GO TO SOURCE THIRUVANANTHAPPURAM, INDIA, May 26, 2002: According to this Times of India article, more than 200 people belonging to scheduled castes and tribes (or dalits, the lowest strata of Indian society) on Sunday embraced the Buddhist religion in a mass conversion program organized by the SC/ST All India Confederation, Kerala, and the Lord Buddha Universal Society. However, a…
GO TO SOURCE FRANCE, May 28, 2002: What could be the oldest lifelike drawings of human faces have been uncovered in a cave in southern France. The images were first recognized over 50 years ago, but were then lost after doubts were cast on their authenticity. The drawings were found on the floor of prehistoric painted caves. Over 1,500 slabs…
GO TO SOURCE DEARBORN, MICHIGAN, May 22, 2002: The Pluralism Project was developed by Diana L Eck at Harvard University to study and document the growing religious diversity of the United States with a special view to its new immigrant religious communities. The affliated Pluralism Project at the University of Michigan-Dearborn is a co-sponsor of the summer seminar “Worldviews: Foundations…
GO TO SOURCE MUMBAI, INDIA, May 19, 2002: Until May 26, a corner of London’s Oxford Street will look like Madhuri Dixit. Gaudy saris and bawdy sets have transformed century-old department store Selfridges into an Indian film set as part of a “23 Days of Bollywood” store promotion. Nearby, you can dine at celebrity chef Kuldeep Singh’s, new eatery —…
GO TO SOURCE PETALING, MALAYSIA, May 24, 2002: Concerned with the high number of Hindu youth not being able to find the right marriage partners, the Malaysia Hindu Sangam will continue its successful matchmaking program. The program is aimed at helping eligible Hindu bachelors, single women, widows, widowers and divorcees find suitable life partners. Held for the second time, the…
GO TO SOURCE SHIMLA, INDIA, May 19, 2002: The Himachal Pradesh government proposes to introduce astrology as a subject in regular classes at various levels of learning, said Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal. Introduction of astrology would help preserve the ancient system of knowledge so that the younger generation could know more about India’s rich culture and traditions as well…
GO TO SOURCE LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, May 9, 2002: Southeast Christian Church is an example of a new breed of magachurch — a full-service “24/7” sprawling village, which offers many of the conveniences and trappings of secular life centered around a spiritual core. While unusual for America, it is similar to the temple towns of India, and represents the impulse of…
GO TO SOURCE WINTER PARK, FLORIDA, May 23, 2002: The Hindu University of America announced the release of “Hindu Temples of North America.” The book covers Hindu, Buddhist, Jain and Sikh Temples located across the United States and Canada. Architecture, iconography, art work and history of temples are featured. It contains 320 full-color pages with rare photographs and line drawings…
GO TO SOURCE FIJI, May 22, 2002: Fiji Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase has sparked a furious row by claiming a coup two years ago was part of a plan by God to depose the country’s Indian-led government. Critics claim his remarks amount to blasphemy. “The SDL coalition won because it was God’s plan,” Qarase said. “I believe God wanted to…
GO TO SOURCE GANDHINAGAR, GUJARAT, INDIA, May 22, 2002: Calling it a “Kalinga effect,” where a remorseful Emperor Ashok (circa 270 bce) became a messiah of peace seeing the death and destruction caused by war, “supercop” K. P. S. Gill regrets that he has not seen such a trend in Gujarat after all the violence. “I do not see this…