Source DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA, August 26, 2017 (IOL): Heavily armed guards with vehicles were standing off at temples across Durban on Friday night for the annual Ganesha Prayer, a significant Hindu ceremony. And now armed security guards are increasingly being used at weddings. This follows two attacks on worshippers in Hindu temples in the past 10 days and the heightened…
Source JAFFNA, SRI LANKA, August 25, 2017 (YouTube): Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil is one of the significant Hindu temples in the Jaffna District of northern Province, Sri Lanka. It stands in the town of Nallur. The presiding Deity is Lord Murugan in the form of the holy Vel. The temple hosts an annual festival spread over 25 days. The Ther Thiruvila…
Source RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA, August 26, 2017 (Telangana Today): The Telugu NRI community in Gulf on Friday celebrated Vinayaka Chavithi with great devotion and dedication. There was a great enthusiasm among the community as the event fell on Friday which is a weekend off here in the Gulf. Unlike in India, the majority of people in Gulf immerse the statues…
Source Remain calm, serene, always in command of yourself. You will then find out how easy it is to get along.— Paramahansa Yogananda (1893-1952), Founder of Self-Realization Fellowship
Source UNITED STATES, May 1, 2017 (ESci Journals by Swaroopa Lahiri): [HPI note: “Soft Power” is the impact of a country’s cultural influence on the world, in contrast to its military or economic power.] While India has always had various soft power strategies, they had limited success as they were not coupled with hard power such as a strong military…
Source INDIA, August 18, 2017 (Hindu Post): American students on short-term mission trips to Bharat in pursuit of the Great Commission (the Biblical mandate to make disciples of all nations) is a phenomenon that has grown rapidly recently. Where do these students go? Well, most of them come to countries which fall in the 10/40 window – a rectangular area…
Source INDIA, August 23, 2017 (by Surbhi Gloria Singh, Business Standard): Patanjali Ayurved Ltd, the manufacturer of herbal products, founded by yoga guru Baba Ramdev now has competition from another spiritual guru — Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Art of Living Foundation’s FMCG (“Fast Moving Consummer Goods”) arm, Sri Sri Ayurveda is all set to take the FMCG industry by storm…
Source INDIA, August 23, 2017 ( The Hindu): The Art of India, produced by The Hindu Group of Publications, is a landmark book by Benoy K Behl, a celebrated art historian of India. These two hard bound, coffee table, volumes contain about 450 breathtaking photographs presenting the best works of art and architecture found in places of worship across India…
Source BALI, INDONESIA , August 22, 2017 (by Coconuts Bali): The National Narcotics Agency (BNN) is getting local religious leaders involved in the fight against drugs in Bali. BNN Bali Chief Brig. Gen. Putu Gede Suastawa discussed the collaboration on Sunday in Mengwi at a meeting with around 100 community religious figures. Religion plays a major role in Balinese culture,…
Source INDIA, August 20, 2017 (National Herald by Swati Gautam): Why spend a minor fortune to undergo severe hardship, friends would wonder on my return from the Kailash-darshan-Mansarovar-dip pilgrimage this year. But I assure you that the mini fortune spent is worth every last cent. The yatra takes anywhere between 10 days with private tour operators to around 22 days…