Statesman News ServiceBHUBANESWAR, INDIA, April 5, 2005: Are tribals Hindus? — This contentious issue has been debated in the State Assembly today. And interestingly the participant members — mostly tribals — were divided over the issue. While a section of the members claimed that the tribals were a part of the Hindu society, another section argued to the contrary. Even…
SourceNEW YORK, NEW YORK, March 15, 2005: When the recent movie “Downfall” portrayed Hitler as a vegetarian, the vegetarian community at large was offended. However, the New York Times recently printed (on March 15th) the following note in its “corrections” box: “A film review about ‘Downfall,’ which looks at Hitler’s final days, referred incorrectly to his diet. Although the movie…
SourcePATNA, INDIA, April 3, 2005: A Canadian researcher of Indian origin says on the strength of astronomical evidence that the Mahabharata war was fought between the Pandavas and Kauravas in 2156 bce. Anand Mohan Sharan, who teaches in the faculty of engineering at the Memorial University in Newfoundland, said he used computers and several kinds of software to reach the…
News ReportMANUKAU CITY, NEW ZEALAND, March 20, 2005: A Sikh temple in Manukau City was the scene of a pioneering effort to bring races and faiths together at the weekend. Auckland leaders of Christian, Islam, Hindu, Baha’i, Sikh and Jewish religions shared the pulpit at the new Manurewa temple of the Sikh organisation Nanaksar Thath Isher Darbar. The organization’s adviser,…
SourceSTATEN ISLAND, USA, April 02, 2005: With the opening of the Prem Prakesh Temple in Dongan Hills last month, Staten Island has become home to two Hindu houses of worship. The temple opened in the former United Units Building, where many congregations — including the Staten Island Hindu Temple — leased space as they built up their memberships and established…
SourceJHABUA, INDIA, April 5, 2005: (HPI note: This article appeared originally in the Christian Science Monitor.) Biju Verghese believes the end of the world is coming. This faith makes his work urgent: Convert as many Indians to Christianity as possible. Or, as he puts it, “reach the unreached at any cost.” Mr. Verghese is a new breed of missionary, tied…
SourceTRINCOMALEE, SRI LANKA, March 25, 2005: Several thousand devotees participated in the water-cutting festival of the historic Trincomalee Pathirakali Amman Temple held in the Back Bay Sea in the east port town Friday early morning. (The “water cutting” festival is a ritual in which water is offered to a river, lake or ocean, then a circle is drawn in the…
SourceKATHMANDU, NEPAL, March 24, 2005: The World Hindu Federation (WHF) is going to celebrate its Silver Jubilee Year for one year by organizing religious, spiritual and social programmes in various parts of the world. This information was given out at the federation’s extensive gathering organized here today with the objective of providing information on the Silver Jubilee celebration of the…
SourceWAHIAWA, OAHU, HAWAII, MARCH 25, 2005: The Gods sometimes make themselves known in unexpected places. In this instance, the situation has left adherents of two different religious traditions struggling for a way they all can worship in peace. Enshrined stones on California Avenue are venerated by some Hawaiians as healing stones, and by some Hindus as earthly representations of Siva.…
SourceSUVA, FIJI, March 27, 2005: Christians can only accept other religions in Fiji if their right of worship is not enshrined in the Constitution, the Methodist Church in Fiji says. The most powerful of all Christian denominations in the country, the church was reacting to statements by Vice President and acting President Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi on Good Friday at a…