News from Hindu Press International
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Posted on 2010/10/15 6:03:01 ( 369
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LEICESTER, UK, October 13, 2010:
Massive crowds are expected in Leicester for the Diwali lights switch-on.
Preparations are under way to ensure this year's Diwali celebrations are
the best yet. More than 35,000 people are expected to attend the switching
on of the lights in Belgrave Road - and more to go to events on Diwali Day
itself - making Leicester's the biggest Diwali festivities outside India.
Fireworks, laser displays and dancing will illuminate the Golden Mile on
Sunday, October 24, as the Diwali lights are switched on. Music and more
fireworks will accompany Diwali Day, on Friday, November 5.
Maganbhai Patel, vice-president of Leicester Hindu Festival Council, which
has organized the event alongside the city council, expected record numbers
to join the celebrations. "I know that many people will be coming from
around the county as well as places such as Nottingham and even London.
It's a huge event - everyone always has a fantastic time."
The switch-on ceremony will take place at 6pm and the illuminations are due
to be turned on at 7.30pm.
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Posted on 2010/10/15 6:02:01 ( 352
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POTSDAM, GERMANY, October 15, 2010:
Attempts to build a multicultural society in Germany have "utterly
failed", Chancellor Angela Merkel says. In a speech in Potsdam, she
said the so-called "multikulti" concept -- where people would
"live side-by-side" happily -- did not work. Mrs Merkel's
comments come amid recent outpourings of strong anti-immigrant feeling from
mainstream politicians. A recent survey showed that more than 30% of
Germans believed Germany was "overrun by foreigners".
Mrs Merkel stressed that immigrants living in Germany needed to do more to
integrate, including learning to speak German. By speaking now, Mrs Merkel
has now joined the increasingly hot debate on multiculturalism, coming down
on the side of those who are uneasy about immigration, says the BBC's
correspondent in Berlin, Stephen Evans.
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Posted on 2010/10/15 6:01:01 ( 376
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USA, October 8, 2010: Gold evokes
emotions from investors like few other investable assets. Whether it is
increasing or decreasing in value, people usually have an interest in it
beyond its intrinsic value as an investment.
So what should we make of this current moment for gold? It is trading at
more than $1,300 an ounce. Last year, the gold exchange-traded fund
marketed by State Street Global Advisors was up 25 percent. And it has
continued that surge this year, up 18 percent in the first nine months.
Like so many things, the future of gold's value may lie in India and China.
Mr. Toussaint said that is where the biggest demand for gold in the form of
jewelry is coming. "The U.S. does not drive the gold price, nor does
the investment segment," he said.
But the question many skeptics are asking is why investors are still
flocking to it after such a run-up in value. Are they contributing to a
gold bubble? Or has something fundamental happened in the way gold is held
in portfolios? Not surprisingly, the emotional divide remains strong.
The pro-gold camp is not just pointing to the metal's long, steady growth
over the last two years. They're now talking about its permanent role in a
diversified portfolio. Fear, as it has historically done, initially drove
the buying -- fear of inflation and a vulnerable dollar. What surprised Mr.
Ross earlier this year, though, was how investors' attitudes toward gold
were no longer being driven by fear. Even as last year's concerns have
subsided, he said, "buying hasn't diminished."
On the other hand, the history of gold is replete with surges and crashes.
"Gold is worth what you think it's worth," said Bill Stone, chief
investment strategist at PNC Wealth Management. "It's very difficult
to value. There are no cash flows, so it has no intrinsic value. There is
very little commercial use for it. It's more of a trading vehicle."
More alarming is the talk of a gold bubble. Mr. Stone said it fitted his
three criteria for any inflated asset set to crash: high valuations, excess
returns and speculation. "If nothing else, you ought to be mindful of
the risks," he said. Still, there are people who continue to buy gold
as a hedge against the world falling apart.
"Ask people and you'll get five views of why it's going to go to $750
and five views of why it's going to $2,000," Mr. Ross said.
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Posted on 2010/10/15 6:00:01 ( 482
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When you react to a situation, do
not re-enact it. Wait until the emotional nature has completely composed
itself, then study your reaction.
Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami (1927-2001)
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Posted on 2010/10/12 6:03:01 ( 486
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NEW DELHI, October 13, 2010:
Traditional clothes, tilak ceremonies, mehandi and reading scriptures are
spome Navratri customs that not just Delhiites but also athletes from 71
other countries are observing in New Delhi.
Participants at the Commonwealth Games Village were treated to the
traditional tilak ceremony to mark the beginning of Navratri. "Players
are not venturing out for security reasons, so we are trying to give them
the festive flavor inside the village," says Ashok Kumar, incharge of
operations at the Games Village.
Dandiya performances by various troupes have also been lined up as part of
the daily cultural program. "The idea is to create a fun
atmosphere," adds Kumar. The players are enjoying every bit of it.
"The celebrations are quite elaborate, and we're loving it," says
Rashid Sarafu, a Nigerian athlete.
The Delhi government has also arranged for city tours to take athletes to
culture hotspots like Dilli Haat, where the mood is even more festive.
"Foreign athletes who have been there have indulged in mehandi and
bought bangles and colourful dupattas," says Rina Ray, principal
secretary, Delhi government. "We have also distributed booklets that
have the whole Ramayana in English," she adds.
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Posted on 2010/10/12 6:02:01 ( 406
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NEW DELHI, INDIA, September 28,
2010: Delhi's Ramlilas, organized during the festival of Navratri, is
planned to woo Commonwealth Games tourists with English translators,
pamphlets and air-conditioned rooms.
"We have a separate wing for the foreign tourists, which have
translators to narrate the Ramlila in English, and to explain to them its
significance. We are also handin out English-language pamphlets on the
history of Ramlila," says Ravi Jain of Shri Dharmik Leela Committee,
which hosts the Ramlila in Red Fort Ground.
Visitors couldn't be more thrilled. "I've heard a lot about the
Ramlila from my friends. Now that they have translators, it'll be an
exciting experience," says Roslyn, who arrived from Ireland recently.
Apart from tourists, expats living in the city are also happy about the
move.
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Posted on 2010/10/12 6:01:01 ( 402
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INDIA, October 13, 2010: Barely a
week after two US linguists claimed they uncovered a hidden language in
Arunachal Pradesh, an academician based in the frontier state said his
post-doctoral work in 2008 dealt extensively with the issue.
But Gibji Nimachow would rather not stake any claim to have discovered
Koro, which he says is a dialect and not a language as Americans K. David
Harrison and Gregory DS Anderson announced. "To say one has uncovered
a language known to many in our reasonably educated state is a bit too
much," Nimachow told Hindustan Times. "That is half as ridiculous
as turning a dialect into a language."
Nimachow, assistant professor of geography at Rajiv Gandhi University near
state capital Itanagar, belongs to the Aka tribe, which is divided into two
sub-groups -- Hrusso and Koro. Besides, he had researched various aspects
of his tribe for his thesis.
Arunachal Pradesh Director (Research) Tage Tada agreed. "I don't think
Koro, or for that matter any dialect or language of Arunachal Pradesh,
needs to be discovered," he said.
Anderson is director of Living Tongues Institute for Endangered Languages
in Salem, US, and Harrison is a linguist at Swarthmore College in
Pennsylvania. They said they uncovered Koro during a trip to Arunachal
Pradesh in 2008. Their findings will be published in the journal Indian
Linguistics.
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Posted on 2010/10/18 6:04:01 ( 349
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SEATTLE, WA, USA, October 18, 2010:
Mars Hill Church pastor Mark Driscoll's statement that yoga is an agent of
Hinduism, and hence demonic, has many yoga gurus and practitioners
confused.
