Correction on India’s President
Source: HPI December 5, 2001: A report yesterday mistakenly identified Sri R. Venkataraman as “India’s President.” He is, of course, a past president of India. The present president is Sri K.R. Narayanan.
Devadasi Tradition Subject of New Film
Source: India West LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, December 1, 2001: The dedication of girls to temples in India is the topic of “Maya,” a new film from director Dijvijay Singh. The film’s release was hailed for its unsparing depiction of India’s little-understood devadasi tradition. The film centers around twelve-year-old Maya (Nitya Shetty) who lives with her middle class family. The day…
Krittika Bonfires Light South India
GO TO SOURCE TIRUVANNAMALAI, INDIA, November 30, 2001: Hundreds of thousands of devotees witnessed the grand spectacle of the lighting of the Annamalai Maha Deepam (bonfire) on top of the 2,668-feet high Annamalai hills on the occasion of Krittika Deepam which marked the culmination of the 10-day Krittika Deepam festival here on Friday. Bonfires are lit near temples throughout South…
Conversion in New Delhi
GO TO SOURCE NEW DELHI, INDIA, November 15, 2001: Speaking out against religious conversion Swami Dayananda Saraswati, a Hindu spiritual leader, says at a meeting here, “If a person is converted by proselytization, he’s uprooted from his tradition. There’s a need to see we all live in harmony and mutual respect.” Despite these sentiments, conversion is a reality throughout India…
Harrison’s Ashes Bound for India
GO TO SOURCE VARANASI, INDIA, December 3, 2001: George Harrison’s intimate relationship with Indian mysticism, music and Hinduism sent his wife and son on a pilgrimage to the holy Ganges river in India, where his ashes will be scattered. No report has appeared as to where or when Harrison’s widow, Olivia and his 23-year-old son, Dhani, were to arrive, but…
Delhi’s Teens Get Religion
Source: Times of India NEW DELHI, INDIA, November 27, 2001: Teenagers in Delhi are conformists to the core — they are more religious than their peers in other metros and want mama to choose their life partners. A recent survey conducted by Hyderabad-based market research firm NFO-MBL over five metros found 53 per cent of Delhi’s youngsters saying religion was…
Thailand’s White Elephants
GO TO SOURCE BANGKOK, THAILAND, Dec 2, 2001: Khun Phra, Thailand’s esteemed royal white elephant, is in the pink of health and that spells good news for a nation worried about its shaky economy. Thailand considers white elephants to be highly auspicious and deserving of the greatest care. The country has 11 white elephants chosen on the basis of distinct…
Trustees Object to Billboards Inside Temple
GO TO SOURCE HYDERABAD, INDIA, November 28, 2001: Up until recently, the outer walls of temple compounds have had advertising on them as well as film posters and political agendas. Desperate to maintain temples in the state of Andhra Pradesh, the government, with prompting from the Endowment Department, allowed billboards to be erected within the temple premises. Temple trustees at…
Thirumuruga Kirupanandha Vaariyar Swamigal Site Announced
GO TO SOURCE CHENNAI, INDIA, December 3, 2001: A new web site on very popular Tamil orator and singer, Thirumuruga Kirupanandha Vaariyar Swamigal, has been created by S.Thiru Chudar Nambiand is now available at “source” above.
Sudhir Parikh Donates $151K For World’s Biggest Temple
Source: Press Release NEW YORK, USA, December 2, 2001: The Vraj Temple of the Pusti Margiya Vaishnava Samaj of North America received a major financial boost in its bid to build a large temple on a 50,000 square-foot area. New Jersey-based well-known Indian American community leader and philanthropist, Dr. Sudhir M. Parikh, made a record donation of US$151,000 on the…