SourceCHICAGO, U.S.A., October 5, 2003: Devotees and swamis of the Ramakrishna Order joined priests in chanting Vedic mantras to purify the land where the first Sri Ramakrishna Universal Temple is to be built near Chicago. Various mantras and prayers were chanted for spiritual advancement, high attainment, protection and success. The Vivekananda Vedanta Society, Chicago, is building a center of harmony…
SourceLONDON, U.K. October 4, 2003: A cake in the form of a mini football pitch, hip henna tattoos to accessorize Brit-Indian costume chic, dozens of advertisements for ‘Diwali-dinner-and-dance’ evenings, thousands of twinkling tea lights. Six-hundred people meeting every night during Navaratri in Bradford, U.K. to dance the garba. An English town hall, ceremonially ‘switching on’ its Diwali lights and a…
SourceNEW YORK, NEW YORK, October 6, 2003: The musician who calls himself Krishna Das was born on Long Island as Jeff Kagel. When he sings in Hindi or Sanskrit, he does so with an undeniably American accent, says this article in Time magazine. But Das, who is known as K.D., has no desire to hide his New York roots or…
SourceINDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, October 4, 2003: After 31 years of hoping and praying, Dr. G.L. Ahuja, a retired physician, will get to see his dream move one step closer to reality Sunday when ground is broken for the first Hindu temple in Indiana. “The dreams are coming to be true,” says Ahuja, a native of India who moved to Indianapolis in…
SourcePITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, August 15, 2003: Rajendra Pillai, founder and director of Turning Point, an organization dedicated to equipping and inspiring Christian writers, has written this article on cultural “insights” that can be used to convert Hindus to Christianity. Much of the article is excerpted from his book, “Reaching the World in Our Own Backyard.” Pillai says, “We are slowly realizing…
SourceNEW DELHI, INDIA, September 30, 2003: Thousands of impatient brides and grooms across North India are eagerly waiting for November 4 as many astrologers have said that marriages will be safe from planetary ill effects if solemnized after November 3. There are some, however, who believe that marriages should be solemnized only after August 27, 2004. There is still another…
SourceKATHMANDU, NEPAL, October 2, 2003: Maoist rebels in Nepal have reportedly begun a nine-day truce called as a goodwill gesture during the country’s biggest Hindu festival. The temporary ceasefire was due to begin on Thursday morning, and by late afternoon security officials had reported no unrest. Maoist leader Prachanda last week announced the October 2-10 ceasefire during the Dasain festival,…
SourceNEW ZEALAND, October 4, 2003: Asia 2000 held its first Diwali Festival, India’s Festival of Lights, in Wellington and Auckland last year. Around 70,000 people attended these exciting events and 2003 is shaping up to be just as popular. Diwali gives Aucklanders and Wellingtonians a chance to experience a traditional Indian festival right here in New Zealand with scrumptious food,…
SourceBAHRAIN, October 2, 2003: The Bongiyo Samaj began its annual celebration of Sharad Utsav, part of the Navaratri Festival, yesterday. The celebration will continue until October 24 at the Thattai Hindu Mercantile Community Hall in Manama, capital of Bahrain in the Gulf region. An Indian priest/astrologer will be conducting the rituals, said club president Gopinath Mandal. Cultural shows will also…
SourceNEW DELHI, INDIA, October 2, 2003: Durga Puja is a grand annual ritual, and this year Milan Samiti of CR Park in New Delhi has added a special touch by going eco-friendly. Hogla patta (dry leaves from the Sunderbans) have been used for decoration. A clever play of lights, procured from Chandanpur, tells a story graphically, and terra-cotta is used…