SourceSRINAGAR, INDIA, April 5, 2003: Kashmir is witnessing an increase in conversion from Islam to Christianity. Christian groups are putting the number of new converts at over 10,000 and a Sunday Express investigation confirms that conversions have been taking place regularly across the Valley. At least a dozen Christian missions and churches based in the U.S., Germany, the Netherlands and…
Media CenterPONDICHERRY, INDIA, April 7, 2003: Mother of Shri Aurobindo Ashram, affectionately known as Shri Ma, was a great devotee of Lord Ganesha. The Pondicherry Shri Manakkula Vinayaka Devasthanam released a booklet in August, 2001, which gives an inspiring story of Shri Ma and her relationship with Lord Ganesha. “There is a famous 700-year-old temple of Manakkula Vinayaka adjacent to…
SourceDHAR, INDIA, April 8, 2003: A day after the Archaeological Survey of India ordered open the disputed Bhojshala shrine for Hindus every Tuesday nearly 600 people offered prayers there in an atmosphere of peace. The devotees, some of whom were beating drums, entered the shrine at 9:00 AM and there were no signs of any tensions. Meanwhile, a spokesperson from…
HPINEW DELHI, INDIA, March 28, 2003: Dalits, viewed as the traditional target for conversion, are not the only ones turning to Buddhism here. Even high-caste Hindus with upper middle-class backgrounds are increasingly attending Buddhist meditations. Their practice has a Japanese connection for there are about 100 Nichiren Buddhism cells in Delhi, says Madhumita Sen. She works for an international NGO…
SourceKWADUKUZA, SOUTH AFRICA, April 6, 2003: A Hindu temple that was abandoned by sugarcane farmers and their families because of crime and land invasions is to be converted into a church after being donated to a Christian organization. The Shree Hanuman Temple was built in 1982 by the Sing brothers and members of the Nonoti community, outside KwaDukuza. Madhan Sing,…
HPIKAUAI, U.S.A., April 7, 2003: The March 26 HPI carried a story about specially trained priests who are helping to give additional meaning to Hindu rituals. Several readers have requested who they can contact about this program and how to get the books mentioned in the article. Readers may kindly contact Mr. Girish Bhapat at Jnana Prabodhini, 510 Sadashiv Peth,…
SourceKUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, April 5, 2003: Parti Keadilan Nasional wants the practice of charging fees for religious rites during Thaipusam changed and has submitted a memorandum to the Malaysia Hindu Sangam (MHS) asking for its help. The party’s nine-member delegation handed the 17-point memo to Sangam president A. Vaithilingam yesterday. “We are asking the MHS to intervene for the benefit…
SourceCHICAGO, U.S.A., April 6, 2003: A Chicago Indian immigrant is helping area Hindus who cannot get to distant temples by showing “jagrans” on a public access television program. Avi Verma’s program, Jagran TV, is on Chicago Access Network Television (CAN TV). Jagran TV is a half-hour show featuring Hindu religious services called jagrans that Verma organizes. The show recently celebrated…
Chicago Sun TimesCHICAGO, U.S.A., March 30, 2003: A one-of-a-kind show of Buddhist and Hindu art opened at the Art Institute of Chicago this week featuring 187 works of painting and sculpture from Tibet, Nepal, Kashmir and Bhutan. The works in the exhibit were chosen entirely for their aesthetic qualities, not to illustrate any particular philosophy, says Dr. Pratapaditya Pal, the…
SourceVADODARA, INDIA, April 3, 2003: A rare collection of around 2,647 miniature paintings and manuscripts, many of which have never been exhibited at Baroda Museum and Picture Art Gallery, are being readied for a comprehensive digital documentation. Art historian Ratan Parimoo has been assigned by the State government for a comprehensive study of this rare collection. “The present documentation is…