Source: The Daily Pioneer KOLKATA, INDIA, September 15, 2001: Giving a thumbs down to the Central Government’s move to introduce astrology in the curriculum of universities, Rabindra Bharati University (RBU) here has rejected a University Grant’s Commission proposal to set up an astrology department and returned a grant of US$31,900. The UGC controls much of the funding for universities in…
Source: Religion News Service KASHMIR, INDIA, September 12, 2001: A Muslim shepherd in northern India who discovered an ancient Hindu temple while searching for lost sheep will receive 10 percent of the cash offerings that tourism officials expect the shrine will collect. Ghulam Qadir stumbled across the 1,500-year-old cave shrine in Chandanwari in central Kashmir, and found a 12-inch icon…
GO TO SOURCE BANGALORE, INDIA: The government is keen to cash in on the sudden demand for ayurveda medical treatment from foreign tourists and will introduce it in three tourist resorts in Karnataka. Shortly, ayurvedic treatment procedures, especially “panchakarma,” will be start at Bhimeshwari in Mandya district, Devabag near Karwar and Kabini. Speaking to The Sunday Times of India, Tourism…
GO TO SOURCE KOLKATA, INDIA, September 14, 2001: Sick and tired of the garbage piling up during the puja and the stench, the Calcutta Municipal Corporation has come with a novel competition scheme for cleanliness among puja pandals where the cleanest puja pandal will be awarded a prize. A “pandal” is a temporary temple set up beside (or in) a…
GO TO SOURCE PUNE, INDIA, August 28, 2001: Sadhu Vaswani Mission announced today its annual “Meatless Day,” also called “Meat-Out Day,” on November 25. The popular observance falls on the birthday of the Mission’s founder, Sadhu Vaswani, a revered saint of the Sindhi community. The present leader of the Mission, J.P. (Dada) Vaswani said, “Buddha asked 25 centuries ago, ‘how…
GO TO SOURCE SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, September 14, 2001: No changes have yet appeared in plans for Diwali celebration on October 13 as a result of the recent attacks upon America. Indians here in years past have set up celebrations at popular entertainment places, including the casinos of Atlantic City and the Great America amusement park in San Jose, California.…
GO TO SOURCE KAUAI, HAWAII, September 13, 2001: In response to many inquiries he has received about yesterday’s calamity, Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, publisher of Hinduism Today and Hindu Press International, has asked his monks to share this view from the Hindu heart and perspective: “Every high-minded and good soul on Earth has been hurt and shocked by the appalling images…
GO TO SOURCE UDUPI, INDIA, Sept. 13, 3001: “Everyone must do duty, honestly, sincerely and diligently and this is the highest offer to God. This is Lord Krishna’s message to the mankind,” according to Vishweshatheertha Swamiji of Pejawar Adokshaja Math, Udupi Krishna Temple. Krishanashtami was being celebrated in Udupi on September 10. He said the Krishna Jayanti was celebrated in…
GO TO SOURCE PATNA, INDIA, Sept. 13, 2001: Though the Government Ayurvedic College, Patna, located in Kadamkuan, would celebrate its Platinum Jubilee in December 2001, since the last three years no medicines have been purchased for the college pharmacy despite allotments. This reports blames local politics and stonewalling amongst appointees who run the college. The college which was established with…
GO TO SOURCE LUCKNOW, INDIA, Sept. 9, 2001: Thousands of Dalits, often segregated as “untouchables” in India’s Hindu caste hierarchy, converted to Buddhism at in a northern Indian city. Leaders of the late-Saturday ritual by some 6,000 Dalits said they were protesting discrimination by upper caste people and India’s failure to raise caste issues at the racism conference in Durban,…