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Posted on 2011/10/18 20:57:01 (
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RENO, NEVADA, October 14, 2011 (kolotv): Sunday marks a significant
landmark for northern Nevada's Hindu community, the grounbreaking for
the first temple of their faith at this end of the state. The area's
600 Hindu families have been making do with worship in private homes
and, for the past couple of years, in rental space in an office
building on Gentry Way.
The makeshift temple has served as a gathering spot for local Hindus,
but the new building which will include a sanctuary, meeting space, a
garden and classrooms will do a lot more. "We should have our own
building," says Templel Priest Dinesh Sidher, "where we can
go every day for our religious and cultural functions so we can show
our kids what we believe in."
The new temple building itself will reflect that culture. It also marks
an accomplishment for the small community which has been planning and
raising money for construction for seven years.
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Posted on 2011/10/18 20:56:55 (
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MUMBAI, INDIA, October 9, 2011 (Times of India by Anahita Mukherji):
Falling in love outside one's community does not figure anywhere in the
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Yet, a growing
number of parents are sending their children-both adults and
adolescents-to psychiatrists in a bid to "cure" them of this
"affliction".
Antagonism towards mixed marriages cuts across community lines, with
Hindus, Muslims, Parsis and Christians dragging their 'errant' children
to counsellors. The angst can be particularly high for Hindu-Muslim
relationships. Psychiatrists have also been asked to counsel youngsters
who have fallen for a person belonging to a different caste or
community within the same religion, or for that matter another
denomination of the religion.
Psychiatrists say that highly educated parents, who neither physically
nor mentally abuse their children, can try to bombard the young with
'logical' reasons for why they should not marry outside the community.
They weave in a network of family, friends and neighbors to convince
the child. They also want mental health professionals to be part of this
network.
Dr. Dayal Mirchandani feels that, with increasing globalization,
youngsters from different parts of the world get a chance to meet each
other. "This weakens the hold that traditional ideologies can have
on an individual. With parents unable to understand this, there is a
growing disconnect between parents and children." He points to the
case of a girl from a small town who married a boy from a different
community. The two live in the big city, Mumbai. Every time the girl's
parents visit her, the boy moves out of the house. Her parents do not
know of his existence.
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Posted on 2011/10/18 20:56:49 (
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Be careful of your thoughts; they may become words at any moment.
-- Anonymous
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Posted on 2011/10/17 16:52:53 (
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UNITED KINGDOM, October 9, 2011 (BBC): A new US$1.6 million Hindu
temple has opened in Leicester after a special procession down the
city's Belgrave Road. The Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Belgrave is one
of the biggest in the Midlands. Located on the corner of Catherine
Street and Gypsy Lane, it features temple architecture found in
northern India.
Celebrations on Saturday and Sunday included prayers, dances, music,
decorated floats and the consecration of several Hindu statues.
Spokesman Kirit Patel said: "We've been building up to this moment
for a while now, and the Mandir is finally going to be open to
all." The temple will be used for worship, community meetings and
Gujarati lessons.
Temple organizers have worked with residents to ensure congestion in
the area would be kept to a minimum. The new temple replaces the BAPS
Shri Swaminarayan Mandir on St James Street, in the city centre, which
had no parking.
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Posted on 2011/10/30 17:25:46 (
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HOUSTON, TX, USA, October 25, 2011 (Houston Chronicle): Rows of
twinkling lights, the tastiest Indian sweets and the lively atmosphere
are enough to get anyone into the spirit of the most widely recognized
Hindu holiday, Diwali. Celebrations extend over a three-week period, as
Hindus in Houston use the popular holiday to introduce neighbors to
their traditional events at temples, homes and schools.
"That's the whole point. We're trying to involve as many members
of the community as possible," said Raju Muppala, an organizer for
the Telfair Indian American Cultural Association, which expects at
least 1,000 people at its annual holiday fair. "Diwali has always
about celebrating life, coming together, enjoying food and enjoying
friendship."
The Sugar Land group has brought cultural dancers, henna artists,
children's choirs, Indian food vendors and more to Cornerstone
Elementary School, where it's held its Diwali celebration for the past
few years.
See a lovely slideshow with schoolchildren at source, above.
