www.zeenews.com TIRUPATI, INDIA, February 23, 2006: In view of Mahasivaratri on February 26, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has decided to distribute at least five hundred thousand pocket books of Sivanama Stotram and Siva Stuti free to the visiting devotees at all Siva temples and other temples under the purview of TTD. Local temples deputy executive officer K. Chitha Ranjan had…
www.hindustantimes.com LONDON, ENGLAND, February 22, 2006: The fear that faith schools lead to segregation has led leaders of major faiths to issue a statement that they should teach pupils about other religions as well as their own. Religious leaders have signed a declaration backing the teaching of not only their own religion, but an awareness of the “tenets” of other…
Paras Ramoutar HYDERABAD, INDIA, February 20, 2006: HPI note: Paras Ramoutar of Trinidad gives his impressions and thoughts on the conference: Twenty-five hundred Indians from approximately 90 countries participated in the Fourth Pravasi Bharitya Diwas (Global Indian Dispora) held at the sprawling Hyderabad International Convention Centre, January 7 to 9, in Andra Pradesh. Throughout the three-day conference, there were roundtable…
www.pib.nic.in DELHI, INDIA, February 23, 2006: There is no threat to the structural stability of the temple, however, there is some distress at lower most row of the superstructure. This was stated by the Minister of Tourism and Culture, Mrs. Ambika Soni in a reply to a question by S/Shri Bhartruhari Mahtab, Nikhil Kumar and Rewati Raman Singh in Lok…
www.hinduvoice.co.uk MALIBU, CALIFORNIA, January 31, 2006: HPI note: While this item is a bit old, the Hindu Voice report is the first to contain any details at all. The entertainment press has commented scathingly on the pop singer’s visit to the temple. Some reports even have the temple priest mentioned below, Samundrala, identified as her “guru,” even though he was…
www.hinduvoice.co.uk LONDON, ENGLAND, February 19, 2006: HPI note: The second issue of the on-line magazine Hindu Voice carried this inspiring story titled, “Hinduism on the London Underground” by Ritesh Jigani: Standing on a packed train on the way home from university, I was feeling terrible. It had been a hard week, I was annoyed with several colleagues, the train had…
www.littleindia.com USA, January 15, 2006: (HPI note: This long and informative article by Lavina Melwani is subtitled “One in nine Indian-Americans is biracial.”) Genetics is their football and they are out to smash all stereotypes. Races meet and merge in their faces. Long Indian eyelashes cover eyes of pristine blue; glowing ebony skin mixes with Caucasian features. Think Halle Berry,…
Religion News Service USA, February 18, 2006: (HPI note: The following article deals with the custom of “Ash Wednesday” when Christians have ash placed on their forehead by a priest following a religious service. The custom is similar to the Hindu use of vibhuti, sacred ash, and some of the social and legal points contained in this article would apply…
www.nzz.ch SWITZERLAND, February 18, 2006: Tamils first came to Switzerland in the 1980s as refugees fleeing civil war in Sri Lanka and now make up a sizeable community in the country. Although they encountered prejudices at first, Tamils are now regarded as having adapted well to their new home. But they are still not fully integrated. In 1983 the Tamil…
www.pib.nic.in NEW DELHI, INDIA, February 18, 2006: The Union Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs Shri Vayalar Ravi has said that his Ministry fully recognizes the urgent need to build safeguards to protect unsuspecting brides, and their parents seeking marriage alliances with Overseas Indians. Presiding over the inaugural session of the day-long National Consultation on Marriages to Overseas Indians, here today,…