News

HPISeptember 17, 2003: Swami Saradananda points out that the correct travel time from Lhasa to Mt. Kailas area is seven days each way by jeep, not three or four as the report in the September 14 HPI stated.

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…

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.…

SourceTHIRUVANANTHAPURAM, KERALA, September 4, 2003: Those born in the Indian state of Kerala who have migrated to the U.S.A., Canada, Kuwait, UAE, and Middle East European countries have found a way to maintain the rich traditions and heritage of their religion. On November 28 to November 30 of this year, 1,000 delegates from 400 families have decided to gather together…

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…