Swami Vivekananda’s Ancestral Home Restored

SourceKOLKATA, INDIA Friday, October 01, 2004: Kolkata has added another glory to its cultural heritage. Just before the Puja, the renovated ancestral home of Swami Vivekananda at 3, Gourmohan Mukherjee Street, in North Kolkata, was opened to the public amidst much fervor and devotion and the cultural centre adjoining has been formally inaugurated by the President of India, Shri A.P.…

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Anil Bhanot Correction

HPIKAUAI, HAWAII, October 7, 2004: HPI apologies to Mr. Anil Bhanot, general secretary of the Hindu Council, UK, for referring to him as “she” in the article about his speech on health issues for Hindus in the UK (HPI, October 3, 2004).

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Ashta Maths Defend Ownership of Temple in Karnataka

SourceUDUPI, KARNATAKA, September 25, 2004: When former Minister, H. Vishwanath, made a statement that the government should not hand over the temple to the maths (monasteries), Vishwesha Tirtha of Pejawar Math immediately replied to the statement. Swamiji told The Hindu that the Sri Krishna temple already belonged to the ashta maths (eight maths) and not the Endowment Department. Furthermore, even…

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Australian Parliament to Host Deepavali Celebrations

Hindu Council of AustraliaCANBERRA, AUSTRALIA, October 4, 2004: Hindu Council of Australia Ltd is pleased to announce the first-ever historic celebration of Deepavali at the Federal Parliament House in Canberra on Saturday, November 13, 2004. The Speaker of the Federal Parliament of Australia has agreed to celebrate Deepavali, the Hindu festival of lights in the Parliament at Canberra. This is…

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Food Blessing Chant Causing Controversy in Rajasthan

SourceJAIPUR, INDIA, October 3, 2004: Rajasthan government’s decision to make the recital of bhojan mantras before meals in state-run hostels has sparked off a row. As per the decision, over 20,000 students of the 527 hostels run by the Social Welfare Department will now get their food only after chanting the Hindu mantra. “Before they start eating, if they sing…

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Indian Artisans are Building Traditional Temples in the U.S.

SourceFLORIDA, U.S.A., October 2, 2004: East Indians migrating to the U.S. and Canada have one thing foremost in their mind when they move from their homeland. They want to build a temple as a home for God and a place where religious culture and traditions can be passed onto the next generation. Recognizing that Indian artisans from home are the…

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South Africa Tamil Community Holds Dance Festival

SourceJOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA, October 4, 2004: The 700,000-strong Tamil community in South Africa held its first national Eisteddfod festival (a competitive festival of the arts, especially in singing) here as more than 200 children from all over the country competed in song, dance and oratory. The event meant primarily to showcase Tamil culture was also a statement of their being…

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Ganesha Festival Icon Wants Free Electricity

SourceHYDERABAD, INDIA, September 23, 2004: It’s not just farmers in Andhra Pradesh but even Lord Ganesha there who can do with some free power, it seems. At 42-feet, this Jumbo Ganesha in Hyderabad towers over the rest of the elephant-Gods in the country. But keeping this 18-ton Guinness Book aspirant in well-lit cheer does not come cheap. So the organizers…

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Judge Finds That Officials Violated Inmate’s Freedom Of Religion

Chicago Daily Law BulletinCHICAGO, ILLINOIS, August 31, 2004: A federal judge has set a status conference next week to discuss possible remedies for an inmate who was denied a diet free of the meat and eggs his Hindu religion forbids him to consume, says this complex article. In a written opinion, U.S. District Judge Rebecca R. Pallmeyer directed prison officials…

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Icon Immersion Causes Water Pollution In Orissa

SourceBHUBANESWAR, INDIA, September 20, 2004: Despite a central government directive, Orissa has failed to take steps against icon immersion in the state’s water bodies. The failure to check this trend is leading to an environmental nightmare every festival season, say conservationists. About 1,000 small icons and 100 large icons from the cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack alone were immersed in…

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