By Paras RamoutarTRINIDAD, October 6, 2004: From September 28 to October 13, Hindus are observing the observance of Pitra Paksh, in memory of their departed ones. This is an annual act, and it has deep spiritual meaning and significance. Pundit Ramesh Tiwari, spiritual leader of the Edinburgh Hindu Temple, explained the rituals associated with the observance of Pitra Paksh. “These…
SourceAHMEDABAD, INDIA, October 4, 2004: Woe betide bachelors in north Gujarat who don’t have sisters – they will have to “buy” a bride and this has created an annual US$1,000,000 industry in the region. Three communities of caste Hindus in Mehsana, 74 km north of here, follow a tradition of Satta-Paddhati in which the brother and sister of one family…
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.…
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).
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…