SourceINDIA, August 05, 2004: Railway Board Chairman R. K. Singh has instructed railway authorities to remove pictures of Gods and Goddesses from all rail stations, following Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav’s drive to free stations from all religious influences. This has angered railway employees, travellers and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The order may have been prompted by complaints that many…
SourceBATAKOOT, INDIA, July 25, 2004: For over 150 years, 60 Muslim families, the Maliks, have been caretakers of the Amarnath Shrine. Their ancestors discovered the shrine and the Hindu king of the time, Gulab Singh, declared that the offerings from worship be distributed equally among the Maliks, the mahant (priest), and the Hindus. This is the way things have been…
SourceNEW YORK, USA, August 10, 2004: More than 35 Hindu organizations of North America along with more than 800 Hindus joined hands to celebrate the tenth Hindu Sangathan Divas in New York on July 31, 2004, according to a report from “source.” Speeches by Hindu leaders, patriotic songs and scintillating classical dances by professional TV/radio artists were part of the…
SourcePUNE, INDIA, August 18, 2004: “Wanted — 54 priests for managing Brahmin, Jain, Gujarati, Bengali and south Indian temples in Canada. Candidates should be fluent in English, computer-literate and be able to perform all 16 sanskaras like wedding, housewarming, sacred thread ceremony and last rites…” IITians are not the only ones who are in high demand in the West. Canada…
SourceLONDON, UK, August 19, 2004: Faith is not so important for the 74 percent Britons who declare themselves as Christian, but it is a crucial part of identity for Hindus and Muslims in Britain, says a government survey. Though most white Britons call themselves Christian, they admit religion plays little part in their lives. But a strikingly different picture emerges…
SourceMUMBAI, INDIA, August 19, 2004: The Western Railways’ verdict is out — no qawwali on its local trains. Qawwalis are the typical Urdu songs of Muslims, mostly sung in chorus. Mumbai’s long-suffering rail commuter had been dreading the introduction of qawwali programs on Central, Western and Harbour line trains from August 15. The proposal had been put forward by Abdul…
SourceVRINDABAN, INDIA, August 20, 2004: Govindanand Swami of the Shri Ram Sharnam Ashram (“source” above) sends the following announcement: One of the most popular events in the holy town of Vrindavan, India — where Lord Krishna appeared 5,000 years ago — is the celebration of Jhulan Yatra, the Radha-Krishna swing festival. It begins from Aug 26, 2004, Ekadashi this year.…
SourceCAMP EVERTON, CANADA, August 19, 2004: The following report was submitted by Aimee Chandai, Balkissoon, age 14: On August 2nd-8th the first Hindu camp in Canada hosted by the “Canadian Hindu Arts and Cultural Society” (CHACS) took place at Camp Everton. The youths attending this camp learned more about Hinduism, met new people and some also became more religious and…
SourceLONDON, ENGLAND, August 19, 2004: Jay Lakhani of the Vivekananda Centre London (“source”) reports: Forty-three percent of our candidates in A2 (Philosophy + Hinduism) have scored A grade. (The national average for A grades in Advanced level this year is about 24 percent). Some of our candidates have again scored a perfect 100 percent on the Hinduism Modules. The results…
SourceCHENNAI, INDIA, August 19, 2004: The juvenile sex ratio of boys and girls between zero and six years of age has hit an all-time low in Tamil Nadu. There should be 952 girls for every 1,000 boys. But according to the natural pattern of sex distribution, in the last two years this has touched as low as 727 in certain…