Adding fuel to the fire, The Seattle Times newspaper last week quoted R
Albert Mohler Jr, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in
Kentucky, as saying that yoga was against Christianity. Some see the
statements as acknowledgement of the popularity of yoga, which has been
growing as rapidly as mainstream religions once did.
Those who flock to yoga studios feel that the pastor's statement is an
attempt by the church to interference in their lifestyle. "The church
has nothing to do with my choice of exercise," says April Mallery, 32,
a yoga practitioner and a regular church-goer at Renton, Seattle. "The
benefits of yoga are great and never in contradiction to one's practicing
religion," she said.
What irked people like Mallery was a recent question and answer session of
Driscoll with church members. "Should Christians stay away from yoga
because of its "demonic" roots?" Driscoll asked, before
replying: "Totally. You sign up for a little yoga class, and you are
signing up for a little demon class."
Contesting the idea of yoga seeking to "connect to the universe
through meditation" and not "connecting to God through the
mediation of Jesus", Driscoll dubbed yoga "a form of pantheism
and absolute paganism".
[HPI recommendation: For a comprehensive series of opinions from miniesters
and scholars on this subject, click here to visit the Dallas News religion
blog.]
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Posted on 2010/10/18 6:03:01 ( 522
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VISAKHAPATNAM, INDIA, October 16,
2010: Reciting or reading 24,000 slokas in Valmiki Ramayana might take a
few weeks or months, but writing them on Palmyra Leaves within six months
is no mean task.
This treasure of 'Ramayana on Talapatra', about 200-years-old, is one of
the books on display at the domestic ritual of entreating Goddess Saraswati
by Sanskrit scholar Vedula Subrahmanya Sastri.
"We have many occasions in a year to remember the Gods and Goddesses,
festivals to ensure we concentrated our thoughts on self-discipline,
adhering to Dharma -- a word that has no parallel in other country or
religion," he observed. A tradition followed for centuries, to perform
a Saraswati Puja using as a murti all books available in the house,
continues religiously in this scholar's house with the help of his
granddaughter.
Most attractive among the books are '12 Talapatra grandhalu', which has
been in the family for a long time, with a tale. "The condition for my
great-grandfather's marriage was a gift of Valmiki Ramayana was completed
in six months flat," he recounts.
Penance is an essential part of Hindu Dharma, and in the case of Goddess
Sarasvati means also improving concentration towards studies for children
and the grown-up alike, the retired professor from Andhra University Sastri
told The Hindu.
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Posted on 2010/10/18 6:02:01 ( 468
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MACAU, October 16, 2010: Around 300
Nepalese gathered yesterday in Macau to celebrate the greatest festival of
their country. During four hours in the morning and four hours in the
evening, local Nepalese received the blessing with "tika" and
"jamra" and joined a party full of traditional food.
The five-day Dashain Festival is held in October and is celebrated all
around the world by the Nepalese diaspora. The festival falls around
September-October, after the rice harvest and is known for an emphasis on
family gatherings, as well as on a renewal of community ties. The event was
organized by the Non-residents Nepalese Association.
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Posted on 2010/10/18 6:01:01 ( 393
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NAGOYA, JAPAN, October 16, 2010:
"We are now close to a 'tipping point' - that is, we are about to
reach a threshold beyond which biodiversity loss will become irreversible,
and may cross that threshold in the next 10 years if we do not make
proactive efforts for conserving biodiversity," said Japan's
Environment Minister Ryo Matsumoto. A UN biodiversity convention meeting
has opened in Nagoya with warnings that the ongoing loss of nature is
hurting human societies as well as the natural world.
The two-week gathering aims to set new targets for conserving life on
Earth. Much hope is being pinned on economic analyses showing the loss of
species and ecosystems is costing the global economy trillions of dollars
each year.
Ahmed Djoghlaf, executive secretary of the UN Convention on Biological
Diversity (CBD), described the meeting in Nagoya, Japan, as a
"defining moment" in the history of mankind. "Today,
unfortunately, human life is a problem for nature," he told delegates
in his opening speech. Referring to the target set at the UN World Summit
in 2002, he said: "Let's have the courage to look in the eyes of our
children and admit that we have failed, individually and collectively, to
fulfill the Johannesburg promise made by 110 heads of state to
substantially reduce the rate of loss of biodiversity by 2010."
Earlier this year, the UN published a major assessment - the Global
Biodiversity Outlook - indicating that virtually all trends spanning the
state of the natural world were heading downwards, despite conservation
successes in some regions. It showed that loss and degradation of forests,
coral reefs, rivers and other elements of the natural world was having an
impact on living standards in some parts of the world - an obvious example
being the extent to which loss of coral affects fish stocks.
In his opening speech, Mr Matsumoto suggested impacts could be much broader
in future. "All life on Earth exists thanks to the benefits from
biodiversity in the forms of fertile soil, clear water and clean air,"
he said.
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Posted on 2010/10/18 6:00:01 ( 463
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Not to do what you feel like doing
is freedom.
Swami Chinmayananda
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Posted on 2010/10/17 6:04:01 ( 379
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THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, KERALA, INDIA,
October 17, 2010: Celebrating their first learning, thousands of children
in Kerala entered the world of written language by scribbling their first
letters on Vijayadasami day today, marking the conclusion of the Navaratri
festival.
The day is also celebrated as Ayudhya Puja, when all tools are blessed.
Early in the morning, children, mostly aged two to three, along with their
parents, thronged temples, schools, libraries, cultural centres and media
houses to go through the ritual of writing their initial letters on the
auspicious occasion, observed by Keralites as "Vidyarambham", the
initiation into learning.
Teachers, writers, artists, film personalities and even senior politicians
helped the tots write their first letters "hari..sree.." in
platters filled with rice after invoking the Goddess of learning and art
Saraswathi.
Surprisingly, in local Christian churches, parents took their children
before the priests and had them write a couple of lines of from verses of
the Bible.
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Posted on 2010/10/17 6:03:01 ( 373
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WASHINGTON, DC, October 14, 2010
(By Anju Bhargava): This October, Hindu American Seva Charities (HASC)
launched UtsavSeva (festival service), an initiative to highlight the
spiritual value of the major festival of that month. Since Navaratri, the
nine nights to honor the Goddess, occurs in October, this month's theme is
ShaktiSeva: women-oriented service.
October is also National Domestic Violence Awareness month and National
Breast Cancer Awareness month. HASC encourages the Hindu-American community
to engage in the many activities that raise funds for these causes.
On Wednesday, October 20, Hindu American Seva Charities reaches out to the
secular community by partnering with The Association of Asian India Women
in America, hosting a conference call with Tina Tchen, Executive Director
of The White House Council on Women and Girls, Deputy Assistant to the
President and Director of the Office of Public Engagement at the White
House. This historic call marks the beginning of direct dialog between
Asian Indian women and the government.
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Posted on 2010/10/17 6:02:01 ( 506
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PATNA, INDIA, October 14, 2010:
Isn't it a heartening news that Durga Puja committees have been sensitized
against animal sacrifice? Ranjit Bhattacharya, a purohit (priest) of a
Barowari Puja Committee said, "Sacrifice is an essential aspect of the
Puja, for `bali' is the symbol of power. Bali invokes power. And since we
are worshipping Durga, who is the embodiment of shakti (power), it is
essential to incorporate bali in puja. But it does not have to be an
animal. Now most of the Puja committees prefer to use vegetables or
fruits," added the purohit.
Incidentally, even Bengali pandals here do not offer animal sacrifice to
the Goddess. Bali made of white pumpkin, sugarcane and cucumber is offered
specially on Mahaashtami day during sandhi pujan. An integral and important
part of Durga Puja, sandhi puja is performed at the juncture of the 8th and
9th lunar days. Sandhi puja lasts from the last 24 minutes of Ashtami till
the first 24 minutes of Navami.
