New Jersey Celebrates Navratri

www.icsnj.org NEW JERSEY, U.S., October 8, 2006: Indian Culture Society (ICS), Union, New Jersey celebrates Navratri 2006. The U.S.’s biggest Navaratri celebration draws more than 4,000 people from all across the tri-state area, every single night. This year it started on September 23, and continues until October 14th, on Friday and Saturday nights. Due to the overwhelming response and support…

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Dussehra Celebrated in Edinburgh

edinburghnews.scotsman.com EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND, October 8, 2006: Edinburgh saw the biggest-ever celebration of Dussehra in a spectacular parade through the city center. More than 2,500 people were expected to congregate on Calton Hill for the culmination of the festival, which featured a fireworks display and the burning of three giant effigies. Mohindra Dhall, president of the Scottish Indian Arts Forum, which…

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Hindu Americans Meet on Capitol Hill for Third Straight Year

www.hinduamericanfoundation.org WASHINGTON DC, UNITED STATES, October 8, 2006: The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) concluded its third annual Government Outreach and Leadership Conference on September 28, 2006. Two days of individual meetings with over twenty-five senators and members of the House of Representatives, Department of Justice, and State Department were highlighted by a dinner reception held within the rotunda of the…

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Hindu Death Ceremonies and the US Military

www.cem.va.gov WASHINGTON DC, UNITED STATES, October 8, 2006: The United States military has traditional death ceremonies available for Hindus, whether they are a veteran or die while on active duty. The Veteran’s Administration provides partial reimbursements of an eligible veteran’s burial and funeral costs, cremation and disposal of the ashes – internment or dispersal at a place the deceased has…

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Sri Ranganathaswami Mandapam Collapses

www.hindu.com SRIRANGAM, INDIA, October 4, 2006: The mandapam (covered hall) of the 17th century Sri Ranganathaswamy has collapsed while trenches for underground drainage were being dug, temple officials said today. A retired senior official of the PWD, Kothandaraman said that the Tamil Nadu Water and Drainage Board, instead of digging trenches, should have opted for pneumatic compressors and inserting of…

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Divali Festival Begins October 12 in Trinidad

paras_ramoutar@yahoo.com CHAGUANAS, TRINIDAD, October 5, 2006: Theme of Trinidad’s 20th annual Divali Nagar is, “The Hindu Contribution to World Thought and Culture” and begins Thursday, October 12, culminating Friday, October 20, 2006, at Divali Nagar Facilities, Narsaloo Ramaya Marg, Uriah Butler Highway, Chaguanas, Trinidad. “Divali Nagar, organized by the National Council of Indian Culture(NCIC) is the gravitational center in Trinidad…

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T.R. Rao New President Of Hindu University Of America

www.hindu-university.edu ORLANDO, FLORIDA, October 3, 2006: Hindu University of America (HUA), located in Orlando, Florida, announced the appointment of Dr. T.R. (Narsimha) Rao as its new president. Dr. Rao assumed his duties on Vijaya-Dashami, which also is Gandhi Jayanti, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi. Mr. Shri Braham R. Aggarwal, the Chairman of the Board of HUA, said in welcoming Dr.…

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Jail Minister in Madhya Pradesh Proposes New Methods to Reform Prisoners

www.ibnlive.com MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA, September 24, 2006: Jail Minister Dhal Singh Bisen wants to try a different approach to bring down the crime rate in Madhya Pradesh’s overcrowded prisons. Firstly, Bisen wants the inmates to participate in rajpurohit training which is a training course for priests. Secondly, Bisen has proposed that the jails themselves be restructured to reflect the principles…

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Dalits Bypass Priests

epaper.hindustantimes.com INDIA, October 2, 2006: Deep in the heartland of Uttar Pradesh, in dozens of villages across the state, Dalits (or Untouchables) have stopped depending on Brahmin priests for weddings, funerals and other ceremonies. Instead, they have turned to a Buddhism-inspired book which has rituals that can be performed by any literate person. The wide use of the Bhim Patra,…

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Jains Dispute Legislation Including Them as “Hindus”

cities.expressindia.com AHMEDABAD, INDIA, September 28, 2006: (HPI adds: India’s constitution designates, for the purpose of law, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism, as part of Hinduism.) Modi continues to court controversy, states this article. This time, it is his Government’s decision to include Jainism into the Hindu fold that has unleashed a debate among the community members. While Ahmedabad witnessed dharnas (akin…

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