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Madurai Temple Mulls Coconut Ban
Source: www.telegraphindia.com CHENNAI, INDIA, December 10, 2009: Authorities of the 400-year-old Madurai Meenakshi temple are considering banning coconuts as they fear the fruit can be used by terrorists to smuggle in explosives. Coconuts are a common offering to the gods across temples, more so in those of Tamil Nadu. The Madurai temple had taken the first step in keeping out…
Hand-crafted Incense Given Protected Status
Source: www.thehindubusinessline.com NEW DELHI, INDIA, December 2, 2009: The humble incense stick has been declared a handicraft product under the new duty drawback rates. With the manufacturers’ long standing demand being met, a surge in sales is expected. Agarbathi, as it is called, has been brought under the jurisdiction of the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) from CHEMEXCIL. The…
Dada Vaswani in Melbourne: Warm Welcome and a Book Launch
Source: Sadhu Vaswani Mission MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, December 2009: The Parliament of World Religions, at Melbourne, in Australia, where Dada J. P. Vaswani was invited as one of the Speakers, was also the venue for the launch of the book, “Many Paths: One Goal”, authored by Dada J. P. Vaswani. Revered Dada firmly believes: “Religions came to unite, to reconcile, to…
Cash-Strapped Indian Students In UK Suffer
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com Many such students flock to the gurdwaras in Southall for free food. The documentary, broadcast on Sunday, quoted Nitin Walia, a student who has sought refuge at the gurdwara, as saying, “I can’t afford to rent a room, I’m borrowing money from relatives at home just to buy my bus fare to college. I will only be able…
Indian Christians Pledge to Avoid Aggressive Proselytizing
Source: www.ucanews.com BANGALORE, INDIA, December 8, 2009: Christian groups have agreed to avoid aggressive evangelization methods in Karnataka, a southern Indian state where religious violence continues to occur. About 250 leaders from 11 Churches and denominations endorsed the agreement at a Dec. 1 meeting organized by the Karnataka United Christian Forum for Human Rights in Bangalore, the state capital. Participants…
Daily Inspiration
Source: www.hinduismtoday.com Through meditation and by giving full attention to one thing at a time, we can learn to direct attention where we choose. Eknath Easwaran
Dalits Enter Shiva Temple For First Time In 900 Years
Source: www.dnaindia.com BHUBANESWAR, INDIA, December 4, 2009: The Dalits of Kisinapur village in Cuttack district took a big step on Wednesday. They walked inside the 900-year-old Chhateswar temple in their village, which has been out of bounds for them, and offered prayers to Lord Shiva. They were received at the temple gate by the priests and served prasad. All these…
India To Form New Southern State
Source: news.bbc.co.uk INDIA, December 11, 2009: The Indian government is to allow a new state to be carved out of part of the southern state of Andhra Pradesh. Home Minister P. Chidambaram said the process of forming Telangana state would begin soon. Campaigners say the region has long been neglected. Supporters of the state are celebrating after days of violent…
Archbishop’s Hindu Temple Visit Stirs Up Controversy
Source: blogs.telegraph.co.uk NEASDEN, UNITED KINGDOM, November 21, 2009: Catholic Archbishop Nichols was greeted by the Neasden BAPS Mandir’s spiritual leader, Yogvivek Swami (Head Sadhu, BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha – UK & Europe) and the Trustees of the Mandir, during a celebration of Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s birthday. The Archbishop was welcomed in traditional Hindu style – with a red vermillion mark applied…