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Posted on 2010/10/17 6:01:01 ( 658
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FIJI,
October 18, 2010: Ten days of the 105th Ram Leela festival celebrated in
Bulileka, Labasa came to an end yesterday after the burning of Ravana, the
ten-headed king of demons in the Hindu Ramayana. The daily theatrical
enactment of the Ramayan attracted a crowd of about 500 to the Bulileka
temple every day.
Pundit Shiv Maharaj said "The festival has become more significant
because it is celebrated during Dashara-parv, where we perform the year's
biggest prayer ceremony," he said. "During these 10 days, the
participants are disallowed from moving out of the temple premises, nor go
home or eat food cooked outside the premises or by other people. The
participants are donated food items which they cook themselves," Mr
Maharaj said.
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Posted on 2010/10/17 6:00:01 ( 502
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If our senses conveyed the whole
truth to us, we would see the Earth as rivers and glaciers of electrons,
each speck of dust as a rolling mass of light.
Paramahansa Yogananda
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Posted on 2010/10/16 19:33:33 ( 394
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Source: www.hindustantimes.com
NEW DELHI, INDIA, October 14, 2010: Fancy pandals, the beat of dhaks
(traditional drums) and lighting have heralded the beginning of Durga Puja
in the city, where the festive spirit is unabated despite Games-related
restrictions and low sponsorship.
In Chittaranjan Park, where every year puja pandals compete each other in
opulence, the organizers have gone all out in their preparations with
varied themes -- from Rabindranath Tagore to going eco-friendly -- to
highlight Bengali art and culture. Nearby, the puja samiti organisers are
trying to replicate the palatial Sobhabazar Rajbari in Kolkata, where an
aristocrat, Raja Nabakrishna Deb, organized Durga Puja in 1757.
Others have decided to go green this year. "We are not using plastic
or thermocol to decorate anything. Even the dress of the idol is made of
mud and eco-friendly paint, so that when it is immersed, the Yamuna is not
polluted," said Ashok Bose, one of the organizing committee members.
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Posted on 2010/10/16 18:54:10 ( 393
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Source: www.hindustantimes.com
NEW DELHI, INDIA, October 14, 2010: Fancy pandals, the beat of dhaks
(traditional drums) and lighting have heralded the beginning of Durga Puja
in the city, where the festive spirit is unabated despite Games-related
restrictions and low sponsorship.
In Chittaranjan Park, where every year puja pandals compete each other in
opulence, the organizers have gone all out in their preparations with
varied themes -- from Rabindranath Tagore to going eco-friendly -- to
highlight Bengali art and culture. Nearby, the puja samiti organisers are
trying to replicate the palatial Sobhabazar Rajbari in Kolkata, where an
aristocrat, Raja Nabakrishna Deb, organized Durga Puja in 1757.
Others have decided to go green this year. "We are not using plastic
or thermocol to decorate anything. Even the dress of the idol is made of
mud and eco-friendly paint, so that when it is immersed, the Yamuna is not
polluted," said Ashok Bose, one of the organizing committee members.
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Posted on 2010/10/16 18:47:12 ( 417
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Source: www.hindustantimes.com
NEW DELHI, INDIA, October 14, 2010: Fancy pandals, the beat of dhaks
(traditional drums) and lighting have heralded the beginning of Durga Puja
in the city, where the festive spirit is unabated despite Games-related
restrictions and low sponsorship.
In Chittaranjan Park, where every year puja pandals compete each other in
opulence, the organizers have gone all out in their preparations with
varied themes -- from Rabindranath Tagore to going eco-friendly -- to
highlight Bengali art and culture. Nearby, the puja samiti organisers are trying
to replicate the palatial Sobhabazar Rajbari in Kolkata, where an
aristocrat, Raja Nabakrishna Deb, organized Durga Puja in 1757.
Others have decided to go green this year. "We are not using plastic
or thermocol to decorate anything. Even the dress of the idol is made of
mud and eco-friendly paint, so that when it is immersed, the Yamuna is not
polluted," said Ashok Bose, one of the organizing committee members.
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Posted on 2010/10/16 14:23:43 ( 630
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source: BBC
LEICESTER, UNITED KINGDOM, August 2010: Women are becoming more and more
prominent as worship leaders in all faiths in England. And now a woman from
Leicester is taking on the largely male strong hold of Hindu priesthood. In
her fifties Chanda Vyas achieved her childhood dream, when she became the
first female Hindu priest to conduct weddings in the UK.
Although Chanda comes from a Bbrahmin family, where traditionally
priesthood is practiced, but as a daughter no one expected her to learn the
sacred mantras and texts. As a child she grew up with her male role-models
all practicing priesthood but was told it was culturally unacceptable for a
female to practice. Chanda eventually put her childhood dream behind her,
settled down, brought up her three daughters and pursued her career as a
social worker.
Unable to forget her long standing ambition, Chanda approached her father,
who she describes as her guru, for his blessing to carry out her dream.
With his agreement she was finally able to start conducting Asian wedding
ceremonies in both English and Gujarati.
Although Chanda conducts other Hindu ceremonies her main focus is on the
wedding ceremony as she is able to interpret the scriptures in a way the
younger generation are able to understand. Chanda might have expected some
male priests to have been unhappy with her conducting religious ceremonies,
but so far she said she has been accepted by the communities and feels she
has their support.
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Posted on 2010/10/16 6:04:01 ( 361
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BHOPAL, INDIA, October 16, 2010:
The Archaeological Survey of India has found the remains of 1300-year-old
temples at Ashapuri village, 36km from Bhopal. The remains of the temples
are massive. Of the 21 temples, the one dedicated to Bhoothnath was the
biggest. The archaeologists have named the excavation project Bhootnath
Temple series.
"We have found ruins of temples dating back 1300 years, even before
the Parmar dynasty," said Ashok Das, Madhya Pradesh commissioner of
the Archaeological Survey. "Pratihar dynasty rulers in this area
constructed temples with steeple-shaped structure. These temples were large
and beautiful. The 21 temples you can see here were made during the
Pratihar rule."
The excavators have found over 400 remains of murtis of Hindu Gods and
Goddesses. The state government has taken the responsibility of preserving
these relics of Indian history.
Locals claimed that the Mughal rulers had razed these temples.
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Posted on 2010/10/24 6:03:01 ( 507
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ALLAHABAD, INDIA, October 9, 2010:
The role played by "independent experts" -- historians and
archaeologists who appeared on behalf of the Waqf Board to support its
claim -- has come in for criticism by one of the Allahabad High Court
judges in the Ayodhya verdict. While the special bench of three judges
unanimously dismissed objections raised by the experts to the presence of a
temple, it was Justice Sudhir Agarwal who put their claims to extended
judicial scrutiny.
During lengthy cross-examination spread over several pages and recorded by
Justice Agarwal, the historians and experts were subjected to pointed
queries about their expertise, background and basis for their opinions. To
the court's astonishment, some who had written signed articles and issued
pamphlets, found themselves withering under scrutiny.
Some instances underlined by the judge are: Suvira Jaiswal deposed
"whatever knowledge I gained with respect to disputed site is based on
newspaper reports or what others told me." She said she prepared a
report on the Babri dispute "after reading newspaper reports and on
basis of discussions with medieval history expert in my department."
Supriya Verma, another expert who challenged the ASI excavations, had not
read the ground penetration radar survey report that led the court to order
an excavation. The judge pointed out how the independent witnesses were all
connected -- one had done a PhD under the other, another had contributed an
article to a book penned by a witness.
Justice Aggarwal emphasized the need for thorough original research before
concurring with what someone else has claimed.
