SourceWASHINGTON, D.C., November 11, 2004: US President George W Bush has sent his greetings to the Indian community on the occasion of Deepavali, the festival of lights, the first celebration to be held in the White House after his re-election. “I send greetings to all those celebrating Deepavali, the Festival of Light. Observed by millions round the world, Deepavali is…
SourceTHIRUVANANTHAPURAM, KERALA, INDIA, November 12, 2004: The centuries-old Sabarimala hill shrine in Kerala is readying to receive millions of pilgrims. All arrangements are complete for the commencement of the Sabarimala pilgrimage season that begins Nov 16 and goes on to the third week of January. “Taking into consideration the dramatic increase of pilgrims every season, several new pilgrim-friendly facilities like…
HPICHENNAI, INDIA, November 13, 2004: The sensational arrest of the Shankaracarya of Kanchi, Sri Jayendra Saraswati, has resulted in over 100 news stories. A few are summarized below. For the complete list, click here
SourceCHENNAI, INDIA, November 12, 2004: (HPI note: This news of the arrest of one of India’s most prominent spiritual leaders has arrived on a day when HPI is not usually issued, hence this special edition.) Kanchi Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati was on Thursday night arrested in connection with a murder case. The 60-year-old pontiff (other reports say 70) of the Kanchi…
SourceCHENNAI, INDIA, November 12, 2004: High drama was witnessed at the airport in Chennai when Senior Pontiff of the Kanchi mutt Sri Jayendra Saraswathi, who was arrested in connection with the murder case, was brought to Chennai from Hyderabad in the wee hours of Friday. As the Special Aircraft touched down at the Airport at Chennai around 0245 hrs, the…
SourceKANCHEEPURAM, INDIA, November 12, 2004: Dismissing as “baseless” the charges against Kanchi Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi, arrested on Thursday in connection with a murder, his counsel on Friday alleged that the action was “politically vindictive.” “The mutt is no way connected with the incident (murder). The charges are baseless and based on the confession by third party. We will seek redressal…
SourceKANCHEEPURAM, INDIA, November 12, 2004: Kanchi Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi, arrested near Hyderabad Thursday night as a prime accused in a murder case, was on Friday remanded to judicial custody till November 26 by a court in Kancheepuram. Soon after he was brought to Kancheepuram, the Shankaracharya was produced before First Class Judicial Magistrate G Uttamaraj at 6.30 am. The magistrate,…
SourceNovember 7, 2004: “The time of Deepavali is one of the most festive and beautiful times of the year. Deepavali literally means a ‘Row of Lights.’ It is a time filled with light and love; a time when Indians all over the world rejoice. Deepavali is celebrated on the thirteenth/fourteenth day in the dark half of Kartik (October-November); it is…
SourceNEW DELHI, INDIA, November 9, 2004: Imported icons of Lord Ganesha and the Goddess Laxmi have proved to be a hit with the masses preparing for Deepavali this year. Devotees have particularly taken a fancy for clay icons from China and Thailand which are both good looking and inexpensive. Suresh, a shopkeeper, admits that these Chinese-manufactured icons are doing brisk…
SourceKOLKATA, INDIA, November 5, 2004: Schools in West Bengal have joined the bandwagon by encouraging school children to celebrate Deepavali without using fire crackers. School Education minister, Kanti Biswas, explains, “We want teachers to counsel students about the ban and the fact that flouting the order entails punishment. But more than the fear factor, we will ask teachers to highlight…