SourceKUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, June 7, 2003: A. Vaithilingam, President of the Malaysia Hindu Sangam has been awarded the Darjah Kebesaran Panglima Jasa Negara (PJN) (approximately, “Most Honorable Knight in Service of His Country”) by Seri Paduka Baginda Yang Di-Pertua Agong (His Majesty, The King) of Malaysia on the occasion of His Majesty’s official Birthday Celebrations, Saturday, June 7, 2003. This…
SourceTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, June 9, 2003: It’s a most beautiful site to behold, say visitors nearing the Mandir. One passerby described it as “like visiting India itself” while foreigners who came in four maxi-taxis yesterday marveled at its beauty and serenity. They were all eyeing the magnificent 85-foot-high Hanuman murthi — the largest outside India it’s claimed, and the exquisite…
SourceTAMIL NADU, INDIA, June 2, 2003: Rock art, with origins from prehistoric times, has been receiving publicity in Tamil Nadu for the past several years when G. Chandrasekaran, professor at Chennai’s Government College of Fine Arts, formed a society called Roots. Under this banner, artists, art historians and archaeologists are attempting to save over fifty sites in Tamil Nadu from…
SourceKEDAH STATE, MALAYSIA, June 9, 2003: The MIC division here appealed to the Kedah government yesterday for land to relocate the Sri Muniswaran Temple in Jalan Kisap. The temple has been ordered demolished because it was renovated illegally. Division chairman T.Manogharan said the 80-year-old temple was one of the oldest Hindu temples on the island. “We understand that the temple…
SourcePONDICHERRY, INDIA, June 4, 2003: A 20-year-old classical danseuse performed bharata natyam for 60 hours, qualifying her to seek an entry into the Guinness Book of World Records. Sangeetha, a final-year student at the Bharathiyar Balakalaikoodam, completed the targeted task at 9:15 p.m. last night after she began her dance at 8:30 a.m. on June 1. Unlike an earlier national…
SourceCHENNAI, INDIA, June 5, 2003: The Board of Trustees of Panchamuka Sri Jayamurthi Seva Trust have announced the creation of the tallest Anjaneya (Hanuman) statue in India, currently sculpted in Kelambakkam near Chennai. The statue will be installed in a temple being constructed at Panchavatee on the Tindivanam-Pondicherry National Highway. The temple is being built as a result of the…
SourcePORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD, June 4, 2003: Lamenting the fact that Indian diaspora was “slow to integrate into the mainstream of the host societies,” a senior Indian official said that most Indians looked for a middle ground in most issues and avoided extremes. Speaking at a two-day seminar on “From Indentureship to Entrepreneurship,” hosted by the Indian High Commission to mark the…
SourcePARAMARIBO, SURINAM, June 5, 2003: The first batch of indentured laborers from India was brought here 130 years ago aboard the ship Lala Rukh and had the mistaken belief they were going to the land of Shri Ram and not Surinam. Upon arrival some were dejected, but others, who brought with them their faith in Ramcharitra Manas and couplets of…
SourceNEW DELHI, INDIA, June 4, 2003: Job: Sitting for six hours a day, stretching a hand out occasionally. Qualifications: None. Vacancies: Unlimited. Earnings: Uncertain. That’s the classic version of the temple beggar, widespread in India. The job, qualifications and vacancies for the metro version, widespread in Delhi, are roughly the same. The ways in which they are different from brothers…
SourceKAUAI, HAWAII, USA, June 6, 2003: Hinduism Today magazine is planning an article in its next issue on the subject, “Why I am a vegetarian.” Hindu youth (age 24 and below) are invited to send a 300- to 500-word essay on the subject. Each writer of a published essay will receive US$25 for the piece. The essay should cover the…