GO TO SOURCE KATRA, INDIA, June 19, 2001: An unprecedented rush of pilgrims to Vaishno Devi has created chaos and confusion right from Katra, base camp, to the bhavan where thousands of yatris are awaiting their turn for “darshan” in the open. Against the room capacity of 10,000 to 12,000 in hotels and private guest houses between 40,000 and 50,000…
GO TO SOURCE PURI, INDIA, June 23, 2001: Over 800,000 devotees witnessed the famous car festival of Lord Jagannath, His elder brother Lord Balabhadra and sister Goddess Subhadra in the pilgrim town of Puri on Saturday. The downpour and power failure on Friday night didn’t deter devotees who thronged to celebrate the annual sojourn of the Lord. The “Mangala Arati”…
GO TO SOURCE HYDERABAD, INDIA, JUNE 23, 2001: Child marriages are banned under Indian laws, but a nongovernmental organization (NGO) working in Mahabubnagar district of Andhra Pradesh publicly organized 11 such weddings in one day. Uchita Viaha Vedika, a voluntary NGO which arranges free mass weddings of poor couples, organized those of 11 couples aged between 12 and 16 years…
GO TO SOURCE NEW DELHI & TAMIL NADU, INDIA, June 23, 2001: They are calling it “the cause of the girl child.” Organizations such as the National Commission for Women, UNICEF and the Indian Medical Association, collaborating in their campaign against the gender bias, have invited religious leaders to participate in a national convention on Sunday, June 24th. Alarmingly, the…
GO TO SOURCE PHILADELPHIA, USA, June 17, 2001: What creates that transcendental feeling of being one with the universe? Scientists are asking whether spirituality can be explained in terms of neural networks, neurotransmitters and brain chemistry. Using powerful brain imaging technology, researchers are exploring what mystics call nirvana, and what Christians describe as a state of grace. In an experiment…
GO TO SOURCE BANGALORE, INDIA, June 18, 2001: Victoria Layout in the heart of the city seems to be a haven for unauthorized shrines, in this case Christian altars — mostly dedicated to St Mary. Many are small, but on Richmond Road Circle one is a full-fledged altar with its walls laced in marble, and a mini garden around it…
Source: The Hindu CHENNAI, INDIA, JUNE 22, 2001: The poor condition of elephants kept in many temples in the state has brought into focus the need for the forest department to intervene, according to wildlife enthusiasts. Poor maintenance, cramped rooms, lack of veterinary care, wrong diet and exploitation by their masters are some of the problems the elephants face. According…
GO TO SOURCE LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, June 24, 2001: Vegetarians in Britain are being offered cheaper life insurance because, it is claimed, they are healthier and less likely to die earlier. They are being given a 25 percent reduction in their monthly premiums. The Animal Friends Insurance (AFI) society is the first to offer the cheaper rates to vegetarians and…
Source: India Today KATRA, INDIA, June 20, 2001: Thousands of people are waiting for their turn at Katra from where the pilgrims assemble to begin their journey to the Vaishno Devi Shrine. This year, summer vacations are producing 40,000-60,000 pilgrims per day. The Shrine Board has the infrastructure to handle issuing passes to only 22 thousand people at a time.…
GO TO SOURCE WASHINGTON, D.C., June 18, 2001: Among the world’s 6,800 languages, half to 90 percent could be extinct by the end of the century. Half of all languages are spoken by fewer than 2,500 people each, according to the Worldwatch Institute, a private organization that monitors global trends. Languages need at least 100,000 speakers to pass from generation…