SourceLONDON, ENGLAND, June 14, 2003: Guyanese Bankim Chand Gossai was awarded an MBE (Member of the British Empire) for his services to the Hindu community in South London during Her Majesty’s Queen Elizabeth II birthday honors. Maha Lakshmi Vidya Bhavan in London said that Gossai and Ramesh Charan formed the Maha Lakshmi Vidya Bhavan some 21 years ago. The institute…
SourceRAIPUR, INDIA, June 24, 2003: Around 200 people were reconverted to Hinduism in the presence of Union Minister of State for Forestry Dilip Singh Judeo at Parswani village in Mahasamund district today. The 200 individuals represented 51 families spread over 12 villages and were reconverted at a “ghar wapsi” program organized by the Dharma Jagaran Parishad. Exhorting the people to…
SourceWASHINGTON D.C., U.S.A., June 21, 2003: For 25 years, and most recently as the U.S. Navy’s chief of chaplains, Pastor Barry C. Black has led interfaith services on aircraft carriers and destroyers and counseled military personnel. Now, after retirement from the military August 15, 2003, the rear admiral is set to become spiritual counselor to members of the U.S. Senate…
SourceBOSTON, U.S.A., June 23, 2003: Getting an hour’s sleep during the day may be as beneficial as a whole night in bed, according to scientists. But the “power-nap” only works if the sleep is of the right quality, say the experts from Harvard University. Experts also add that a full night’s sleep is still necessary for many vital body functions,…
SourceLONDON, ENGLAND, JUNE 21, 2003: Young Indians and Pakistanis are reshaping the tradition of arranged marriages in Britain. While couples were once introduced exclusively by relatives and friends, there is now a boom in Asian marriage web sites, chat rooms and personal advertisements. But South Asian “speed dating” — Hindus one night, Muslims the next — is the latest phenomenon…
SourceNEW DELHI,INDIA, May 20, 2003: National and international debates on agriculture are increasingly talking of a new buzzword: agrobiodiversity (HPI’s translation: “the old way of doing things”). Diversity in agriculture can produce a variety of foods which are safe to eat and also provide fodder for farm animals. It is in contrast to the dominant viewpoint that you grow a…
SourceST. LOUIS, U.S.A., June 24, 2003: A judge has ordered 120 days in a prison boot camp for a young man who firebombed the Hindu Temple in west St. Louis County this year. Nathaniel Connor, 17, pled guilty Tuesday in St. Louis County Circuit Court of two counts each of second-degree arson and criminal possession of a weapon. Judge John…
SourcePORT LOUIS, MAURITIUS, June 25, 2003: The Hindu organizations of Mauritius are honoring Pujya Swami Purnanandji Maharaj for his 40 years of religious service to the county during a month-long celebration this June. His 75th birthday is being celebrated this month along with a whole series of activities. This program was initiated by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Sanatan Sarvodaye Sabha…
SourceNASHIK, INDIA, June 24, 2003: Nashik and Trimbakeshwar are currently in the midst of intense activity as they prepare for the thousands of pilgrims anticipated for the Sinhashtha Kumbha Mela or the Festival of the Nectar of Immortality. Over 2,500 people are working in three shifts to erect 35,000 sheds on 840 plots, each 4,000 sq. ft in area, at…
SourceVIENNA, AUSTRIA, June 20, 2003: Mr. Ashok Kaushal, a Hindu living in Vienna, Austria, has been refused by Austrian authorities to register himself and his son as Hindus. Mr. Kaushal, born in India as a Hindu has been living in Austria more than 15 years and is an Austrian citizen. When he recently had to reregister his documents in Vienna,…