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newindianexpress.com/nation/Uttarakhand-government-plans-to-record-Kedarnath-pilgrims-fingerprints/2013/08/08/article1723599.ece?service=print INDIA, August 8, 2013 (New Indian Express): In the wake of the recent natural disaster [in which thousands died], the Uttarakhand Government has decided to record the fingerprints of pilgrims to the Char Dham (pilgrimage places) in the state. Talking to Express on the sidelines of Tourism Fest meeting, State’s Additional Secretary (Tourism) Sachin Kurve said the state government…

Source UNITED KINGDOM, August 5, 2013 (The Bolton News): A Hindu temple in Bolton is putting the finishing touches to a US$3.8 million redevelopment ahead of its grand reopening later this month. Deane Road’s Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Temple has expanded its main hall and prayer room, as well as adding a car park, store rooms and activity facilities. Work began…

Source The sun can give heat and light to the whole world, but he cannot do so when the clouds shut out his rays. When egotism veils the heart, God cannot shine upon you.— Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa (1836-1886), guru of Swami Vivekananda

Source NEW DEHLI , INDIA, July 24, 2013(Afaqs): A McD outlet in Vaishno Devi, a veg-only KFC outlet in Gujarat, a Snickers bar for vegetarians. International brands will do just about anything to find their way into Indian hearts. Restaurateurs often say “Patrons don’t eat what you serve. You serve them what they want to eat.” This whole “tweak or…

Source The moment I have realized God sitting in the temple of every human body, the moment I stand in reverence before every human being and see God in him–that moment I am free from bondage, everything that binds vanishes, and I am free.— Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902)

Source SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, July 31, 2013 (Union Tribune): In a quiet Wednesday morning meeting that featured none of the fireworks of earlier hearings on the same subject, trustees in the Encinitas Union School District accepted a $1.4 million grant to expand a yoga program that had garnered national attention and sparked a lawsuit about religious freedom. The yoga program…

Source INDORE, INDIA, July 31, 2013 (Times of India): Yoga education will be made compulsory in schools of the state from class 1 to V. Addressing a meeting of Madhya Pradesh Yoga Parishad, Chief Minister directed to prepare course for practical and theory for Yoga education. Chouhan said that yoga education should be imparted from childhood so that its foundation…

Source DEHRADUN, INDIA, August 2, 2013 (The Hindu): “Prayers in the Kedarnath temple will start from September 11,” said Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna here on Friday. Ganesh Godiyal, president of the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee, said, “A meeting will be held between August 25 and 30 to review the situation of the Kedarnath Valley and a final decision will be…

Source Do everything with full attention. Nothing should be done without reverence, for everything is really done unto God. You should not worship God carelessly. It is not that God will punish you, but that you will destroy your own fine sense of values. Don’t trample on greatness in any form. One should have reverence for whatever one does, even…

Source PUNE, INDIA, July 29, 2013 (Times of India): A city-based social enterprise that produces eco-friendly figures of Ganesh Deities is wrapping up its first batch for shipping overseas. The Deities are made of papier-mache. Starting out with a mere 60 clay Deities, the enterprise has now grown to 3,500 Deities this year. “For years, we received requests from devotees…