News

SourceWASHINGTON D.C., U.S.A., May 24, 2003: Persistent lobbying by Hindu-Americans, especially after last year’s violence in Gujarat, to have an Indian-American on the US statutory commission which oversees religious freedom worldwide has paid off. Preeta Bansal, who was earlier solicitor-general of New York and a White House counsel in the Clinton administration, was last night nominated to the US Commission…

Times of IndiaNEW DELHI, INDIA, May 24, 2003: It has been officially announced that the Kailash Mansarovar yatra has been postponed indefinitely due to the closure of the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR). The Indian government was informed by the Chinese authorities that they were not allowing any tourists into the TAR in an effort to keep the area SARS free.…

SourceFREEPORT, TRINIDAD, May 25, 2003: Trinidad’s Dattatreya Yoga Center is currently undergoing a massive renovation, as reported in yesterday’s HPI. H.H. Sri Ganapati Sachidananda Swami of Mysore, India, head of the yoga center will be attending the June inauguration ceremonies. In front of Sri Swami’s residence, a small Karyasiddhi Hanuman under a mandapam has been constructed. Less than 200 feet…

HPINEW DELHI, INDIA, May 25, 2003: Yesterday Swami Chinmayananda, a sannyasin or Hindu monk, was taken into the Vajpayee Government as Minister of State for Home Affairs. Swami has the distinction of being the only saint in the Vajpayee government at the moment and as minister of state for Home Affairs, he will report directly to L.K. Advani.

SourcePUSHPAGIRI, INDIA, May 24, 2003: Head of Pushpagiri Peedam, His Holiness Vidya Nrusimha Bharathi Swami, has been working to spread Vedic dharma, moral values and virtues in the people of Andhra Pradesh. The Pushpagiri Mahasamsthanam has now constructed the Pushpagiri Mutt (monastery) at Tirumala on a piece of land given by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam at Medarmetta, Ring Road, for…

SourceNEW DELHI, INDIA, May 22, 2003: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on Thursday issued a notification to declare the Hanuman temple in Connaught Place a protected monument. Some other ancient temples in Delhi and other states may also be extended ASI’s protection as part of a campaign launched by Tourism and Culture Minister Jagmohan to improve conditions in and…

SourceNEW DELHI, INDIA, May 4, 2003: Former BJP president, Bangaru Laxman, taking issue with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati for her threat to convert to Buddhism, said that conversion was no cure-all for the problems of Dalits (“untouchables”). Laxman, the first Dalit president of the BJP, said the Dalits, instead of adopting an escapist approach, should fight for their honorable…

Leicester MercuryLEICESTER, ENGLAND, May 15, 2003: Religious leaders criticized a scene in the Haymarket Theater’s production of “Bollywood Jane” in which a statue of Lord Ganesha is thrown to the floor. On Monday, the play’s production staff met to discuss how the scene could be altered and made adjustments to the scene so the statue is not thrown on the…

SourceBHUBANESWAR, INDIA, May 21, 2003: A recent health camp, held for sevayats (staff) and their families, revealed that most of the sevayats of Puri’s Jagannath temple suffer from neurological ailments. Of over 300 sevayats examined, 70 percent had neurological problems that came from frequent climbing of temple stairs and carrying temple food pots on their shoulders. They also suffered from…

SourceLONDON, ENGLAND, May 13, 2003: Love is in the air thanks to Portsmouth inventor Mike Gill and his inflatable church. The life-sized house of God has an altar, steeple, organ, and room for 100 guests. It’s available for weddings anywhere in the country. The world’s one and only inflatable church is here to allow couples to get married wherever their…