Hundred Thousand Devotees Witness Sivalaya Deepam

SourceTIRUPARANKUNRAM, INDIA, November 26, 2004: About one hundred thousand devotees today offered worship when the “Karthigai Maha deepam” was lit atop the hill of the famous Sri Subramania swamy temple here this evening. The celebration is also known as Sivalaya Deepam, commemorating the appearance of Lord Siva as a pillar of light. Temple authorities had made elaborate arrangements for the…

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Kanchi Shankaracharya Arrested in Second Case

SourceVELLORE, INDIA, November 23, 2004: The Kanchi Sankaracharya, Sri Jayendra Saraswathi, who is in the Central prison here in connection with a murder case, was today formally arrested in a case relating to the attack on S. Radhakrishnan, a former associate of the Sankara Mutt, Kancheepuram, in Chennai two years ago. The Chief Investigating Officer in the Sankararaman murder case,…

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UK Hindu Temple Encounters Objections

SourceBARNET, ENGLAND, November 18, 2004: An eye-catching Hindu temple could soon be built in Golders Green after new plans were submitted to Barnet Council. The existing Shree Swaminaryan Temple’s red-brick building in Finchley Road would be demolished and replaced with a larger Ivory-colored stone structure, with traditional Hindu features. The 25-year-old temple won planning permission for such a building back…

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Malaysia Celebrates Meatless Day

SourceKUALU LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, November 24, 2004: The Malaysia Hindu Sangam President, Datuk A. Vaithilingam, issued the following statement: I wish to inform you here that at the World Millennium Peace Conference for Spiritual and Religious Leaders held at the United Nation New York from 28-31 August, 2000, Rev. Dada J.P. Vaswani made repeated appeals on the need to save animals…

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Husband’s Day Festival Celebrated in Canada

The Calgary HeraldCALGARY, ALBERTA, CANADA, November 11, 2004: When Shikha Khangura was an unmarried Sikh woman, she celebrated Karva Chauth each year for 19 years by praying for a good husband. This year holds special significance for Khangura, a 32-year old physician, because now she is married to 37-year old Gurmeet, a certified financial analyst. The news release explains, ”…

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Indian Dance Tradition Celebrated in Delhi

SourceNEW DELHI, INDIA, November 3, 2004: Supported by the present government, the national capital of Delhi is fast becoming the cultural hub for Indian Dance forms. Recently a five-day festival (Ananya) featuring Indian Classical Dance attracted an audience of over 2,000 spectators on the first day (October 26). The setting for the performance was none other than the Purana Quila,…

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Tobacco Sales Banned in Bhutan

SourceBHUTAN, INDIA, November 15, 2004: Jigme Thinley, Bhutanese minister, says, “We want no pollution and good health for our citizens.” The news release explains that his remote Himalayan kingdom has decided to ban all tobacco products and that shops, hotels, restaurants, and bars selling products have been ordered to dispose of existing stocks before December 17t. So far 18 of…

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Ayurveda In America

SourceUNITED STATES, November 22, 2004: Ayurveda’s vast library of medicinal plants, its technology, as well as its holistic approach are attracting an increasing number of Americans in search of a more “natural” health system and dissatisfied with current health care and its costs. Part of the commercial scene is driven by the likes of popular American icon Deepak Chopra, while…

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Gujarati Community Flourishes in Canada

The Toronto StarTORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, November 13, 2004: After Canada changed its immigration policies in the 1980’s to favor professionals and entrepreneurs, many hailing from Gujarat now call Canada home. As with all immigrants in a new land, the community has been striving diligently to keep their religion, values and heritage alive. For Hindus, the temple is traditionally the hub…

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Record Turnout for Pushkar Fair

SourcePUSHKAR, INDIA, November 22, 2004: Its welcome news for India’s tourism industry. The Pushkar Fair that has kicked off in Rajasthan is set to break all records of tourist arrivals. Due to the tragedy of 9/11, Indo-Pak tensions, the Iraq war and the SARS threat, tourists had stayed away from this fair for the past three years. But now they…

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