SourceTHANJAVUR, INDIA, December 17, 2003: 55-year-old Vellaiyammal walked majestically into the Big Temple here, alighting from a truck which brought her back today from a month-long rejuvenation camp for elephants in the Mudumalai sanctuary. As the truck entered the temple, the pachyderm trumpeted to express its happiness over home-coming. Walking down the truck, which pulled up near the Nandi Mandapam,…
SourceBHUBANESWAR, INDIA, December 12, 2003: To curb harassment of women in its premises, a temple in Orissa has announced its own punishment for the guilty, which involves paying a hefty fine and also apologizing for their behavior. Concerned about recent incidents of harassment (called “eve-teasing” in India, though it goes far beyond mere “teasing”), the Managing Committee of the Paschimaswar…
SourceTOLOSA, SPAIN, December 15, 2003: (translated from Spanish) The story of “Krishna” wowed Spanish audiences at the 21st annual International Marionette Festival of Tolosa in the Basque province of northern Spain during the first week of December. Twenty-one puppet groups from nine countries performed at the Festival. This was the first year that India participated. Two companies, the Mayur Puppet…
SourceWASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A, December 15, 2003: The Institute on Religion and Public Policy is watching closely the debates in Western Europe regarding religious garb. This is an issue which may already be impacting Hindus, and which Hindus should watch closely. As Europe struggles with the integration of its rising Muslim population and a new wave of anti-Semitism, a long-awaited official…
SourceDENPASAR, BALI, December 12, 2003: Dozens of students of an elementary school on the island of Bali fell into a trance this week, before they were “exorcised” by local Hindu priests. Teachers and priests said on Thursday that the school’s failure to conduct certain rituals, and make offerings to appease troubled spirits, was to blame for the incident, says this…
SourceBHUBANESWAR, INDIA, December 13, 2003: A court in Orissa has admitted a petition seeking a ban on the making and selling of vulgar devotional songs on Hindu God Jagannath, presiding deity of the State. The Sri Jagannath Sanskruti Surakhya Parisad, which aims to promote Oriya culture and tradition, has filed the public interest petition in the State’s High Court. Petitioner…
SourceDHULIKHEL, NEPAL, December 14, 2003: A statue of the Goddess Brahmayani, which was stolen a few days ago, has been found lying at the local Tribeni Ghat in Dhulikhel, reports said Friday, and it has been handed over to the police. The theft of the ancient icon caused considerable consternation.
SourceRAWANG, MALAYSIA, December 14, 2003: The Divine Life Society, Bandar Country Homes Sub-Branch is organizing a youth yoga camp for December 27 and 28, 2003, at the National Secondary School, Tasik Puteri, Bandar Country Homes, Rawang. Topics include Creative Meditation for Students, Parents Responsibility and Moral & Ethics, Basic Hinduism and Guru Worship, Motivation and Time Management and other subjects.…
SourceBANGALORE, INDIA, December 13, 2003: Mizoram is set to become the first state in the country to ban the use of fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture and encourage organic food produce. “I have asked the government to introduce a legislation in the forthcoming Assembly session to ban fertilizers and pesticides and encourage organic food,” Mizoram Governor A R Kohli told…
SourceRISHIKESH, INDIA, November 18, 2003: “It’s dusk. the air is filled with 200 voices chanting Hindu scriptures to the beat of clapping hands. I am sitting on marble steps facing the holy river Ganges. In the fading daylight, the pewter-colored water reflects some tiny, fist-sized ‘boats’ that carry brightly flickering candles down the fast flowing river,” begins this article by…