Source: Press Reports ASSISI, ITALY, January 25, 2002: Pope John Paul II welcomed representatives of 12 religions to a vegetarian lunch in the Apostolic Palace today, calling them “friends” united in a “commitment to the cause of peace.” The Roman Catholic pontiff offered lunch to the more than 200 men and women from throughout the world who had joined him…
GO TO SOURCE MONTREAL, CANADA, January 14, 2002: With a philosophy that is all encompassing, Vijaya Raghavan teaches his students at McGill University, “We are on a globe in the universe and it is our duty to be helpful to others.” From humble beginnings as the son of a silk factory worker in India, Vijaya teaches agriculture engineering and has…
GO TO SOURCE KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, Wednesday 23, 2001: The Energy, Communications and Multimedia Ministry of Malaysia has decided to revert to the old postal code for Batu Caves after the issue was brought up at the cabinet meeting today. MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said Minister Datuk Amar Leo Moggie had agreed to the reversal as the…
GO TO SOURCE KERALA, INDIA, January 18, 2002: Tis the season for Ayyappa devotees to make their annual pilgrimage to Sabarimala. Most pilgrims partake in the festivities on Makaravilakku when the Ayyappa Murthi is dressed in traditional attire and a divine light appears on top of the hill. In an effort to control the flow of traffic, the government prohibited…
Source: Times News Network BHUJ, GUJARAT, January 24, 2002: Soon after the killer quake on January 26 last year, as talk of rehabilitation of Kutch began, non-government organizations (NGOs) started to be mentioned as the “prime movers” for this purpose. But a year later, the NGO experiment in rebuilding Kutch has been, at best, a mixed success. Though 64 NGOs,…
GO TO SOURCE ATLANTA, USA, January 23, 2002: Indian American and other interested professionals, particularly those based in Atlanta, are invited to join for free the Indian Professionals Network. For additional information go to “source” above. The website includes extensive information on local religious organizations and events.
GO TO SOURCE NEPAL, INDIA, January 14, 2002: The Makar Sankranti Mela attracted a record-breaking crowd during the week long celebrations. Pilgrimaging to Barkune Taal, each devotee took a holy bath at the Tapta Kund ( Dharma Kund) of Rihaar for in the fulfillment of his wishes. Facilities were made available for pilgrims visiting the Mela and the Bagarbaba religious…
Source: Press Trust of India LONDON, ENGLAND, January 23, 2002: Britain’s leading radio station for ethnic minorities is to ban the term “Asian” from its news bulletins following allegations from a majority of UK-based Hindus and Sikhs that “Muslims are bringing the Asian community into disrepute in Britain and do not want to be put in the same bracket as…
Source: Press Trust of India JAYA, INDIA, January 24, 2002: The ten-day Kalchakra festival, organized in the face of threat by ultra organizations to blow up the Buddhist monastery, was on Thursday postponed midway with the Dalai Lama announcing that he was unable to deliver a long spiritual speech on account of illness. The festival opened on January 21. The…
Source: RELIGION NEWS SERVICE USA, January 23, 2002: A new report sponsored by the American Jewish Committee downplays the growth of minority faiths in the United States, saying they have generated more interest and pop culture buzz than actual adherents. The report follows a controversial study by the same author, Tom Smith, last October that downplayed the number of Muslims…