SourceJAMMU, INDIA, May 23, 2004: Thousands of pilgrims go to Vaishno Devi via Jammu every year during the summer months. For thousands of pilgrims, Jammu railway station has become a makeshift home, at least till they get railway reservations. And since it is vacation time, the crowds are growing each day. “No one is listening to us. We have been…
SourcePURI, INDIA, May 22, 2004: A hole has been discovered in the sacred metal wheel on top of the Jagannath temple at Orissa’s coastal city of Puri, leading to angry demonstrations by priests against the administration on Wednesday. The hole, measuring about 5 sq. cm., was noticed by those who climb on top of the 12th century temple everyday to…
SourceDELIH, INDIA, May 21, 2004: Among the many changes expected in India as a result of the change in government, one is a reversal of school history textbook changes made under the BJP government. Such changes included removing the “Aryan Invasion” theory and fixing other areas which were inaccurate in the light of recent historical research. This report on Rediff.com…
SourceWASHINGTON, D.C., May 20, 2004: U.S. congressman Frank Pallone, founder of the Congressional Caucus on India and the Indian Americans, has expressed his concern over the persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh. Speaking on Wednesday on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, he accused the Bangladesh government of unleashing “a campaign of terrorism, murder and religious cleansing” directed at…
Religion News ServiceRIVERDALE, GEORGIA, May 19, 2004: Builders of the first traditional Hindu temple in the southeastern United States devoted primarily to the Deity Siva are working quickly and hoping for continued dry weather. They are hustling to finish the basic structure in time for consecration of the temple on May 29, at which Hinduism Today and HPI publisher Satguru…
SourceCHENNAI, INDIA, May 18, 2004: Today, the word “game” might mean either cricket or computer play station, but Chennai-based Vinita Siddharth’s organization, Kreeda, reintroduces children to centuries-old pastimes, such as Param Pada Sopnam and Ashtaa Chemmaa (better known as Indian snakes and ladders and ludo). Chess, for example, originated in India over a thousand years ago and then travelled to…
SourceEUGENE, OREGON, May 22, 2004: The annual Skipping Stones Honor Award books cultivate an awareness of our multicultural and natural world without perpetuating stereotypes and biases. These educational, entertaining & exceptional books and teaching resources offer a great variety of learning experiences for students and teachers, children and parents. Specially selected this year is “Chachaji’s Cup” by Uma Krishnaswami, illustrated…
SourceJAMMU, INDIA, May 20, 2004: For the first time since the annual pilgrimage to the cave shrine of Amarnath started, the pilgrimage to the Ice Siva Lingam high in Amarnath Cave would be thrown open for two months instead of one month. Besides, a helicopter service from Baltal to the holy cave is likely to be introduced this year. Arrangements…
SourceSOUTH AFRICA, May 16, 2004: Six months before his department closed, Dr. Bisraam Rambilaas, former head of Sanskrit at the University of Durban-Westville, invested his money in the establishment of KwaZulu-Natal’s only Hindu school. Westville Hindu Primary School, which he runs himself, is unique in that it offers Indian Studies in a structured formal syllabus. “We’re Hindus, but we’re also…
SourceLIVERPOOL, ENGLAND, April 27, 2004: The search is on for the funniest priests, rabbis and ministers, says this article in the Daily Post. The Liverpool Comedy Trust is looking for the most amusing religious representatives to take to the stand-up stage for the Liverpool Comedy Festival. So far, budding comics from Sikh, Hindu, Methodist and Anglican backgrounds have signed up,…