SourceJAKARTA, INDONESIA, May 12, 2004: When Indian traders travelled to Indonesia as early as the beginning of the first millenium ce, they took with them the story of the Ramayana as recorded by the Indian poet Valmiki around the seventh century bce. Indonesians loved the epic that expounded human values as well as philosophical concepts. Thus the story of the…
SourceEDMONTON, CANADA, May 31, 2004: The Alankaara Utsavam, Annual Festival, of the Maha Ganapati Temple here was announced today. It will be June 16 and continue for ten days, with the final ceremonies on Friday, June 25. Festival sponsorship is available for devotees for the first nine days at a fee of $200 per sponsorship. The last day of the…
SourceBHUBANESWAR, ORISSA, INDIA, May 30, 2004: Two Christians including a pastor were arrested on Saturday in Kilipal village in Orissa’s Jagatsinghpur district on charges of illegally converting people to Christianity. The duo was sent to judicial custody after their bail petitions were rejected by the Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate, Jagatsinghpur . “We have arrested the pastor and his accomplice under the…
SourceNEW ZEALAND, May 29, 2004: (HPI note: More reason not to eat meat…) New research shows meat workers have a higher risk of developing cancer, possibly because of exposure to cancer-causing viruses carried by sheep and cattle. In a comparison with the general population, a group of 6,647 meat workers was found to have a higher risk of developing all…
SourceATLANTA, GEORGIA, May 29, 2004: This article is by Rebecca Rakoczy and appeared in the Journal-Constitution: “Please leave shoes in cars.” The polite signs in the parking lot of the Hindu Temple of Atlanta — and the large collection of sandals and sneakers lined up near the temple’s walkways — reminded visitors they were entering a holy site. The new…
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…