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Posted on 2010/10/24 6:02:01 ( 403
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BANGKOK, THAILAND, September 18,
2010: Bangkok is often synonymous with Buddhism, but the savvy traveler and
the devout know that the city also has five other Hindu shrines the size of
Thailand's ubiquitous Buddhist Temples.These six shrines honor the Hindu
Deities Brahman, Indra, Narayana, Lakshmi, Trimurti Ishvara and Ganesha.
It is easy to visit and pray at all six is easy because they are all within
walking distance of one another. All six life-sized Deities are located on
relatively small spaces, and worshippers pray in the open air. It's
customary to start at the famous Erawan Shrine, also called Brahman Shrine
or Phra Phrom by the Thais--every taxi driver in Bangkok knows this most
revered and famous of shrines in Ratchaprasong, the city's pre-eminent
shopping and entertainment district. Millions, including Malaysians, visit
annually, to worship the four-faced Brahma.
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Posted on 2010/10/24 6:01:01 ( 400
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NEW DELHI, INDIA, October 10, 2010:
Televangelism has come to India with a number of evangelical television
channels competing for viewers. In addition to aiding missionaries send
their message of conversion, televangelism greatly increases the revenues
of the global Christian groups. A research publication
"McDonaldisation, Masala McGospel and Om Economics: Televangelism in
Contemporary India" by Jonathan D. James looks at some of these
issues, unraveling how the global networks operate in India and how they
are culturally alien to the Indian ethos. The book is based on field
research, interactions with pastors at various levels and some Hindu
leaders.
Explaining the term McDonaldisation, the author says "McDonalds turns
its customers into involuntary unpaid labor, where they must queue to give
their orders, carry their food, eat most of their food with hands and clear
away their own rubbish. Likewise, global televangelism is turning their
audiences into their labor force as fellow evangelists."
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Posted on 2010/10/24 6:00:01 ( 398
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The body of Ben Franklin, Printer,
like the cover of an old book, its contents torn out and stripped of its
lettering and gilding, lies here food for worms, but the Work shall not be
lost, for it will, as he believed, appear once more in a new and more
elegant edition, revised and corrected by the author.
Epitaph of Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790), written
by the inventor and politician when he was only 22, expressing his belief
in reincarnation.
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Posted on 2010/10/23 6:05:01 ( 607
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TORONTO, CANADA, October 14, 2010:
Final rites for a loved one are a serious enough business without the added
fear of breaking the law to follow custom. So Canada's Hindu community has
begun releasing a set of guidelines that allow the ancient practice of
spreading ashes on water without running afoul of modern environmental
concerns. "There was so much guilt that I experienced myself 14 years
ago, when I spread my father's ashes in Lake Ontario," recalls Pandit
Roopnauth Sharma, 58, who is leading the effort. "I didn't know if it was
legal. I was uncomfortable. People are always looking over their
shoulder."
The Canadian Hindu Federation, of which Sharma is president, has worked on
the guidelines to educate its community, in co-operation with
municipalities and the province. The first phase of those guidelines
encourages mourners to pick a spot at least half a kilometre from shore.
Other rules will be released in coming weeks and posted on the federation's
website and at temples, Sharma said.
The province has clarified its position on the Ministry of Consumer Affairs
website. Approval isn't needed to spread ashes on Crown land, such as
provincial parks and conservation areas, the website says. But it's not
legal to do it on private land, or private waterways, without the owner's consent.
And "only a handful of leaves and flowers" should accompany the
ashes.
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Posted on 2010/10/23 6:04:01 ( 381
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UNITED KINGDOM, September 22, 2010:
World famous Madame Tussauds has announced it will be marking one of South
Asia's most colorful and popular festivals, as it launched its first ever
Diwali weekend in October. Guests at Madame Tussauds enjoyed some of the
authentic musical traditions of India, including sitar, flute and tabla
players as well as traditional dance performed by accomplished classical
musicians. And to make the Diwali celebration even more complete, there
will be a wide range of delicious Indian mithai's being sold at the Indian
sweets hut. The one-weekend-only event took place between 16 and 17
October, was hosted in the popular World Stage area and joined Indian wax
figures of Bollywood superstars Shahrukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai, Amitabh
Bachan and Salman Khan.
PR manager, Liz Edwards said: "Celebrating Diwali at Madame Tussauds
is a tribute to the growing number of South Asian visitors from the UK and
abroad who enjoy the attraction and come back year after year to experience
it. We also look forward to all our other international guests experiencing
a snapshot of multicultural Britain."
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Posted on 2010/10/23 6:03:01 ( 405
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BANGALORE, INDIA, September 20,
2010: "Scholars from about 20 countries, including Britain and
Germany, are expected to participate in the four-day World Sanskrit Book
Fair beginning January 7, 2011", said M.N. Venkatachalaiah, former
chief justice of India and president of the fair's Advisory Board. Though titled
World Sanskrit Book Fair, it will have books in all Indian languages on
Sanskrit literature. "People are longing to go back to the roots and
access primary sources of knowledge. Hence the fair is being held to make
Sanskrit literature available in all Indian languages to the public. The
popularity of Yoga, Ayurveda, Vedanta ancient Hindu religious texts and the
Bhagavad Gita has brought about renewed interest the world over to learn
Sanskrit," said Venkatachalaiah.
Participants will include The Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan, Sanskrit
universities, oriental research institutes and Sanskrit academies. About
100 publishers from India will display their books and they are expecting
10,000 delegates from India and abroad. Additionally, there will be a three-day
national conference of Sanskrit scholars and an exhibition entitled
"Knowledge Heritage of India."
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Posted on 2010/10/23 6:02:01 ( 499
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USA, October 23, 2010: For those
interested in the strategy of "inculturation" presently being
used by Christian missionaries in India, read this issue of Mission
Frontier, the bulletin of the U.S. Center for World Mission here. It details the inculturation
strategy of the missionaries with the native American Indian tribes.
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Posted on 2010/10/23 6:01:01 ( 439
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NEW DELHI, INDIA, October 20, 2010:
New physical activity guidelines for Indians say they need almost twice the
amount of exercise Westerners need to keep fit because we are genetically
at higher risk of developing diabetes, hypertension, cardiac disease and
metabolic complications. While the American Diabetic Association prescribes
45 minutes of physical exercise 3-4 times a week, Indians should put in one
hour a day, seven days a week. This was part of the Consensus Physical
Activity Guidelines for Asian Indians released on Saturday, and reached
following discussions among 130 scientists from India, Britain, the US and
Australia. "A majority of Indians lead a sedentary lifestyle, thanks
to the rapid economic and demographic transformation of India. Exercise
should become top of the agenda for every Indian," said Dr Anoop
Misra, director of the National Diabetes, Obesity and Cholesterol
Foundation, which brought out the guidelines along with the Department of
Science and Technology, Government of India.
"While there are several reference points for physical activity in the
developed world, so far we had nothing in India. The guidelines will show
the correct way of doing exercise and in right intensity and amount,"
said Dr Misra.
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Posted on 2010/10/23 6:00:01 ( 432
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There are only two things you can
really depend on: one is the changeableness of life, and the other is the
unchanging Self within you.
Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami (1927-2001)
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Posted on 2010/10/19 6:04:01 ( 458
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THANJAVUR, INDIA, September 25,
2010: Official celebrations are taking place in southern India for the
1,000th birthday of one of the grandest temples ever built on the
subcontinent. The Brihadisvara temple in the town of Thanjavur, 350km (220
miles) south-west of Chennai, is considered the finest example of southern
Indian architecture. R. Nagasami, the state of Tamil Nadu government's
retired director of archaeology, says "We can definitely say the
temple was complete by the year 1010. We made this conclusion from stone
inscriptions." Unlike other Hindu temples built during that period,
this one was made using granite. Dedicated to Lord Shiva it consists of 13
tiers, and its main tower soars majestically to a height of 60m (200ft).
The master designers built the hollow tower by interlocking stones without
using any binding material.
