GO TO SOURCE PARIS, FRANCE, September 3, 2001: Celebrating Ganesha’s birthday with pomp and gaiety, French Hindus honored the Lord of Categories in a procession for seven kilometers in about four hours. Ganesha murthis were mounted on a five-metre-tall chariot outside the Mannika Temple and pulled by devotees amidst devotional singing, dancing, and offering of sweets. Traditionally, the murthis would…
GO TO SOURCE PAKISTAN, September 5, 2001: Religious persecution and violation of human rights are forcing Hindus in Pakistan to flee to India, a Pakistani migrants association said today. Each month groups of persecuted Hindus are coming to India in the hope of a better future, but they face a tough time due to the lack of a refugee policy…
GO TO SOURCE USA, September 8, 2001: A frequent proposal from the Christian Right in America is for a constitutional amendment to allow voluntary prayer in public schools. Proponents will cite results from the Gallup poll, such as at “source,” which show 78% of Americans support such an amendment. What they don’t usually cite is the response to this question…
GO TO SOURCE SCOTLAND, U.K., September, 6, 2001: Parents in Scotland will not be able to smack children under the age of three under proposals announced by the Scottish Executive. The move, unveiled on Thursday by Justice Minister Jim Wallace, will also make it illegal to hit children on the head, shake them or strike them with an implement. The…
GO TO SOURCE BANGALORE, INDIA, September 8, 2001: For those interested in the stone inscription found in Babri Masjid (HPI, September 5), go to “source” above for a detailed summary including the stone inscription.
GO TO SOURCE BOSTON, MASSACHUCETTS, September 8, 2001: Vegetarian Resource Group now offers a college-level online course on vegetarianism, taught by Chef Nancy Berkoff, RD. Originally designed as an advanced nutrition class for culinary students, the course has been expanded to include topics of interest for everyone interested in food, health, small business, and vegetarianism. For more information online go…
Source: The Hindu PATHANAMTHITA, INDIA, September 2, 2001: The Pampa Parirakshana Samithi (PPS), a Kozhencherry-based environmental organization which has been crusading for the cause of the river Pampa, has said that it is high time the government took serious note of the alarmingly high environmental issues at Sabrimala, Kerala’s most popular pilgrimage destination. The PPS general secretary, Mr. N.K. Sukumaran…
GO TO SOURCE CALICUT, INDIA, September 7, 2001: Kalarippayat is said to be the world’s original martial art. More than 2,000 years old, it was developed by warriors of the Cheras kingdom in Kerala. Training followed strict rituals and guidelines. From unarmed kicks and punches, kalarippayat warriors would graduate to sticks, swords, spears and daggers and study the marmas —…
Source: The Hindu HYDERABAD, INDIA, September 4, 2001: A proposed aireal cable car system to transport pilgrims from Tirupati town to the Tirumala temple will be the world’s longest such facility, stretching for a length of 6.1 km. Ropeways are synonymous with hilly countries like Switzerland and Austria, but their length is not more than 2 to 3 km. on…
GO TO SOURCE PURI, INDIA, September 5, 2001: Puri’s temple priests have opposed the Orissa Tourism Department’s proposal to build a watch-tower outside the Jagannath temple to help non-Hindus get a glimpse of the 13th century structure. Ipsit Pratihari, president, Sri Jagannath Sevayat Kalyan Parishad, said: ”This move will endanger the security of the temple and so should not be…