Source MINNESOTA, U.S., March 14, 2014 (Farmington Independent): Clouds of colored powder will serve as an early sign of spring this weekend, even if they’re likely to leave behind more than a few technicolor snowdrifts. The colors will fly Sunday as part of Minnesota Hindu Milan Mandir’s recognition of Holi, a religious festival held each year to welcome spring. “It’s…
Source INDIA, March 14, 2014 (Washington Post): Holi is a spring festival also known as the festival of colors. It is celebrated at the approach of the vernal equinox, on the Phalguna Purnima (Full Moon). The festival date varies every year, per the Hindu calendar, and typically comes in March. The festival signifies the victory of good over evil, the…
Source MUMBAI, INDIA, March 13, 2014 (Mumbai Mirror): With eyes firmly on putting Siddhivinayak temple on the tourist map, the temple’s trust has brought on board Parsi architect Jimmy Mistry, who designed the much-talked about Della Tecnica tower in Dadar. Mistry made a presentation on Wednesday showing how Siddhivinayak temple would look once it is illuminated. The project will be…
Source It is Divinity that shapes, not only your ends, but also your acts, your words and thoughts. Your duty is to treat everybody, including yourself, as a manifestation of the Lord.— Swami Sivananda (1887-1963), founder of Divine Life Society, Rishikesh
Source DENPASAR, BALI, January 20, 2014 (Jakarta Post): Dozens of residents in Kesiman village gathered at the Luhur Dalem Mutering Jagat Temple on Sunday to preserve the site of worship. They planted at least 1,500 trees provided by the government and helped conserve water sources in the 12.5 acre area, carrying shovels, hoes and sickles. There were more than 10…
Source TIRUPATI, INDIA, March 13, 2014 (The Hindu): The temple city of Tirupati, a cultural centre and a major pilgrimage destination in southern India, might be succumbing to a phenomenon common to urban areas. There has been steady rise in population and the usage of vehicles here, which in turn contribute to increasing pollution levels of the city, a study…
Source INDIA, March 12, 2014 (Daily Mail): These amazing photographs give a whole new meaning to the phrase “painting the town red.” Hindu men and women have welcomed the beginning of spring by hurling colored powder at one another during the annual Holi festival in India. The festival is now one of the biggest in the world. In recent years,…
Source All this universe is in the glory of God, of Siva, the God of love. The heads and faces of men are His own, and He is in the hearts of all.— Krishna Yajur Veda, Svetasvatara Upanishad 3.11
Source AUSTIN, TEXAS, March 7, 2014 (New York Times): California is experiencing one of its worst droughts on record. Just two and a half years ago, Folsom Lake, a major reservoir outside Sacramento, was at 83 percent capacity. Today it’s down to 36 percent. In January, there was no measurable rain in downtown Los Angeles. Gov. Jerry Brown has declared…
Source GANDHINAGAR, GUJARAT, March 11, 2014 (by Prof. T. Harinarayana, Director, GERMI Research Centre): Sri Venkateswara temple on Tirumala Hills, located near Tirupati town, Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh in India is well known to be the most sacred place for all Hindus . It has largest number of visitors compared any other temple in India, perhaps in the world.…