Considered one of the tallest structures in India at that time, the temple
was built on the orders of the King Raja Raja Chola, the most prominent
sovereign of the Chola dynasty. The Cholas reached their zenith during the
11th Century, subduing smaller kingdoms and bringing most of southern India
under their rule. They were also pioneers in naval warfare, carrying out
hostile waterborne expeditions to Sri Lanka and the Far East. Raja Raja
Chola, who ruled from 985 AD to 1014, was a Saivite. His capital was the
town of Thanjavur, situated on the banks of the River Cauvery, which is
considered sacred by Hindus. "King Raja Raja was also known as
Sivapada Sundaran [which means a man devoted to the feet of Shiva],"
says Mr Nagasami.
The temple is 240m long and 120m wide. There were no rock formations near
the temple, so it had to be transported from quarries 50km away. It is
believed the rock was brought to the building site by river boat. P.S.
Sriraman, assistant superintendant archaeologist of the Archaeological
Survey of India, says: "If you compare the Brihadisvara Temple with
other temples of that time, it is at least 40 times bigger. "This is a
dramatic scaling up. It shows their confidence and imagination. It has a
very unique design. It is the first Hindu temple to be built on such a
grand scale." Interestingly, the temple also has number of statues and
stone carvings depicting the life of Buddha.
V. Ganapati Sthapati, a well-known temple architect, says: "The temple
tower incorporates the same building principles used in the construction of
great pyramids. "They designed the temple using traditional knowledge
which is held as family secrets, and passed down from father to son. They
carved out rocks using hand-held tools." The inscriptions found in the
temple have helped scholars understand the Chola empire.
The temple, which also has fresco paintings, has survived the ravages of
countless monsoons, six recorded earthquakes and a major fire. Its
superintendant archaeologist, Sathyabama Badrinath, says: "The temple
is in excellent condition. It has no structural problems. "The weight
load is evenly distributed among pillars and beams. It needs very little
maintenance."
None of the forts and palaces built by the Cholas survives today. But the
remaining temples stand testimony to their achievements and are a major
tourist attraction for both local and foreign visitors.
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Posted on 2010/10/19 6:03:01 ( 470
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MONTREAL, CANADA, September 22,
2010: Grabbing a child firmly by the arm, yelling and repeatedly punishing
him or her may not be without long-terms risks, according to researchers
from the University of Montreal. They are studying how this harsh parenting
can impair the emotional development of a child, possibly leading to
anxiety disorders such as social phobia, separation anxiety and panic
attacks. "Several studies have shown that coercive parenting practices
are linked to anxiety," says Francoise Maheu a professor at the
University de Montreal's Department of Psychiatry and lead investigator of
the study. "We know that common practices such as spanking or
excessive punishment do not instill a strong discipline. Quite the
opposite, they have a lasting psychological impact on children."
"My hypothesis is that two specialized structures, the amygdala and
the anterior congulate cortex, which form the neural fear circuit, play a
role in mediating the anxiety associated with harsh parenting. We are
investigating these structures because they are strongly associated with
the processing of threat cues" says Maheu."Investigating the
links among harsh parenting, fear circuitry and anxiety in youths will
provide key insights on the developmental neurobiology of harsh parenting
and anxiety," adds Maheu. "Understanding this while individuals
are young is crucial as it could lead to early interventions that would
effectively interrupt a development trajectory early in its course, before
anxiety becomes chronic."
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Posted on 2010/10/19 6:02:01 ( 381
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ZURICH, SWITZERLAND, September 21,
2010: In Switzerland, the Tamil and Portuguese communities have almost the
same social position. However, if you compare the academic success of their
children, the two groups are located at the extremes. The children of the
Sri Lankan community are among the larger foreign communities in Zurich,
and the students have the best results, while the Portuguese students
occupy last place. The report is from the Council for Migrants, which
supplies information for residents who are foreign nationals.
A majority of the Portuguese, 63%, plan to return home, compared to 70% of
the Tamils who want to settle in Switzerland.
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Posted on 2010/10/19 6:01:01 ( 399
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RICHMOND HILL, CANADA, September
29, 2010: It's solid granite, weighs 15 tons and stands 12 feet tall. The
"monument to the fallen soldier" is being unveiled this weekend
by the Indo-Canadian community this weekend. The memorial will stand
outside the Canadian Museum of Hindu Civilization on the property of Vishnu
Mandir Temple.
"This monument is to celebrate the sacrifices Canadian soldiers have
made, with a particular emphasis on Afghanistan, so that we as Canadians
can enjoy peaceful days," said Vishnu Mandir spiritual leader Dr.
Budhendranauth Doobay. Shylee Someshwar, CMHOC chairperson said the
monument is something that not only that the Indo-Canadian community can
take pride in, but all of Canada's ethnic communities. "Yes, we are
Indo-Canadians, but we are all Canadian first," stated Ms Someshwar.
"Like other communities we are an integral part of the Canadian
mosaic. This is our way of saying that we care and that we appreciate what
these brave Canadians do for us each day," she added.
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Posted on 2010/10/19 6:00:01 ( 432
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We owe a lot to Indians, who taught
us to count, without which no worthwhile discovery could have been made.
Albert Einstein (1879-1955)
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Posted on 2010/10/27 6:03:01 ( 371
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USA, October 27, 2010 (Press
release): The Board of the Council for a Parliament of the World's
Religions elected seven new Trustees for a three-year term at its October
24-25, 2010 meeting, in a commitment to extending its reach to diverse
religious and spiritual communities. They are:
Anju Bhargava (Hindu)
Kirit Daftary (Jain)
Dr. Robert Henderson (Baha'i)
Mary Nelson (Christian)
Christopher Peters (Native American)
Dr. Anantanand Rambachan (Hindu)
Kuldeep Singh (Sikh)
The Council is governed by a board of 35 Trustees total, with persons of
Baha'i, Buddhist, Christian, Jain, Jewish, Hindu, Indigenous, Pagan, Sikh,
Zoroastrian, and humanistic traditions.
The roots of the Council go back to the historic 1893 World's Parliament of
Religions, when for the first time in history the traditions of East and
West met for formal interreligious dialogue. The most recent was the
meeting in Melbourne, Australia in 2009, the largest gathering of religious
leaders the world ever saw: 6,500 participants from over 80 countries
representing over 200 religious, spiritual and traditional communities
attended for one week.
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Posted on 2010/10/27 6:02:01 ( 412
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CHENNAI, INDIA, India, October 28,
2010 : Bharat Sangeet Utsav, a popular musical event commencing on October
30, in Chennai will showcase the multi-dimensional spectrum of Indian
music, featuring concerts by prominent artistes of both the Carnatic and Hindustani
styles. The festival starts on 30 October, 2010 at Narada Gana Sabha (Main
Hall). Legendary musician-composer, Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna, will be
conferred the lifetime achievement award.
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Posted on 2010/10/27 6:01:01 ( 426
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Source: Religion News Service
USA< October 25, 2010: Americans
are being more generous to religious charities, but why are they skimping
on their giving to churches? A new report from Empty Tomb Inc., an
Illinois-based Christian research organization, contains an analysis that
found from 2007 to 2008, Protestant churches saw a decrease of $20.02 in
per-member annual charitable gifts. But annual average contributions to
"church, religious organizations," which includes charities like
World Vision and Salvation Army, increased by $41.59.
Giving to religious charities is up, while giving to churches is down. One
reason? Churches spend more money on congregational finances and less on
endeavors beyond the church walls. This is unappealing to people who want
to support specific causes with a tangible, visible benefit or goal.
"People overall give to a vision, and this is just what we've
observed, that you see that kind of outpouring when there is a specific
need, not a general supporting of an established organization" said
Ronsvalle, who co-wrote the 20th edition of the "State of Church
Giving Through 2008."
