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…
Source: The Hindu CHENNAI, INDIA, August 31, 2001: A youth was drowned and two others were reported missing at sea while attempting to immerse a Ganesa icon, giving Friday’s Vinayaka Chathurthi procession a tragic dimension. Eyewitnesses said a group of youth ventured into the sea about 4:30 p.m. to immerse a medium-sized idol at the Seerani Arangam, when a strong…
Source: The Hindu THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, INDIA, September 3, 2001: The Adivasi-Dalit Action Council has resolved to intensify its stir launched on the eve of Thiruvonam day to highlight its long-standing demands. Adivasis, the tribal people of India, planned to block the Onam pageantry to be held at the culmination of the week-long celebrations. Even as hundreds of Adivasis were facing death…
Source: Religion News Service LEEDS, ENGLAND, September 7, 2001: That the UK’s Roman Catholic schools may play a roll in discouraging young Catholics from practicing their faith came under scrutiny at the annual meeting of the National Conference of Priests of England and Wales. Priests from northwest England said that in their experience teenagers who went to Catholic schools were…
GO TO SOURCE BHUBANESHWAR, INDIA, August 27, 2001: Entering a temple to partake of the darshan exuding from the deity in the inner sanctum, is what makes Hindu temple worship so uplifting and special. The famous Jagannath temple in the state of Orissa has denied this privilege to non-Hindus. Priests (pandas) have been adamant about upholding this rule. According to…
GO TO SOURCE PURI, INDIA, September 4, 2001: The Jagannath Temple administration is peeved at the depiction of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Suvadra on a range of saris by a designer house of Kolkata. Himanshu Sekhar Samantaray, administrator of Sri Jagannath temple has asked the company for the immediate withdrawal of the saris from the market or else…
GO TO SOURCE THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, INDIA, August 29, 2001: Collapsing wells and colored rain in many parts of the State of Kerala has led to speculation as to the cause by layman and scientist alike. Dr. Rajasekharam has taken a different and more traditional approach to the phenomena. After studying an ancient Sanskrit text called Charaka Samhita on Ayurveda, dated over…