Source INDIA, April 15, 2014 (BBC): India’s Supreme Court has recognized transgender people as a third gender, in a landmark ruling. “It is the right of every human being to choose their gender,” it said in granting rights to those who identify themselves as neither male nor female. It ordered the government to provide transgender people with quotas in jobs…
Source NAKHON SI THAMMARAT, THAILAND, April 15, 2014 (Thai News): Thousands of Thai and foreign tourists have participated in the Nang Dan Parade during the Songkran Festival in southern Nakhon Si Thammarat province. The Nang Dan Parade is influenced by Hindu religious rituals, which are a part of the Hindu Swinging Ceremony or Tri Yampawai. The intention of the ceremony…
Source NEW DELHI, INDIA, April 10, 2014 (Business Insider): KFC, the Kentucky-based fast-food chain known for its “finger-lickin’ good” range of chicken fillets and burgers, has finally given in to India’s penchant for vegetarianism. In what appears to be a first across all KFC franchises globally, KFC India has unveiled a segregated vegetarian menu along with a strong message about…
Source LOS ANGELES, April 03,2014 (by Grace Lim, SCPR): Aerospace engineer Dileep Bhat doesn’t consider the science of his day job and his study of astrology as mutually exclusive. Growing up in India, Bhat learned about the ancient practice of Vedic astrology from his grandfather and uncle. The older men taught him to read and interpret astrological charts through the…
Source To call woman the weaker sex is a libel; it is man’s injustice to woman. If by strength is meant brute strength, then, indeed, is woman less brute than man. If by strength is meant moral power, then woman is immeasurably man’s superior. Has she not greater intuition, is she not more self-sacrificing, has she not greater powers of…
Source MILTON, CANADA, March 17, 2014 (Weekly Voice): This small city west of Mississauga is the latest to approve Diwali fireworks as its council unanimously voted to amend a town fireworks bylaw, granting the fall celebration equal status with Victoria Day and Canada Day. The five-day festival, scheduled for October 23 this year, is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists…
Source In my silence, I experience one vast garden, spread out through the universe. All plants, all human beings, all higher devas are about it in various ways and each has his own uniqueness and beauty. Their presence and variety give me great delight. Every one of you adds in a special way to the glory of this garden.”— Sri…
Source SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, April 17, 2014 (Press Release): Two major seminars on subjects that impact the global Hindu community will be hosted at the Global Hindu Conference 2014, scheduled for April 26th-27th weekend in San Jose, CA, USA. One of the two seminars is on development of Hindu Historiography, which is a one-of-its kind initiative that is being done…
Source CHENNAI, INDIA, April 14, 2014 (Times Of India): The Tamil New Year in 2014 will be called Jaya, the 28th year in the 60-year Tamil calendar. Though January 1 is considered the New Year for official purposes, most Tamils follow the Tamil calendar and celebrate April 14 as new year. Each Tamil New Year is named from a calendar…
Source UTTARAKHAND, INDIA, April 11, 2014 (domain-b.com): With tourists from Maharashtra forming a considerable number of the total visitors to Uttarakhand, the state tourism board has begun the exercise of attracting Mumbaikars for the religious of Char Dham yatra, which is set to open for the season from next month. The pilgrimage, which starts during summer, has been popular since…