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Posted on 2011/10/30 17:25:40 (
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WASHINGTON, DC, USA, October 25, 2011 (rediff.com): United States
President Barack Obama celebrated Diwali at the White House by lighting
the traditional diya and hosting a reception for eminent Indian
Americans and officials in his administration. "Diwali is a
special holiday for millions across the country", Obama said in
his address to the gathering of Hindu Americans in Washington on
Saturday night.
"Michelle and I greatly enjoy the occasion and the celebration in
India last year," Obama said recollecting the dancing of the First
Lady at the Diwali festival in Mumbai last year, which he too joined.
"Diwali is the time to celebrate victory of light over darkness,
hope over despair. Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists consider the day
sacred. The message of this day is truly universal," Obama said at
the event that was closed for the press.
Among those present on the occasion were the Indian Ambassador to the
US Nirupama Rao [ Images ]; Neera Tandaon, the new president of the
Center for American Progress, eminent Hindu American Anju Bhargava,
USAID Administrator Raj Shah, the US Ambassador to Belize Vinai
Thummalapally, Hindu chaplain Pratima Dhar and a Sikh delegation from
the Golden Temple [ Images ].
In his remarks, Obama acknowledged the contributions of the Indian
American community in every field of the country from New York Taxi
drivers to the teenager, who won the Google science fair this year.
Two years ago, Obama became the first US president to celebrated Diwali
at the White House. On that day, he established the President's
Advisory Committee on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, which is
headed by Kiran Ahuja, who according to the president is doing an
outstanding work.
Speaking on the occasion, Anju Bhargava of Hindu American Seva
Charities emphasized the need to light the lamp of service.
"Today we can proudly state that Diwali lights community building
in our county and beyond," she said. In just two years Obama and
his White House have been instrumental in helping Hindu Americans
energize Dharmic Seva: Impacting Change in America and Abroad, New
Jersey-based Bhargava said.
"In the first Hindu seva conference held at the White House this
summer, they helped recognize us as Hindu-Americans, an identity
created in the spirit of the American tradition. This historic event
highlighted the needs of the community, and offered the potential for
vast service opportunities for Hindus to engage in all across
America," she said. "It also highlighted the importance of
interfaith cooperation in today's America," she added.
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Posted on 2011/10/30 17:25:34 (
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SPAIN, October 26, 2011 (www.fesdiwali.blogspot.com): Swept away by the contagious joy of
Bollywood music, thousands of Spanish people joined the Hindu community
and gathered to celebrate Diwali. Spain, apparently, cannot resist the
charm of Bollywood. See the video here
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Posted on 2011/10/30 17:25:28 (
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The light which shines above heaven, above all the worlds, above
everything, that is the same light which is within man. We can perceive
it as the warmth in the body. And of it we have this audible proof:
when we thus hear, by covering the ears, what is like the rumbling of a
carriage, or the bellowing of an ox, or the sound of a blazing fire.
One should worship as Brahman that inner light which is seen and heard.
He who knows it becomes distinct.
-- Chandogya Upanishad XIII.8
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Posted on 2011/10/29 16:51:02 (
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WASHINGTON, DC, USA, October 26, 2011 (Press Trust of India): Recalling
his fond memories of the Diwali celebrations last year in Mumbai, US
President Barack Obama has wished Happy Diwali to millions of Hindus,
Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists celebrating the festival of lights across
the globe, particularly in India and the US.
"Diwali is a time for gathering with family and friends and as we
experienced in India, celebrating with good food and dancing,"
Obama said in a statement referring to his Diwali celebration in Mumbai
last year when he made his maiden trip to India.
"It is also a time for contemplation and prayer that serves as a
reminder of our obligations to our fellow human beings, especially the
less fortunate," said Obama, who became the first US President to
celebrate Diwali at the White House in 2009.
He was also the first American President to celebrate Diwali in India
last year.
"Today, here in America and around the world, Hindus, Jains, Sikhs
and some Buddhists will celebrate the holiday of Diwali, the festival
of lights. Many who observe this holiday do so by lighting the diya, or
lamp, which symbolises the victory of light over darkness and knowledge
over ignorance. I was proud to be the first President the mark Diwali
and light the Diya at the White House, and last year Michelle and I
were honored to join in Diwali celebrations during our visit to
India," Obama said. "To all who are observing this sacred
holiday here and around the world, Happy Diwali."
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Posted on 2011/10/29 16:50:57 (
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INDIA, October 26, 2011: Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, president of the
Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue, has written a message
to Hindus for the feast of Diwali, entitled: 'Christians and Hindus:
together in Promoting Religious Freedom'.
