SourceLONDON, ENGLAND, February 9, 2004: During pre-Christian times many European countries practised the religion known as Paganism. In recent times, there has been a resurgence of this religion around the globe. Associated Press explains, “Wiccans consider themselves witches, pagans or neo-pagans, and say their religion is based on respect for the Earth, nature and the cycle of the seasons.” In…
SourceFREEMONT, CALIFORNIA, February 16, 2004: Seventy-seven teachers from Fremont union school district attended the “Hinduism Seminar” at Ardenwood elementary school, Fremont, according to this report from V. Murthy (“source”). He writes, “This seminar was organized by Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) and Indic Culture & Traditions Seminars (ICATS) at the invitation of one of their teachers, Sari Millard. Ms. Millard had…
The HinduNEW DELHI, INDIA, February 15, 2004: The Public Accounts committee (PAC), which recently visited the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple in Kerala, was “horrified” at the inhuman conditions in which the pilgrims stayed there, and felt that the problems of pilgrims should not be looked at merely from the environmental angle, says this article in the Hindu. In its 63rd report,…
United News of IndiaTHIRUVANANTHAPURAM, INDIA, February 14, 2004: While some 1.38 million people working in the Gulf region, mostly men, have made Kerala prosperous, it has also spawned a piquant problem of the “Gulf wives” — women who have been left behind to often single-handedly shoulder family responsibilities. Studies on the impact of Gulf migration show that the common complaints…
SourceNEW YORK, USA, February 12, 2004: A Hindu couple in the US have been permitted to fly a religious flag in front of their home as long as it is hidden behind some foliage. Florida residents, Chola and Leila Persaud had been slapped a notice of violation by the association in December 2003, asking them to remove the tricolored flag…
SourceBANGALORE, INDIA, February 8, 2004: Even as efforts are being made to make all public buildings and other places in the State accessible to the disabled, as mandated by the Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995, entry to temples has been overlooked. However, temples will soon be made disabled friendly. The office of the Commissioner for Disabilities has directed the Department…
SourceCHENNAI, INDIA, February 4, 2004: Rather than respecting other faiths, Christian fundamentalists have tried a different approach to undermining the Hindu faith. The article explains, “Christian zealots are claiming that the Vedic Sanskrit slogans were in praise of Jesus and not Hindu Gods. Pamphlets and booklets around Madurai district also make the ludicrous suggestion that Swami Vivekananda had asked the…
SourceSRI LANKA, February 5, 2004: Originally founded in 1953 by the late Srimath Mathaji Sachchithananda Saraswathy and later completely destroyed by Sri Lankan government forces in 1984, the Trincomalee Sivananda Thabovanam (Spiritual Orphanage) commenced a rebuilding process in 1998 under the supervision of Mr. Kuralamutham K. Vinayagasothy, managing trustee. The orphanage now houses two hundred children orphaned due to the…
SourceEPPING, NEW HAMPSHIRE, February 01, 2004: The aftermath of a New Year’s Eve fire that gutted the Saraswati Manidram Hindu Temple has Pandit Ramadheen Ramsamooj, the church’s leader, feeling both devastated by the loss and uplifted by the outpouring of community support–a support he did not realize was there until he and his congregation were struck by this tragedy. The…
SourceINDIA, February 9, 2004: Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) will undertake a six-phased conservation work spread over a span of 10 years with the estimated cost of US$5 million. This was announced by Shri Dhanendra Kumar, Secretary of Culture, inaugurating the first round table about Ta Prohm Temple at Phnom Penh in Cambodia. The project will incorporate conservation of not…