Masroor Temple: a Pearl of the Devbhoomi

SourceDHARAMSALA, INDIA, August 31, 2003: Himachal Pradesh has the reputation for being the land of Gods and Goddesses and is known as Devbhoomi. The state has many historical and modern temples of various sects. The Masroor temple located in the Jawali sub-division of Kangra district, around 35 miles from Dharamsala, is one such temple. The rock-cut temple is a unique…

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Nepal Goddess Kumari a Rare Sight

SourceKATHMANDU, NEPAL, September 5, 2003: Next Tuesday, tourists in Nepal will have the rare opportunity of seeing a living Goddess. Normally, the Kumari appears for tourists through an intricately carved window at her residence in the Hanumandhoka palace square. But for the past six months six-year-old Preeti Sakya — the living Hindu Goddess or Kumari — has been hidden away…

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Krishna Dance a Success in New York

SourceNEW YORK, NEW YORK, AUGUST 23, 2003: On Saturday evening at Ananda Ashram’s Blue Sky Center in Monroe, the students of renowned Kathak artist and guru Pt. Satya Narayana Charka presented a marvelous display of dance technique and expression in the East West School of Dance’s annual Krishna Leela dance-drama. Graduates Mayura Casuba and Romanee Kalicharran dazzled an appreciative audience…

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New Hindu Temple for Belle-Vue-Maurel, Mauritius

SourceMAURITIUS, September 1, 2003: A brand new Murugan temple has been constructed in the village of Belle-Vue-Maurel on the East coast of Mauritius. The consecration took place on August 31st. The architecture and construction of the building was done by workers from India. A sum of US$172,000 was invested in the construction of the temple, known as the Belle-Vue-Maurel Bala…

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Punjabi Women Celebrate Traditions Of Tian De Mela

SourceYUBA CITY, CALIFORNIA, September 1, 2003: The Yuba-Sutter Fairgrounds, venue for such events as the “Sutter North Chili Cook Off,” “Two Cities Kennel Dog Show” and the “Harvest Hoe-down-Square Dancing Competition,” was full of bright colors Sunday as the fifth annual Tian de Mela, presented by the Punjabi Women’s Cultural Organization, brought together women of all ages. More than 3,000…

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Upper Castes Attack Dalits’ Ganesha Parade

SourcePYAPLI, INDIA, September 1, 2003: Four people were injured when a group of upper caste persons from Pyapili village in Andhra Pradesh in India rained stones on a police party which tried to restore order between the village Dalits (“Untouchables”) and the upper castes. Sources said the upper castes started the trouble by destroying the Lord Ganesha icon being taken…

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Kerala Onam Celebration Gets Commercial

SourceTHIRUVANANTHAPURAM, INDIA September 1, 2003: Wherever they are, Keralites look forward to Onam as a great occasion to reminisce their long traditional past. But at home, part of the beauty and grace of the festival appears to have been lost to the demands of consumerism. With Onam just a week away, the state wears the look of an extended market…

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India’s Supreme Court: Nobody Has “Right to Convert”

SourceNEW DELHI: There is no such thing as a fundamental right to convert any person to one’s own religion, and the government can impose certain restrictions keeping in view public order, the Supreme Court has ruled. The court’s ruling came while dismissing a petition challenging an Orissa law requiring police verification of all religious conversions. Citing the SC’s landmark 1977…

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Ganesha Chaturthi on Radio

SourceMUMBAI, INDIA, August 31, 2003: This Ganesha Chaturthi, Mumbaikars can look forward to getting up-to-date information on the current happenings in the city at the touch of a dial. Radio Mirchi, 98.3 FM, is gearing up to keep Mumbaikars abreast with the latest happenings and information on the 10 days of Ganesha Chaturthi. From traffic updates and information on the…

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Christian Family Returns to Hindu Fold

SourceADILABAD, INDIA, August 31, 2003: Eighteen Christians belonging to one family in Adilabad town reconverted to Hinduism on Sunday. The reconversion and purification ceremonies were performed at 9:00 am at Gopala Krishna Mutt by its Mathadhipati (head monk), Sri Sri Sri Yogananda Swami, in a tranquil atmosphere. Members of the local Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and other Sangh…

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