Source NEW YORK, USA, October 1, 2011 (nytimes.com, by Ann Louise Bardach): The big day is over 15 months away, but India is planning a major celebration on January 12, 2013 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Swami Vivekananda–the first missionary from the East to the West, the man who introduced “yoga” into the national conversation. Born…
Source PATNA, INDIA, October 12, 2011 (www.deccanherald.com): The Bihar State Religious Trust Board has filed a groundbreaking public interest litigation, sparked by the desire to release two Deity murtis that have been held for nearly 17 years in the strongroom of a police station in Bhojpur district, their bail set at over USD 8.5 million. The two Deities, Lord Hanuman…
Source LONDON, UK, October 12, 2011 (BBC): Stunning images from high in the Himalayas — showing the extent by which many glaciers have shrunk in the past 80 years or so — have gone on display at the Royal Geographical Society in central London. See them here. Between 2007 and 2010, David Breashears retraced the steps of early photographic pioneers…
Source UNITED KINGDOM, October 1, 2011 (Alliance of Religions and Conservation): In 2001, more than 60 million Hindu pilgrims attended the Maha Kumbh Mela, a festival held every 144 years in Prayag, Allahabad. This was the largest human gathering in recorded history. Imagine what could be achieved if pilgrims and pilgrim cities were to become models of care and respect…
Source FIJI, October 10, 2011 (Fiji Times): Ten days of religious prayers and performance of the events in Hindu holy scripture Ramayana, a festivalcalled Ram Lila came, to an end once again with the destruction of the 20-feet statue of the villainous figure Ravana. More than 5000 people gathered every night to witness the drama enacted on Ramayana and the…
Source MANCHESTER, UK, October 09, 2011 (menmedia.co.uk): Thousands of revellers turned out for a light and fireworks spectacular at a Hindu festival. Around 8,000 people enjoyed the Dashehra and Diwali Mela in Platt Fields Park in Fallowfield. Similar celebrations were taking place worldwide. The celebration – also marked by members of the Sikh and Jain communities – is held to…
Source With all His great powers, the one thing Siva cannot do is take Himself out of you.— Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami (1927-2001), founder of Hinduism Today
Source NEW YORK, NY, October 5, 2011 (Press Release): A People Uncounted, a new documentary directed by Aaron Yeger, will have its U.S. premiere at the Hawaii International Film Festival, (October 13-23 in Honolulu) where it is nominated for the Halekulani Golden Orchid Award for Documentary Feature. This film tells the story of the Roma, commonly referred to as Gypsies–a…
Source Jewish homes have a mezuzah, a small scroll with scripture attached to the doorway for blessings. Some Christians in New York have been doing it, too. Asked why he did it, one responded, “Well, it’s good karma.”— Brian Hallas, Brooklyn resident
Source TUMBANG SAAN, INDONESIA, September 25, 2011: In a village near the heart of Borneo’s great, dissolving rainforest, Udatn is regarded as a man of deep spiritual knowledge. Of all the people in this tiny settlement, he speaks better than any other the esoteric language of the Sangiyang, the spirits and ancestors of the upper world, known simply as “Above.”…