News

HPISeptember 17, 2003: Swami Saradananda points out that the correct travel time from Lhasa to Mt. Kailas area is seven days each way by jeep, not three or four as the report in the September 14 HPI stated.

SourceJAKARTA, INDONESIA, September 15, 2003: In the Indian Ocean, between the Cocos and Seychelles islands, an odd-looking outrigger vessel is retracing the ancient “cinnamon route” from Indonesia to East Africa, first navigated by Indonesian seafarers more than a millennium ago. The Borobudur Ship — a 72-foot-long wooden ship modeled after wall reliefs found on the 8th century Borobudur temple in…

SourceNEW DELHI, INDIA, September 15, 2003: Swami Gyan Prakash, through his lawyer Amit Khemka, accused the Maharashtra Government of falsely charging him and other innocent saints as the main culprits behind the deadly stampede at Nashik on August 27, 2003 during the Kumbha Mela. Speaking at a Press conference at Press Club of India on Friday, Mr Khemka said that…

SourceMALAYSIA, September 15, 2003: In Malaysia, Muslims come under the Syariah judicial system while non-Muslims come under the civil judicial system. But which system has overriding jurisdiction when a civil marriage breaks up and a spouse converts to Islam? Women’s groups and lawyers recently got together for a discussion hosted by the All Women’s Action Society. Shamala Satiyaseelan got married…

SourcePENANG, MALAYSIA, September 8, 2003: About 150 women gathered at the Sri Mangala Nayagi Amman Temple in Bukit Mertajam recently to participate in the Thiruvillaku Puja (oil lamp lighting ceremony). The ceremony, also known as Varalakshmi Puja, was conducted by Rukumani Krishnasamy, 59, who has been conducting religious functions all over the country for the past 40 years. According to…

SourceVANCOUVER, B.C, June 27, 2003: Starbucks could be facing two human rights complaints from two Indo-Canadian employees fired for refusing to remove a nose stud. Aisha Syed, who was fired last November after working at Starbucks for three years, has filed a complaint with the Human Rights Tribunal. “I’m very upset, and I see my firing as racism,” said Syed,…

SourceNASHVILLE, TENNESEE, September 14, 2003: Hundreds of people from different backgrounds gathered yesterday at the Sri Ganesha Temple in Nashville for the Indian Association of Nashville’s annual Indian Festival. “The reason we have this is to let the community become more aware of our temple and to experience Indian culture,” said Chander Kanal, president of the Association. “India has 27…

SourceNEW DELHI, INDIA, September 13, 2003: Environmentalists and climatologists are deeply concerned over the rapid shrinking of the Himalayan glaciers — the origin of most of the rivers in northern India — even as the Indian government seems indifferent to the grim implications of the scenario. The majority of the 15,000 or so glaciers in the Himalayas are receding faster…

SourcePURI, ORISSA, September 14, 2003: Devotees of Lord Jagannath can soon order for Lord’s prasad (blessed food) from their home. The Orissa Postal Circle is going to join hands with the Jagannath temple administration to send prasad by post if the devotee is willing to pay in advance. According to chief postmaster Vatsala Raghu, the plan will come into force…

www.ndtv.comCHENNAI, TAMIL NADU, September 12, 2003: When 14-year-old Ram Abhinav, an eighth-grade student, committed suicide four months ago after he was allegedly beaten by his mathematics teacher, the Human Rights Commission stepped in to try and come up with a solution about corporal punishment in schools. Since Ram’s incident the commission has received at least ten reports of similar cases.…