Opinion: Christians in Karnataka State not under “Wave of Persecution”

Source BENGALURU, INDIA, January 23, 2012 (samvada.org): [HPI note: the author is a Christian freelance journalist]. A retired judge of Karnataka High Court, M.F. Saldanha has recently said that Christians in Karnataka State are under an unprecedented wave of persecution. He has also termed Karnataka as “the Rogue State No.1.” Unfortunately for Saldanha, he himself admits that the State has…

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Hindu Spiritual and Service Fair draws Crowd

Source CHENNAI, INDIA, January 27, 2012 (The New Indian Express): The Hindu Spiritual and Service Fair 2012, being held at the Dwaraka Doss Goverdhan Doss Vaishnav College Ground in Arumbakkam, is drawing huge crowds. According to the organisers of this sought-after annual spiritual fair of the metro, a total of 160 stalls have been put up by various spiritual and…

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Daily Inspiration

Source In India I found a race of mortals living upon the Earth, but not adhering to it. Inhabiting cities, but not being fixed to them, possessing everything but possessed by nothing.— Appolonius of Tiana (2-97 ce), Greek philosopher and occultist. His work deeply influenced Western mysticism.

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Saraswati Puja Celebrated in Assam

Source Staff Reporter GUWAHATI, ASSAM, INDIA, January 28, 2012 (Assam Tribune): Saraswati Puja, the occasion of paying obeisance to the Goddess of Learning, was celebrated with festive fervor and gaiety all over the State. Educational institutions and other learning institutes observed the puja with religious rituals on their campuses. Students turned up in large numbers in the venues to seek…

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Saraswati Puja Rings in Spring in Dhaka

Source DHAKA, BANGALADESH, January 28, 2012, (bdnews24.com): Heralding the season of Spring, Saraswati Puja is being celebrated across the country, with Dhaka University’s Fine Arts faculty students claiming their 35-foot idol is the biggest in the world. A Hindu festival meant to seek the blessings of Saraswati, students and educationists cutting across religious divide join in the festivities to honor…

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Basant Panchami paints Mumbai yellow

Source MUMBAI, INDIA, January 28, 2012 (Times of India): The color yellow fills the air as the city prepares to celebrate the festival of Basant Panchami on Saturday. The festival welcomes the onset of spring on the fifth day of the Hindu month of Magh. Spilling over from Makar Sankranti, kite-flying is a routine practice this day, particularly in north…

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Economics of Two Festivals

Source VARANASI, INDIA, January 28, 2012 (Times of India): Two big religious ceremonies of the city, but both vary in many ways for artisans. Yes, the festival of Saraswati Puja fetches more profits for the artisans who are engaged in preparing idols of the deity worshipped on the occasion of Basant Panchami as compared to grand celebration of Durga Puja.…

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Daily Inspiration

Source There is not a fellow under the sun who is my disciple. On the contrary, I am everybody’s disciple. All are the children of God. All are His servants. As for me, I consider myself as a speck of the dust of the devotee’s feet.— Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa (1836-1886)

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