Call for Divali Articles

GO TO SOURCE TRINIDAD, October 14, 2001: The Indo-Caribbean Cultural Council (ICC) is inviting writers to submit their work for publication in its Divali 2001 souvenir magazine. Divali, the Hindu festival of lights, will be observed with a public holiday in Trinidad and Tobago on November 14, 2001. Writers who wish to express themselves on socio-political issues, current events, or…

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Temple Suffers as Endowment Land Lease Rents go Uncollected

GO TO SOURCE UNTUR, INDIA, October 6, 2001: Though the current farming occupants of their endowment lands have been making a net profit of over US$14,500 per year, the Chandra Moulaswara Swami Temple has been going without daily rituals for want of funds. A 1,783-acre gift deed of fertile agriculture land at Lingamguntla Village conveyed absolute rights over the property…

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Explosive Detectors for Tirumala Temple

Source: The Hindu TIRUPATI, INDIA, October 10, 2001: In the wake of the US-Afghanistan conflict, the State Government today deputed the Inspector General for Intelligence to convene a meeting with the TTD and the District Police top-brass to review the existing security arrangements in and around the Tirumala temple complex and prepare a blue-print to step up security and prevent…

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Kolkata Bars Open for Festival

Source: Telegraph India KOLKATA, INDIA, October 10, 2001: According to a government directive, retail shops selling liquor will be allowed to do business until 11:00 pm, and all bars in Kolkata will have permission to remain open till an hour after midnight during the coming festivals. All this to ensure that neither Kolkatans nor tourists are left high and dry.…

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100,000 Attend Anti-Tobacco Rallies

GO TO SOURCE CHENNAI, INDIA, October 7, 2001: Nearly 100,000 National Cadet Core members in Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry and Andaman and Nicobar Islands, on Sunday took out a rally with an aim to create awareness in society on the ill-effects of smoking. About 1,500 cadets participated in the rally here and carried placards in protest against the use of tobacco.…

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Japanese and Others Buying up Afghan Buddhists Relics

Source: Straits Times, Singapore TOKYO, JAPAN, October 4, 2001: Japanese collectors were among the major purchasers of Buddhist images and fragments believed to have been stolen from the world-famous collections of Buddhist relics in Afghanistan and smuggled into Pakistan. Many Afghan refugees fleeing the country carry with them Buddhist figurines, parts of Buddhist reliefs or rock pieces they claim were…

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Hindus Attacked in Bangladesh

GO TO SOURCE DHAKA, BANGLADESH, October 11, 2001: Some 50,000 people have virtually remained stranded in their homes as attacks on Awami League (AL) leaders and workers and the minority community continued in Jessore, Bangladesh for the past 10 days, according to this report and direct information e-mailed to Hinduism Today. Locals alleged that armed cadres of ousted BNP leader…

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Plea for Tirumala Temple Area as ”No-Fly Zone”

Source: Press Reports TIRUPATI, INDIA, October 8, 2001: The Andhra Pradesh Government is said to have decided to ask India’s central government to declare the air space over the Tirumala hills, the abode of Lord Venkateswara as “no-fly zone.” Information reaching here said the need for such a move was highlighted at a high-level meeting of senior civil and police…

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Oriental Institute Receives Ancient Manuscripts

GO TO SOURCE ADODARA, INDIA, October 6, 2001: Gifting the Oriental Institute of Baroda with a rare collection of scriptures more than 300 years old, descendants of the famous miracle-performing teacher Siddheswar Maharaja (1733 CE) wanted the gems to be preserved. Professor M. L. Wadekar, director of the institute, says that the ancient, beautifully written manuscripts cover diverse topics such…

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