India’s Changing Marriage Statistics

SourceNEW DELHI, INDIA, October 8, 2004: A study by the Centre for Social Research (CSR) — “Indian Marriages: Economic Independence and Changing Power Relations” — has tracked the changes in matrimonial advertisements over the past 50 years. It shows how much the profiles of the Indian bride and bridegroom have changed from the 1950s onwards: Earlier, barbers, dhobis (washermen) and…

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Government Won’t Take Over Tiruvannamalai Temple

SourceCHENNAI, INDIA, October 8, 2004: The Tamil Nadu government has decided to withdraw the decision of the previous NDA government to take over the ancient hill shrine of Lord Arunachaleswarar at Tiruvannamalai in Tamil Nadu, according to MDMK Deputy General Secretary and MP Gingee N Ramachandran. In a statement, he said Union Culture Minister Jaipal Reddy had yesterday conveyed to…

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Hindu Customs and Traditions Theme for Divali Nagar in Trinidad

Paras RamoutarTRINIDAD, October 7, 2004: An exhibition, songs, music, drama and dance will reflect on “Hindu Customs and Traditions” the theme for this year’s Divali Nagar. And this will be highlighted on the stages of Divali Nagar and the Folk Theatre, according to Deokienanan Sharma, president of the National Council of Indian Culture (NCIC). Sharma said that the 18th celebration…

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Hinduism Bids To Win Back Skeptical Youth

SourceJOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA, October 3, 2004: Community leaders are fighting to revive Hindu custom and tradition to preserve a culture they fear is dying among the youth. Their efforts come as the younger generation begins to question the relevance and meaning of Hindu rituals. The decline in Hindu culture is blamed on the rising influence of Western culture, apartheid’s education…

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Bhopal Police Get Yoga Lessons

SourceBHOPAL, INDIA, October 5, 2004: In the hierarchy-bound police force, a supercop in Bhopal has broken all barriers with a new mission to teach the virtues of yoga to the lower ranks. For Sanjeev Singh, the Chief of Special Task force in Madhya Pradesh and DIG Bhopal Range, it has been more of a learning process, going beyond the traditional…

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Congressional Resolution Introduced to Recognize Deepavali

SourceUSA, October 5, 2004: The Hindu American Foundation announced today that a resolution recognizing the historical and cultural significance of the Hindu festival of Diwali was submitted to the United States House of Representatives, Committee on Government Reform, on October 5, 2004. House Resolution 816 was introduced by Rep. Joseph Crowley (D, NY), Democratic Chair of the Congressional Caucus on…

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Food Blessing Chant On-Line

HPIKAUAI, HAWAII, October 8, 2004: In our report of October 4, the URL for the Hinduism Today article should be here. Thanks to reader Sadhunatha Nadesan for pointing out you can hear the chant itself here.

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No Takers For Homes In Dalit Apartments

SourceNEW DELHI, INDIA, October 3, 2004: Three bedrooms, ample living space, running water and a car park – these are dream flats in a middle-class heaven in Delhi, but they have few takers, even at a discount. Gaurav Apartments, in Patparganj in east Delhi, boasts of houses that a potential buyer would give his right arm for – were it…

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Yogi Bhajan Passes Away in New Mexico

SourceNEW MEXICO, USA, October 7, 2004: Harbhajan Singh Khalsa Yogiji, 75, known as Yogi Bhajan to thousands of his adherents worldwide, passed away on Wednesday, October 6, 2004, following complications due to heart failure. His death took place at his home in Espanola, New Mexico, surrounded by family and friends. He announced he had come to “to create teachers, not…

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Japanese Grant Helps Delhi Theatre

SourceDELHI, INDIA, October 6, 2004: Just two months more and Akshara Theatre will be buzzing with activity – at least for five days a week. All thanks to the Japanese government’s US $49,217 grant which they had given to Gopal Sharman and Jalabala Vaidya last December. With the money, they’ve planned to bring in first rate digital equipment – “sound,…

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