KASHMIR/JAMMU, February 21, 2024 (Swarajya): The challenging trek to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu and Kashmir might become a thing of the past. The government has chosen a contractor to construct a ropeway project, worth approximately US$24 million, leading to the sacred shrine. The 1.5 mile ropeway, starting from Tarakote near the Katra base camp and ending at…
FIji, February 13, 2024 (FBC News): Assistant Minister for Women Sashi Kiran has commended the Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji for its contributions towards education and nation building. Kiran says that through DAV schools and the University of Fiji the Sabha has helped pave the way for career development for thousands of children in Fiji over the years. Kiran highlighted…
DENPASAR, INDONESIA, March 3, 2024 (nusabali.com) Parisada Hindu Dharma Indonesia (PHDI) Bali responded positively to the Ministry of Religion’s (Kemenag) plan to make the Office of Religious Affairs (Kantor Urusan Agama- KUA) a service center for all religions. As is well known, so far the KUA only performs services for Muslims, while other people use services at other institutions such…
YOGYAKARTA, INDONESIA, February 29, 2024 (Tempo.co, Google translated from Indonesian): Hundreds of Hindus from the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY) and Central Java took part in the Galungan procession in the Prambanan Temple area, Yogyakarta, Wednesday, February 28, 2024. This Galungan moment was held to commemorate the creation of the universe and to give thanks for what has been given…
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, November 30, 2023 (News India Times, by David Farley): Somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean, an Iberia flight attendant hovered over me holding a tray of food. He looked at me – a middle-aged white man – then at the aluminum-foil-wrapped food he was holding, then at me again: “Uh, did you order the, um . .…
TRINIDAD/TOBAGO, February 28, 2024 (Stabroek News): A short-lived policy banning open-air cremations for COVID-19 victims during the pandemic has been deemed unconstitutional. High Court Judge Avason Quinlan-Williams issued the declaration when she upheld a constitutional lawsuit brought by Cindy-Ann Ramsaroop-Persad in late July, last year. However, Justice Quinlan-Williams only yesterday issued a written judgment, in which she detailed the reasons…
SRINAGAR, INDIA,, January 6, 2024 (The Hindu): For centuries, the Kashmiri language has survived only through oral traditions; by 2013, those who could write the script fell to just five percent. This year, two technological giants, Microsoft and Google, will infuse a new lease of life into the language, whose rich literature continues to remain accessible to only a small…
AUSTRALIA, February 1, 2024 ( The Indian Sun): For years, Preeti Kothari and Heena Kajaria have dedicated themselves to fostering connections as matchmakers among Indians in Australia and beyond. Now, their journey takes a spotlight turn as they make their debut in the upcoming series, “The Matchmakers,” exclusively airing on SBS and SBS On Demand starting 14 February. If you’ve…
SHAHJAHANPUR, INDIA, February 19, 2024 (Sanatan Prabhat): Deity Shrikrushna appeared in the dream of Vinod Singh’s 13-year-old daughter Pooja, in Safaura village here. She got a vision that a murti of the Deity was buried under the land near a dargah (Muslim shrine or tomb built over the grave of a religious figure). When Pooja’s family dug at the spot,…
INDIA, January 23, 2024 (Swarajya): Just a day after the inauguration of the Ram Mandir at Ayodhya, more than 500,000 devotees thronged the temple premises, hoping to have a glimpse of Ramlalla. The following day, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath expressed his desire to implement comprehensive crowd management methods at the temple. On the third day, the…
