SourceMUMBAI, INDIA, November 11, 2003: When Bhagwanji Raiyani read in a newspaper that there were more than 800 illegal shrines in Mumbai he decided to do something about it. In 2002, he asked the Mumbai High Court for their demolition. One year later, the high court ordered that all illegal shrines — temples, mosques or churches — should be demolished.…
News ReportTOKYO, JAPAN, November 21, 2003. Mention of a staged “Mahabharata” at once brings to mind Sir Peter Brook’s 10-hour version of the Hindu epic poem, which debuted at the Avignon International Drama Festival in 1985. This inspired version by Director Satoshi Miyagi staged recently in Tokyo lasts just two hours. The original “Mahabharata,” written in Sanskrit, comprises 100,000 stanzas,…
SourceNEW DELHI, INDIA, November 19, 2003: Nisha Sharma, who hit the headlines six months ago for sending her fiance to jail for demanding dowry, has married a software engineer. The marriage was solemnized at a quiet ceremony at her residence in Noida on the outskirts of Delhi. Her husband’s name is Ashwin Sharma. Nisha became an icon for millions of…
SourceNEW YORK, USA, November 17, 2003: As the holiday season approaches, a recent article in The Business Review had this suggestion for corporate gift giving to international clients. It is notable for including advice — a bit, anyway — on giving to Hindus. “Be sure you know the customs pertaining to gift giving in that country. You don’t want your…
SourceKAUAI, HAWAII, November 21, 2003: Hinduism Today magazine is preparing an article with replies to common questions about Hinduism, such as why are there so many Gods, why the dot on the forehead, why do you worship cows, etc. One of the common questions is about caste: Isn’t the caste system a kind of unfair discrimination? We’re working to formulate…
SourcePATNA, INDIA, November 19, 2003: Patna has seen some instances of people grabbing public land by installing a Hanuman icon there. But the government is not taking any action against them. And when it does, it’s of no use. One person decided to install a life-sized image of Lord Hanuman in front of the Patna planetarium. When the authorities complained,…
The HinduNEW DELHI, INDIA, November 18, 2003: The Centre today asked the Tamil Nadu Government to suspend transportation of elephants, belonging to temples, mutts and the Forest department, to the rejuvenation camp in the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary until the matter was reviewed by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests. The Centre’s action comes in the wake of media reports…
Religion News ServiceWASHINGTON, D.C., November 17, 2003: It’s the great American question: What’s the return on my investment? Stephen Cope sought to answer it on the subject of yoga, putting the question to 25 of the top yoga and meditation teachers in this country and Canada in his book “Will Yoga & Meditation Really Change My Life?” “As I look…
HPIUSA, November 20, 2003: Several readers wrote to inform us that Captain Nemo, a Hindu character in the film “League of Extraordinary Gentlemen,” is, in fact, a hero in the film. Sara Kobuszko writes, “I would like to set the story straight regarding Captain Nemo’s role in the film. Having seen it for myself last week, I can firmly deny…
SourceOAK BROOK, ILLINOIS, November 20, 2003: Peter Louis (“source”) presents an exhibition of contemporary Indian art featuring some of India’s new artists, as well as limited edition crystal sculptures of Hindu deities December 5 – 7 at the The Wyndham Drake Hotel, 2301 York Road, Oak Brook, IL 60523. Featuring the “Meditations on Ganapati” series by Raghava KK and other…