Religion News Service OCEAN SPRINGS, MISSISSIPPI September 19, 2005: (HPI note: The Mormon Church has a remarkable disaster preparedness program.) Following America’s greatest natural disaster, one church stood ready to face the aftermath more than others in the area. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) always has a “disaster plan in place before the storm,” said Mary…
www.newkerala.com MUMBAI, INDIA, September 17, 2005: People in Maharashtra bid adieu to their favorite elephant-headed God, Ganesha, amidst chanting of holy hymns and prayers on Saturday. Tight security was put in place in Mumbai for the idol immersion marking the culmination of the 10-day long festivities. The festival marks the birth anniversary of Ganesh, signifying good omen and prosperity. At…
www.newkerala.com HYDERABAD, INDIA, September 17, 2005: Thousands of people chanted “Ganpati Buppa Murya” as Ganesha icons were immersed Saturday at the Hussain Sagar Lake in this Andhra Pradesh capital marking the end of a 10-day Hindu festival. More than 25,000 policemen provided security as the icons were taken in a procession for the immersion. Saffron was the dominating color on…
www.thejakartapost.com JAKARTA, BALI, September 1, 2005: An appreciative Japanese audience was able to partake in a performance by Saur Agung, a Balinese gamelan troupe from Jembrana regency, West Bali on September 1. The news release explains the performance, “Presenting a gamelan Jegog ensemble, which was made of lines of bamboo, and danced under the theme Sabda Jagad Sakti (the Voice…
www.pib.nic.in LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS, USA, September 17, 2005: The Indian Air Force IL-76 aircraft has delivered the 25 tons of relief supplies for the hurricane Katrina victims at the Little Rock Air Force base, Arkansas. The relief supplies comprised 3,000 blankets, bed sheets, tarpaulins and personal hygiene items. The IAF’s IL-76 was received by the Station Commander of the Air…
starherald.net KOSCIUSKO, MISSISSIPPI, USA, September 16, 2005: Mukund Patel made sure dozens of storm evacuees had food to eat and a roof over their heads. Now, a handful of them are making sure that roof doesn’t leak. Danny Hemphill and Chris Fuller, both of Kiln, and Alfred Briseno of Marrero, La., have been working morning and evening since September 6…
uniindia.com LONDON, UK, September 9, 2005: A nine-year struggle to demolish and rebuild a US$9 million Swaminarayan Temple at Golders Green here has finally ended with planners agreeing that work could begin. Plans for the flamboyant new Shree Swaminarayan temple in Finchley Road were passed despite a long running dispute between the congregation and neighbors. Residents objected to the design…
Times of India NEW DELHI, INDIA, September 14, 2005: Hindu organizations in the UK have expressed “outrage” over the Home Affairs Select Committee’s decision to accept oral evidence from only the Muslim community in its investigation into the backlash following the July terrorist attacks in London. This is despite recent figures released by the Metropolitan Police showing that more Hindus…
timesofindia.indiatimes.com MADURAI, INDIA, September 13, 2005: The most popular residents of the revered Meenakshi temple in Madurai have now found a new home — the open sky. The temple authorities have set free over 60 parrots that have been an integral part of the 1,200-year-old temple. The birds were set free following requests from animal welfare organizations and state forest…
www.al.com HARVEST, ALABAMA, September 14, 2005: A Hindu priest from Nashville, his wife and a Hindu priest from Harvest were the victims of a car-truck collision Monday in northeast Limestone County. Coroner Mike West said Tuesday that the driver of the car, Suryanaray Sharma, 40, and his wife, Nasuyamma Sharma, 43, both of Old Hickory Boulevard in Nashville, died from…