Laughter Clubs Popular in India

GO TO SOURCE BOMBAY, INDIA, October 5, 2002: Starting the day with a good laugh sounds like a wonderful way to begin each day on a positive note. If you feel this way, then perhaps you should look into joining a laughing club. Laughing clubs are very popular in India where more than 80,000 people participate in 800 clubs. In…

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Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Responds to Critics of Anti-Conversion Ordinance

GO TO SOURCE CHENNAI, INDIA, October 11, 2002: The anti-conversion ordinance is “not directed against any particular religion, least of all any minority religion,” the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Jayalalitha, has said. In a statement, she clarified that it was “directed against the use of fraudulent means, allurement and force in enticing individuals into changing their religious denomination against…

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Survey Looks at American Religious Beliefs

GO TO SOURCE UNITED STATES, October 10, 2002: In a new survey of American religious beliefs, conducted by the conservative Christian Barna Research Group, 44 percent of those surveyed said, “The Bible, the Koran and the Book of Mormon are all different expressions of the same spiritual truths,” while 38 percent of Americans disagreed with that idea. George Barna, president…

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Residents and Temple Authorities in Conflict

GO TO SOURCE NEW DELHI, INDIA, October 6, 2002: Residents of the Kailash area of Delhi have been caught up in an ongoing debate with the Sanatan Dharam Mandir. Anju Sehgal Gupta, a resident who was recently threatened by 40 temple sympathizers said, “The character of the temple has changed and authorities treat it more like a three-star hotel. Parties…

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Courting Kurta Fashion

GO TO SOURCE NEW DELHI, INDIA, October 11, 2001: A fashion conscious woman asks, “What are the various lengths that I can try out in a kurta?” Femina (a women’s magazines) responds, “This really depends on two primary factors: Your body type and the occasion. Kurta lengths today vary between hip length (the kurta shirt) to just-below-the-knee. On formal occasions,…

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English Council Tackles Fireworks’ Noise

Source: UK Newsquest Regional Press BRENT, ENGLAND, October 11, 2002: The Brent, England, City Council is taking action to tackle the nuisance of noisy fireworks. In the days leading up to Deepavali, November 4, the city council has launched a campaign to persuade revelers to be more considerate of their neighbors. Under the slogan, “Fireworks with a bang, but not…

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Ramayana Center in Mauritius

GO TO SOURCE ROSE BELLE, MAURITIUS, August 15, 2002: On Tulsi Jayanti day, the foundation stone laying ceremony of Ramayana Center was performed by the Mauritian Prime Minister, Sir Anerood Jugnauth. Prime Minister Jugnauth hailed the building as an historic event. Mauritius is the only country of the Indian diaspora that has built a Ramayana Center in its National Assembly.…

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International Yoga Convention Planned for Miami

GO TO SOURCE MIAMI, FLORIDA, October 15, 2002: Sponsored by the Hindu Student’s Council, an International Yoga Convention will be held October 25-27, 2002, at the University of Miami. H.H. Sri Swami Brahmavidyananda, Yoga Master from India, will conduct the convention. Opportunities to learn and practice simple aspects of yoga will be available. There will also be practical demonstrations and…

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Tirtagangga Water Palace Lovingly Refurbished

Source: Jakarta PostJAKARTA, INDONESIA, October 3, 2002: Tirtagangga (literally meaning the blessed water of Ganga) Water Palace is located at Ababi village, north of Amlapura, the capital of Karangasem regency, around two hours drive from the island’s capital, Denpasar. The five-acre complex was built in 1946 by the last King of Karangasem, as a royal bathing and leisure compound. Located…

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Women’s Peace Conference Decries Violence

Source: Religion News ServiceGENEVA, SWITZERLAND, October 10, 2002: The Global Peace Initiative of Women ended three days of meeting Wednesday, decrying all forms of violence and seeking to forge new strategies to bring peace to areas engulfed in conflict. Some 500 delegates from more than 75 nations ended the meeting with a statement, “The Geneva Declaration of Women for Global…

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