SourceORISSA, INDIA, September 27, 2003: Goddess Durga, depicted as wearing jeans and a short top while pointing to products like ladies garments and fashion jewelry, has been the subject of much outrage in Bhubaneswar. Devotees are particularly sensitive at this time of the year when Navaratri celebrations honor the Goddess with ten hands. The article says, “Sanskruti O Sanskruti, a…
SourceGUWAHATI, INDIA, September 26, 2003: Despite protests from animal rights activists, Durga puja at the Kamakhya temple will incorporate the sacrifice of animals again this year. The article says the rituals encompass traditions from local tribals, Shakti cults, and Buddhist tantric practices. Khagen Sikdar, a priest at the temple says, “Several animal sacrifices are made here. Goats, pigeons, ducks and…
Evening Herald (Plymouth)PLYMOUTH, UK, September 26, 2003: A major Hindu festival will be celebrated in Plymouth next week and everyone is invited to join in. The Navaratri Festival, traditionally celebrated for nine days, will be marked on Sunday, October 5, at the city’s Religious Cultural Resource Center in Watts Road, Lipson. The South Asian Association has celebrated the festival for…
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…