SourceKOCHI, INDIA, September 27, 2003: Curtains came down on the four-day birthday celebrations of Mata Amritanandamayi with several social service and charitable programmes being announced as the spiritual leader turned 50 today. Speaking at the valedictory of the celebrations, Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat applauded the humanitarian programmes and projects successfully launched by her. An all-India free legal cell comprising…
SourceSRINAGAR, INDIA, September 27, 2003: Minister for Health and Medical Education, Ch. Lal Singh attended the Global Summit on Medicinal Plants in Mauritius. More than one hundred participants from all over the world were present on the inaugural function. Speeches by the dignitaries of the different countries delivered on the different aspects of the medicinal plants and showed their keen…
SourceKUALA LUMPAR, MALAYSIA, September 23, 2003: Seeking peace and harmony, Hindus in Malaysia have worked with their communities and the government to establish harmonious relationships. Dato Samy Vellu, Malaysia India Congress president, spoke at the World Hindu Peace Pilgrimage and said, “The government recognizes each religion’s existence as part of the religious mosaic of the country and had allowed people…
SourceNEW YORK, NEW YORK, September 27, 2003: HPI has received the following request: “A national magazine for teenage girls, ym, is working on an article about different coming-of-age ceremonies that American girls participate in. So far we will be featuring an Apache ceremony, a bar mitzva and a quinceanera. One of the rites of passage we are most interested in,…
SourceNEW YORK, NEW YORK, September 28, 2003: If you’re obese and think your problems end when you die, think again, suggests this article in the New York Times. Like the airline industry, the article says, which was warned in May that passengers were heavier than they used to be, and was asked to adjust weight estimates accordingly, the funeral industry…
SourcePRESTON, UNITED KINGDOM, September 17, 2003: Gathering together to celebrate their culture, faith, and identity, 3,000 Hindu youth participated in the “Get Connected” Hindu Youth Festival 2002. Every aspect of the event was a reflection of Hindu culture in some way, from the grand opening paying respects to Lord Ganesha to the greeting of guests by offering a sweet and…
SourceCOVENTRY, U.K, September 24, 2003: Hindus in Coventry, U.K., are gearing up for Navaratri, the annual nine-day festival, which begins on Friday. The festival marks the celebration of goodness conquering evil. The nine nights of Navaratri are dedicated to three Hindu Goddesses: Lakshmi, Paravati and Saraswati and include worship, dance and music. Venues in Coventry which celebrate the festival each…
SourceMUMBAI, INDIA, September 24, 2003: The Mumbai High Court has given an interim order to curb noise pollution during Navaratri, following a Public Interest Litigation. According to the interim ruling, noise levels should not cross 45 decibels after 10 p.m. (IST). But the state government has extended the permission for loudspeakers till midnight for the three days of the festival.…
SourceKOCHI, INDIA, September 24, 2003: Kochi is closed on Tuesday for a special election, but a visitor may easily think it is part of the celebration honoring Mata Amritanandamayi’s 50th birthday instead. Amma was named “Hindu of the Year” by Hinduism Today in 1993 and represented Hinduism at the 1993 Parliament of the World Religions in Chicago and again at…
SourceCOLOMBO, SRI LANKA, September 25, 2003: Elephant experts here have turned to Asia’s reverence of the beasts to push conservation amid calls for a cull to tackle growing wild jumbo populations in Africa. Ian Douglas-Hamilton, an authority on African elephants said religious and cultural practices in Asia shows the peaceful coexistence between people and elephants amid increasing pressure on habitats.…