SourceAMARNATH, INDIA, July 15, 2003: After being bedridden for 14 years and now completely recovered from paralysis, Sarwer Ahmed was pilgrimaging to Lord Siva’s holy cave shrine, Amarnath. Dressed in a dhoti and chanting “Jai Bolay Nath, Jai Shiv Shanker,” this Muslim businessman, accompanied by his wife Abida, were part of the first batch to pay obeisance at the holy…
SourceTEHRAN, IRAN, July 17, 2003: The historic Bandar Abbas Hindu Temple in Hormozgan Province is considered a unique sample of Indian architecture in Iran. The temple was built in 1310 CE by Indian architects for Hindus residing in the region, following the order of the Governor of the ports at the time, Mohammad-Hassan Khan Sa’dolmalek. Covering a total area of…
SourceWASHINGTON, D.C, July 14, 2003: Succumbing to complaints from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the National Park Service (NPS) has removed plaques of Biblical passages at popular viewing areas of the Grand Canyon, citing concerns that it may violate the separation between church and state. However, the Park Service recently decided that one of the main trails into the…
SourcePAHALGAM,INDIA, July 12, 2003: Undeterred by the cold mountain air, rocky terrain and fears of terrorist attacks, more than 6,500 devotees camped in tents at a base camp overlooking an icy blue lake in Sheshnag, Kashmir, the last stop before the annual trek up the mountain to one of the most revered of Hindu shrines. At daybreak on Saturday, authorities…
SourceSRINAGAR, INDIA, July 15, 2003: Poor planning and lack of proper regulation of pilgrim traffic to Amarnath has resulted in serious inconveniences to pilgrims. Traffic from Aishmuqum to Chandanwari is clogged for hours daily while pilgrims are forced to spend nights in adjoining jungles when the base camps of Nunwan, Chandanwari and Pahalgam fill up. Officials say that though the…
SourceUNITED KINGDOM, July 16, 2003: A future British monarch need not be a member of the Anglican church, and minor royals ought to “go out and get a job,” recommends a radical report on the monarchy. The Fabian Commission, which received Buckingham Palace’s cooperation during its inquiry, also called for the monarch be allowed to retire, opening the way for…
SourceBANGALORE, INDIA, July 14, 2003: In an effort to revive the lost glory of Hampi, the capital of the 14th century Vijayanagar Empire, Karnataka has prepared a US$108,000,000 project for the Centre to raise funds from international financial institutions. Written along the lines of the smaller Ajanta and Ellora project, the proposal, envisages funding from Japan Bank of International Cooperation…
SourceLONDON, ENGLAND, July 16, 2003: In an effort to popularize the age-old Indian Ayurveda system, a two-week-long Festival of Ayurveda was launched here where visitors would get extensive information on the various aspects of this ancient system of medicine. Gopi Warrier, Chairman of the Ayurvedic Company of Great Britain, inaugurated the festival at Bhartiya Vidya Bhawan on Tuesday night by…
Religion News ServiceVIRGINIA, U.S.A., July 14, 2003: Marylyn Mandeville sits crossed-legged on a mat in front of her students. Her hands are folded as if in prayer, framed by the slogan on her T-shirt: “Know Yoga, Know Peace.” A gold cross rests on the Om symbol emblazoned on her shirt. Mandeville is part of a growing movement to reformulate yoga,…
SourceLONDON, ENGLAND, July 12, 2003: A new Hindu youth initiative, HYUK, was launched in the House of Lords on Thursday. At a reception hosted by Lord Dholakia, President of the Liberal Democrats Party, it was announced that the HYUK will help British youth to understand Hindu culture and its philosophies better and see how it fits into the modern world.…