Religious freedom, the text reads, currently takes 'centre stage in
many places, calling our attention to those members of our human family
exposed to bias, prejudice, hate propaganda, discrimination and
persecution on the basis of religious affiliation. Religious freedom is
the answer to religiously motivated conflicts in many parts of the
world. Amid the violence triggered by these conflicts, many desperately
yearn for peaceful coexistence and integral human development'.
The message continues: 'Religious freedom is numbered among the
fundamental human rights rooted in the dignity of the human person.
When it is jeopardised or denied, all other human rights are
endangered. Religious freedom necessarily includes immunity from
coercion by any individual, group, community or institution. Though the
exercise of this right entails the freedom of every person to profess,
practise and propagate his or her religion or belief, in public or in
private, alone or in a community, it also involves a serious obligation
on the part of civil authorities, individuals and groups to respect the
freedom of others. Moreover, it includes the freedom to change one's
own religion'.
[HPI note: This message is, unfortunately, representative of the
Catholic Holy See's attitude toward other religions. Instead of
respecting a sacred date of the Hindu calendar and simply wishing
Hindus a good celebration, their message focuses on contention and a
thinly disguised strike against Hinduism. The motto "religious
freedom," a lofty concept in itself, has been used relentlessly by
the church to mean "freedom to convert others" by all means
possible.]
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Posted on 2011/10/29 16:50:51 (
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PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN, October 20, 2011: In a country fraught with
incidents of discrimination against minorities, a 160-year-old Hindu
temple in Peshawar is preparing to welcome worshippers after 60 years.
The Goraknath Temple, situated in the city's archaeological complex Gor
Kattri, opens for worship on the Hindu festival of Diwali.
"In accordance with the September 15 verdict of the Peshawar High
Court, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Department of Archaeology handed over the
temple's keys to Phoolvati and her son Kaka Ram last week," their
attorney Pervez Iqbal told The Express Tribune. A provincial minister joins
the reopening ceremony of the temple, said Iqbal who spent almost a
decade pursuing protracted litigation to win custody of the temple on
behalf of Phoolvati.
Although Phoolvati and her son are now custodians of the temple,
authorities have barred them from renovating the building, saying it is
'protected' property and changes cannot be made to it.
But Iqbal says the temple has suffered from six decades of neglect and
is in dire need of basic renovation. "The temple's holy well is
clogged with garbage and needs to be cleaned. Some years ago,
authorities encroached upon the temple's property to construct a
park," Iqbal said.
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Posted on 2011/10/29 16:50:44 (
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RNS
USA, October 26, 2011 (By Lauren Markoe for Religion News Services):
Happy Diwali! Happy Di what?
It's a Hindu holiday -- and an important one -- celebrated this week by
Hindus all over the world, including an estimated 2 million in the
United States. But do most Americans even know what Diwali is all
about? Many Hindu Americans say no, and they're working to change that,
but not with educational billboards or "A Charlie Brown
Diwali" special on network television.
Instead, they're encouraging fellow Hindus to be a little more open
about their celebrations -- to tell friends, colleagues and their
children's teachers that Diwali is a big deal within Hinduism, the
world's third largest religion.
"Someday it's my hope that you'll say, `It's Diwali,' and the boss
will say, `Oh, OK, you'll take the day off,"' said Suhag Shukla,
managing director of the Hindu American Foundation. "That's
progress -- the feeling that as a Hindu, you don't have to
explain."
Dr. Rasik Shah, a pediatric lung specialist in New York City, said he
used to be a little shy about taking Diwali off. "But over
time," he said, "I have been a little more bold, a little
more vocal. We have to say what we want." Often, he said, he'll
have to explain it.
For starters, it's the celebration of (one of the many dates for) the
Hindu New Year, not all that different from Judaism's Rosh Hashanah,
with equal parts of Hanukkah's festival of lights and Fourth of July
sparklers thrown in. On a deeper level, Diwali celebrates the triumph
of good over evil. Celebrated by Hindus and some Buddhists, Sikhs and
Jains, Diwali draws on the legends of each religion.
Most of India, where 80 percent of its 1.2 billion people are Hindu, is
off for Diwali. Families pray at Hindu temples, and deliver their best
dishes to friends. At Diwali parties, there's dancing, variety shows
and fireworks.
In the United States, the celebrations are more subdued, given the
relatively small Hindu population and -- as many Hindu Americans point
out -- stringent laws on fireworks.