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Posted on 2010/10/27 6:00:01 ( 425
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Religious worship is not directed
to images in themselves, considered as mere things, but under their
distinctive aspect as images leading us on to God incarnate. The movement
toward the image does not terminate in it as image, but tends toward He or
She whose image it is.
Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274), theologian
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Posted on 2010/10/26 20:19:18 (
1325 reads )
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NEWDELHI, INDIA, October 17, 2010:
Silk, pearls, shoes and bone china -- some of the most luxurious choices we
make are cruelest to animals. Indian designers at the top are shockingly
unaware of a movement that has its genesis in India and is all set to sweep
the world! An unlikely trend is elbowing its way into the luxury market.
It's not silk-lined, wool-edged or leather-strapped. Neither is it limited
or special edition. It's the rise of ethical choices in the field of
personal wear and lifestyle. Compassion is back in business.
If an animal was harmed to make a material, then that fabric is off limits.
Ethical pin-ups are saying 'no' to silk, wool, leather, pearls and even
bone china crockery. From vegan belts to shoes; from Ahimsa silk kurtas to
eco-friendly pottery, a slow movement is on the rise that's being defined
as making cruelty-free, kinder lifestyle choices. And once again, though
the concept originated in India, it is the West that is ushering in a wave
of compassionate consumerism. Even as select people in India consciously go
for non-violent choices in personal wear as well as lifestyle objects, it
is in markets outside the country that vegan personal products are creating
a wave.
For Hinduism Today's article on Ahimsa Silk, click here .
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Posted on 2010/10/26 6:03:01 ( 428
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TIRUNELVELI, INDIA, October 21,
2010: Thieves made away with four Panchaloha murtis, valued at several
thousands of dollars from Sri Thirupuranatheswarar temple at Thenmalai near
Sivagiri, recently. Police said the theft came to light in the morning when
the priest Ganesh Battar opened the temple and went in to perform everyday
pujas. The thieves stole the murtis of Lord Siva, Goddess Parvathi, Lord
Prathosha Nayagar and Goddess Prathosha Nayagi Amman.
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Posted on 2010/10/26 6:02:01 ( 431
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NEWDELHI, INDIA, October 17, 2010:
Silk, pearls, shoes and bone china -- some of the most luxurious choices we
make are cruelest to animals. Indian designers at the top are shockingly
unaware of a movement that has its genesis in India and is all set to sweep
the world! An unlikely trend is elbowing its way into the luxury market.
It's not silk-lined, wool-edged or leather-strapped. Neither is it limited
or special edition. It's the rise of ethical choices in the field of
personal wear and lifestyle. Compassion is back in business.
If an animal was harmed to make a material, then that fabric is off limits.
Ethical pin-ups are saying 'no' to silk, wool, leather, pearls and even
bone china crockery. From vegan belts to shoes; from Ahimsa silk kurtas to
eco-friendly pottery, a slow movement is on the rise that's being defined
as making cruelty-free, kinder lifestyle choices. Though Ahimsa originated
in India, it is the West that is ushering in a wave of compassionate
consumerism. Even as select people in India consciously go for non-violent
choices in personal wear as well as lifestyle objects, it is in markets
outside the country that vegan personal products are creating a wave.
For Hinduism Today's article on Ahimsa Silk, click here .
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Posted on 2010/10/26 6:02:01 ( 1309
reads )
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NEWDELHI, INDIA, October 17, 2010:
Silk, pearls, shoes and bone china -- some of the most luxurious choices we
make are cruelest to animals. Indian designers at the top are shockingly
unaware of a movement that has its genesis in India and is all set to sweep
the world! An unlikely trend is elbowing its way into the luxury market.
It's not silk-lined, wool-edged or leather-strapped. Neither is it limited
or special edition. It's the rise of ethical choices in the field of
personal wear and lifestyle. Compassion is back in business.
If an animal was harmed to make a material, then that fabric is off limits.
Ethical pin-ups are saying 'no' to silk, wool, leather, pearls and even
bone china crockery. From vegan belts to shoes; from Ahimsa silk kurtas to
eco-friendly pottery, a slow movement is on the rise that's being defined as
making cruelty-free, kinder lifestyle choices. And once again, though the
concept originated in India, it is the West that is ushering in a wave of
compassionate consumerism. Even as select people in India consciously go
for non-violent choices in personal wear as well as lifestyle objects, it
is in markets outside the country that vegan personal products are creating
a wave.
For Hinduism Today's article on Ahimsa Silk, click http://www.hinduismtoday.com/modules/ ... tion/item.php?itemid=5057
.
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Posted on 2010/10/26 6:01:01 ( 387
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BOULDER, COLORADO, October 21,
2010: A research, led by scientists at the National Center for Atmospheric
Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colorado, uses observations, gene expression
studies, and computer modeling to show that deciduous plants absorb about a
third more of a common class of air-polluting chemicals than previously
thought.
"Plants clean our air to a greater extent than we had realized,"
says NCAR scientist Thomas Karl, the lead author. "They actively
consume certain types of air pollution." The research team focused on
a class of chemicals known as oxygenated volatile organic compounds
(oVOCs), which can have long-term impacts on the environment and human health.Researchers
determined that deciduous plants appear to be taking up the compounds at an
unexpectedly fast rate--as much as four times more rapidly than previously
thought. The uptake was especially rapid in dense forests and most evident
near the tops of forest canopies, which accounted for as much as 97 percent
of the observed compount uptake.
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Posted on 2010/10/26 6:00:01 ( 489
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If you want to know how much you
have progressed in your spiritual life, just look back and reflect on the
changes.
Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami (1927-2001)
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Posted on 2010/10/25 6:04:01 ( 402
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DEHRADUN, INDIA, October 18, 2010:
Popular Himalayan Hindu shrines in Uttarakhand will be closed for the
winter next month, officials said Monday. The temple priests decided to
close Kedarnath and Badrinath temples for the public Nov 7 and Nov 18. A
decision in this regard was taken by the respective priests on Sunday after
consulting the traditional Hindu calendar, said temple officials. It is
believed that Devas and demi-Gods conduct worship of Lord Vishnu in the
Badrinath shrine during the winter months, whereas the human beings worship
the Deity during the other months.
Meanwhile, Gangotri shrine authorities have also decided to close the
temple on November 6. Gangotri, dedicated to Goddess Ganga, is one of the
four main Hindu shrines, commonly known as Char Dham that includes
Badrinath, Kedarnath and Yamunotri.
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Posted on 2010/10/25 6:03:01 ( 438
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NEW DELHI, INDIA, October 26, 2010:
The declaration of the elephant as the National Heritage Animal of India on
Thursday by the Union government has received hearty welcome from animal
lovers. The decision has special significance in Kerala because the State
has a large number of captive elephants and the manner in which they are
kept has been constantly questioned by animal lovers.
The National Heritage Animal status for the elephant was one of the
important recommendations of 12-member Elephant Task Force which submitted
its report to the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests on August 31.
The government accorded the prestigious status for the elephant following
the approval of the Elephant Task Force recommendation by the Standing
Committee of the National Board for Wildlife at its meeting on October 13.
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Posted on 2010/10/25 6:02:01 ( 438
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RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, October 22,
2010: Finishing touches are being put on a building in western Henrico
County that is a soon-to-be Hindu temple, one of the first religious buildings
in the U.S. that will be certified under the U.S. Green Building Council's
environmental program.
The style is eighth-century. The techniques are green and modern. "We
felt it was the socially responsible thing to do," said Vijay
Ramnarain, an architectural consultant on the project. Energy efficiency
ties into the Hinduism, said Neil Bhatt, the architect on the project.
"We worship the mother earth just as we worship other Deities."
