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SourceNETHERLANDS, January 30, 2003. According to a press release from “source” above, Agni Foundation’s annual symposium’s theme this year in February is Religious Cleansing For Centuries In The South Asian subcontinent. The press release read, in part, “In these modern and progressive times, freedom of religion and tolerance are unfortunately not self-evident everywhere on the globe. Speakers will deal with…

SourceSRI LANKA, January 30, 2004: Statistics compiled by major plantation trade unions reveal an alarming rate of unethical religious conversions of Hindus in the plantation sector of the Nuwara Eliya district. The city of Nuwara Eliya and its surroundings had only three major Christian churches for generations. Today there are 23 new Christian churches in Nuwara Eliya alone. The statistics…

SourceMYSORE, INDIA, January 30, 2004: The three-day triennial sixth “Kumbha Mela” of South India at Triveni Sangama of rivers Cauvery, Kapila and Guptagamini near Tirumakudalu Narsipura will begin on February 4 coinciding with the full moon day of Magha Masha. The holy dip will occur on February 6 on the full moon day. More than 500,000 devotees are expected to…

SourceGUJARAT, INDIA, January 30, 2004: Gujarat may still be a state deeply divided on communal lines but a small village in its Anand district is an example of communal harmony. After the post-Godhra riots broke out, 64-year-old Ismail Rehman from Petli, a Hindu-dominated village, had to flee. Now nearly two years later, Ismail has returned to Petli after the Hindus…

SourceNEW DELHI, INDIA, January 23, 2004: Five American dancers, including an Indian American, have come to Delhi for a kathak dance performance Saturday with the Chitresh Das dance company. Chritresh Das, a renowned master of kathak dance has performed internationally, featured in India’s celebrated festivals and tours as a solo artist. Das runs five kathak schools in California with 300…

SourceNEW YORK, NEW YORK, June 27, 2002: The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today issued the following statement (“source” above) in response to the federal appeals court ruling which deemed the phrase “one nation under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance unconstitutional. Glen A. Tobias, ADL National Chairman, and Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, said: “The decision is wrong. It goes…

SourceWICHITA, KANSAS, January 24, 2004: Wichita’s only Hindu temple operates peacefully now, thanks to its priest and a satisfactory location. At Wichita’s only Hindu temple, Sriraman Kadambi makes sure the Gods are properly cared for. He is the priest for the temple at 320 N. Zelta, a modest, white building outside but elaborately decorated inside. Opened in June 2002, the…

SourceBERLIN, GERMANY, January 27, 2004: The four-month run of the Ganesha exhibit at Berlin’s Ethnology Museum at Dahlem will come to a close next week on January 31st. The final day will culminate with a puja to Ganesha performed by Berlin Hindus in the museum itself. The exhibition outlines different aspects of Ganesh worship using centuries-old stone sculptures, bronze and…

Agence France PressKATHMANDU, NEPAL, January 23, 2004: The World Hindu Federation Friday extended formal Dharmik Avinandan (Hindu religious felicitation) to King Gyanendra as the world’s only Hindu monarch, a WHF source said. According to Nepalese tradition, a Hindu monarch is revered as the incarnation of Lord Vishnu, the God of protection. Hindu leaders and delegates from 17 countries, including India,…

New Straits TimesSINGAPORE, January 19, 2004: (This appeared as a letter to the editor) I refer to your report “Churches celebrate Pongal festival” (NST, Jan 12) where church coordinator S. Vythilingam was quoted as saying “Pongal is not a religious festival but a traditional festival celebrated by the Tamils.” Pongal is celebrated on the first day of the month of…