News ReportsNASIK, INDIA, September 1, 2003: Thousands of sadhus began the third Shahi Snan (royal bath) in Ramkund (a sacred lake) exactly at 8.00 am on the auspicious day of Vrishi Panchami, amidst tight police monitoring following the death of 35 persons during the second royal bath on August 27. Sadhus of various akaras (monastic orders) of the Tvaishnava sect…
SourceSIEM REAP, CAMBODIA, August 30, 2003: In addition to an appreciation of art, Uong Von’s job as chief conservationist of the Khmer Art Museum requires a familiarity with semiautomatic weapons. “To work at Conservation d’Angkor you must love art and know how to defend it with an AK-47,” said Uong Von. “I am a lover of art, but I am…
SourceBANGALORE, KARNATAKA, August 30, 2003: Ganesha Chaturthi has been celebrated in grand style in the southern states for many years. It is only in the last few years that the festivities have taken on a new eco-friendly consciousness. Idol makers and devotees are being encouraged to make loving murthis from clay and other natural substances and to paint the icons…
SourcePETALING JAYA, MALAYSIA, August 21, 2003: A Malaysian Youth organization called the Serdang MIC Youth has been working vigorously to delay the demolition of seven temples in Serdang. The chief of MIC Youth, T. Mohan says, “We are strongly against the decision to demolish the temples as some of them have been in existence for several decades.” Leading a delegation…
AnnouncementMISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO, August 29, 2003: The Canadian Hindu Arts and Cultural Society has announced that a new Hindu pre-school accommodating children 2-5 years of age will open on September 2. Called the Hindu Immersion School, the school’s mission is to fully immerse and educate the young minds about Hinduism as well as teach Hindi and music. The community is proud…
SourceSeptember 1, 2003: Prakash Mody of Canada (“source” above) sent us this description of an admirable Jain custom. “It is at this time, Kshmapana (which falls on August 31, September 1 or September 10, depending on the specific tradition), that Jains embark on their respective annual pratikramana, a reflection on their spiritual journey for the past year. On this day…
Press Trust of IndiaMUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA, August 31, 2003: The Elephant God Ganesh today descended on a 10-day sojourn to Earth as the festival began in Maharashtra amidst fanfare and revelry with police making elaborate security arrangement in view of the recent twin bomb blasts. Around 30,000 policemen have been deployed all over Mumbai to maintain law and order, and…
Deccan ChronicleHYDERABAD, ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA, August 29, 2003: Devotees throng shops and stalls to buy Ganesha icons for installation on Sunday, when the Ganesha Chaturthi celebrations begin. Ganesha icons in varied colors and sizes are on display at the shops. The biggest icon installed at Khairatabad has become the central attraction with devotees from different parts of the city coming…
SourceVISAKHAPATNAM, ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA, August. 29, 2003: Ganesh Chaturthi celebration committees in the city are disappointed by all the restrictions imposed on them by the police, municipal corporation and the Eastern Power Distribution Company. Most of the festival committees have decided to reduce the celebrations to three or six days, from the regular nine or 11 days. The municipal corporation…
SourceHYDERABAD, INDIA, August 29, 2003: As a gesture to ryots, (small and marginal farmers), the Andhra Pradesh government has decided to sell temple land now held by ryots under lease to them if they want to purchase the land and if such a deal benefits the temple concerned. The ryots will be asked to pay only two-thirds of the market…