World Hindu Federation Opposes Move to Declare Nepal a Secular State

SourceKATMANDU, NEPAL, July 9, 2003: The World Hindu Federation has opposed any move to declare Nepal, a predominantly Hindu nation, a secular state. A country, where 90 percent of its population including Buddhists, Vedic, Jain and Sikhs are the followers of the Arya Sanatan Hindu religion, a secular state is both “ridiculous and against the principles of democracy,” WHF President…

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“Notice of Appeal” Filed in McDonald’s Veggie Suit

SourceCHICAGO, U.S.A., June 18, 2003: Michael B. Hyman, principal with Chicago law firm Much Shelist Freed Denenberg Ament & Rubenstein, P.C. announced that several prominent members of the vegetarian community filed a notice of appeal related to a suit against fast food giant McDonald’s. At issue in the appeal is a recent court ruling that allows the allocation of US$6…

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Alleged Encroachment of Trincomalee Hindu Temple Lands

SourceTRINCOMALEE, SRI LANKA, July 01, 2003: The Trincomalee District Young Men Hindu Association (TDYMHA) brought to the notice of the Hindu Religious Affairs Minister of Sri Lanka, Mr. T. Maheswaran, that lands belonging to several Hindu temples in the Trincomalee district are being unlawfully occupied by the Singhalese, thus depriving the income from the lands to these temples. Mr. Sivapathasundaram…

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Kashmir Hosts 25,000 at Martand Shrine

SourceJAMMU AND KASHMIR, July 8, 2003: About 25,000 Hindus prayed for their ancestors at a shrine in Kashmir following an age-old ritual that has not been performed in 14 years. Many came from refugee camps that are home to several thousand Kashmiri Hindus who left their homes after Muslim terrorism against Indian rule began in 1989. They performed the ritual…

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India Moves to Protect Traditional Medicines

SourceNEW DELHI, INDIA, July 8, 2003: After losing the patents of neem, bitter gourd and basmati rice, the National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI) and the Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP) have now decided to strengthen the Indian claim about its traditional knowledge in this area and also help in countering the attempts of other countries to acquire…

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Quakes Caused Ancient Civilizations’ Demise

SourcePALO ALTO, U.S.A., December 17, 2001: New research by Stanford University scientists in Palo Alto, California, has revealed that earthquakes were the likely cause for the mysterious disappearance of ancient civilizations like the Harappan in India and the Mayan in Central America. The Harappan civilization disappeared in 1900 BCE, after almost 2,000 years of continuous existence. Most researchers could not…

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Unique Temple to Snake Deity Discovered in Orissa

SourceBHUBANESWAR, INDIA, July 4, 2003: A temple built in 10 A.D. to Nagi has been discovered in the village of Ghasiandhuti, in Khurda district of Orissa. The villagers worshipped the Deity as “Uttarayani” not knowing that it was a Nagi (female Snake Deity) image. The Superintendent of the State Archaeological Department, Dr. B. K. Rath says the site was being…

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The American Family Decision — Who Will Raise the Children?

SourceCHICAGO, U.S.A., July 1, 2003: At the beginning of the last century, American families did not have one major decision to make when starting a family. Wives and future mothers were already at home, and the decision whether to continue working or not, was not there. However, in today’s families many young Americans marry but have children later, and by…

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President A. Vaithilingam Addresses Annual Malaysian Hindu Sangam Conference

SourceKUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, June 29, 2003: The Malaysian Hindu Sangam (MHS) recently held their 26th annual national meeting where Datuk Vaithilingam, president, outlined a “Renaissance Plan” for the Sangam’s continuing religious work in Malaysia. What follows is a summation of his remarks: Improving religious education among the youth is at the top of our list. “Only then can they have…

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“Om” as Sock Decoration Makes U.S. Hindus Unhappy

SourceNEW YORK, U.S.A., July 3, 2003: India Cause, a watch dog group of Hindus in America, is unhappy over the use of the Om symbol as decoration on socks. “We are outraged seeing such repetitive insults and attack on Indian culture,” India Cause coordinator Sanjeev Dahiwadkar said. Gold Medal Hosiery in New York, which distributes the offending socks, declined to…

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