Kamal Hasan Declares He’s Now Smoke Free on Camera

SourceCHENNAI, INDIA, June 7, 2003: Popular South Indian Actor Kamal Hasan has vowed that he will never again be seen smoking in any of his future films. This prompted a leading cancer surgeon to appeal to other stars, particularly Mr. Hasan’s peer, Rajnikanth, to follow suit. Speaking at a function organized by WHO on “Tobacco-free films and fashion” Mr. Hasan…

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Bengali Nun Killed in Attack on Christian School

SourceSRINAGAR, INDIA, May 21, 2003: A nun from West Bengal was killed when Muslim terrorists attacked a Christian school in Anantnag, the first such incident in Kashmir. Sister Kamlesh died when a grenade exploded near the main entrance of the Saint Lukas Convent School in Nai Basti in Anantnag town, 50 km from Srinagar. Sister Mary, another teacher who also…

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World Hindi Conference in an Uproar

Press Trust of IndiaPARAMARIBO, SURINAM, June 9, 2003: The World Hindi Conference was in an uproar Monday, PTI of India reported, when some believed efforts were made to project Hindu culture as Indian culture. Opponents alleged that it was an attempt to “saffronize” the conference. The uproar began when the chairman of the session, Dharmpal Maini, one of the ten…

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Insensitive Remarks by British Religious Panel Dismay Hindus

SourceLONDON, ENGLAND, June 10, 2003: A serious controversy has erupted following the release of a report by the House of Lords Select Committee on Religious Offenses. The committee was asked to decide whether the present law on religious offenses, that, according to yesterday’s HPI, guarantees protection to only the Church of England, should be extended to protect all religious faiths…

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Indians Are the World’s Most Nationalistic People

Hindustan TimesNEW DELHI, INDIA, June 7, 2003: A survey of people’s attitudes from around the world has shown Indians were the most nationalistic. The latest survey of the US-based Pew Global Attitudes Project (http://people-press.org/), “Views of a Changing World,” asked people of 44 countries about the superiority of their culture, their wariness regarding foreign influence on their way of life,…

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Ohio Hindu Temple Flourishes Under Doctor’s Care

Columbus Dispatch (Ohio)COLUMBUS, OHIO, June 6, 2003: At times Dr. Raj Tripathi seems as much a fixture at Powell’s Hindu temple as are the majestic statues that give the building its identity. And yet he is at or near the Bharatiya Temple only part of the week. The rest of the time, he’s 90 miles to the east, working as…

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Indo Romuva Cultures Conference Announced

SourceATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY, June 12, 2003: The World Council of Elders of the Ancient Traditions and Cultures in collaboration with the World Congress of Ethnic Religions, Vilnius, Lithuania, proudly announces the First Conference (in a series of understanding ancient traditions and cultures of the world) on Indo Romuva Cultures. The conference will be October 10-12, 2003, at the Howard…

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Edmonton Maha Ganapati Temple’s Annual Festival

SourceEDMONTON, CANADA, June 12, 2003 The Maha Ganapati Temple’s Alankaara Utsavam (Annual Festival) will begin on Friday, June 27, and continue through Sunday, July 6. The last day marks the date of Attha Nakshadhra of the Tamil month of Aani on which day the Prathishta Maha Kumbabishekam took place in the year of 2000. The temple is located at 128…

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Do-It-Yourself Guide for Hindu Rituals

SourceLUCKNOW, INDIA, June 7, 2003: If you have been forced to postpone or cancel a family samskara because the priest was booked or ill, the Uttar Pradesh Sanskrit Sansthan has found a solution. For Rs 100, one can purchase the Paurohitya Karm Prashikshak or simply the Karmkand Manual, a perfect do-it-yourself guide to various elaborate Hindu rituals. From the rituals…

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Humanitarian Aid for Sri Lankan Flood Victims

SourceVIENNA, AUSTRIA, June 6, 2003: His Holiness Vishwaguru Mahamandaleshwar Paramhans Swami Maheshwaranandaji, worldwide head of Yoga in Daily Life, has organized a worldwide fund raising drive to collect funds for Sri Lanka’s flood victims. Dr. Karan Singh was invited to give a lecture on Vedanta at the Vienna fundraiser. Readers wishing to donate or to listen to Dr. Singh’s talk,…

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