SourceDURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA, May 30, 2004: The South African Hindu Maha Sabha has asked the government to declare Diwali a public holiday for Hindus. The Sabha made a written submission to the Department of Home Affairs in January to have the Festival of Lights recognized as a public holiday. It also made an oral submission during a meeting with the…
SourceDURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA, May 30, 2004: A group of Tamil businessmen and members of the South African Tamil Federation left for Reunion on Friday on a week-long cultural exchange program. The 14-member delegation are also due to meet with Reunion President Paul Verges. The head of the Natal Tamil Federation, Bala Naidoo, who is heading the delegation, said the aim…
SourceTHORNTON HEATH, ENGLAND, May 27, 2004: Hindu worshippers carried a statue of Lord Muruga through the streets of Thornton Heath on Sunday to bless the sick and infirm. The annual Hindu chariot festival left the Sivaskanthagiri Murugan Temple, in Thornton Road, at 9.30am carrying a statue of the Deity for the benefit of those who cannot make it to the…
SourceWASHINGTON, D.C., May 27, 2004: The leadership of the Hindu American Foundation (“source”) held high level meetings with several Jewish leaders from across the United States during the Annual Policy Conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee here May 16-18, 2004. HAF was the sole organization representing Hindus at the annual conference attended by prominent U.S. officials including President…
SourceCOLOMBO, SRI LANKA, May 30, 2004: A Hindu-Buddhist Friendship Society among devotees from the subcontinent and Sri Lanka is in the pipeline. The architects of this move are Swami Dayananda Saraswati, the Ven Rassagala Seewali Thera, attached to the Thai-Sri Lanka Buddhist Centre and prominent Sri Lankan Hindus and Buddhists. Hinduism and Buddhism has a common heritage. Unity between these…
SourcePALANI, TAMIL NADU, May 26, 2004: The 10-day Vaikasi Visakam festival began today, with the hoisting of the holy flag at the Sri Perianayaki Amman here. Hundreds of devotees took part in the ceremony. Earlier, the priests performed a homam (fire ceremony) and deeparadhanas (offering of lights) to the main Deities and utsavamurthis (parade Deities). The icons of the Lord…
SourceREUNION, FRANCE, May 29, 2004: From last Sunday, May 23, the Association Culturelle Siva Soupramanien, chaired by Marc Cadivel, has celebrated the ten-day festival in honor of Lord Muruga. It will be completed on Vaikasi Visakam, June 2. Every afternoon since last Sunday, the numerous faithful gather at the temple at the place called “la Marine” at Saint-Benoit to pray.…
SourceDELHI, INDIA, May 26, 2004: India has offered technical assistance, materials and $5.5 million to Cambodia for the restoration of the 12th century Ta Prohm temple at the Angkor Wat site. The Archaeological Survey of India, a government agency, said Monday that it has submitted two detailed reports to Cambodia’s Apsara Authority for the restoration, expected to take 10 years.…
SourceNEW DELHI, INDIA, May 29, 2004: India’s top woman police officer, Kiran Bedi, has been honoured with the United Nations medal for outstanding service. Bedi, was felicitated along with 22 other military and police officers serving with the world body. She has been with the world body for more than a year, overseeing the police component of the expanding peacekeeping…
SourceLONDON, ENGLAND, May 27, 2004: The Hindu Forum of Britain, an umbrella body of Hindu organizations from different regions and cultural backgrounds in the UK, was launched in the House of Commons on Thursday evening, with speakers describing it as a milestone event for the development of 700,000 British Hindus. Outlining the salient features of the forum, its general secretary…