News from Hindu Press International-51

News from Hindu Press International 

Hindu Priest Jailed in US for Visa Fraud Posted on 2013/1/25 11:18:44 ( 1003 reads ) Source MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, January 25, 2013 (India TV News): A Hindu from India who had established a temple in Milwaukee city of the US state of Wisconsin, has been jailed for 37 months for religious visa fraud and would be deported to his native country after serving his sentence. A Milwaukee court gave its sentencing order after it found Sagarsen Haldar, aka Gopal Hari Das, who is the founder, president, CEO and spiritual leader of Gaudiya Vaisnava Society (GVS), guilty of fraudulently obtaining religious worker visas - known as R-1 visas - for Indian nationals in exchange for substantial cash payments. 32-year-old Haldar would be deported to India after serving his sentence. According to evidence at trial, Haldar conspired to sponsor more than two dozen Indian nationals to enter the US under R-1 visas. Typically, the R-1 applications falsely stated that the individuals were religious workers from India who planned to be priests and perform religious work at the GVS temple in Milwaukee, the court was told. In fact, the Indian nationals had no religious training or experience, and they had no intention of being priests or performing religious work once they arrived in the United States, it was told. In the scheme, Haldar charged Indian nationals as much as USD 30,000 each in exchange for his assistance to fraudulently obtain R-1 visas. The fraudulent priests typically made substantial cash payments to Haldar and his associates in India, and were indebted to him for the balance once they arrived in the US. They worked at convenience stores in Milwaukee, drove taxi cabs and paid Haldar from what they earned. "This country's immigration system is not for sale, and those who think they can exploit the system for personal gain will pay the price for their crimes," said Gary Hartwig, special agent in charge for HSI Chicago. "Visa fraud not only undermines the integrity of our legal immigration process, it also poses a significant security vulnerability," he said. No comment

Vegetarian Tales of Woe Posted on 2013/1/25 11:18:38 ( 867 reads ) Source ENGLAND, January 23, 2013: HPI Note: This entertaining article is comprised of responses the BBC received to a question: "What do vegetarians eat in a country where refusing meat is regarded as a sign of madness?" It might be tomato pasta. Again. Or salad. Plain rice. Or vegetable stew... with lumps of chicken to pick out. For the BBC's Dany Mitzman in Bologna, Italy - where vegetarianism is seen as an exotic illness - it's tagliatelle with mushrooms. Here is a selection of tales from our vegetarian readers trying to find meat-free options when far from home. 1. Breanna, Whistler, Canada: I was a vegan when I moved to West Africa in 2002. I rapidly started eating dairy, eggs and fish again just to be able to survive. I not only encountered bewilderment but inevitably would get asked "why no meat?" and end up in long discussions where my friends and colleagues tried to convert me. I tried every explanation: loving animals, hating plants, being a Buddhist, but all in vain. After a few months, I finally hit upon gold. I simply told people that my grandfather had forbidden it before he died. Nobody would dream of asking me - an unmarried young woman - to go against my grandfather's wishes. After that, everyone went out of their way to find meatless dishes for me to eat. 3. Grant Finepen, Subic, Philippines: Try being a vegetarian in Texas. My friend went to a BBQ and said he didn't eat meat so, after many sympathetic words of consolation, he was given a burger bun with a salad. 6. Demarest Campbell, San Francisco, US: In South Africa, requesting vegetables is like swearing at the wait-staff. One bewildered waiter told me haughtily, "But, vegetables is what food eats." 11. Kedaar Raman, Troy, New York: I have travelled far and wide. My family raised me as a traditional Hindu Brahmin vegetarian. I have found it hardest to find vegetarian food in Malaysia, China and Vermont when I lived with local farmers. I was always given the look of pity when I told locals I did not eat meat. I explained it was a personal choice and that I did not feel like I was missing out on anything since I have never eaten meat in my life. If a mother does not put a piece of meat in a baby's mouth and say it is food, the baby does not know it is food. 18. Jonathan Pagden, Chesham, Bucks: I once stayed in a hotel in Munich (in a land famous for offering six varieties of meat for breakfast), and asked for the vegetarian lunch option. The waiter brought a plate of bacon. When I pointed this out, he said, with a completely straight face, "It came from a vegetarian pig." I still don't know whether he was joking. Much more at source. No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2013/1/25 11:18:25 ( 831 reads ) Source Go beyond science, into the region of metaphysics. Real religion is beyond argument. It can only be lived simultaneously inwardly and outwardly. -- Swami Sivananda (1887-1963), founder of Divine Life Society, Rishikesh

