Without A Single Temple To Go To, Hindus In Islamabad Celebrate Diwali Anyway

The Express Tribune, Karachi ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN, November 14, 2012 (The Express Tribune, by Riazul Haq): While the main celebrations for Diwali are set to be held in Gracy Lines Temple near Benazir Bhutto International Airport on Wednesday, a number of people celebrated the festival at home amongst friends and family. Also known as Deepavali, literally meaning “row of lamps,” the…

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Deepavali Celebrations In Singapore

Source SINGAPORE, November 2012 (channelnewswsia.com): Devotees gathered in Hindu temples on Tuesday morning to recite special prayers for Deepavali, ushering in the Hindu New Year. Following Hindu customs, devotees also received sweets from the temples and Indian basil from the priests before heading off to visit family and friends. At the Tech Offshore Marine (S) Pte Ltd, where many of…

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U.S. Senators Introduce Resolution Celebrating Diwali

Source WASHINGTON, DC, November 15,2012 (India Times): Two top American senators have introduced a resolution in the US Senate recognising the religious and historical significance of Diwali festival. Senators Mark Warner and John Cornyn, co-chairs of the U.S. Senate’s bipartisan India Caucus, have introduced the resolution in observance of the festival of lights, expressing deepest respect for Indian Americans and…

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Daily Inspiration

Source Other religions have all been founded by individuals, but Hinduism is not based on the teachings of any one single person. Before any prophet was born, the Sanatana Dharma was there.— Swami Rama Thirtha (1873-1906)

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The Muslim Invasions of India: an Issue of Historical Accuracy

Source INDIA, November 12, 2012 (Times of India, by Anil Dharker): Was V. S. Naipaul right or was Girish Karnad right? The sound and fury generated by the controversy at Literature Live!, Mumbai’s literary festival, has obscured one important aspect of our national life: we are afraid of our own history. Let’s recap for a moment how the controversy began.…

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Shortage Prompts Use Of Child Priests In Gaya

Source GAYA, INDIA, October 9, 2012 (zeenews.india.com): Children as young as six are chanting Vedic hymns at the famous Vishnupad temple here thanks to the acute shortage of traditional Hindu priests in this ancient Bihar city that is also known for its close links to Buddhism and Jainism. Kunal Gurda (6) and Satyam Kumar Gupt (8) are among dozens of…

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$3 Million For Divali

Source TRINIDAD/TOBAGO, November 10, 2012 (Trinidad Express): The Hindu community has received a total of US$468,000 from the Government for Divali celebrations this year. Some $312,000 was given to the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha (SDMS) and $156,000 to the National Council for Indian Culture (NCIC). Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar hosted a lavish Divali function at the Diplomatic Centre, St. Ann’s…

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Indus Valley 2,000 Years Older Than Thought

Source NEW DELHI, INDIA, November 4, 2012 (Hindustan Times): The beginning of India’s history has been pushed back by more than 2,000 years, making it older than that of Egypt and Babylon. Latest research has put the date of the origin of the Indus Valley Civilisation at 6,000 years before Christ, which contests the current theory that the settlements around…

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Countrywide Diwali Motorcades Start Tonight for Guyana

Source GUYANA, November 10, 2012 (Stabroek News): Starting tonight, gorgeous float parades will illuminate the roadways in various parts of the country as the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha holds its eagerly anticipated annual Deepavali motorcades. According to a press release from the Sabha, the annual Deepavali motorcades have been consistently organized for the last 38 years and have become synonymous…

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