Japan’s Mini Mahabharata

News ReportTOKYO, JAPAN, November 21, 2003. Mention of a staged “Mahabharata” at once brings to mind Sir Peter Brook’s 10-hour version of the Hindu epic poem, which debuted at the Avignon International Drama Festival in 1985. This inspired version by Director Satoshi Miyagi staged recently in Tokyo lasts just two hours. The original “Mahabharata,” written in Sanskrit, comprises 100,000 stanzas,…

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Youth Icon Nisha Sharma Ties the Knot

SourceNEW DELHI, INDIA, November 19, 2003: Nisha Sharma, who hit the headlines six months ago for sending her fiance to jail for demanding dowry, has married a software engineer. The marriage was solemnized at a quiet ceremony at her residence in Noida on the outskirts of Delhi. Her husband’s name is Ashwin Sharma. Nisha became an icon for millions of…

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Corporate Gift-Giving To International Clients

SourceNEW YORK, USA, November 17, 2003: As the holiday season approaches, a recent article in The Business Review had this suggestion for corporate gift giving to international clients. It is notable for including advice — a bit, anyway — on giving to Hindus. “Be sure you know the customs pertaining to gift giving in that country. You don’t want your…

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How Do You Answer Questions About Caste?

SourceKAUAI, HAWAII, November 21, 2003: Hinduism Today magazine is preparing an article with replies to common questions about Hinduism, such as why are there so many Gods, why the dot on the forehead, why do you worship cows, etc. One of the common questions is about caste: Isn’t the caste system a kind of unfair discrimination? We’re working to formulate…

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Dr. Werner Menski to Speak on Hindu Law in London

SourceLONDON, ENGLAND, November 20, 2003: The National Hindu Students Forum writes, “Hindus have been successful in both preserving their culture and assimilating into British culture. This is evidential in Hindu students being amongst the highest achievers in schools and universities, low unemployment rates and proportionally lower convicted prisoners. However, leaders and politicians have recently tried to find existence of schizophrenic…

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Unauthorized Temples Problem in Patna

SourcePATNA, INDIA, November 19, 2003: Patna has seen some instances of people grabbing public land by installing a Hanuman icon there. But the government is not taking any action against them. And when it does, it’s of no use. One person decided to install a life-sized image of Lord Hanuman in front of the Patna planetarium. When the authorities complained,…

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Government Suspends Elephant Transportation

The HinduNEW DELHI, INDIA, November 18, 2003: The Centre today asked the Tamil Nadu Government to suspend transportation of elephants, belonging to temples, mutts and the Forest department, to the rejuvenation camp in the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary until the matter was reviewed by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests. The Centre’s action comes in the wake of media reports…

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Experts Reflect On How Yoga Changed Their Lives

Religion News ServiceWASHINGTON, D.C., November 17, 2003: It’s the great American question: What’s the return on my investment? Stephen Cope sought to answer it on the subject of yoga, putting the question to 25 of the top yoga and meditation teachers in this country and Canada in his book “Will Yoga & Meditation Really Change My Life?” “As I look…

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