Source: The Hindu CHENNAI, INDIA, March 29, 2002: The state-sponsored Sunday spiritual classes in 63 Hindu shrines drew some children on the inaugural day. Now the temple administrations are working to get more to attend. Sources in the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department state that executive officers of the 63 temples were advised to contact all neighboring schools to…
GO TO SOURCE AHMEDABAD, GUJARAT, March 28, 2002: Authorities are considering a complete ban on playing with colors, especially balloons and bulbs which could contain lethal fluids, on Holi. Although the decision on the extent of effecting prohibitory orders and curtailing movement on this festival is yet to be finalized, police sources say there might be a blanket curfew over…
GO TO SOURCE NEW YORK, NEW YORK, March 29, 2002: “Meeting God: Elements of Hindu Devotion” at the American Museum of Natural History here in New York City got this positive review from the New York Times. “Visitors to this amazing, often moving hodgepodge of a show may or may not encounter the divine presence. But they can easily enter…
GO TO SOURCE WASHINGTON, D.C., March 25, 2002: Playing right now at the Library of Congress, the National Geographic Society and American University, in the city of Washington, D.C., are 35 films directed by India’s Satyajit Ray. Acclaimed as one of the 20th century’s greatest directors, Ray was given a honorary Oscar for his work in the field before he…
GO TO SOURCE SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, March 24, 2002: Sixty San Francisco classroom teachers make yoga an integral part of physical education as well as regular classes. At seven public schools here — with more on the way — the “yoga break” has taken its place beside typical school rituals. Yoga Journal, a Berkeley-based bimonthly, calls it “Om Schooling.” Besieged…
GO TO SOURCE HYDERABAD, INDIA, March 26, 2002: “Buddha, Jesus, Christ and Marx are the ideal persons for our society,” stated Kancha Illaiah. He teaches politics at the Government Women’s College, Koti, Hyderabad, is active in the Dalit-Bahujan [Scheduled and Backward Caste] movement and wrote a book, “Why I Am Not A Hindu.” His remarks at a convention on Dalit…
Source: Religion News Service HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA, March 20, 2002: Siddheshvari Devi Ji could use “On the Road Again” as her theme song. Devi Ji, better known as Didi Ji, is one of the few female Hindu swamis in North America and she’s almost always on the road. She carries all of her worldly possessions in a suitcase as she travels,…
GO TO SOURCE NEW DELHI, INDIA, March 25, 2002: Groups of cotton farmers from four states have threatened to disobey the government ban on the use of genetically modified BT Cotton seed, unless a final decision on commercialization of the gene-vitalized seed is arrived at soon. The announcement comes less than 24 hours before a crucial meeting of the Genetic…
GO TO SOURCE GAYA, INDIA, March 25, 2002: About 200 Buddhist monks, led by Bhadant Surai Sasai, on Saturday encircled the Mahabodhi Temple and sat on an indefinite dharna, or protest, demanding the transfer of the temple management to an all-Buddhist committee and effective ban on the entry of people with shoes on in the temple. The Mahabodhi Temple is…
GO TO SOURCE CHENNAI, INDIA, March 24, 2002: The chief minister of Tamil Nadu, Jayalalitha, launched the “Anna Dhan” program in 63 temples across the state today. Under this program, voluntary contributions will be used to feed the poor. She inaugurated the program this afternoon by serving food to 200 people at the Kapaleeshwarar temple. A hundi, offering box, is…