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2013/2/8 18:01:38 ( 707 reads ) Source No fault befalls a king who, in guarding and caring for his subjects, punishes wrongdoers--for that is his duty. -- Tirukkural No comment

How The Kumbh Mela Crowds Are Counted Posted on 2013/2/7 18:04:40 ( 1098 reads ) Source ALLAHABAD, INDIA, February 2, 2013 (India Real Time): The Kumbh Mela is frequently billed as the world's largest religious gathering. It is almost certainly true. But how can we know for sure? The two men with the challenge of counting up to an estimated 80 million people are divided on how to do it. They also come up with different numbers. They are Devesh Chaturvedi, the commissioner of Allahabad, and Alok Sharma, the inspector general of police in the city, which is hosting the Hindu festival. The Commissioner reckons the number of pilgrims passing through the Kumbh Mela site on the banks of the Ganga between Jan. 14 and March 10 will end up somewhere between 60 to 80 million. Both men use different techniques for counting but agree neither method is scientific or water tight. Mr. Sharma is more conservative and estimates the final total will be around 40 to 60 million. "We use thumb rules," says Mr. Sharma. His team positions counters at the entry points to the Mela area, which leads to the bathing ghats (banks). They calculate the maximum crowd capacity of 100 meters of road based on the assumption that each pilgrim will take up 1.5 square feet of ground. Then they measure the speed of the crowd by timing how long it takes a police officer to move 600 meters with the throng. "The pace of crowd keeps changing depending on the density," the Inspector General adds. Once they know how long it has taken the policeman to walk 600 meters they can work out how big a crowd has covered the same distance and how many people have passed. Vehicles arriving along the entry roads around Allahabad are counted manually and trains with up to 8,000 passengers each are also added to the total. Mr. Chaturvedi has a different approach to the enormous population count. From a series of watch towers across the 14 sectors of the Mela site head-counters try to keep a tab on the number of pilgrims below. "It's not the most scientific way of doing it," Mr Chaturvedi says. "But that is the only estimate available to us." This year for the first time the Mela is also being tracked using satellite imagery. "Based on the color of the images they are going to tell what is the density of human beings," Mr. Chaturvedi says. Using calculations based on the average stay of pilgrims and photographs taken at different times of day, the Commissioner hopes it will provide a more accurate count. Mr. Chaturvedi says that the biggest crowd so far, on the first day of the festival, was 8 million while Mr. Sharma puts it at between 1.5 million and 1.8 million. No comment

Hindu Advisor Joins Chaplain's Office Posted on 2013/2/7 18:04:34 ( 1001 reads ) Source UNITED STATES, January 31,2013 (Yale Daily News): In an effort to help strengthen Hindu programming on campus, Asha Shipman joined the Chaplain's Office staff on Jan. 16 as the Yale's first Hindu life advisor. The new 20-hour-per-week part-time position was created to support the increasing popularity of Hindu programs on campus, University Chaplain Sharon Kugler said. Shipman's primary responsibility will be to advise the Hindu Students Council, which has significantly expanded its presence on campus since its founding in 2005. Shipman said she plans to grow the Hindu programming on campus further by helping the HSC offer a more diverse selection of events. "They haven't had someone help them consider programs beyond Diwali Pooja and the Gita studies and Holi, those have been their focus," Shipman said. "We're going to broaden out based on their interests, sort of an ethnographic adventure." Last spring, administrators in the Chaplain's Office decided they wanted to hire a staff member who could dedicate more time to Hindu programs such as weekly prayer services and community gatherings as they grow in popularity, said Kugler. Attendance at HSC's annual Diwali ceremony has grown from roughly 50 students to over 400 students and community members over the past five years, Kugler said, adding that the Hindu events have become celebrations for non-Hindu as well as Hindu students. Shipman, who received her doctorate in anthropology from the University of Connecticut in 2011, said her background in cultural education within the Hindu community -- such as serving on the Society Executive Committee of the Connecticut Valley Hindu Temple and co-founding a Hindu Sunday school for children -- will be applicable in creating student programs on campus. No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2013/2/7 18:04:19 ( 759 reads ) Source It cannot be seen by the eye, and yet it is the eye within the eye. It cannot be heard by the ear, and yet it is the ear within the ear. It cannot be smelt by the nose, and yet it is that which makes the nose to smell. It cannot be uttered by the mouth, and yet it is that which makes the mouth to speak. It cannot be grasped by the hand, and yet it is that which makes the hand to grasp. It cannot be reached by the feet, and yet it is that which makes the feet to walk. It cannot be thought by the mind, and yet it is the mind within the mind. It is the Primal One without past or future. Its form is free from age and sickness. It manifests as father and mother. It blossoms as the Self-Existent. It cannot be described as one or two. No artist can portray It. It is That which lies 'twixt good and evil. It ever abides in the hearts of the wise. It permits no distinction between Vedanta and Siddhanta. It is That which dances at the zenith beyond the realm of sound. -- Satguru Siva Yogaswami (1872-1964), Sri Lanka's most renowned contemporary spiritual master No comment

