SourceNEW DELHI, INDIA, May 31, 2004: Well over a century after their ancestors left Indian shores to work in Trinidad and Tobago, a group of people of Indian origin are here to trace their roots and cultural ties with a country some of them have only heard of. “It’s brilliant to be in India,” said 17-year-old Vijay Ramkissoon, a singer…
SourceCHENNAI, INDIA, May 29, 2004: Not many know that Tamil, states this report, which is to be accorded classical language status by the Indian government, is even older than Sanskrit, often dubbed the language of the Gods. However, it is unique in that it is a living language spoken by around 66 million people all over the world, mostly in…
SourceBANGALORE, INDIA, June 1, 2004: Prof. U Shrinivasa’s SuTRA is demonstrating the power and simplicity of straight vegetable fuel oils, according to this report at GoodNewsIndia. In 2001 when GoodNewsIndia reported on the work of Prof. Udipi Shrinivasa and his organization SuTRA, at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, he had already proven the idea of using straight vegetable oils…
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…
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…