SourceBANGALORE/LUCKNOW, INDIA, November 6, 2004: With the Hindu festival of lights, “Deepavali,” round the corner, pottery makers of Bangalore, famous for their craftsmanship, are working round the clock to meet the festive rush. While “diyas,” or earthen lamps, are made all over the country, the ones made here are considered to be the best in southern India. Potters here have…
HPIKAUAI, HAWAII, November 7, 2004: HPI reader Steven Pheiffer is seeking a source for the traditional Deepavali lamps, “small clay diyas with wax and wick inside, painted and decorated in a festive manner.” If someone knows a mail-order source, kindly write him at skanda2@earthlink.net.
Hari GaunderAUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND, November 7, 2004: It was the first time ever the Hindu Festival of Lights, Deepavali, was celebrated in the New Zealand Parliament, in Wellington on November 2 and the Indians are grateful to the government for recognizing their contributions towards the nation. The Prime Minister, Helen Clark, lit a lamp in the traditional style and created…
SourceNEW DELHI; INDIA; November 2, 2004: Puppeteer Dadi Pudumjee has become the first Indian to perform at NewYork’s legendary La MaMa experimental theatre off Broadway (here). He showed an avant-garde version of the ancient Vikram-Betaal myth — where a king carries a riddle-telling corpse on his shoulders — to the theatre, now a global arts center that was started by…
SourceLONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, November 3, 2004: The banks of the river Thames has yielded many exotic items, including a series of Hindu Gods and Goddesses, some of which could be more than a century old, says this article. The four Deities discovered include Durga, Ganesha, Vishnu and Hanuman. the statues are made of stone or metal. Other discoveries include two…
SourceLONDON, ENGLAND, November 2, 2004: The following press release is from Jay Lakhani of the Hindu Council UK. The new National Framework for Religious Education was launched on 28th October by the Secretary for state for Education, Charles Clarke. Hindu Council UK had been fighting hard to incorporate some key Hindu ideas in the new framework. Full details can be…
SourceKOLKATA, INDIA, November 4, 2004: Chinese lamps have taken over the market of traditional Deepavali diyas (oil lamps) and candles in Kolkata. These “Made in China” bulbs are cheaper compared to the indigenous lights, and they are also available in a wide variety of designs like grapes, flowers and rice that give a psychedelic effect. This is affecting local artisans…
SourceNEW DELHI, INDIA, November 4, 2004: Leftist parties have mounted pressure on the UPA government (ruling coalition led by the Congress Party) to impose a cess (tax assessment) on all religious institutions to fund rural development projects. The proposal is part of the Left’s tax-reform blueprint to be discussed with the government before the budget exercise for the next fiscal.…
SourceKATHMANDU, NEPAL, November 4, 2004: An Indian spiritual leader who has followers worldwide plans to reform Nepal’s Maoist insurgents with love and a breathing technique. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the 46-year-old founder of the Art of Living Foundation in India, who preaches conquering anger and other negative emotions through philanthropy and breathing practices, was in Nepal on a three-day visit…
SourceCOLOMBO, SRI LANKA, November 6, 2004: Life in the Muslim stronghold of Katthankudy in eastern Sri Lanka was brought to a standstill for five days recently as the orthodox Jamiat- ul-Ulema indulged in violent protests against a “Sufi” group, which was allegedly spreading “Hindu” ideas. The followers of the Jamiat-ul-Ulema demolished the Rahmaniya and Ibrahimiya madrasas (theological schools) in Katthankudy,…