SourceKOLKATA, INDIA, August 15, 2003: The imposing Shri Radha Krishna Temple in the heart of upscale Ballygunje has emerged as the prime spiritual destination for the people of the city. The grandiose structure — a classic blend of temple architecture of Orissa and South India — attracts more than 2.5 million devotees a year. Spread over 22,000 sq ft, the…
News ReportsTAMIL NADU, INDIA, August 10, 2003: When those devotees fortunate enough to pilgrimage to Kailash and Manasarovar returned home, they shared their testamonies of the experience at the Siva Temple in Erode. About 1,000 devotees gathered for a special abhishekam (Deity worship) and homan (fire worship) followed by the guest pilgrim speakers. Eighty people from Tamil Nadu, who had…
SourceNASIK, INDIA, August 11, 2003: From flyovers (that’s a road overpass in India) to water supply schemes, who would have thought the Maha Kumbh would give a US$93 million boost to Nashik’s economy? After all, many Kumbh Melas have come and gone but none quite brought a change in the city’s fortunes. But this year’s Maha Kumbh is different. With…
SourcePORT LOUIS, MAURITIUS, August 14, 2003: After winning independence from Britain in 1968, the government of this island off the coast of Madagascar, decided to embrace the global economy, creating an export zone with low taxes and relaxed labor laws. Clothing companies set up textile factories on the island, turning Mauritius into a powerhouse. Median household income nearly doubled in…
SourceKAMPALA, UGANDA, August 17, 2003: Thirty-one years ago, Idi Amin started a campaign to remove Asians from this country. He expropriated their homes and businesses. As they trooped to the airport and highways, his soldiers robbed them along the way. Now, with Mr. Amin’s reign of terror long over, there are strong signs of an Asian revival here. Many of…
SourceCOLOMBO, SRI LANKA, August 11, 2003: The Balarajah family from London had an unusual summer holiday this year — three days in a former war zone in northern Sri Lanka. “After so many years we are going back and it’s going to be a surprise for us. I hope it’s not going to be a shock,” says 53-year-old Athithapillai Balarajah,…
SourceCOLOMBO, SRI LANKA, August 13, 2003: Buddhist organizations in Sri Lanka have welcomed a Supreme Court decision to prevent proselytizing or religious conversions and to deny legal status to two Christian organizations. A three-judge bench held in two judgements that while the Sri Lankan constitution upheld a citizen’s right to worship and practice his or her religion, it did not…
SourceWASHINGTON, USA, August 15, 2003: A study has found people practicing meditation for eight weeks have the ability to produce more antibodies to a flu vaccine and showed increased activity in areas of the brain related to positive emotion than individuals who did not meditate. The study is the first to connect meditation to changes in brain activity associated with…
SourceKATMANDU, NEPAL, August 13, 2003: China and Nepal are hoping to increase trade and tourism through the possible opening of two ancient Himalayan crossings and allowing helicopters to travel from Nepal to Mt. Kailas, a major Hindu pilgrimage site in Tibet. An agreement to make tourism easier was signed last week by a visiting delegation from Chinese-ruled Tibet and Nepal’s…
SourceNEW DELHI, INDIA, August 13, 2003: Thanks to the local administration, all but three of the 3,000 people who got lost in the huge crowd were reunited with their families by the end of the day. This year attendance at the Kumbh is estimated to be 3.5 million pilgrims and sadhus. When 85-year old Bhushan Mali completed his ritual bath,…