GO TO SOURCE SOUTH AFRICA, January 15, 2003: HPI ran a story where views from one South African Indian Hindu were quoted opposing Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s recent proposal for dual citizenship for India’s diaspora. Thavashan Govender’s response to this story follows: “I myself am a South African of Indian origin and a Hindu as well. I am…
GO TO SOURCE TEMPLE, TEXAS, January 15, 2003: The Hindu Temple of Central Texas, 4309 Midway Drive, Temple, Texas, announces their kumbhabhishekam. The installation of the Deities and dedication of the temple will be held in three different stages. The first, for Lord Venkateswara and Goddess Padmavati (donated by the Thirupati Thirumalai Devasthanam), will take place on January 17, 18,…
Source: Washington Post BALI, INDONESIA, January 12, 2003: In difficult moments, I Made Pastika hikes briskly up a mint-green mountain toward a cool, silent place above the clouds. At the summit, after a two-hour climb, the Indonesian investigator in charge of solving the worst case of international terrorism since Sept. 11, 2001, sits cross-legged before an ornate, centuries-old temple carved…
Source: Nepal News KATHMANDU, NEPAL, January 9, 2003: Christian missionaries have congregated on the outskirts of the capital city, where they are discussing the pros and cons of a strategic plan which aims to multiply churches across the Himalayas. They plan to achieve this by exploiting the marginal conditions of religious communities in the face of the worsening conflict. More…
GO TO SOURCE ALLAHABAD, INDIA, Kumbha Mela, 2001. The place is packed with nearly four million people. Stranded in the crowd, eight-year-old Subodh holds out a 10-rupee note (US$0.21) and sobs, “Please take this and help me find my father.” The milling crowd has separated the two. After wandering around for a few hours, the boy finds himself before the…
GO TO SOURCE NEW DELHI, INDIA, January 5, 2003: Use of fly ash in construction laying of roads and reclamation of low lying areas may soon become mandatory as the statutory period of 60 days for raising objections and making suggestions in this regard will soon expire. “Fly ash” is the environmentally hazardous byproduct of coal-burning power plants. The draft…
GO TO SOURCE LUCKNOW, INDIA, December 30, 2002: To promote and propagate the Ramayana and the spiritual, social and cultural values that the epic holds, the government of Mauritius has taken the responsibility to run The Ramayana Center. Rajendra Arun, chairman of the center, briefed the press here on Saturday about plans to provide guidance and support for intellectual and…
GO TO SOURCE CHENNAI, INDIA January 11, 2003: “The mood is upbeat among Sri Lankan refugees in various Tamil Nadu camps and they are all eager to return home,” Union Minister of State for Home, C.H. Vidyasagar Rao, said here today. The Minister, who visited some of the camps, said the on-going peace talks between the Sri Lankan Government and…
GO TO SOURCE CHENNAI, INDIA, January 11, 2003: Sri Tukaram Ganapathi , a versatile abhang singer in the typical Maharastrian varakari style, is to be featured for a three-hour program at the Cleveland Music Festival on April 24, 2003, as part of a USA tour. All proceeds from the program go to the maintenance of his go-shala (cow protection place).…