SourceDEHRADUN, INDIA, July 20, 2003: The Hardwar-New Delhi Highway was today closed for vehicular traffic for a month as thousands of pilgrims were on their way to the holy city in Uttaranchal to collect Ganga water, official sources said. The pilgrims, known as “Kawandias,” pour into Hardwar from Punjab, Delhi, Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh in the thousands during the…
SourceAMARNATH, JAMMU AND KASHMIR, INDIA, July 20, 2003: As the Amarnath Yatra enters its second week, inclement weather, unregistered pilgrims, multiple injuries and deaths are proving to be a nightmare for both the administration and the devotees. Administration officials said unprecedented cold coupled with a heavy rush of pilgrims was leading to an average of two deaths every day, in…
SourceSACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA, July 17, 2003: Grandparents doting on their grandchildren is more than just a stereotype. An article in the current Proceeding of the National Academy of Sciences proposes the theory that nurturing grandparents are a powerful force in extending life spans through their care of the young generation. Backing the “grandmother hypothesis,” a growing belief among anthropologists that women…
Jakarta PostJAVA, INDONESIA, July 13, 2003: The Hindu temples of Gedung Songo are not as famous as their younger Javanese successors, but the scenery, clear mountain air and outstanding views create a setting that rivals Java’s more celebrated temples. The beauty of visiting Gedung Songo lies in being able to slowly meander up and down the hillside, appreciating each temple…
www.ndtv.comNASIK, INDIA, July 19, 2003: Preparations are under way for the Trayambakeshwar Kumbha Mela, the first Kumbha Mela of the 21st century, to be held in August at Nasik, Maharashtra. However, the organizers have run into a serious problem for Shivgaj, the 35-year-old elephant who was likely to lead the opening ceremony, is out with an injury. Shivgaj’s hind legs…
SourceBANGKOK, THAILAND, January 7, 2003: Throughout the day, devotees offer flowers and incense to a large gilt statue of Lord Ganesha who sits on its high pedestal under a canopy outside Bangkok’s World Trade Center. If passersby do not have a gift for the deity, they offer a simple sawasdee — the traditional Thai greeting with respectfully folded palms, called…
SourceNEW DELHI, INDIA, July 12, 2003: On the occasion of Guru Purnima, H.H. Swami Tejomayananda gave an upadesha in praise of the Satguru. “In Hinduism the place of the guru is considered higher than that of the Lord Himself. Atheists and nonbelievers feel that this is a gross exaggeration. They cannot comprehend the concept. We learn from teachers, who give…
SourceAMARNATH, INDIA, July 15, 2003: After being bedridden for 14 years and now completely recovered from paralysis, Sarwer Ahmed was pilgrimaging to Lord Siva’s holy cave shrine, Amarnath. Dressed in a dhoti and chanting “Jai Bolay Nath, Jai Shiv Shanker,” this Muslim businessman, accompanied by his wife Abida, were part of the first batch to pay obeisance at the holy…
SourceTEHRAN, IRAN, July 17, 2003: The historic Bandar Abbas Hindu Temple in Hormozgan Province is considered a unique sample of Indian architecture in Iran. The temple was built in 1310 CE by Indian architects for Hindus residing in the region, following the order of the Governor of the ports at the time, Mohammad-Hassan Khan Sa’dolmalek. Covering a total area of…
SourceWASHINGTON, D.C, July 14, 2003: Succumbing to complaints from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the National Park Service (NPS) has removed plaques of Biblical passages at popular viewing areas of the Grand Canyon, citing concerns that it may violate the separation between church and state. However, the Park Service recently decided that one of the main trails into the…