SourceDURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA, September 6, 2003: Hundreds of delegates from all parts of the country are in Durban for a two-day National Hindu Convention. The gathering is to assess Hinduism and its place in South Africa. President Thabo Mbeki is to officially open the meeting later this morning. The convention is being hosted by the South African Hindu Maha Sabha…
SourceBANGALORE, INDIA, September 4, 2003: A temple priest from Kolar district and two others were arrested in the city by the police when they were trying to sell antique icons (of Chola dysnasty) worth over US$3.2 million in the international market on Wednesday. Giving details of the thieves and their operation, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Alok Mohan said archeological…
SourceKERALA, INDIA, September 6, 2003: The festival of Onam commences from Monday in Kerala and many homes roll out flower carpets, locally known as athappoo. The flower carpet welcome is for the legendry King Mahabali. Efforts are being made to revive this floral tradition for which a competition was organized in Kochi. Many people took part in that competition for…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…