Many U.S. Hindus don't take the holiday off, even the key day, which
falls on Wednesday (Oct. 26) this year. And that's just fine with most
Hindu "pandits" or priests, including Muralidhara Bhatta, the
spiritual leader of Durga Mandir, a Hindutemple in Fairfax, Va. Bhatta
expects a crowd at the temple on Wednesday night, but in his and many
other American Hindu temples, the biggest celebrations will occur over
the weekend, when he expects more than 1,000 people. "What we want
is people's involvement," said Bhatta. "So we'll celebrate in
a different way."
Vivek Dwivedi, a NASA engineer who lives in Maryland, said he will
observe Diwali American-style by taking a half-day off, going to temple
for prayers, decorating his house with Christmas-style lights, and
visiting friends and family.
NASA and the federal government are good about allowing people to use
earned personal days to celebrate religious holidays, Dwivedi said.
Still, he added, it would be nice if more Americans knew a little about
his religion and culture.
Part of the problem may be that non-Hindus haven't bothered to learn,
but it's also Hindus themselves, he said. "I don't want to blame
the Hindu community, but maybe Diwali should be advertised
better." To that end, he praises Mindy Kaling, who stars as Kelly
Kapoor, a Hindu employee on NBC's hit series "The Office." An
episode called "Diwali," written by Kaling, centers on the
boss's clueless attempts to get his employees to appreciate Indian
culture. The episode, which first aired in 2006, represents perhaps the
brightest spotlight ever shone on Diwali in the United States. The
White House first celebrated the holiday in 2003, and President Obama
in 2009 became the first U.S. president to attend the festivities.
Shukla called the gesture significant.
"It sends a message that Americans of all faiths and of no faith
are being acknowledged," Shukla said.
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Posted on 2011/10/29 16:50:38 (
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In view of the fact that God limited the intelligence of man, it seems
unfair that He did not also limit man's stupidity.
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Posted on 2011/10/26 9:45:34 (
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SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, October 16, 2011 (by Neena Bhandari): Every October,
with the ripening of mangoes, the Indian community in Australia gears
up for festivities that not only provide business opportunities for the
diaspora, but also make a substantial contribution to the local
economy.
Diwali has been added to Australia's multicultural calendar as one of
the largest festivals. Organized by the Hindu Council of Australia
(HCA) in Sydney and Celebrate India Inc. in Melbourne, the festival
provides a platform for corporations and small businesses to showcase
their wares. Apart from banks and telecom companies, apparel and
cuisine, henna and jewelry, and media and entertainment, it has also
found sponsors in the local and state government organizations.
Melbourne's iconic Federation Square provides over A$1 million annually
in direct and "in kind" support for approximately 20
multicultural festivals, including Diwali which attracts 70,000 people.
From October 17 to 26, the city of Melbourne will be decked up with 50
Diwali banners, a Diwali boat on the Yarra river and the Federation
Square will host traditional and fusion dances, and Bollywood film
screenings sponsored by Mind Blowing Films. At the Tullamarine
international airport, traditional drums and dances, a replica temple
and decorative banners will greet passengers.
"The Diwali fair didn't have any business sponsor and the fair
revenue was around A$65,000 six years ago, but last year, it touched
approximately A$240,000. Most of the money raised goes back into the
state economy. For example, the hiring cost of the Parramatta stadium
alone is A$100,000," said Sanjeev Bhakri, HCA secretary.
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Posted on 2011/10/26 9:45:28 (
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JAFFNA, SRI LANKA, October 12, 2011 (dailynews.lk): On the final day of
Navarathri, after terrorism disrupted the tradition for 22 years, the
Lord Murugan murti was once again taken in a magnificent procession
from the Sri Skantha temple in Mavaddipuram to the Durgai Amman Temple
in Thelippalei.
According to Hindus, Lord Murugan or Sri Skantha is the son of Durgai
Amman. It had long been the practice to take the statue of Lord Murugan
to Thelippalai Durgai Amman Kovil to get blessing of the mother
(Amman); but the Kovil authorities had to halt the practice for 22
years due to terrorist activities in the area. (Maviddapuram was in the
High Security Zone; it was only opened to civilians' use in May 2011.)
Lord Murugan was last taken to the Durgai Amman Kovil in 1989.
