SourceINDIA, October 7, 2003: The annual Hindu festival season feels more like a trade fair this year than a holy event says this article. With declining interest rates and a booming stock market, India’s middle classes are consuming on a scale and in a style that is unprecedented. In the past 12 months, the number of mobile phones in India…
Agence France PresseNEW DELHI, INDIA, October 11, 2003: The Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (“National Volunteer Corps”) have called for an end to the “barbaric practice” of animal sacrifice in India. The RSS pointed out in its newspaper “Organiser” that God did not need animal sacrifices to “bestow grace” on His devotees. “There is a great need to cleanse Hinduism. And the…
SourceHOUSTON, TEXAS, October 2003: Trisha Pasricha, age 14, has written this outstanding article describing her predicament as a Hindu girl dealing with incorrect information on Hinduism in her text books. Trisha says, “When 8th grade starts, India and Hinduism are summed up in a few short sentences by the teacher. India is described as filled with pollution, cows and poverty-stricken…
HPITRINIDAD, October 15, 2003: Diwali will be celebrated in Trinidad and Tobago on Friday October 24, 2003. Diwali is observed as a national holiday in this twin island nation in the southern Caribbean. To commemorate this festival, the National Council of Indian Culture (NCIC) hosts a nine-day celebration know as the Diwali Nagar. This year, says the Chairman Pundit Deokienanan…
SourceKAUAI, HAWAII, October 15, 2003: During the course of the Nashik Kumbha Mela, our correspondent, Mr. Rajiv Malik, interviewed Shri Arun Khonde, a journalist, on the history of the sadhu organizations at the Mela. Khonde gave a very lengthy explanation (“source” above) and we are looking for someone to read through this interview (which is in rough form) and comment…
SourceNASIK, INDIA, October 8, 2003: The District Court here released on bail two mahants of Vrindavan’s Swami Ishwarpuri Ashram — Swami Gyanprakash and Mukeshdas — against whom police had registered cases in connection with the stampede during the Kumbh Mela on August 27 in which 41 pilgrims were killed and more than 100 injured. “Judge N. V. Deshpande released both…
SourceKUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, October 14, 2003: Nineteen Hindu-based organizations came together on Saturday to honor four outstanding Hindus with the Swami Vivekananda Award. They were Malaysia Hindu Sangam (MHS) president Datuk A. Vaithilingam, Hindu Dharma Mamandram former president Lt-Kol (R) K. Sathaya, businessman and philanthropist Tan Sri Hari Narayanan Govindasamy and MHS deputy president R. Thiagaraja. Both Vaithilingam and Hari…
SourceBHUBANESHWAR, INDIA, October 6, 2003: The annual Durga festival celebrated by India’s Bengali devotees culminated last week with the sacrifice of thousands of goats, sheep, and buffaloes. At the Manikeswari temple in eastern Orissa, 2,000 animals were sacrificed. Ambika Mohapatra animal rights activist says, “Animal sacrifice is illegal under India’s Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Act of 1960 and the…
SourceMUMBAI, INDIA, September 28, 2003: From humble beginnings when her musical abilities were used to support her mother and four younger siblings, Lata Mangeshkar’s career escalated with each decade, culminating with the prestigious “Dada Saheb Phalke Award.” In the 1940’s, she acted in eight Hindi and Marathi films while she strived to become a playback singer (“recording artist” to Americans).…
SourceLONDON, ENGLAND, October 9, 2003: Indian communities across the world have celebrated Dussehra in different ways. In Slough, U.K., the effigies of the demon king Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Indrajit were burnt followed by a magnificent fireworks display. It was enjoyed by over two thousand people including the Mayor of Slough, Councillor Laurie Gleeson. An array of free entertainment kicked off…