SourceBHOPAL, INDIA, September 28, 2003: The nine-day Durga Utsav began with devotional songs in the state capital. The auspicious nine-day festival started with prayers offered to the first incarnation of Goddess Durga, the Shail Devi. Early morning saw large numbers of devotees paying visits at temples around the city. They offered sweets and showered flowers to bid farewell to the…
SourceJERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, September 26, 2003: Thousands are expected to converge on Jersey City’s Little India neighborhood tonight and tomorrow night for the Navratri festival which organizers say will be celebrated in the streets for the first time in the United States. Traditionally a nine-day festival, Navratri is celebrated in honor of the Hindu Goddess Durga. The local Indian…
SourceCHENNAI, INDIA, September 27, 2003: The central government is studying the possibility of promoting the small temple town of Thirunallar, where there is a shrine of Lord Saneeswarar (Saturn), as a heritage site. Minister for Tourism and Culture Jagmohan will visit Karaikal, the small enclave near the union territory of Pondicherry on the Bay of Bengal, to assess the site…
SourceLONDON, ENGLAND, September 29, 2003: Experts have warned that the cultural trait among Asians of eating out of politeness everything that is served to them and not refusing seconds (and thirds!) is contributing to the already high levels of risk of coronary heart disease within the community in Britain. According to John Lawson of the University of Huddersfield, numerous studies…
SourceBHUBANESWAR, INDIA, September 28, 2003: Two people have been injured and several homes badly damaged by a meteorite crashing into a village in the coastal state of Orissa. The fiery object crashed to earth shortly after sunset. Witnesses reported a bright fireball briefly lighting up the night sky and causing panic among local residents, the PTI report said. Reports from…
SourceKAUAI, HAWAII, September 29, 2003: This article which ran yesterday in HPI was actually from 2002 points out the event’s organizer, Bhavit Mehta. Bhavit said, however, they “have been involved in something even bigger this year! — Diwali celebrations at Trafalgar Square (the center of London).” We look forward to a report.
SourceKOCHI, INDIA, September 27, 2003: Curtains came down on the four-day birthday celebrations of Mata Amritanandamayi with several social service and charitable programmes being announced as the spiritual leader turned 50 today. Speaking at the valedictory of the celebrations, Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat applauded the humanitarian programmes and projects successfully launched by her. An all-India free legal cell comprising…
SourceSRINAGAR, INDIA, September 27, 2003: Minister for Health and Medical Education, Ch. Lal Singh attended the Global Summit on Medicinal Plants in Mauritius. More than one hundred participants from all over the world were present on the inaugural function. Speeches by the dignitaries of the different countries delivered on the different aspects of the medicinal plants and showed their keen…
SourceKUALA LUMPAR, MALAYSIA, September 23, 2003: Seeking peace and harmony, Hindus in Malaysia have worked with their communities and the government to establish harmonious relationships. Dato Samy Vellu, Malaysia India Congress president, spoke at the World Hindu Peace Pilgrimage and said, “The government recognizes each religion’s existence as part of the religious mosaic of the country and had allowed people…
SourceNEW YORK, NEW YORK, September 27, 2003: HPI has received the following request: “A national magazine for teenage girls, ym, is working on an article about different coming-of-age ceremonies that American girls participate in. So far we will be featuring an Apache ceremony, a bar mitzva and a quinceanera. One of the rites of passage we are most interested in,…