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Posted on 2010/10/25 6:01:01 ( 410
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BERLIN, GERMANY, September 24,
2010: The Sri Ganesha Temple in Berlin is currently located in a drafty
barn-like building with a leaky roof. But the Hindu community dreams of
building a suitably grand temple.
Construction work has officially begun, even though believing that there
will be enough money to finish it requires faith. After years of planning,
fund-raising and setbacks, the groundbreaking ceremony took place on the
first day of the 10-day festival to Lord Ganesha.
The temple congregation is made up of about 90 active members, and has big
plans. It plans to build what they say will be Germany's largest Hindu
temple, with an ornamented, 17-meter (56-foot) royal tower (gopuram) at the
gateway.
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Posted on 2010/10/25 6:00:01 ( 451
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The smallest good deed is better
than the greatest intention.
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Posted on 2010/10/31 6:04:01 ( 409
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SHIMLA, INDIA, October 29 2010 :
They may be young, but don't get caught littering in front of them. Over
10,000 schoolchildren are virtually on the prowl in the hills of Himachal
Pradesh, ready to teach a lesson or two on non-biodegradable waste. These
children, designated as 'eco-monitors', keep an eye on areas around their
school to catch people who dump polythene bags, sachets, empty liquor
bottles and clothes in the open. On Oct 2, 2009, Himachal Pradesh banned
the production, storage, use, sale and distribution of all types of
polythene bags made of non-biodegradable material.
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Posted on 2010/10/31 6:03:01 ( 350
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SAN DIEGO, CA, October 24, 2010: As
the sun began to set Sunday night, volunteers lit the wicks of dozens of
ornate brass lamps arranged near Balboa Park's Alcazar Garden. They were
among the thousands of people who had gathered for the third annual Diwali
Festival of Light, a little early, in San Diego. [HPI note: Diwali happens
on November 4 (India) or 5 (America) this year, though local communities
may celebrate them at different dates.]
The holiday is celebrated widely in India and by Indians around the world,
said M.C.Madhavan, a professor emeritus of economics and Asian studies at
San Diego State University and founder of the San Diego Indian American
Society, which helped create the event. The lamps, which were made in
India, symbolize fire, sun and the removal of darkness, he said. "It
is the celebration of virtue over vice," Madhavan said. More than
1,000 more small lamps were later lit on stage at the Spreckels Organ
Pavilion.
The Festival of Light has grown each year since it started in 2008, said
Martha Ehringer, of the Mingei International Museum, which organized the event
along with the San Diego Musem of Art and the San Diego Indian American
Society. About 700 people attended that first year, then 3,000 last year.
Thousands were expected again this year. "Every year it gets a little
grander," Ehringer said.
Participants ate Indian food, got their hands designed with henna, and
perused Indian comic books donated by a Bombay-based publishing company.
Hundreds of people dressed in colorful traditional Indian garb marched and
danced in a procession through the park.
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Posted on 2010/10/31 6:02:01 ( 1464
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Source:
"Schedule tribes or endogenous communities are amongst the most
ecologically evolved communities amongst the world, but sadly also amongst
the most economically backward ones in India," says Darren Lobo of
Grassroutes. He informs that most tribal villages just receive two-three
hours of electricity per day, hampering a child's ability to read or play
once the sun sets. Lobo says, "Most parts of rural India function
without electricity for several hours a day. We are offering them a
renewable lighting system as part of our festive gift gesture to help make
a difference to their life."
The renewable lighting system is worth US$15 and will be either be a solar
powered lantern or a wind up lantern. The visit to the villages to hand out
the lanterns will be made post Diwali on November 13 and 14 (Children's
Day). At the village, patrons can also indulge in activities such as
milking cows and seeing how the milk is distributed. You could also chop
wood, draw water, trek, and star gaze or participate in light rappelling.
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Posted on 2010/10/31 6:02:01 ( 459
reads )
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"Schedule tribes or endogenous communities are amongst the most
ecologically evolved communities amongst the world, but sadly also amongst
the most economically backward ones in India," says Darren Lobo of
Grassroutes. He informs that most tribal villages just receive two-three
hours of electricity per day, hampering a child's ability to read or play
once the sun sets. Lobo says, "Most parts of rural India function
without electricity for several hours a day. We are offering them a renewable
lighting system as part of our festive gift gesture to help make a
difference to their life."
The renewable lighting system is worth US$15 and will be either be a solar
powered lantern or a wind up lantern. The visit to the villages to hand out
the lanterns will be made post Diwali on November 13 and 14 (Children's
Day). At the village, patrons can also indulge in activities such as
milking cows and seeing how the milk is distributed. You could also chop
wood, draw water, trek, and star gaze or participate in light rappelling.
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Posted on 2010/10/31 6:01:01 ( 519
reads )
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ALLAHABAD, INDIA, October 27, 2010:
When it comes to lighting on Diwali, diyas occupy a special place. Despite
the influx of LED lights and Chinese bulbs, people in the city are still
going for the traditional diyas this Diwali. With the changing trends,
potters too are wheeling out designer diyas.
A potter in trans-Yamuna area said, "People prefer performing puja in
traditional style. At least 11 diyas are lit before Lord Ganesha and
Goddess Laxmi on Diwali. The fire cannot be matched by electrical gadgets.
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Posted on 2010/10/31 6:00:01 ( 485
reads )
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The writers of the Indian
philosophies will survive when the British dominion in India shall long
have ceased to exist, and when the sources which it yielded of wealth and
power are lost to remembrances.
Lord Warren Hastings (1754-1826), the first
governor general of British India
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Posted on 2010/10/28 6:04:01 ( 352
reads )
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UK, October 10, 2010: Every Indian
wedding adds to demand in world's biggest jewelry market. From the
jewel-encrusted tikka adorning the bride's forehead, to her chandelier-like
earrings, ornate nose ring and the bangles on her arms, to the rings on her
hennaed fingers and toes, a traditional Indian wedding involves some
serious "bling."
Looking like a princess for the day is big business in India, primarily
because of the vast amounts of jewelry bought by party-goers. Indeed,
commodity analysts have blamed spikes in the price of gold during September
on preparations for the six-month marriage season, which starts in October.
In 2009, India accounted for a quarter of all gold used in jewelry products
and it is the world's biggest jewelry market, ahead of China, the US or the
Middle East.
Gold has also been a standard medium of exchange for Indian people over the
centuries and almost the only means of saving in rural areas, which still
account for 70% of the population.
Indian bullion trader Metier Capital Management says gold has huge
religious significance in the subcontinent, which also contributes to
demand. Custom demands that gold be bought for special occasions such as
weddings, births and birthdays, as well as for religious festivals,
particularly for Diwali, which is celebrated by Jains and Sikhs as well as
Hindus.
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Posted on 2010/10/28 6:03:01 ( 348
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CHICAGO, USA, October 08, 2010:
Interfaith marriages on the rise, giving brides and grooms a head start on
compromising.
When Amy Patel, who was raised Catholic, married Mitul Patel, a Hindu, in
June, they blended religious traditions from both families. Thanks to a
wedding planner, a secular venue and abundant advice from relatives, they
pulled it off, she said. "Everyone was so worried about offending
everyone else," said Amy Patel, of Aurora. "But in the end,
everyone had fun and learned a lot about another culture."
The Patels are among the 27 percent of brides and bridegrooms who marry
outside their faith, said the Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion &
Public Life. If you include couples of different Protestant denominations,
the number rises to 37 percent. The percentage of interfaith marriages
grows annually, said the University of Chicago's National Opinion Research
Center.
Hindus, Mormons and Catholics are least likely to marry outside of their
faiths, said the Pew Forum. The unaffiliated, Protestants and Buddhists are
most likely.
