Interfaith Organization Calls for Better Reporting on Religion

SourceOKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA, September 11, 2003: In his speech here today, Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy, President, The Interfaith Alliance, said, in part, “The religious press in this land (USA) has an unusually crucial role to play in truth telling by the media. Unfortunately for the most part, religion is involved in most of the big stories in today’s news.…

Continue reading

Borobudur Ship Follows Ancient Spice Route

SourceJAKARTA, INDONESIA, September 15, 2003: In the Indian Ocean, between the Cocos and Seychelles islands, an odd-looking outrigger vessel is retracing the ancient “cinnamon route” from Indonesia to East Africa, first navigated by Indonesian seafarers more than a millennium ago. The Borobudur Ship — a 72-foot-long wooden ship modeled after wall reliefs found on the 8th century Borobudur temple in…

Continue reading

Prayers For Goddess’ Blessing

SourcePENANG, MALAYSIA, September 8, 2003: About 150 women gathered at the Sri Mangala Nayagi Amman Temple in Bukit Mertajam recently to participate in the Thiruvillaku Puja (oil lamp lighting ceremony). The ceremony, also known as Varalakshmi Puja, was conducted by Rukumani Krishnasamy, 59, who has been conducting religious functions all over the country for the past 40 years. According to…

Continue reading

Starbucks Faces Human Rights Case Over Nose Stud

SourceVANCOUVER, B.C, June 27, 2003: Starbucks could be facing two human rights complaints from two Indo-Canadian employees fired for refusing to remove a nose stud. Aisha Syed, who was fired last November after working at Starbucks for three years, has filed a complaint with the Human Rights Tribunal. “I’m very upset, and I see my firing as racism,” said Syed,…

Continue reading

Hundreds Attend Temple Festival in Nashville, USA

SourceNASHVILLE, TENNESEE, September 14, 2003: Hundreds of people from different backgrounds gathered yesterday at the Sri Ganesha Temple in Nashville for the Indian Association of Nashville’s annual Indian Festival. “The reason we have this is to let the community become more aware of our temple and to experience Indian culture,” said Chander Kanal, president of the Association. “India has 27…

Continue reading

Himalayan Glaciers Shrinking Dramatically

SourceNEW DELHI, INDIA, September 13, 2003: Environmentalists and climatologists are deeply concerned over the rapid shrinking of the Himalayan glaciers — the origin of most of the rivers in northern India — even as the Indian government seems indifferent to the grim implications of the scenario. The majority of the 15,000 or so glaciers in the Himalayas are receding faster…

Continue reading

Lord Jagannath’s Prasad to be Home-Delivered

SourcePURI, ORISSA, September 14, 2003: Devotees of Lord Jagannath can soon order for Lord’s prasad (blessed food) from their home. The Orissa Postal Circle is going to join hands with the Jagannath temple administration to send prasad by post if the devotee is willing to pay in advance. According to chief postmaster Vatsala Raghu, the plan will come into force…

Continue reading

Corporal Punishment Still Lawful in Tamil Nadu Schools

www.ndtv.comCHENNAI, TAMIL NADU, September 12, 2003: When 14-year-old Ram Abhinav, an eighth-grade student, committed suicide four months ago after he was allegedly beaten by his mathematics teacher, the Human Rights Commission stepped in to try and come up with a solution about corporal punishment in schools. Since Ram’s incident the commission has received at least ten reports of similar cases.…

Continue reading

Britons Getting a Curried Cheddar

SourceLONDON, ENGLAND, September 13, 2003: Britons are about to sample an Indian-inspired culinary delight — tandoori flavored cheese. Supermarket chain Tesco is to start selling the cheese in 200 of its stores by the end of next month, according to the Sunday Telegraph newspaper. “We are testing the water with the tandoori cheese,” a Tesco spokesman said. “If it goes…

Continue reading