SourceCHENNAI, INDIA, December 12, 2003: Buddhist-majority Sri Lanka will introduce a law restricting conversions due to proselytizing by Christian groups, including groups rebuilding the war-torn island, a minister said on Saturday. The move comes amid an outpouring of sympathy in Sri Lanka this month after the death of a Buddhist monk known for his campaign against conversions to Christianity. T.…
SourceKABUL, AFGHANISTAN, December 27, 2003: The draft constitution now being considered by Afghanistan’s Loya Jirga is causing disquiet amongst the Hindu and Sikh community over what they see as its lack of protection for them as minority religious groups. Although what was once a large community has shrunk to just a few thousand, the remaining Hindu and Sikhs have tried…
SourceKABUL, AFGHANISTAN, December 28,2003: The years of war in Afghanistan has damaged or completely destroyed ancient temples in the country. For instance, the Shor Bizar area of old Kabul — once the Indian heart of the city — is now in ruins. And the area boasts of a 500-year-old Shiv Mandir. Jitender Sharma, the priest, succeeds his father and grandfather,…
SourceUNITED STATES, December 18, 2003: Ever wonder how and why some Hindus end up celebrating the birth of Jesus? You can find out in this lengthy and sometimes misleading article by Stephen Prothero on Beliefnet.com. “Today in Hindu homes and temples across the United States,” he writes with considerable exaggeration, “a striking image of divinity is on display. Dressed in…
SourceINDIA, December 29, 2003: The website at “source” offers to have puja ceremonies conducted for you are any of a number of temples in India at a fee of US$9 each. We haven’t vetted this service, and would appreciate feedback from HPI readers to ar@hindu.org as to the reliability of the service.
SourceCHENNAI, INDIA, December 26, 2003: Police were guarding a church in southern India on Thursday after more than 250 lower-caste villagers who converted to Christianity were barred from a Christmas Mass. The villagers, known as Dalit Christians after the untouchable Hindu social group they once belonged to, were prevented from attending midnight Mass at St. Ebiben’s Church in Manjakuppam, in…
SourceNEW DELHI, INDIA, December 23, 2003: Indian Muslims are divided over the continuance of a subsidy that the government has been providing to 72,000 Haj pilgrims every year to undertake the holy trip. The differences have come into the open with the government introducing regulations for their availing of the subsidy in the airfare under which air tickets are provided…
SourceWASHINGTON, U.S., December 24, 2003: The Bush administration scrambled Wednesday to trace the life of the first U.S. cow believed infected with mad cow disease and contain the growing economic and political damage from a now-suspect food supply. Country after country slapped import bans on American beef as U.S. officials assured consumers their Christmas roasts and fast-food hamburgers were safe…
SourceMUMBAI, INDIA, December 25, 2003: About 500 tribals, including 200 women, were reconverted to Hinduism at a VHP sponsored Conversion Sammelan at Lalmati town of Gujarat on Christmas eve, VHP sources claimed in Mumbai on Thursday. The tribals included priest Motu Nurawalvi of Silo Delsya Church in Navapur town of Nadurbar district of Maharashtra. Twelve others from the church town…
SourceCHOTILA, INDIA, December 15, 2003: At least seven Dalit (Untouchables) teachers have been transferred in Gujarat’s Surendranagar district for objecting to segregation of upper and lower-caste students during mid-day meals in some schools. Now upper-caste parents in other villages are using the threat of transfer to keep Dalit teachers from opposing the practice, reports this article. “During training, we are…