiritual leader who was in Columbus this week. “Dharma does not belong to any religion,” Karunamayi Amma said during an interview. “It is a responsibility to all mankind to be peaceful.” Karunamayi stopped…
timesofindia.indiatimes.com UNITED STATES AND CANADA, June 4, 2007: Pramukh Swami Maharaj, 85 and head of the Gujarat based Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), is visiting the US and Canada from June 10 to September 28 to mark the centenary celebrations of the organization. During his visit, two magnificent new temples depicting Indian heritage and civilization will be inaugurated…
www.ibnlive.com KATRA, INDIA, May 26, 2007: A small economic revolution is taking shape in the confines of a room near the Vaishno Devi shrine. And it’s led by a group of 11 village women handing the prasad offerings at the shrine. 65-year-old Rattan Devi starts at 8 in the morning along with 10 others carefully turning rice and corn flour…