GO TO SOURCE BERLIN, GERMANY, January 31, 2001: In an attempt to eradicate mad cow disease, technically known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy, the German government announced that it will be slaughtering 400,000 cattle. This drastic reaction is the result of falling exports to 34 other countries who have banned German meat. Also German citizens have reduced their consumption of beef…
GO TO SOURCE MONTREAL, CANADA, February 3, 2001: An International conference on the Mahabharata will be held at Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, from May 18 to 20, 2001. Contact Dr Shrinivas Tilak, Department of Religion, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada, for details at “source” above. Day one topic on the foremost epic of Indian history is “Methodological Problems of Teaching…
GO TO SOURCE KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, January 31, 2001: Traditionally on Thai Pusam Malaysian Hindus honor vows to Lord Muruga by breaking coconuts during this religious festival. The Consumers Association of Penang has requested that the coconut offerings be limited and excess cash that would have been used to purchase coconuts be donated to the poor. The Hindu Malaysian Youth…
GO TO SOURCE LUCKNOW, INDIA, Jan. 27, 2001: At the biggest ever bath during Mauni Amavishya in Allahabad Kumbh festival, police and state paramilitary forces on January 19 went berserk and attacked journalists on duty inside the media centre of the State Government in the Kumbh area. Four journalists are still in a local hospital in Allahabad, with multiple injuries.…
GO TO SOURCE AGARTALA, INDIA, January 28, 2001: The Baptist Church authorities in Khumlung have allegedly made it incumbent upon Hindu tribal students in a school near the headquarters of the autonomous district council to attend regular prayer sessions in a nearby church. Now the growing religious conflict between the National Liberation Front of Tripura and the Hindu resistance groups…
GO TO SOURCE ATLANTA, GEORGIA, January 28, 2001: Power yoga is about learning to breathe, relax and acquire an awareness of your body. In the process you work up a sweat, push your muscles to their limit and stretch like silly putty. According to this recent article in the Atlanta Journal, the popularity of power yoga is on the rise…
GO TO SOURCE GURUVAYOOR, KERALA, January 26, 2001: The managing committee of the Sree Krishna temple at Guruvayoor in Kerala has decided to initiate legal action against four firms for accepting sanctified offerings from devotees through their Web sites. K.M. Satheesan, administrator of the temple, told India Abroad on Jan. 15 that the four firms had sought permission from the…
GO TO SOURCE AHMEDABAD, INDIA, January 29, 2001: An article in the Washington Times by Janaki Kremmer reports that a Catholic priest, Father Cedric Prakash, director of the Saint Xavier’s Social Service Society, came to help at a hospital here. Prakash claimed he was shouted at by Hindu volunteers and pushed around until he left. He said, “Hindu hotheads are…
Source: The Times of India RAIGARH, INDIA, January, 26, 2001: An estimated 360 Christian tribals reconverted to Hinduism under the banner of Vanwasi Kalyan Ashram on Wednesday. The function proceeded peacefully as BJP Rajya Sabha member Dilip Singh Judev washed the feet of the tribals before declaring their reconversion to Hinduism. Judev later claimed that 1,500 persons belonging to 315…
Source: Religion News Service KATARAGAMA, SRI LANKA, January 27, 2001: “It is very, very peaceful here,” said Hirono Hideki a 51-year-old Buddhist monk from Tokyo, referring to the Kataragama Temple in southern Sri Lanka. Declared a “Peace Area” by both Hindu and Buddhist leaders, the temple is a major pilgrimage spot for devotees of either faith. Temple elephants inside the…