GO TO SOURCE ASHKELON, ISRAEL, April 22, 2001: Over 30,000 Israelis gathered last week for four days at Nitzanim beach on the Mediterranean to celebrate “Boombamela,” a festival modeled loosely on the Kumbha Mela. As well, it appears to have a connection with dance “raves.” The organizers said they were inspired by Kumbha Mela and started the event in Israel…
Source: The Hindu BANGALORE, INDIA, April 19, 2001: An on-going debate over making Vedic astrology a university subject in India has taken a new twist. The University Grants Commission’s (UGC) Chairman, Mr. Hari Gautam, defended the proposal by saying that “the Nobel laureate, Sir C.V. Raman, had called astrology a science.” Prof. S. Ramaseshan, renowned physicist and Sir Raman’s nephew,…
Source: Rediff on the Net VARNASI, INDIA, April 17, 2001: More information has become available on the Catholic priest, Father Anthony Fernandes, who converted to Hinduism here on Tuesday. The Jesuit priest was converted at a public ceremony at Ram Krishna Temple in the ancient Hindu city. “Today is a day of great joy for me, as I am no…
Source: The Hindu LUCKNOW, INDIA, April 20, 2001: Yielding to popular demand, the Uttar Pradesh Government today confirmed the renaming of Allahabad as Prayagraj, its ancient name.
GO TO SOURCE BRITAIN, UK, April 19, 2001: Britain announced on Thursday that the government is bringing forward legislation to outlaw human cloning within months. Currently, cloning work is restricted to scientists granted licenses. Health Secretary Alan Milburn said that the only way to ensure human cloning never takes place is to ban reproductive human cloning by law. While agreeing…
GO TO SOURCE DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA, April 16, 2001: Striving to fulfill his religious duty with meditation and prayer, a wealthy South African Indian gentleman has chosen to build a temple on his property exclusively for family use. The plans for the structure were approved by the municipality and construction was well on its way. Fearing that the temple would…
GO TO SOURCE CHENNAI, INDIA, April 17, 2001: Till such a peaceful settlement is arrived at and the Island Tamils are able to return to Sri Lanka, the BJP will continue to urge the Union Government to intervene in the Sri Lankan issue for a solution that is acceptable to all Sri Lankan Tamils and will ensure peace in the…
GO TO SOURCE April 15, 2001: Time magazine ran an extensive story on the “Science of Yoga.” High profile celebrities such as Christy Turlington, Madonna, Julia Roberts, Michelle Pfeiffer and Sting are among the most persuasive advocates of the current wave of yoga practiced in the US. According to the article, yoga has evolved in American consciousness in several stages:…
GO TO SOURCE UNITED KINGDOM, April 13, 2001: Influencing the United Kingdom with their presence, the East Indian community has culturally infiltrated into many corners of British society. Last year saw the staging of the Mahabharata in British Theatre and this year Indhu Rubasingham’s production of the Ramayana is playing at the National Olivier Theatre. This mixed review, titled “Farcical…
Source: The Hindustan Times GANDHI NAGAR, INDIA, April 19, 2001: In a debatable decision, Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel has banned for a year serving of non-vegetarian food in the government premises like circuit houses and rest houses. The controversial decision is actually of no consequence as the circuit houses in Gujarat in any case do not cook any nonvegetarian stuff…