Pennsyvania’s Indian Community Collaborates to Build a Temple

SourceMONTGOMERY, PENNSYLVANIA, August 27, 2004: Hindu families in Montgomery County in Pennsylvania are now seeing the fruits of their labor after over a decade of planning and construction. On October 22 of this year, the Bharatiya Temple and Cultural Center will celebrate its grand opening. Nandi Todi, president of the temple, says, “It was a very, very tough road, trying…

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Some US Biology Classes Make Dissection Optional

SourceRICHMOND, VIRGINIA, September 6, 2004: Grace Kendall knew back in seventh grade that she did not want to cut open a preserved frog. Her teacher allowed her to use a computer alternative. Now a junior at Stafford High School, Grace has declined to dissect ever since. “I thought there was something really wrong with dissecting a dead animal when I…

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Bikram Yoga “Franchise” Challenged In Lawsuit

SourceUSA, June 17, 2004: (HPI note: This article appeared in the prestigious magazine, the Economist, several months ago.) The term yoga has become mainstream in America. Americans have been trying bikram yoga and ashtanga yoga in popular classes across the land. When Patanjali, a yoga master, wrote his great works in second century BC, he probably never envisioned that the…

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Latest Indian Census Reports Increased Rate of Growth for Muslim Community

Rajiv Malik, HPI CorrespondentNEW DELHI, September 7, 2004: “In terms of growth of different religious communities, Hindus showed a decline over the previous decade, their population growing by 20.3% during 1991 and 2001 as compared to 25.1% during 1981-91. The Muslim population on the other hand, grew by 36.0% during 1991-2001, compared to 34.5% during 1981-91.” These statistics were revealed…

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Icon-Makers in Mysore are Encouraged to Use Environmentally Friendly Substances

SourceMYSORE, INDIA, September 3, 2004: As Ganesha Chaturthi approaches this year, environmentalists are encouraging devotees and icon-makers to use biodegradable materials to make the icons and to paint them with natural dyes and vegetable oils. So far this call to protect the rivers, lakes and the sea from the onslaught of harmful substances during the celebration has been voluntary. However,…

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Mahatma Gandhi Inspires New Canadian Museum

SourceWINNIPEG, CANADA, August 29, 2004: Mahatma Gandhi’s long walk through history has paused in an unlikely spot, the central Canadian prairie city of Winnipeg. A life-size statue of the “father of the nation” complete with his signature walking cane, has arrived in central Canada to become the showpiece of a new Museum for Human Rights. The 500-kilo bronze statue created…

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Stamp Issued to Honor Sanskrit Grammarian Panini

SourceDELHI, INDIA, August 30, 2004: The Department of Posts has released a postage stamp today in commemoration of India’s Heritage in Grammar and Mathematics which was influenced by the accomplishments of Panini, one of the greatest grammarians of all time whose work revolutionized the use of language not only in India but also in the rest of the world. The…

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More Delhi Cremation Grounds Privatized

SourceDELHI, INDIA, August 30, 2004: Delhi’s Municipal Corporation has given the go-ahead to the second phase of privatization of cremation grounds in the city. The move, they expect, would put an end to the harassment that people have to put up with while performing the last rites at crematoriums. Complaints had been received about people being harassed by officials over…

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Hindu Organizations And Leaders Appeal For A Ban On CD’s Portraying Hindu Gods And Godessess In An Indecent Manner

Rajiv Malik, HPI Correspondent.NEW DELHI, INDIA, September 5, 2004: “A large number of CD’s are being sold in the market today which portray the Hindu Gods and Goddesses in an extremely indecent manner, and I have appealed in writing to the President of India, Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Chief Minister of Haryana and the leader of the opposition in…

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Indian Railway Schedule Goes On-Line

SourceDELHI, INDIA, September 2, 2004: Pilgrims and regular travelers will be delighted to use the comprehensive schedule of India’s railways now posted on the Internet for the first time. Click “source” to go to the site.

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