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Posted on 2011/10/26 9:45:22 (
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Like the household fire, devotees seek the glory of the Lord even from
afar and enshrine it in their inner chamber for enlightenment. The
glory of our Lord is full of splendor, all-illuminative and worthy to
be honored in every heart.
-- Rig Veda 7.1.2
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Posted on 2011/10/24 22:02:04 (
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TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, October 2011 (by Dr. Kumar Mahabir): The Divali
holiday in Trinidad and Tobago coincides with the 25th anniversary of the
Divali Nagar, the first Hindu theme park in the world.
In the week leading to Divali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, over ten
million deyas [clay lamps] are lit in homes, temples, offices, streets
and parks. This festival has become the second-largest, open-air,
national festival in multi-ethnic Trinidad and Tobago, after Carnival.
The hub of all Divali celebrations in the island is the Divali Nagar
site in Central Trinidad, which was established in 1986. Indeed, the
Nagar is the most-frequently visited entertainment centre in the
country during Divali, second only to the Grand Stand in the Queen's
Park Savannah during Carnival.
The Nagar provides a public stage for local, regional and international
performing artistes. These models, singers, dancers, musicians, choirs
and orchestras entertain locals, as well as visitors from the rest of
the world. The Nagar has grown to epic proportions, attracting many
artistes and tourists to this international spiritual tourist
destination. They come from Belize, Jamaica, St. Vincent, Grenada, St.
Lucia, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Guyana and Suriname in the Caribbean.
Others come from French Guiana, U.S.A, U.K., Holland and India.
For nine nights, the Nagar is transformed into a blend of the sacred
and secular, where the bustle of commerce mingles with the melody of
prayer. Booths showcase and sell products and services to approximately
150,000 visitors. Commercial booths sell mainly Indian clothes,
footwear, jewellery, accessories, music, movies, furniture, appliances,
and religious and household items. In recent years, the Nagar has also
accommodated an Indian Trade Fair. This is a flea market operated by
about 25 businessmen from India.
Established in 1986, the reception towards the Divali Nagar in Trinidad
and Tobago has been so tremendous that it has inspired Hindu theme
parks and other Nagars in the rest of the world. In 2005, Toronto in
Canada celebrated its first Divali Nagar, followed by Florida in the
USA in 2008. In 2005, Swaminayaran Akshardham in Delhi in India,
established the second Hindu theme park in the world.
Trinidad and Tobago's Indian diaspora came mostly from Uttar Pradesh
and Bihar between 1845 and 1917 when some 148,000 East Indians were
brought to work on the sugar and cocoa plantations.
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Posted on 2011/10/24 22:01:58 (
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HPI
correspondent
PORT-of-SPAIN, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, October 24, 2011 (HPI
correspondent, Paras Ramoutar):
"In spite of the differences or race and religions, we shall learn
to tolerate and respect one another and consider all human beings as
children of One God and, therefore, brothers and sisters of one
another. May the celebration of religions and other festivals help
bring the people of all sects and classes together..." This
statement from Mahatma Gandhi amply reflects this year's Divali Nagar
annually organized by the National Council of Indian Culture (NCIC) in
Trinidad.
The President of the Council, Deokienanan Sharma, said that despite the
limited State of Emergency (declared to fight widespread crime), it
projects that in excess of 100,000 people visited Divali Nagar from
October 16 to 25, 2011.Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar visited
the Nagar before she left on Wednesday to attend the Commonwealth Prime
Minister's Conference in Perth, Australia.
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Posted on 2011/10/24 22:01:53 (
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UNITED STATES, October 19, 2011 (by MaryAnn Busso): The total cost for
a yoga enthusiast living in Manhattan, according to Bloomberg, is
$10,779 a year. Prices are calculated for a 37-year-old New York woman
who buys all accessories upfront and spares little expense to take up
yoga for one year. [HPI note: See the slideshow (at source above) to
check all the accessories and events you don't need to practice yoga.]
Bloomberg Rankings researched the potential cost for a woman living in
New York to start practicing yoga and to continue for one year--if you
want to be fancy, that is. Himalayan yogis hardly even sport a
loincloth, and they are doing fine.
The ancient Hindu practice has become big business. As with most
business trends, there is always potential for upscaling, however. On
top of classes, yogis in search of their higher self are now buying
higher-end equipment and traveling to exotic retreats. According to
IBISWorld Market Research, yoga-generated revenues are estimated to hit
$3.3 billion this year, up from $1 billion in 2001.
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