SourceAMRITSAR, INDIA, May 10, 2004: Their faces are devoid of any expression of pain as they pull a car tethered to hooks which have been pierced into their backs, begins this article. Impassioned devotees with tridents and rods pierced through their cheeks participate in the annual “agni puja” to thank Mahamai Mariaman for granting their wishes. Not a single drop…
The Age (Melbourne)MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, MAY 8, 2004: Victoria’s growing Indian population is making its mark on local culture. It’s an imposing landmark the locals dub “the temple.” With its flowing contours and tall towers adorned with images of Hindu Gods, the Sri Shiva Vishnu Temple – to give its official title – could hold its own on the Indian subcontinent.…
SourcePHILADELPHIA, USA, May 12, 2004: On Saturday, Savita Patel got the usual Mother’s Day treatment from her three children: flowers, dinner and a gift certificate to a spa. Yesterday, Patel, a Langhorne resident who was born in India, was honored in a very different way. She, with 50 other mothers, was the focus of a Mathru puja – a prayer…
New Straits TimesKUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, May 5, 2004: The famous 272 steps leading to the 100-year-old Hindu temple in Batu Caves has apparently been turned into a “jogging track” by fitness freaks, much to the dismay of devotees. Many can be seen running up and down the steps in the early mornings or late evenings. A New Straits Times reader…
SourceKOZHIKODE, KERALA, May 11, 2004: One of the senior-most saints of the Sri Ramakrishna Mission and noted philosopher, Swami Sidhinathananda, passed away here today. He was 87. The funeral rites were held at the Sri Ramakrishna Seva Ashram at Meenchanda here this evening. The Mayor, Thottathil Raveendran, Swami Chidanandapuri and poet, Vishnunarayanan Nampoodiri, paid their last respects. Swami Sidhinathananda was…
SourceASSAM, INDIA, March 5, 2004: The plight of captive elephants in the north-eastern state of Assam is a sad one. Before 1996, elephants could work in the timber industry and earn US$900 to $1,000 a month. A 1996 court ruling limiting the felling of trees for the logging industry has left most captive elephants out of work. Of the estimated…
SourceONTARIO, CANADA, May 12, 2004: This report was issued by Gospel for Asia, a Christian missionary organization which reports instances of “persecution” of Christians worldwide. Those that deal with India are, to HPI’s experience, often difficult or impossible to verify. This one, complaining about enforcing visa regulations, is titled “Long-Time Missionary Ordered to Leave.” The report states: “Jim Borst, has…
SourceDEOPRAYAG, UTTARANCHAL, INDIA, May 7, 2004: A massive landslide from mountains overlooking the hilly route to the twin Hindu holy pilgrimage destinations of Badrinath and Kedarnath in Uttaranchal has left hundreds of pilgrims stranded. Though no casualties have been reported, state authorities have halted traffic along the hilly route as rocks and boulders continued to fall. Brought about by unexpected…
SourceWASHINGTON, U.S., April 28, 2004: Tamil language and culture will soon be taught at the prestigious Yale University, one of the Ivy League institutions in the U.S. This was announced at a reception by economics professor T.N. Srinivasan, chair of the South Asian Studies Council at Yale University. He said a number of South Asian languages, including Bengali, Urdu, Hindi,…
SourceWASHINGTON, D.C., May 8, 2004: A group to further understanding of Hinduism and promote its ethos of tolerance and pluralism has been launched in the United States. The Hindu American Foundation would provide a voice for the two million-strong Hindu community in the US by interacting with government, media, think-tanks and the public about the religion and issues concerning them,…