Source INDIA, September 2, 2014 (The Guardian): A court in remote northern India has banned a long tradition of sacrificing animals for religious reasons, deeming the practice cruel and barbaric. The high court in Himachal Pradesh has asked police and other officials to enforce its ban on the slaughter, mainly of goats, in Hindu temples throughout the state. “A startling…
Source BHOPAL, INDIA, September 5, 2014 (Daily Pioneer): To avoid pollution in the water bodies during the Ganesha statue immersion, the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to place small containers filled with water, where the devotees may immerse statues in Narmada water. These containers would be placed at every ward. With the implementation of the instructions given by BMC…
Source PALERMO, ITALY, August 31, 2014 (Repubblica Palermo): The Vinayakar Chathurthy holy day was celebrated yesterday by hundreds of Sri Lankan Tamil immigrants in the shipyard district of Palermo. The festival commemorates the birthday of Ganesha; one of the most beloved Deities of the Tamil community. The event began with a function at the Muthu Vinaayakar Aalayam on Via Venancio…
WASHINGTON, D.C., September 6, 2014 (Press Release, with correction providing names of editors): In this anthology edited by Vamsee Juluri and Murali Balaji, we seek to show how the digital age has transformed the way Hinduism is communicated — and practiced — across the world. From online worship services and philosophical forums, articulations of LGBT Hindu identities through online portals,…
Source NEW DELHI, INDIA, September 5, 2014 (Business Standard): As Pakistani authorities are all set to raze a 79-year-old temple in Rawalpindi, anger and disappointment prevail among the country’s Hindu minority that is seeking protection and freedom to practice their religion in an Islamic state. Hindus have been living in Rawalpindi for over a century and the 1935-built Maharishi Valmik…
Source NEW DELHI, INDIA, September 5, 2014 (New Indian Express): Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott on Friday handed over to his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi two antique statues of Hindu deities which were stolen from temples in Tamil Nadu before being bought by art galleries in Australia. During his meeting with Modi, Abbott returned the statues, one of which is…
Source Do not say that you do not have time for God. The busiest of men will have the most leisure, and the laziest will always be short of time, for the former utilizes time and the latter only wastes it. If you really want God, you will find time for Him.— Sri Chandrasekhara Bharati (1912-1954), 34th pontiff of Sri…
WASHINGTON, D.C., September 5, 2014 (Press Release): In this anthology edited by Vamsee Juluri and Murali Balaji, we seek to show how the digital age has transformed the way Hinduism is communicated — and practiced — across the world. From online worship services and philosophical forums, articulations of LGBT Hindu identities through online portals, devotional social media sites and non-Indian…
Source HYDERABAD, INDIA, August 27, 2014 (Deccan Chronicle): Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) has land, shopping complexes and other buildings not only in Andhra Pradesh but also in Nepal, Delhi, Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Pondicherry, Haryana and Odisha. “The market value of the landed properties owned by the TTD is about US$1.6 billion. In all, there is 4,657.51 acres…
Source UNITED KINGDOM, September 3, 2014 (Echo): Thousands of people turned out to the country’s biggest festival celebrating the Hindu God Ganesh. More than 10,000 Hindus descended on Shoebury’s East Beach for the Ganesh Visarjan on Sunday after a procession from Blackgate Road to a marquee on the beach. Worshippers enjoyed food, live music, singing and dancing. The festival ended…