SourceJAKARTA, INDONESIA, September 15, 2003: In the Indian Ocean, between the Cocos and Seychelles islands, an odd-looking outrigger vessel is retracing the ancient “cinnamon route” from Indonesia to East Africa, first navigated by Indonesian seafarers more than a millennium ago. The Borobudur Ship — a 72-foot-long wooden ship modeled after wall reliefs found on the 8th century Borobudur temple in…
SourcePENANG, MALAYSIA, September 8, 2003: About 150 women gathered at the Sri Mangala Nayagi Amman Temple in Bukit Mertajam recently to participate in the Thiruvillaku Puja (oil lamp lighting ceremony). The ceremony, also known as Varalakshmi Puja, was conducted by Rukumani Krishnasamy, 59, who has been conducting religious functions all over the country for the past 40 years. According to…
SourceVANCOUVER, B.C, June 27, 2003: Starbucks could be facing two human rights complaints from two Indo-Canadian employees fired for refusing to remove a nose stud. Aisha Syed, who was fired last November after working at Starbucks for three years, has filed a complaint with the Human Rights Tribunal. “I’m very upset, and I see my firing as racism,” said Syed,…
SourceNASHVILLE, TENNESEE, September 14, 2003: Hundreds of people from different backgrounds gathered yesterday at the Sri Ganesha Temple in Nashville for the Indian Association of Nashville’s annual Indian Festival. “The reason we have this is to let the community become more aware of our temple and to experience Indian culture,” said Chander Kanal, president of the Association. “India has 27…
SourceNEW DELHI, INDIA, September 13, 2003: Environmentalists and climatologists are deeply concerned over the rapid shrinking of the Himalayan glaciers — the origin of most of the rivers in northern India — even as the Indian government seems indifferent to the grim implications of the scenario. The majority of the 15,000 or so glaciers in the Himalayas are receding faster…
SourcePURI, ORISSA, September 14, 2003: Devotees of Lord Jagannath can soon order for Lord’s prasad (blessed food) from their home. The Orissa Postal Circle is going to join hands with the Jagannath temple administration to send prasad by post if the devotee is willing to pay in advance. According to chief postmaster Vatsala Raghu, the plan will come into force…
www.ndtv.comCHENNAI, TAMIL NADU, September 12, 2003: When 14-year-old Ram Abhinav, an eighth-grade student, committed suicide four months ago after he was allegedly beaten by his mathematics teacher, the Human Rights Commission stepped in to try and come up with a solution about corporal punishment in schools. Since Ram’s incident the commission has received at least ten reports of similar cases.…
SourceLONDON, ENGLAND, September 13, 2003: Britons are about to sample an Indian-inspired culinary delight — tandoori flavored cheese. Supermarket chain Tesco is to start selling the cheese in 200 of its stores by the end of next month, according to the Sunday Telegraph newspaper. “We are testing the water with the tandoori cheese,” a Tesco spokesman said. “If it goes…
SourceHYDERABAD, INDIA, September 12, 2003: As life gets more stressful and people increasingly turn to Gods and Goddesses, a new breed of entrepreneurs are finding a niche taking care of the puja (worship) needs of the masses. V.R. Rao of Vijayawada is already a minor legend among entrepreneurs for his success in marketing materials required for yagna (fire worship) and…
Times of IndiaNEW DELHI, INDIA, September 11, 2003: The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered the Centre and the state governments to swing into action and seize the unlicensed ultrasound machine s being used for sex determination purposes. It asked the authorities to strictly monitor the activities of ultrasound diagnostic clinics to prevent illegal female feticide. A Bench of Justices M.…