The 80 Million-Pilgrim March Posted on 2013/2/6 16:57:44 ( 794 reads ) Source ALLAHABAD, INDIA, February 1, 2013 (Wall Street Journal): For up to 80 million pilgrims--think 10 New York Cities--a Hindu festival now taking place on the banks of the Ganges River in Allahabad, India, is a chance to wash away their sins under ideal astrological conditions. For Suresh Dwivedi, chief medical officer at what is called the Kumbh Mela, the festival is a full-scale assault on the germs, garbage and human waste being generated in the temporary megacity that has been constructed to deal with the crowds. To combat disease-carrying flies, 400 laborers will spray 28 tons of bleaching powder, along with the insecticide DDT, over 250 garbage pits and open drains during the course of the two-month extravaganza. They will work alongside 6,000 cleaners in green baseball caps who sweep up 56 tons of garbage a day in 4,000 chemically treated pits. Twenty-eight departments of the state government are involved in providing security, running water, an electricity grid, transport infrastructure, health care, sanitation, food rations and bathing areas. The Kumbh Mela--which translates as "water-pitcher festival"--is almost certainly the largest religious gathering on earth, and preparing for it, running it, and preventing it from turning into fatal chaos is surely one of the world's great logistical challenges. The festival, which started on Jan. 14 and runs to March 10, is believed to be at least two millennia old. It attracts an eclectic group of Hindu holy men, Bollywood stars, ordinary pilgrims and curious tourists who come to bathe in the Ganges, India's holiest river, where drops of the nectar of immortality are believed to have been spilled from a pitcher by the Gods at creation. More of the lengthy and informative article at source. No comment

367 Hindu Temple Claimed Demolished in SRi Lanka Posted on 2013/2/6 16:57:38 ( 1964 reads ) Sunthanthiran (Tamil Weekly Newspaper) TORONTO, January 25, 2013 (Sunthanthiran): The International Policy Digest has authentically published a shocking news item, that 367 Hindu temples have been demolished in Sri Lanka, in areas, predominantly populated by Hindu Tamils. This document released in March 2012, has come out in the media now, and has created panic amongst the Tamils. The Rajapakse government in Sri Lanka, according to this report, is all out to destroy the Tamil monuments in predominant Tamil areas, to prove that no such areas existed, while settling rural Sinhalese folks in those areas, and silently destroying Hindu temples. The Tamil enthusiastics have vehemently protested that by destroying Hindu temples, the Sri Lankan government is determined to wipe-out the cultural heritage of the Hindu temples. It has been specifically mentioned that in Jaffna alone, 208 temples have been destroyed. In the Trincomalee district in Eastern province, where most of the Tamils live, 17 Hindu temples in villages such as Upparavu, Lankapatnam, Saambal theevu, have been destroyed. Eleven temples built for Lord Ganesha, Lord Murugan, Bairavar and Kannagi Amman, in Ninthavoor, Attapalam, Paalamunai are totalled in the Amparai district. Six temples in Inthupuram, Manikkapuram, Union Kulam in Kilinochchi district, and in Mullaitheevu area of Mankulam, Periyakulam, Oddusuddan and some small villages too, many have been destroyed, with no trace of them being there originally. In the Manaar district, prominent temples for Siththi Vinayagar, Thurgai Amman, Valividu Vinayagar, Muthumariamman, have been demolished in the villages of Vettaimurappu, Kurinjan Kulam, Parunthu Kadanthaan and Pillayar Patti. In Vavuniya district, a total of 12 temples have been demolished, burnt and destroyed. No comment

