HPIKAUAI, HAWAII, October 1, 2003: Two HPI readers have asked us to run something special to mark Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday, which is also connected to the World Vegetarian Day. Mark Hawthorne, nga_sha_zamet@yahoo.com, writes from California, “Tomorrow, October 2, is the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi. About the only thing I can say I share with the Mahatma is vegetarianism. Gandhi was…
Lincolnshire EchoLINCOLN, UK, September 24, 2003: In a novel project to develop their drama, art and music skills, 14 children from the Beckett School and eight from Charles Baines are teaming up. Using the Hindu, African and Apache cultures as a spring board, they are working towards a performance in March to show how they have developed confidence and communication…
SourceBAKU, AZERBAIJAN, September 28, 2003: In an old settlement of oil workers situated 18 miles from this Azerbaijani capital is a rare Hindu temple dedicated to Jwalaji or the Goddess of Fire, forgotten for decades but now catching the attention of tourists. The temple, called the Atishgah, in this predominantly Muslim republic of the former Soviet Union is a typical…
SourceSOUTH AFRICA, September 29, 2003: Chatsworth, South African musician Kevin Pillay is determined to keep the Indian culture alive. Pillay, a percussionist, spent two years in Chennai, India, learning the art of playing a South Indian drum. He was offered a scholarship by the Natal Tamil Vedic Society to study under Indian drum guru Shri Karaikudi Mari. This week, Pillay’s…
New Straits Times-Management TimesKLANG, MALAYSIA, September 25, 2003: The Sri Muniswarar temple in Southern Park in Klang is offering a US$132 reward for the recovery of a statue of a Hindu deity stolen last week. Temple trustee V. Vembarasan said the temple committee decided to offer the reward as there had been no leads. He said the bronze statue of…
SourceARIZONA, USA, September 30, 2003: Photos of the colorful Ganesha Chaturthi celebrations at the Maha Ganapathi Temple of Arizona can be seen at the Ofoto site at “source” above.
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…