SourceLONDON, ENGLAND, June 22, 2004: This rather cynical report from the BBC starts off, “Outsourcing gets religion in India. A Hindu puja: Now just a click away. Is nothing sacred? The hard-nosed commercialism that has spawned a boom in international business outsourcing is catching on in the religious world. In the West, there is a growing shortage of holy men…
SourceBHUBANESWAR, INDIA, June 19, 2004: For the second consecutive year, there were no elephants at the famous car festival of Lord Jagannath held June 19. As per tradition, an elephant is used to lead the procession of the Puri king, when he comes for ‘chherapanhara’ (the ritual sweeping of the chariot floor) on the ‘Ratha Yatra’ day. Getting an elephant…
SourceBHUBANESWAR, INDIA, June 19, 2004: Dasi Nayak is the King of Koraput, though for only one day in a year. He is a tribal chief of Rangabali Kumbha village near Koraput. He will be performing the ritualistic sweeping of the chariot of the three deities this year. Tribals have been given their due importance in the car festival at Koraput,…
The OrganizerKATHMANDU, NEPAL, June 27, 2004: While on one hand abject poverty and illiteracy have led the Maoists to strengthen their hold over Nepal, on the other, Christian missionaries are trying to convert innocent and poverty ridden Nepalese by offering them enticements of monetary assistance and other aid. According to the Himalayan Times, the strength of Christians is consistently increasing…
SourceU.S.A. June 21, 2004: “While reading the book, Gandhi, the Man, I was profoundly influenced by the account of this principle-centered leader,” begins this article by Dr. Stephen R. Covey, author of Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. “In the book, Gandhi described what he found to be the secret of all success. He said, in effect, “It’s win-win to…
SourceDELHI, INDIA, June 1, 2004: (HPI note: this article is from a Christian news service.) A Christian organization plans to set up 3,000 schools around India’s capital New Dehli amid hopes among missionary organizations that the first ever non-Hindu Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh will support evangelical efforts. Singh’s Congress Party, headed by Italian Christian politician Sonia Gandhi, has traditionally…
SourceJune 22, 2004: The Hindu festival of Guru Purnima falls on July 1 or 2 this year (depending on your location). This explanation of the festival is taken from “source” above: The day of full moon, Purnima, in the month of Ashadh is traditionally celebrated as Guru Purnima by Hindus. Also known as Vyas Purnima, the day is celebrated in…
SourceJAMMU, INDIA, June 22, 2004: Hindu groups are mounting a protest against the Jammu and Kashmir government for what they term its interference in the “religious affairs” of the community, including an annual pilgrimage to a Himalayan cave shrine. As the first mark of protest, a dozen youths got their heads tonsured here Tuesday after a gathering of several hundred…
SourceAHMEDABAD, INDIA, June 19, 2004: Tens of thousands of people thronged the roads in this Indian city Saturday to witness the colorful procession marking the journey of three Hindu deities on decorated chariots. This communally sensitive city in Gujarat state breathed easy as the procession concluded without any untoward incident. The annual ritual, the 127th this year, started at 8.45…
SourcePURI, ORISSA, INDIA, June 19, 2004: The mammoth wooden chariots of a Hindu temple in this Indian town Saturday made a reverential customary halt before the tomb of a Muslim saint. Underscoring the traditional Hindu-Muslim amity of this temple town, the chariots drawn by thousands of Hindu devotees on their annual ceremonial journey from Lord Jagannath temple to another shrine,…