Hinduism Today Editors Seek Contacts in Continental Europe Posted on 2013/2/6 16:57:32 ( 711 reads ) Source KAPAA, HAWAII, USA, February 6, 2013: Two editors of Hinduism Today from Kauai's Hindu Monastery in Hawaii will be traveling to Europe to attend the World Yoga Day in Lisbon, Portugal, June 22-24, followed by Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Germany and France (June 25-July 11). See "source" above for current details of their itinerary. A correspondent from the UK will also be visiting parts of Germany, Austria and Czech Republic in mid July on their behalf. The swamis and correspondent hope to conduct interviews with representatives of the Hindu communities and temples in these countries for a major article on Hinduism in Continental Europe to be published in Hinduism Today. Hinduism Today's contacts in Continental Europe are few and far between; if you live or have contacts in any of the areas involved and are interested in helping set up meetings and/or logistics, please email senthil@hindu.org. No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2013/2/6 16:57:26 ( 689 reads ) Source Oh, if you only knew yourselves! You are souls; you are Gods. If ever I feel like blaspheming, it is when I call you man. -- Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902) No comment

Maha Kumbh: Dalai Lama's Visit Called off Despite Security Clearance Posted on 2013/2/5 17:24:10 ( 739 reads ) Source ALLAHABAD, INDIA, February 5, 2013: The much-anticipated visit of Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama to the ongoing Maha Kumbh has been finally called off despite security clearance given by the Uttar Pradesh government for his two-day visit. Senior Superintendent of Police Mohit Agrawal said, "We have received information that the Dalai Lama is pre-occupied till February 15 and, if at all, he chooses to visit the Maha Kumbh it would be only after that." February 15 happens to be the date on which Basant Panchmi festival is falling this year when the last shahi snan of naga ascetics takes place. Although officially the Kumbh will end on March 10, as per tradition most of the akharas of sadhus start packing up after Basant Panchmi itself with only some kalpavasi pilgrims staying back till Magh Poornima which falls on February 25. Earlier, the Dalai Lama was scheduled to arrive at a Lama Nagar that has been built inside the camp of Vishwa Hindu Parishad at the Kumbh on February 4. But the visit was put off for want of security clearance in time. However, the state government provided the clearance on February 3 and the Inspector General of Police, Allahabad zone, Alok Sharma, said the police would be able to make necessary security arrangements for his visit. The organizers of his visit, the Mahabodhi Society of India, made a last-ditch effort to ensure his arrival at the Kumbh today but this could not materialize. No comment

Pakistani Women Adopt Hindu Symbols of Marriage Posted on 2013/2/5 17:24:04 ( 998 reads ) Source NEW DELHI, INDIA, February 2, 2013 (India Times): Young Muslim women in India, and even Pakistan, can be increasingly seen sporting the chooda (red bangles), mangalsutra (thaali) and often the sindoor (kumkum powder). And they see no taboo in it, taking it as a fashion statement, something that adds to their "just married" look. "Wearing a chooda doesn't make me a Hindu or a lesser Muslim," says 21-year-old Sumaira. "See, among Muslims there is nothing that differentiates married women from those who are still single. I have been fascinated with choodas ever since I was a kid. So that was one of the first things I bought after my engagement. It's not only the chooda. The demand for mangalsutras is picking up, and not just in India but also in Pakistan where many of those who ask for it attribute it to the influence of India's enormously popular saas-bahu soaps. Jewellers in Delhi confirm this trend. "In the past two-three years, we have seen a growing number of Muslim women, some in burqas, ask for the mangalsutra," says Ankit Kohli, owner of Raj Jewellers. "They prefer the ones that have diamond pendants." With the mangalsutra and chooda finding favour among Muslim women, how can the sindoor, that eternal sign of a married Hindu girl, be left behind? But while most Hindu women prefer red sindoor, Muslims tend to go for orange. Interestingly, in parts of Kolkata the two different shades have come to distinguish women from the two communities. No comment

