Source WASHINGTON, November 16, 2012 (Oman Tribune): US Vice-President Joe Biden joined a select group of Indian-American officials, community members and diplomats at this year’s Diwali celebrations at the White House. During the White House celebration of festival of lights, Biden spoke of the universal resonance of Diwali and asked guests to commit themselves to providing for those less fortunate.…
Source The bonds of dharma do not bind but promise sweet liberation.— His Divine Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, spiritual head of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha
Source USA, November 12, 2012 (Press Release): The Coalition of Hindu Youth and the World Hindu Council of America will be launching the Sanatan Dharma and Science Scholarship in Spring 2013 for students in middle school, high school, and college–see source above for more information. Before we do so, we would like to reach out to Hindu community leaders and…
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…
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…
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…
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)
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.…
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…
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…