For the Patels, combining traditions meant four days of Hindu rituals,
including the women getting henna tattoos, followed by an
"American" ceremony, said Amy Patel. The biggest complication,
she said, was the clothing. "We wore different outfits for the Indian
part and the American part, so we had to get rooms for everyone to
change," she said.
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Posted on 2010/10/28 6:03:01 ( 983
reads )
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CHICAGO, USA, October 08, 2010:
Interfaith marriages on the rise, giving brides and grooms a head start on
compromising.
When Amy Patel, who was raised Catholic, married Mitul Patel, a Hindu, in
June, they blended religious traditions from both families. Thanks to a
wedding planner, a secular venue and abundant advice from relatives, they
pulled it off, she said. "Everyone was so worried about offending
everyone else," said Amy Patel, of Aurora. "But in the end,
everyone had fun and learned a lot about another culture."
The Patels are among the 27 percent of brides and bridegrooms who marry
outside their faith, said the Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion &
Public Life. If you include couples of different Protestant denominations,
the number rises to 37 percent. The percentage of interfaith marriages
grows annually, said the University of Chicago's National Opinion Research
Center.
Hindus, Mormons and Catholics are least likely to marry outside of their
faiths, said the Pew Forum. The unaffiliated, Protestants and Buddhists are
most likely.
For the Patels, combining traditions meant four days of Hindu rituals,
including the women getting henna tattoos, followed by an
"American" ceremony, said Amy Patel. The biggest complication,
she said, was the clothing. "We wore different outfits for the Indian
part and the American part, so we had to get rooms for everyone to change,"
she said.
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Posted on 2010/10/28 6:02:01 ( 395
reads )
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NEW DELHI, INDIA, October 8, 2010:
Delhiites will have to spend extra money for Diwali shopping thanks to the
Commonwealth Games. The traders are facing a stock shortage because of
restrictions on entry of goods vehicles in the city due to the Commonwealth
Games. Vehicles carrying goods can enter the city only between 10 pm and 6
am. As goods from neighboring states will reach after the current
restrictions are lifted, traders claim that they will be charged a higher
sum from the wholesalers which will also reflect in the price they will
charge from the consumers.
According to them, there might be a hike of approximately 20 per cent in
the price of goods.
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Posted on 2010/10/28 6:01:01 ( 350
reads )
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USA, October 13, 2010: After
undergoing a quadruple bypass five years ago, former President Bill Clinton
was hospitalized in February with a clogged artery. Two stents placed
inside the artery took care of the problem at the time, but Clinton decided
he didn't want it to happen again.
So he reportedly did some research himself and found 82 percent of heart
attack patients since 1986 who had gone on a plant-based diet could heal
themselves. Not only is he healing his heart, but in the process Clinton
has lost 24 pounds.
.
A healthy diet and lifestyle are the best weapons a person can have not
only to fight heart disease, but a laundry list of other ailments. Just ask
a dietician. "About 15 percent of my patients are prediabetic, 15
percent overweight or obese children, 15 percent high cholesterol, 2
percent eating disorders and the remaining population is diabetes,"
said Angelica Gronke, a registered dietician at ThedaCare's Appleton
Medical Center.
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Posted on 2010/10/28 6:00:01 ( 489
reads )
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Everything is permanent, until it
changes.
Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami (1927-2001)
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Posted on 2010/10/27 22:15:35 (
1380 reads )
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MADURAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA, October
27. 2010: Employees of Hindu temples in India, temples seized and now
administered by the Hindu Religious and Charitable endowment Board,
observed a "sit-in" strike today. They demand implementation of
the sixth pay commission recommendations and pay parity with Government
employee, since the government runs the temples.
As a result, ticket sales at major temples was partially paralyzed. They
included the Meenakshi temple and Sri Murugan temple at Tiruparankunram,
Palani, Tiruchendur, Srivilliputhur, Alagarcoil and Ramanathaswamy temple
at Rameswaram, Srirangam Ranganathaswamy temple, Sri Mariamman temple at
Samayapuram and others. Ticket sales were also affected at Srirangam
Ranganathaswamy temple and Sri Mariamman temple at Samayapuram.
Though authorities had made arrangements to issue tickets through sweepers
and security staff engaged through agencies, ticket sales were almost nil.
People had free darshan through special queues. In Rameswaram temple, the
fee for bathing in various holy waters was not collected.
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No comment
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Posted on 2010/10/27 6:04:01 ( 349
reads )
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MADURAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA, October
27. 2010: Employees of Hindu temples in India, temples seized and now
administered by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Board,
observed a "sit-in" strike today. They demand implementation of
the sixth pay commission recommendations and pay parity with government
employees, since the government runs the temples.
As a result, ticket sales at major temples was partially paralyzed. They
included the Meenakshi temple and Sri Murugan temple at Tiruparankunram,
Palani, Tiruchendur, Srivilliputhur, Alagarcoil and Ramanathaswamy temple
at Rameswaram, Srirangam Ranganathaswamy temple, Sri Mariamman temple at
Samayapuram and others. Ticket sales were also affected at Srirangam
Ranganathaswamy temple and Sri Mariamman temple at Samayapuram.
Though authorities had made arrangements to issue tickets through sweepers
and security staff engaged through agencies, ticket sales were almost nil.
People had free darshan through special queues. In Rameswaram temple, the
fee for bathing in various holy waters was not collected.
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No comment
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Posted on 2010/10/27 6:04:01 ( 1328
reads )
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MADURAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA, October
27. 2010: Employees of temples seized and now administered by the Hindu
Religious and Charitable endowment Board observed a "sit-in"
strike today, demanding implementation of the sixth pay commission
recommendations and pay parity with Government employees.
As a result, ticket sales at major temples was partially paralyzed. They
included the Meenakshi temple and Sri Murugan temple at Tiruparankunram,
Palani, Tiruchendur, Srivilliputhur, Alagarcoil and Ramanathaswamy temple
at Rameswaram, Srirangam Ranganathaswamy temple, Sri Mariamman temple at
Samayapuram and others. Ticket sales were also affected at Srirangam
Ranganathaswamy temple and Sri Mariamman temple at Samayapuram.
Though authorities had made arrangements to issue tickets through sweepers
and security staff engaged through agencies, ticket sales were almost nil.
People had free darshan through special queues. In Rameswaram temple, the
fee for bathing in various holy waters was not collected.
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Posted on 2010/11/6 6:07:01 ( 380
reads )
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MUMBAI, INDIA, November 7, 2010:
Obama was dancing around questions in India-- figuratively speaking -- on
Sunday, he also participated in some literal dancing, showing off some
moves that, to the delight of photographers traveling with him, are likely
to provide iconic images of his trip. President Obama danced with students
during a Diwali Candle Lighting and Performance, after student dancers
doing a show for him implored him to join in.
Earlier, Michelle Obama enthusiastically swayed to Bollywood tunes, to the
delight of the Indian media. Her husband, in contrast, gamely joined in.
Indians seemed to have affection and reverence toward Mr. Obama. In
interviews, students and faculty members here uniformly spoke kindly of
him, praising everything including his respect for "Gandhian
principles." On the question of how he applies those principles, Mr.
Obama sounded a note of humility.
"I'm often frustrated by how far I fall short of their example,"
he said, referring to Mohandas K. Gandhi, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King
Jr. and Abraham Lincoln, all of whom he said he was studying. "But I
do think that at my best what I'm trying to do is to apply principles that
fundamentally come down to something shared in all the world's religions,
which is to see yourself in other people."
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99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
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Om Tat Sat
(Continued...)
(My humble salutations to Sadguru Sri Sivaya Subramuniyaswami ji,
Satguru Bodhianatha Velayanswami ji, Hinduism
Today dot com for the collection)
(The Blog is reverently for all the seekers of truth,
lovers of wisdom and to share the Hindu Dharma with others on the
spiritual path and also this is purely a non-commercial blog)
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