Source DEHRADUN, INDIA, May 31, 2014 (The Hindu): Chief Minister Harish Rawat, on Saturday, said that the first and second phases of reconstruction work shall begin in the Kedarnath Valley in the coming week. Suggesting that the State government would want to make the Char Dham yatra a year-long yatra, Mr. Rawat said that the priest community of the four…
Source When the Creator dances, the worlds He created dance. To the measure that He dances in our knowledge, our thoughts, too, dance. When He in heart-endearing dances, the several elements, too, dance. Witness in rapture surpassing the dance of that One who is a glowing flame.— Tirumantiram, 2786
Source UNITED STATES, May 30, 2014 (Pew Research): A Pew Research chart of the foreign-born population of the United States as of 2012, lists India in the number two position, behind Mexico, with 1,974,305. This represents 4.8 percent of the foreign-born population. Other countries that may interest readers are: Trinidad/Tobago: 239,015Bangladesh: 187,641Nepal: 77,890Fiji: 49,063Bhutan: 32,954
Source MAHARASTRA, INDIA, May 23, 2014 (The Hindu, by Amruta Byatnal): TThe temple administration of this 900 year old temple has interviewed women and those from outside the Brahmin community for appointing them as priests. The Vitthal Rukmini Temple Trust (VRTT), which functions under the Maharashtra government, has made the radical move possible. “For the first time, a temple is…
Source CAMBODIA, May 29, 2014 (Phnom Penh Post): Sandstone figures packed into crates returned to Cambodia yesterday.The Kingdom welcomed the repatriated 11th-century statues with little fanfare, a remarkably placid homecoming given the lengthy legal battle with auction house Sotheby’s and the enlivened conversation with a California art museum that led to their return. “They are Duryodhana and Bhima. One from…
Source He who befriends a man whose conduct is vicious, whose vision impure, and who is notoriously crooked, is rapidly ruined.— Chanakya (350-275 bce), Indian politician, strategist and writer
Source ONTARIO, CANADA, May 29, 2014 (Caledon Enterprise): When his father died more than 15 years ago, Hindu priest Pandit Roopnauth Sharma took his ashes down to Lake Ontario. Sharma looked around, made sure no one was watching and placed them in the water. ‚ÄúI realized there was a lot that was wrong with that,‚Äù recalls the spiritual leader of…
Source AUSTRALIA, May 30, 2014 (Gizmodo): Even a building as famous and photographed as Angkor Wat has its secrets. With the help of an image enhancement algorithm, a sharp-eyed rock-art researcher has revealed that unassuming smears of pigment are actually faded drawings. It could be graffiti – or it could be the remnants of a concerted 16th century restoration program.…
Source MADURAI, INDIA, May 25, 2014 (Times Of India): The frescoes on the roof of Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple and the kolams (rangoli) patterns on the floor are outstanding works of art. The kolams, drawn by connecting hundreds of thousands of dots, are obviously the outcome of strenuous efforts. Now, efforts are being taken to preserve and repaint the kolams.…
Source BHUBANESWAR, INDIA, May 22, 2014 (Telegraph India): An expert team of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) today inspected the 12th century Jagannath temple in Puri to find out whether the earthquake that hit the state yesterday had any impact on the temple. The team visited the temple following a magnitude 5.9 earthquake centered 274 km SE of Konarka,…