SourceVATICAN, September 12, 2004: (HPI note: This report is from the Vatican’s official news agency, Zenit.) The arrest of a member of the nationalist Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party for the Aug. 28 murder of a priest hasn’t satisfied Church officials who suspect a cover-up. Father Job Chittilappilly, who for 45 years carried out his pastoral work in the Catholic community…
SourcePANCHWAD, INDIA, September 12, 2004: Indian police used a baton charge to drive back hundreds of slogan-shouting Hindu hardliners trying to make their way to a controversial 17th century Muslim general’s tomb they have threatened to demolish. Police said they charged a crowd of about 500 people throwing stones at them and passing vehicles in Panchwad village near the heavily…
SourcePALANI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA, September 12, 2004: Palani temple, the second richest after Tirupati, is all set to have a ropeway to the hilltop shrine. The new rope car system is being installed at an estimated cost of US$1.1 million. Palani, is one of the most popular temples in Tamil Nadu dedicated to Lord Muruga, the supreme commander of the…
Kesari Daily (translated from Hindi)NEW DELHI, INDIA, September 12, 2004: An important meeting of the representatives of the prominent temples of West Delhi to plan the Sanatan Dharma Sammelan which is being held under the auspices of All India Sanatan Dharama Representative Sammelan on September 26, 2004, was held in the Sanatan Dharam Temple in Mianwali Nagar, West Delhi. According…
Paras RamoutarTRINIDAD, September 12, 2004: Ram Leela reflects the human condition in man’s journey to divinity, according to prominent Trinidad Hindu thinker, Ravji. The Indian-trained thinker and Hindu activist noted that Ram Leela is a ritual which attempts to stitch together the metaphor of our journey from animality to humanity and then on to divinity. “Ram Leela is an on-going…
SourceHOUSTON, TEXAS, September 10, 2004: Jayanthi Raman, whose touring Indian temple dance Gajamukha visits Houston Saturday, has created nine full-length ballets, won a slew of awards and gained a reputation as one of the nation’s premier classical Indian dancers. Gajamukha draws on stories about the Hindu deity Lord Ganesh, the elephant-headed “remover of obstacles” who is worshipped at the beginning…
SourceMUMBAI, INDIA, September 10, 2004: The VHP announced plans to tear down the controversial tomb of a 17th century Muslim general on Sunday, according to this report from Reuters. The report goes on to say that thousands of police have been deployed around the tomb near Mahabaleshwar, a hill resort about 250 km from Mumbai, to prevent communal violence as…
SourceCOLOMBO, SRI LANKA, September 11, 2004: The writer, director and star of the U.S. movie “Hollywood Buddha” has apologized for offending Buddhists by sitting on the head of a Buddha image for a poster advertising the movie and has promised to withdraw it. A Thai foreign ministry official told reporters film director and writer Philippe Caland had promised the Thai…
International Sri Deep Madhavananda Ashram Fellowship –†Yoga in Daily Life International/PPJOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA, September 11, 2004: His Holiness, Vishwaguru Mahamandaleshwar Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda and his group of international disciples were warmly welcomed by devoted South African bhaktas on their arrival into Johannesburg, on September 8. Swamiji’s inaugural public lecture to the citizens of Johannesburg was introduced by the Consul General…
Religion News ServiceTORONTO, CANADA, September 10, 2004: About 100 protesters, many of them Muslims, gathered before the Ontario Legislature on Wednesday (Sept. 8) to denounce proposed shariah-based tribunals in the province – an issue that has galvanized Muslims and women’s groups around the world. Homa Arjomand, the Iranian-born coordinator of the International Campaign Against Shariah Courts in Canada, said simultaneous…