Source It is the unique and all-encompassing nature of Hinduism that one devotee may be worshiping Ganesha while his friend worships Subramaniam or Vishnu, and yet both honor the other’s choice and feel no sense of conflict. The profound understanding and universal acceptance that are unique in Hinduism are reflected in this faculty for accommodating different approaches to the Divine,…
Source UNITED KINGDOM, October 27, 2020 (The Guardian): A charity that feeds millions of poor children in India has joined the drive to end holiday hunger in England and distributed its first meals from a new kitchen in Watford. Hot vegetarian dishes cooked for less than US$2.60 each using a model developed to feed the hungry in cities such as…
Source SOUTH AFRICA, October 26, 2020 (Indian Spice): The Isipingo Marieamman Temple was established in 1870 by Narainsamy Moodley, an Indian indentured laborer who carried a Marieamman Murthi with him in his journey from India to South Africa. When the sugar barons noticed the large numbers of devotees that would gather on the banks of the river, they allocated land…
Source The pweor of the hmuan mnid: Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn’t mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a total mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae…
Source AUSTRALIA, October 19, 2020 (Hindu Council Australia): A growing number of Australian children are not eating meat or animal products. Many now follow a vegan or vegetarian diet for religious reasons, environmental concerns, or distress over animal cruelty. This shift reflects recent research by Roy Morgan that shows 2.5 million Australians are following an all (or almost all) vegetarian…
Source HOUSTON, TEXAS, October 21, 2020 (Houston Chronicle by Bharat Pallod): I grew up in Houston the son of Indian immigrants and now help run the Hindu Heritage Youth Camp. After largely ignoring it for over 30 years, for the past five years, we have included a session on caste — the system of social divisions in India that was…
Source INDIA, October 23, 2020 (Indian Express): Despite the Covid-19 pandemic acting as a dampener for Durga Puja festivities, statue makers and puja organizers across Bengal have kept up with the tradition of bringing unique variants of statues for celebrations this year. After the Calcutta High Court order banned visitors’ entry to pandals, organizers, in last-minute changes, also installed giant…
Source Devotion must not be like the flood of the rainy season in which all get washed away. Devotion should be like the river that retains water even in the hottest season.— Saint Kabir (1440-1518)
Source KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, October 24, 2020 (The Star): Two temples in Kuala Lumpur have been allowed to have up to 50 people in their premises at a time for Navarathri prayers. The temples are Sri Maha Mariamman Temple Dhevasthanam in Jalan Tun HS Lee and Court Hill Sri Ganesar Temple in Jalan Pudu Lama. In a letter dated Oct…
Source KOLKATA, INDIA, October 22, 2020 (The Guardian): Every autumn the streets of Kolkata come alive with the sounds of Durga Puja. The Hindu festival, which celebrates the triumph of good over evil, is marked in West Bengal and neighboring states as a time for dancing, drumming, eating and worship. Yet the festival’s most defining feature is the pandal —…