SourceJAIPUR, INDIA, January 22, 2005: Rajasthan is busy preparing prayers “for the state’s welfare” about to be held for the third time since the highly religious Vasundhara Raje became chief minister in December 2003. The prayers will be held March 21-29, just before Rajasthan Day March 30. The special prayers, or maha arati, will be conducted by 11 priests at…
Source KOCHI, SRI LANKA, January 22, 2005: The Sri Lankan government has invited Mata Amritanandamayi to visit the island nation and provide “spiritual healing” to those affected by the tsunami and bring peace and prosperity to their lives. “The victims need spiritual healing, solace, succor and blessing,” Sri Lankan Minister of Agriculture Marketing Development and Hindu Affairs K N Douglas…
SourceMORAKETIYA, SRI LANKA, January 19, 2005: A dozen Americans walked into a relief camp here, showering bereft parents and traumatized children with gifts, attention and affection. They also quietly offered camp residents something else: Jesus, begins this article. The Americans, who all come from one church in Texas, have staged plays detailing the life of Jesus and had children draw…
SourceNEW DELHI, INDIA, January 20, 2005: The Supreme court Thursday permitted the central government to withdraw an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) notification declaring Tamil Nadu’s Arunachaleswarar temple a national heritage monument. While granting permission, judges Y. K. Sabharwal and P. P. Naolekar told Additional Solicitor General B. Dutta to submit in four weeks whether the government had any other…
SourceTAMIL NADU, INDIA, January 21, 2005: Bullfighting is usually thought of as a Spanish entertainment, but in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu a local variation is growing in popularity. It also appears to be becoming more dangerous. Bullfighting, or jallikattu as it is known here, is centred on two villages near the town of Madurai. Its exponents say…
SourceBANGALORE, INDIA, January 21, 2005: There was a total chaos in the press meet organized by the committee of “Pray for India and Festival of Blessing” (Benny Hinn’s Program) in Bangalore. This colorful report from the Hindu activist RSS news service (“source”) reads, in part: The program organizers Gul Kriplani, Paul Thangaiah, former DGP Kolaso, Ruban, Satyavrat and Samuel spoke…
SourceLONDON, ENGLAND, January 20, 2004: Hindus in the UK are starting a campaign to reclaim the swastika from its Nazi associations. German MEPs called for a Europe-wide ban of the symbol after Prince Harry wore it on a fancy dress costume. But Hindu Forum spokesman Ramesh Kallidai said the swastika had been a Hindu good luck charm for centuries. The…
SourceCOLOMBO, SRI LANKA, January 19, 2004: Patrick Harrigan of the Living Heritage Disaster Relief Mission in Sri Lanka, “source,” sent out the following appeal: There is an urgent need for English-speaking volunteers who can work in office environments drafting local relief proposals (also a long-term task) and teaching computer skills to young local volunteers in Kalmunai, Batticaloa and other population…
SourceKERALA, INDIA, January 18, 2005: Our thanks to HPI reader Niraj Thakar for letting us know about the video report at “source.” It is described as, “Amazing Report from K. P. Yohannan in India. K.P reports from India that Tsunami survivors who lost everything are finding hope in God’s Good News of Jesus Christ.” Yohannan explains how his missionary organization…
SourceKANCHEEPURAM, INDIA, January 20, 2005: (HPI note: In granting the senior Shankaracharya bail, the India Supreme Court specifically said the testimony of co-accused in a case was not of much value unless supported by independent evidence, which they concluded did not yet exist in convincing form in this case.) The Tamil Nadu police investigating the Shankaraman murder case today received…