Sanskrit Classes Being Offered On-Line From Florida

SourceFLORIDA, USA, July 7, 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 classes begin August 30. The courses have been developed by Dr. B. V. Venkata…

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Seventeen Die as Heavy Rain Strikes Badrinath Pilgrimage Route

SourceDEHRA DUN, July 6, 2004: At least 17 persons were killed and 28 injured when three vehicles were swept into Alaknanda river by heavy landslides triggered by a cloudburst that left nearly 5,000 pilgrims stranded near Badrinath shrine area in Uttaranchal’s Chamoli district, police sources said here. According to second report in The Hindu, the pilgrimage was today suspended for…

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Gujaratis Undeterred by Threats to Amarnath Pilgrimage

SourceAHMEDABAD, INDIA, July 5, 2004: The threat perception to Amarnath Yatra put forward by the Jammu and Kashmir Government was no deterrent for hundreds of Gujaratis who queued up for hours for registration for the pilgrimage at the Jammu and Kashmir Bank in Ahmedabad on Monday. Though the registration was to begin at 3 pm, at least 1,000 persons were…

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Youth Day 04 Set for July 25 in Sydney, Australia

SourceSYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, July 6, 2004: The Sydney Murugan Youth Circle announces that it is holding “Youth day ’04” on Sunday, July 25, from 9 am to 4pm at the Tamil Educational and Cultural Hall, Sydney Murugan Temple, 21 Great Western Hwy, NSW, 2145. The theme is “Absolute Happiness — the Hindu Way” and features guest speaker, workshops, music concert, drama,…

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Oxford Dictionary Updates Its Indian-Origin Words

SourceLONDON, ENGLAND, July 6, 2004: The world’s best known chronicle of the English language, the Oxford dictionary, now has a stunning new range of Indian words, including the politically charged Hindutva, the colloquial chamcha and the pejorative badmash. Many new words of Indian origin ranging from the mundane to the sublime figure in the 11th edition of the Concise Oxford…

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Sixteen Temple Renovations Completed in Tamil Nadu

SourceCHENNAI, INDIA, July 2, 2004: The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR and CE) Minister, P.C. Ramasamy, today said kumbhabishekams for 16 temples would be performed as per a revised schedule, after completing the renovation work. Denying reports that kumbhabishekams for 83 temples had been postponed, he said in a statement here that fresh dates had been announced, giving adequate…

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Astrology: Meshing Modern and Mystical In India

SourceBANGALORE, INDIA, July 04, 2004: Amid a haze of sandalwood incense, K.N. Somayaji fields yet another call from his bank of telephones, this one from the Indian subsidiary of a U.S. auto-parts manufacturer. It sounds like just another business conversation, but Somayaji, a balding, round-faced man with three stripes of sacred ash smeared on his forehead, is neither banker nor…

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Dalai Lama Delighted as Fast Food Giant KFC Abandons Tibet Plans

Source DHARMASALA, INDIA, July, 5, 2004: A spokesman for the Dalai Lama has applauded news that the Kentucky Fried Chicken fast-food chain has abandoned plans to open outlets in Tibet. The exiled Tibetan spiritual leader had publicly urged the company not to go ahead with the plans. He said the mass slaughter of chickens violated Tibet’s traditional values. KFC’s parent…

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Indian Astrologers Concerned About Cassini Spacecraft Orbiting Saturn

SourceNEW DELHI, INDIA, July 3, 2004: As man takes giant strides into exploring Saturn — deified and demonised in world myths — Indian astrologers are wondering if it is a welcome incursion into that “evil-eyed” planet. Saturn – or Shani in Indian astrological parlance – is considered a powerful influence by Hindu astrologers, who draw up horoscopes on the basis…

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Pollution Crisis at Lake Manosaravar

SourceTIBET, July 3, 2004: At the end of a dirt track in the Himalayas lies a holy site that is facing an onslaught from tourism. It is hard not to share the joy of countless Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims at first seeing the cobalt waters of Lake Manasarovar, backed by dramatic snow-capped mountains – especially after four gruelling days along…

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