SourceJOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA, February 16, 2004: South African Hindus chanted hymns and religious songs as they moved through the streets of Lenasia for Maha Sivaratri, but there were complaints that the annual procession was becoming divided on linguistic lines. Cyril Samuels, vice-president of the Hindu Coordinating Council, which organized the event, said “Despite the huge turnout, it would have been…
SourceWELLINGBOROUGH, UK, February 26, 2004: An ambitious new Hindu temple with facilities for the whole community could be built after plans were submitted to a council. The Swaminarayan Hindu Mission centre in Mill Road, Wellingborough, could double in size and become a temple by building on its existing site and onto an adjacent car park, extending all the way down…
SourceLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, February 25, 2004: NBC Studios will be holding an open casting call in Los Angeles Saturday as part of a worldwide search to find Indian American actors for its comedy series “Nevermind Nirvana.” Marc Hirschfeld, executive vice president of casting, NBC Entertainment, said the search was for all professional and non-professional Indian American actors who will be…
SourceCHENNAI, INDIA, February 24, 2004: Christians are building a “japakootam,” prayer hall, just a few feet from the outside wall of the Kailasanathar Temple in Covalam, near Mahabalipuram, according to this News Today report. The temple contends the construction is illegal. This report says, “Interestingly, the construction of the japakootam began only after some Hindu volunteers began to involve the…
SourceJAMMU, INDIA, February 20, 2004: A three-month, free Sanskrit language course organized by Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan (Deemed University) was inaugurated today at Shri Ranbir Campus by Dr. Jitender Udhampuri, Director Radio Kashmir Jammu. Many distinguished Sanskrit lovers and enthusiasts and participants, besides the Principal, staff and students of the campus, were present on the occasion. In his inaugural address, Dr.…
HPIDELHI, INDIA, February 25, 2004: Jagadguru Ramanandacharya Swami Rajeev Lochanacharya Ji, Yoga Shakti Peethadheshwar, Barfani Dham, a disciple of Barfani Baba Ji of Barfani Dham Ashram, Malviya Nagar, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, passed away on the midnight of Mahashivaratri February 18 at 12.30 am while he was on the holy pilgrimage of Kailash Mansarover. The above news was given a few…
SourceKATHMANDU, NEPAL, Feberuary 24, 2004: Over 10,000 people have lost their lives during the course of insurgency in the last eight years, the Home Ministry has said. Speaking at the daily regular press briefing on Friday evening, spokesperson of the Home Ministry Gopendra Bahadur Pandey informed that 1,122 policemen, 372 Royal Nepal Army soldiers and 172 Armed Police Force personnel…
SourceTHE HAGUE, AMSTERDAM, February 7, 2004: Racial categorization has been implemented in the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan to separate the “true” Bhutanese from the “non-Bhutanese.” Hindus have been enforced to wear clothes which is deemed by the emperor to be truly “Bhutanese.” Grown Hindu women are facing having their long hair forcibly sheared so as to conform with the majority…
SourceMILAN, INDIA, February 22, 2004: The third edition of the Festival of India will take place from Thursday, March 25, to Sunday, March 28, at Forum, Assago, Milan, Italy, according to this report in Italian at “source.” More than 50 artists are scheduled to perform classical and folk Indian dances. During the four days of the event, the Forum stands…
SourceWELLESLEY, MASSACHUSETTS, February 24, 2004: MeeRa Publications sends this report on Holi festivities: Over two million Indians throughout America will be celebrating Holi on March 6 — a Hindu festival of colors to welcome spring. Holi is celebrated by millions of Hindus in India and around the world by throwing colors at each other, having a bonfire and with a…