Source GEORGETOWN, MALAYSIA, January 20, 2019 (Straits Times): For the third year running, two chariots took to the streets here to mark the commencement of the three-day state-level Thaipusam celebration. Over a thousand devotees thronged Little India here to witness the start of the annual procession, the highlight of the festivities. The Penang Hindu Endowment Board’s golden chariot kicked things…
Source During the Kali Yuga, man, being completely dependent on food to live life, cannot altogether shake off the idea that he is the body. But truly he is Brahman. — Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa (1836‚Äì1886), Indian mystic
KAUAI, HAWAII, USA, January 17, 2019: Our chief India correspondent, Mr. Rajiv Malik along with photographer Pramil Dwivedi, will be covering the Kumbha Mela from January 24th to 29th. We request any of our HPI readers who might arrange interview time with any of the prominent or not-so-prominent saints, swamis or sadhus at the event to write the managing editor,…
Source UNITED STATES, January 15, 2019 (Nurse): As mindfulness and complementary health techniques become more mainstream, more Americans are adding yoga and meditation to their wellness routines. Survey results published by the National Institutes of Health found the number of American adults and children practicing yoga and meditation has risen significantly over the past five years. According to an NIH…
Source PRAYAGRAJ, INDIA, January 16, 2019 (Swarajyamag): Over 12.5 million devotees took a holy dip yesterday at the Sangam, heralding the 50-day Kumbh Mela taking place in Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh. The devotees participated in the shahi snan at the confluence of the sacred rivers Ganga, Yamuna and the mythological Saraswati on Makar Sankranti reports The New Indian Express. Mela…
Source The outer worship is approaching God properly, presenting ourselves acceptably. It is to offer our love, our adoration and then to speak out our prayer, our petition. The inner worship is to enjoy God’s presence and not rush away, to stay, to sit, to meditate awhile and bask in the shakti, endeavoring to realize the Self within. — Satguru…
Source UNITED STATES, January 16, 2019 (Save Temples): “Ambushing Hinduism” (a forthcoming book) consists of 24 articles that were written over 8-9 years addressing the issues prevalent at the time. Since they are written at different times, readers may some material repeated depending on the issue that was addressed. Some articles are written in reaction to a single incident such…
Source KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, January 15, 2019 (Free Malaysia Today): Hindu monk Simheswara Dasa, like many of his co-religionists, looks forward every year to the four-day Thai Pongal, the Tamil celebration of the rice harvest as a mark of gratitude to Surya, the Sun God. Hindu scriptures say that on Pongal, the day when the sun enters Capricorn, the charioted…
Source PRAYAGRAJ, INDIA, January 15, 2019 (Times Now News): The much-anticipated Kumbh Mela 2019 at Prayagraj (erstwhile Allahabad) commenced on January 15 and will go on till March 4. Hindu devotees from across the world have congregated at the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna to take the holy dip. The Ardhra Kumbh Mela is held every six years, while…
Source TANJUNG KARANG, MALAYSIA, January 14, 2019 (The Star): The Pongal festival which is a thanksgiving celebration for a bountiful harvest by rice farmers is among the important celebrations of the Tamil community throughout the world. Hindu rice farmers in Malaysia await with excitement to celebrate the festival tomorrow following the harvest. V.R. Arumugam, 68, who owns a rice farm…