SourceNEW YORK, USA, October 10, 2003: Thousands took part in a Diwali gala in New York that saw a bit of everything — food, craft, a photo exhibition, a health fair, cultural show and a colorful fireworks display. The annual “Festival of Lights” was held at Lower Manhattan’s South Street Seaport. Over 100,000 people visited the 70 vendors and booths…
SourceBALI, INDONESIA, October 8, 2003: Dr. Somvir of the faculty of Udayana University in Bali is an academic, a Hindu missionary and an Indian in love with Indonesia. He says his mission in life is to spread Hindu values, come what may. Somvir is a popular figure in Bali. He hails from Haryana in India and studied at Delhi University.…
SourceUSA, October 7, 2003: Mourning elephants, altruistic lions and compassionate cows are at the heart of a unique new initiative by Compassion in World Farming Trust (CIWF Trust) to encourage a different approach to understanding the role of animals in society by understanding their inner minds and feelings. A website and interactive forum at animalsentience.com have been launched by the…
The Daily PioneerINDIA, October 5, 2003: Pujaries have been invoking Maa Durga on behalf of others for decades, but their prayers are yet to be answered. While most manage to keep on in their profession, their progeny are not willing to take up priesthood anymore. Their sole complaint — thousands are spent on decorating the puja pandals (worship places set…
SourceTORONTO, CANADA, October 9, 2003: On the occasion of the festival of Dussehra last week, the Toronto Star published a photo of an icon of Goddess Durga which was nearly finished but unclothed. An icon in this state would never been shown in public. These large statues are worshipped for the festival and then placed in the river or ocean.…
SourceCHAM VILLAGE, VIETNAM, September 25, 2003: The Cham ethnic group’s Kate Festival opened at the Cham Village in Phuoc Huu commune, Ninh Phuoc district, Ninh Thuan province, on Wednesday. The festival, held annually on the first ten days of the seventh month of the Cham Calendar, is an occasion for the Cham people to express their gratitude to their God,…
SourceNEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, July 15, 2003: Not all robots look and act like the Terminator. The idea behind ArtBots, billed as a talent show for robots, is to show kids of all ages the softer side of bots. Fear of potentially rabid robots and other supposedly sentient technology is what motivated ArtBots organizers to host the show held…
SourceKOCHI, INDIA, October 5, 2003: A multinational pharmaceutical company is understood to have initiated steps to gain patent rights over rudraksha, the seed of the tree known as Elaeocarpus ganitrus, in botanical terms. Another international jewelry firm has reportedly come up with diamond-studded rudraksha ornaments, says this article. The rudraksha seed is used in Ayurvedic medicines for curing psychiatric disorders,…
SourceJHAROLI, INDIA, October 4, 2003: Dozens of sweetmeat makers in Baikunth Dham in Uttar Pradesh are making a massive 11,100 kg laddoo (Indian sweet ball) to distribute to devotees of Hanuman after the effigy of the demon king Ravana is set on fire on Dusshera this year. Last year they made a laddoo of 2,100 kilograms, said Swami Ramanand Chaityna,…
SourceVADODARA, GUJARAT, October 5, 2003: The mass conversion of Dalits (“Untouchables”) to Buddhism ended quietly today with the Vishwa Boudh Sangh forced to make the conversion ceremony a “dharma sabha” (meeting on dharma) following refusal of permission by the Vadodara district administration under the new Anti-Conversion Act in force in Gujarat. Under the Act no permission can be given unless…