Source NEW YORK, April 20, 2011 (NY Times): It was just after dawn last Sunday when a pair of pilgrims lighted incense on the shore and dropped two coconuts into the sacred waters, otherwise known as Jamaica Bay. As the Hindu population has grown in Queens over the last decade, so too has the amount of ritual debris — clothing,…
Source TORONTO, CANADA, April 13, 2011 (South Asian Focus): An Udupi matha (temple) has opened in Toronto’s east end. The Sri Krishna Brundavana has come up at a spacious facility sprawling across more than 20,000 square feet in Scarborough. The matha was formally inaugurated on the occasion of Ugadi (New Year’s Day for India’s Kannada and Telugu speaking communities), on…
Source You have the potential to be like the great oceans, like the trees and the mountains, strong, determined–full of destiny and purpose. — Mansukh Patel
Source UNITED STATES, April 1, 2011 (northjersey.com): About three million kids, or 8 percent of those aged 8 to 18, say they never eat meat, according to a 2009 Harris poll sponsored by the Vegetarian Resource Group. About half of these consider themselves true vegetarians, meaning that they not only don’t eat red meat, but also leave out poultry and…
Source NEW ZEALAND, April 14, 2011 (Press Release via the Indian Weekender): The second Wellington Region Hindu Conference was held at the Waiwhetu Marae, Lower Hutt, on April 9. The theme of the conference was “Hindu-Maori Perspectives on Holistic Health: From Individual and Whanau to Community”. The two ancient cultures discussed the great amount of similarity in their worldview towards…
Source TEXAS, April 2011 (My West Texas): Leaders of five different religious backgrounds discussed how their traditions allow them to understand and confront contemporary issues. The religious officials commented from a faith perspective, asked by moderator Russell Meyers. On the topic of suffering and tragedy in the world, the panelists all acknowledged they could not give a clear answer as…
Source GREAT FALLS, MONTANA, April 14, 2011 (NY Times): Walter Breuning Breuning decided it was time for him to retire from the railroad at age 67. It was 1963 and he had put in 50 years as a railroad worker. But he stuck by his philosophy and kept working. He somehow felt he would have a productive life still ahead…
Source INDIA, April 6, 2011 (The Hindu): In Maharashtra’s Latur district, the village of Rui is witnessing unity and tolerance between Hindus and Muslims. An ancient Ram temple, destroyed during the battle between the Peshwas and the Nizam of Hyderabad around 275 years ago, and a masjid/dargah, destroyed about 63 years ago have been rebuilt, thanks to the efforts of…
Source KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, March 31, 2011 (msn.com): Malaysia’s Selangor state has allocated a large tract of land for the construction of Hindu temples, gurudwaras and other non-Muslim shrines throughout the region. Executive Councillor Xavier Jayakumar told the state assembly that the government, through the Non-Muslim Affairs Committee, has approved 90 applications for the purpose. Of the total area, 114…
Source INDIA, April 19, 2011 (The HIndu): “Vishu,” a festival of luck and prosperity, was celebrated with religious fervour at the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple on Friday. The temple witnessed heavy rush as thousands of devotees from different parts of south India thronged the hillock to witness the auspicious ‘Vishukkani’ on Friday morning. Chief priest Ezhikode Sasi Namboodiri assisted by other…