Source UNITED KINGDOM, January 20, 2014 (BBC): Once veganism was widely associated with animal rights activists, the health conscious and the religious. But now more and more people are dabbling with a vegan diet, albeit temporarily. A growing trend for giving up all animal products doesn’t involve going vegan forever. Nor does it even require being morally opposed to eating…
Source January 22, 2014 (Huffington Post): Elaborately decorated Hindu temples sing praise to the glory of God with their breathtaking architecture. Hinduism is called the world’s oldest religion and many of these structures are full of history. Slideshow at source–click the second photo to launch the slideshow.
Source BANGLADESH, January 22, 2014 (The Daily Star): Hindu temples and houses came under attack in at least five districts across the country on Monday. Unidentified criminals attacked a temple and vandalized four statues in a temple in Rupganj upazila of Narayanganj as they were allegedly barred from taking part in a dancing program on Monday night. Witnesses said, a…
Source KOCHI, INDIA, December 22, 2014 (The Hindu Business Line): Vaidyaratnam has set up a museum on ayurveda to enlighten the public on its rich heritage and evolution. Set up with an investment close to US$809,000 at Thaikkattussery near Thrissur, the museum, the first of its kind, will be inaugurated by former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on December 27. Astavaidyan…
Source INDIA, January 14, 2014 (NY Daily News): Makar Sankranti is a major Hindu harvest festival celebrated in almost all parts of India. It marks the transition of the Sun into the zodiac sign of Makara rashi (Capricorn) on its celestial path. The day is also believed to mark the arrival of spring in India. Makar Sankranti is a solar…
Source The more we are conscious of God’s presence in daily life, the more intense is the fullness of the joy we experience. God means infinitely more to our existence than the light of the sun means to the plants and trees.— Swami Omkarananda, (1930-2000), founder of Omkarananda Ashram
Source PENANG, MALAYSIA, January 6, 2014 (Penang Channel): This is a short video of the annual Thai Pusam festival in Penang where devotees smash thousands of coconuts in honor of Lord Murugan. Note the large number of Chinese people taking part in the Hindu festival. It doesn’t equal the feat described above, but is more of a community affair.
Source KERALA, INDIA, January 12, 2014 (New India Express): It is the beginning of the year and Namboothiri families in Kerala are getting ready to conduct Vettakkoru Makan Pattu (the song to worship Lord Vettakkoru Makan) or pantheerayiram. It is a popular but challenging ritual in which the chief priest has to break 12,000 coconuts continuously in one sitting. Manoj…
Source DEHRADUN, INDIA, January 21, 2014 (Times Of India): Only a few months are left for the Kailash Mansarovar yatra to begin. But Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN), the nodal agency for the ministry of external affairs-organized yatra, is still undecided about the route that the yatris will take through Uttarakhand this year. [HPI note: this is for pilgrims going…
Source Only the guru is father, mother and brother. He is also friend, well-wisher and the only wealth. Thus everything should be surrendered to him. The disciple, fully surrendered to the guru, sees him as God, and then becomes God himself.— Chandra Jnana Agama, 2.68