Source BALI, INDONESIA, May 20, 2014, (by Ni Komang Erviani, The Jakarta Post): Hindus across Bali have been preparing for Galungan since last week. Traditional and modern markets have been flooded with people buying fruit, flowers, banana leaves and many other items especially for Galungan. Hindus have also begun to erect penjor, a decorated bamboo pole, in front of their…
Source By constantly repeating, “I am free, I am free,” a man verily becomes free. On the other hand, by constantly repeating, “I am bound, I am bound,” he certainly becomes bound. The fool who says only, “I am a sinner, I am a sinner,” verily drowns himself in worldliness. One should rather say: “I praise the name of God.…
Source INDIA, May 23, 2014 (Jaia Bharati): Available at “source” above is an extensive report on the 2002 Gujarat riots by French journalist Nicole Elfi. It has been recommended by an HPI reader as the most in-depth account available.
Source ITALY, May 28, 2014 (Lettera 43, summarized from the original Italian): The 8xmille (literally, “eight per thousand”) initiative in Italy is a mechanism by which the taxpayer directs a small percentage of their income tax (0.8%) to 11 recognized religious denominations or the state. There are check-off boxes at the bottom of the tax form to allow the taxpayer…
Source SECAUCUS, NEW JERSEY, May 13, 2014 (Hudson Reporter): A life-sized statue of Mahatma Gandhi will be dedicated to the state at a ceremony in Secaucus on Saturday, May 31. The statue was hand crafted in India from a single piece of rock, and is a gift to the state of New Jersey from Secaucus residents Shantaben, Maneklal, Raj, and…
Source One day three wise, blind elephants were discussing what humans were like. Failing to agree, they decided to determine what humans were like by direct experience. The first blind elephant felt the human and declared, “Humans are flat.” The other blind elephants tested and said, “We agree.”
Source BHUBANESWAR, INDIA, May 9, 2014 (Times Of India): Thousands of significant Sanskrit and Hindi manuscripts written on palm leaves kept in University of the Punjab in Lahore and University of Dhaka will soon be digitized by Government of India. Director of National Mission for Manuscripts (NMM) Prafulla Mishra said NMM will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Iran…
Source MOMBASA, KENYA, May 16, 2014 (Coastweek): The pioneering Indian Dukawalla or shopkeeper introduced the use of money to buy goods in Eastern Africa. Thus he launched the monetary economy in this part of the world, writes Kul Bhushan. The Duka, derived from the Hindustani word Dukan, was set up in the remote locations after the British built the Uganda…
Source You shine, all living things emerge. You disappear, they go to rest. Recognizing our innocence, O golden-haired Sun, arise; let each day be better than the last. Rig Veda (X, 37, 9)
Source NEW YORK, U.S., May 1, 2014 (Odisha Sun times): Ever wondered why most Britishers could not pronounce the Sanskrit word “sri” – a common Indian honorific for males – and instead settled for “shri,” a combination of sounds found in English words like shriek and shred? This is because the brain does not work like a computer when it…