1. Hindus Of Nepal Will Not Become Less Hindu
2. For Hindus in America, It's Personal
3. Utah Governor Visits Hindu Temple, With A Special Guest
4. Over 300 Varieties of Mangoes, Only One Tree
5. Daily Inspiration

1. Hindus Of Nepal Will Not Become Less Hindu

She gave a talk on the subject "Nepal: A New Era", organised by New Delhi-based Vivekananda Kendra International on July 2nd, 2008.

Shri Deb Mukharji said that it was unfortunate that certain people in Nepal were using the issue of the Indo-Nepalese Treaty to criticize India. He went on to say,"The fact is that the treaty benefits the Nepalese people greatly. The moment this treaty is cancelled every Nepali in India turns into an illegal immigrant."

According to Shri Mukharji, "India and Indians have to realize that Nepal came out of an almost impossible kind of position after being affected by the maoist conflict, during the recent landmark and historical elections. Therefore the best thing would be to give Nepal some time to stabilize before a meaningful dialogue is begun with them."

The event attended by a hall packed with intellectuals, senior bureaucrats and social workers, was presided over by Shri Vijay Kapoor, former Lieutenant Governor of Delhi and the Vice President of Vivekananda Kendra International's New Delhi Chapter.

2. For Hindus in America, It's Personal

"For special religious festivals, we gather at the temple in Flint. However, there's no head of the church or official leader as such, just a priest" the retired engineer said.

Drew E. Hinderer, professor of philosophy and religion at Saginaw Valley State University, explains that "Performing prayers at home altars enables believers to connect with the Divine on a much more personal level. For Hindus, God reveals Himself in everything.

"To be Hindu in America is much more an intentional choice than it is in India," said Diana Eck, professor of comparative religion and Indian studies and director of The Pluralism Project at Harvard University in an Internet report. "Even if you're first generation, you have to decide to you perpetuate it or it may go away."

3. Utah Governor Visits Hindu Temple, With A Special Guest

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SOUTH JORDAN, UTAH, USA, July 4, 2008: The wonder in her eyes, the calm with which she accepted ceremonial blessings, showed that Asha Huntsman, 2, felt an immediate connection. Adopted from India and brought home to Utah early last year by Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. and his wife, Mary Kaye, little Asha seemed to relish the colorful celebration and crowds that surrounded her at South Jordan's Sri Ganesha Hindu Temple. She, her parents and most of her siblings came to the temple for the first time last week to commemorate its fifth anniversary.

"She kept reaching out for the Indian women," Mary Kaye Huntsman marveled later.
"There's something deeper that we can't understand... We will come out here often." Hindu priests greeted Utah's first family with Sanskrit blessings, and those gathered around, in vibrant saris and other customary clothing, sprinkled their guests with holy water and flower petals as they walked inside to stand before golden shrines.

The governor stood with Asha in his arms as the priests presented Lord Ganesha, the elephant-faced deity who removes all obstacles, with offerings of food, incense and chants. Community leaders honored the family with sweets and auspicious markings on their foreheads and then guided them through the temple to its various gods and goddesses, including the ones for strength, learning and wealth, and its shrine for the nine celestial beings.

Outside, beneath blue skies, the governor helped unveil the temple's two new granite pillars before thanking the crowd of hundreds, a mere sampling of the nearly 5,000 Utahns with ties to India, for bringing the traditions of Hinduism and their native country to Utah. "By doing so, you make us a better and stronger state," he said. "Thank you for honoring us, and we hope in return to be honoring you."

4. Over 300 Varieties of Mangoes, Only One Tree

www.ddinews.gov.in

MALIHABAD, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA, June 27, 2008: Haji Kalimullah Khan has a rare technique of growing more than 300 varieties of mangoes of different shapes, sizes and hues on one single tree.

When Khan talks about the variety of mangoes grown by him in his orchards, it seems that he is fondly referring to his family members. Khan's prized tree is about 100 years old on which he started work in 1987.

The craft developed by him has become a mystery for researchers and agriculturists from the country and abroad who have been left baffled by his work. The sexagenarian, who also finds mention in the Book of records for growing the rare tree, has the support of his sons in keeping the tradition alive. Khan has also cultivated a new variety of all season flowering guava which on ripening grows as red as an apple.

5. Daily Inspiration

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