SourcePAHALGAM,INDIA, July 12, 2003: Undeterred by the cold mountain air, rocky terrain and fears of terrorist attacks, more than 6,500 devotees camped in tents at a base camp overlooking an icy blue lake in Sheshnag, Kashmir, the last stop before the annual trek up the mountain to one of the most revered of Hindu shrines. At daybreak on Saturday, authorities…
SourceSRINAGAR, INDIA, July 15, 2003: Poor planning and lack of proper regulation of pilgrim traffic to Amarnath has resulted in serious inconveniences to pilgrims. Traffic from Aishmuqum to Chandanwari is clogged for hours daily while pilgrims are forced to spend nights in adjoining jungles when the base camps of Nunwan, Chandanwari and Pahalgam fill up. Officials say that though the…
SourceUNITED KINGDOM, July 16, 2003: A future British monarch need not be a member of the Anglican church, and minor royals ought to “go out and get a job,” recommends a radical report on the monarchy. The Fabian Commission, which received Buckingham Palace’s cooperation during its inquiry, also called for the monarch be allowed to retire, opening the way for…
SourceAMARNATH, INDIA, July 12, 2003: Amidst chants of “Har Har Mahadev” and “Jai Bholanath,” the first batch of devotees on the annual Amarnath pilgrimage paid obeisance at the holy ice Lingam at the cave shrine here. To view excellent photos of Amarnath pilgrims and the holy Lingam, click on “source” above.
Fijilive.comFIJI ISLANDS, July 14, 2003: The first fire walking by the India Sangarma Ikya Sangam devotees took place today in the Sri Raj Maha Mariamman Temple. Chief Priest Pandit Tirthadeva Peruman, who has been doing the fire-walking puja (prayer) for the past five years, officiated. Almost a thousand people attended the celebration, but only about 45-48 people participated in the…
SourceCHICAGO, ILLINOIS, July 9, 2003: About 200 Hindu and Buddhist sculptures and paintings are on display at the Art Institute of Chicago. Entitled “Himalayas: An Aesthetic Adventure,” the exhibits are on loan from many top-notch North American collections. The exhibition has been organized by noted art historian Pratapaditya Pal who says that his intention was to create a masterpiece show,…
SourceLONDON, ENGLAND, July 12, 2003: A new Hindu youth initiative, HYUK, was launched in the House of Lords on Thursday. At a reception hosted by Lord Dholakia, President of the Liberal Democrats Party, it was announced that the HYUK will help British youth to understand Hindu culture and its philosophies better and see how it fits into the modern world.…
SourceNEW YORK, NEW YORK, July 15, 2003: Five beautifully trained dancers from India’s Nrityagram Dance Ensemble received a standing ovation at the Central Park Summer Stage. The ensemble is from Nrityagram, a dance village in Karnataka set up by the late Protima Bedi. The moment artistic director Surupa Sen was revealed under a solitary red light, in a Goddess Durga…
SourceCHICAGO, U.S.A., July 11, 2003: In the last year, Christian reality shows like “Travel the Road” and “Truth Quest,” a religious version of MTV’s “Road Rules,” have attracted viewers in Christian households and opened eyes at religious broadcasting stations. Taking a clue from secular networks who found reality programs are equally popular with watchers, but less expensive to produce than…
SourceJAWALA HILLS, KASHMIR, July 13, 2003: After being silent for over a decade, temple bells are ringing once again in the Kashmir valley as thousands of pilgrims, including Kashmiri Pandits, are thronging the ancient temples in the state. Over 9,000 Kashmiri Pandits visited the 460-years-old wooden temple of “Kalo Mata,” popularly known as “Dolo Bhagwati,” on the Deity’s birth anniversary…