HPIKAUAI, HAWAII, July 31, 2004: The following short talk was given by Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami during the opening ceremonies for the new BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in Houston, Texas in July. “Our namaskars to Pramukh Swami Maharajji, his senior sadhus who are present here today and to the other religious leaders and dignitaries at today’s event. We are very pleased to…
SourceDELHI, INDIA, August 5, 2004: Swiss watch major Bovet is now in India. The premium watch company will launch a 39 mm watch with a hand-painted blue and rust Ganesha image on a white dial. The US$47,000 watch is Bovet’s tribute to India. “We will introduce the watch in Maharashtra during the Ganesha festival next month,” said Ajay Malhotra of…
SourceFLORIDA, USA, July 30, 2004: Florida International University, the State University in Miami, Florida, and Hindu University of America, located in Orlando, Florida, will begin offering on-line Sanskrit courses this fall. The four-course sequence is fully accredited by FIU and is available to students worldwide. The courses have been developed by Dr. B. V. Venkata Krishna Sastry, a professor at…
SourceSTRILKY, CZECH REPUBLIC, August 6, 2004: An International Children Peace Conference initiated by His Holiness Mahamandaleshwar Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda, the author of the world renowned system of Yoga in Daily Life shall take place on August 12, 2004. It will be conducted in the beautiful area of the International Yoga-in-Daily-Life Centre in Strilky, Czech Republic. This event is supported by…
SourceKENTON, UK, August 2, 2004: The Swaminarayan Hindu temple in Westfield Lane, Kenton, has been granted planning permission for an extra story. The application received unanimous approval at Harrow Council’s development control meeting on Wednesday last week. The additional floor will provide accommodation for a day center for elderly members of the community. It will include a reading area, meditation…
SourceNEW DELHI, INDIA, August 5, 2004: Dharan Mandrayar is thespian Sivaji Ganesan’s brother V.C. Shanmugham’s son. Dharan has just completed a project that is very close to his heart at the moment–White Rainbow, which was premiered recently in New Delhi where it was well received, says this article. White Rainbow is being produced for a global audience, by Dharlin Entertainment,…
SourceTEXAS, USA, July 25, 2004: This years Hindu Heritage Camp took place from July 20-25 at the Gordon Campsite in Richmond, Texas. Here is a summary of the report sent to HPI: Summer camp is probably one of the most popular activities kids pursue in their months off from school; attending such camp gives them the chance to escape from…
SourceKATHMANDU, NEPAL, August 3, 2004: HPI note: This is one of those oddly misleading reports, which was originally titled “Nepal no longer a Hindu Kingdom?” It discusses changes in Nepal’s religious demography, then concludes inaccurately, “The data would come as a blow for Hindu outfits worldwide, which regard Nepal’s king as their liege by virtue of his being the monarch…
SourcePITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, July 31, 2004: A $10,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (a US government federal program) will help pay for a fall tour and performance by Srishti Dances of India. The local dance troupe performs Sept. 26 at the Kelly-Strayhorn Theater in East Liberty. “Lavanya: Graceful Expressions of the East” is a collaboration between artistic director…
SourceFLUSHING, NEW YORK, August 4, 2004: A prominent Hindu temple in Queens plans to file a motion in federal court today accusing a state judge of violating the separation of church and state by intervening in the temple’s affairs. The motion is the latest step in a growing legal struggle at the Hindu Temple Society of North America that is…