Source: home.nzcity.co.nz INDIA, November 5, 2010: Julia Roberts thinks the world should celebrate Diwali. The ‘Eat Pray Love’ actress believes the Hindu ‘Festival of Lights’ should be celebrated throughout the world because it celebrates “humanity, peace and prosperity.” She said: “Diwali should be celebrated unanimously throughout the world as a gesture of goodwill. It not only belongs to Hinduism but…
Source: epaper.timesofindia.com INDIA, November 4, 2010: [HPI note: This is a quote from Hinduism Today’s publisher Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami as published on the Novemeber 4, Diwali edition of the Times of India] The inner significance of Diwali is that it is a joyful celebration of the victory of good over evil, of our spiritual qualities dominating our basic instincts, intellect…
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com INDIA, October 31, 2010 : The act of gifting is taking the online route this festive season. Many people are getting their presents booked from different websites providing various products, as there, it is easy to find whatever one if looking for. Also, as Diwali has become a global festival due to the Indian diaspora and international corporate…
Source: www.thehindubusinessline.com MUMBAI, INDIA, November 4, 2010: Today, it is almost impossible to get a priest to perform the all-important Lakshmi Puja on Diwali day. The situation is so dire that it is not uncommon to see people literally running for a priest. Dr Vivek Hebbar, Chairman, Firstobject, says residents of Mumbai alone require nearly 1.75 lakh priests this Diwali.…
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com KANPUR: Despite skyrocketing prices of crackers, Diwali was not quieter and cleaner. It may be due to lack of awareness about environment amongst the masses. This festival witnessed higher levels of air and noise pollution. According to Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) officials, more crackers were burnt this year in comparison to last year. The sound and…
Source: getahead.rediff.com USA, November 4, 2010: Indian Americans in inter-faith marriages also celebrated Diwali with pomp. “It’s our Christmas,” is how many Indian immigrants explained Diwali to American co-workers and neighbors. As more and more Indian immigrants and their children enter mixed-faith marriages, they already have a Christmas on the family holiday schedule. These are, as one Brooklyn group calls…
Source: HPI KAUAI, HI, USA, November 7, 2010: Some Hindu organizations are participating in the World Peace Prayer Society Peace Pole initiative, dedicated to spreading the following universal peace message and prayer in all languages (originally “mantra” or “words of power” in Japanese): “May Peace Prevail On Earth.” Their web site issues translations in 83 languages, which only includes three…
Source: www.hinduismtoday.com “I’ve always been a supporter of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami
Source: http://www.hindustantimes.com/ “Schedule tribes or endogenous communities are amongst the most ecologically evolved communities amongst the world, but sadly also amongst the most economically backward ones in India,” says Darren Lobo of Grassroutes. He informs that most tribal villages just receive two-three hours of electricity per day, hampering a child’s ability to read or play once the sun sets. Lobo…
Source: www.timeslive.co.za SOUTH AFRICA, October 26, 2010: An East Coast Radio comedy program caused a stir among some South African Hindus. The broadcaster said it was no use killing Hindus because they “keep coming back”, a sentence that constituted hate speech, the Broadcasting Complaints Commission has ruled. The ruling was despite the fact that the August 16 broadcast – a…