Florida Retirement Complex Caters to Aging Hindu Immigrants Posted on 2013/2/5 17:23:58 ( 774 reads ) Source ORLAND, FLORIDA, February 5, 2013: Fifty years after they began arriving from India, the first generation of Indian-Americans is retiring and finding itself in a quandary. Although many have the resources to live comfortably in retirement, some still depend on their children and suffer from social isolation as they navigate old age in an adopted country. The problem is likely to grow as the influx of Indian immigrants rises; the country's estimated 2.8 million Indian Americans are second only to Chinese Americans as the nation's largest Asian population. "Indians came here in the late'60s mostly as professionals and focused on building their careers and educating their children," said Rajeshwar Prasad, president of the National Indo-American Association for Senior Citizens. "They never really planned anything for their retirement." While numerous organizations have emerged to provide Indian-Americans with senior day care, in-home respite and adult education, such services are mostly temporary solutions. Recognizing the problem, information technology professional Iggy Ignatius started a gated community in Orlando, Fla., developed specifically for Indian-American seniors. This community, called ShantiNiketan, or "abode of peace" in Sanskrit, has been his long-cherished dream. The India-born Ignatius saw retirement housing communities mushrooming all over the country, especially those catering to specific health and lifestyle needs. He also understood that Indian-Americans can feel out of place in many retirement communities. Their need for Indian food, Hindu prayer rooms or even companions who can speak their mother tongue could pose potential challenges. So Ignatius bought land in Orlando, Fla., in 2008, and with the help of friends and veterans in the community, he started constructing Phase 1 of ShantiNiketan. With 54 condos and a common clubhouse for dining and recreation, ShantiNiketan is a snug haven for seniors of Indian origin. Everything at the complex is Indian, starting with the food offered to the Hindu gods displayed in the prayer room. "ShantiNiketan is the first retirement housing plan targeting a specific immigrant group in the country," said Ignatius. "Orlando was the obvious choice because of its tropical climate and proximity to tourist attractions like Disney World, giving children and grandchildren incentive to visit their parents in ShantiNiketan." A two-bed, two-bath condo costs approximately $160,000, with a monthly expense of $800 per person including food, housekeeping and taxes. Resident Ashwin Pandya, a retired doctor from New York, describes life in ShantiNiketan as "mini India." Pandya enjoys the social life and conveniences of the community. Ignatius and his team have designed a schedule to keep occupants engaged and entertained with meals, yoga, music classes and Bollywood movies in the clubhouse. The staff makes it a point to celebrate all Indian festivals. "After my daily activities, I just sit under a tree and chat with my friends," Pandya said. "That happens only in ShantiNiketan." The project has proven to be a financial success. All 54 condos in the first phase have sold; a second phase of 120 condos is under construction (http://www.shantiniketan2.com). Ignatius plans to have an assisted-living facility with round-the-clock nursing services within the premises by 2014. "More and more people are entering the phase of life I am in now," added Pandya, the retired doctor. "They have their children here, but their hearts are in India. ShantiNiketan is best suited for such people." No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2013/2/5 17:23:51 ( 604 reads ) Source Every two miles the water doth change, and every four the dialect. -- Hindi proverb on India's languages No comment

Lost And Found At Kumbh Posted on 2013/2/1 17:36:17 ( 849 reads ) Source ALLAHABAD, INDIA, January 2013 (The Hindu): It's two days to the first auspicious dip at the Kumbh mela. The fair's lost-and-found bureau is not open for business -- the tin sheds and canvas tents are up, but it isn't yet hooked up to the 4,000-odd public address speakers spread around the confluence of the Ganga and the Yamuna that will, in a couple of days, start announcing the names of missing persons round the clock. Umesh Chand Tiwari is a 38-year-old shopkeeper from Allahabad. It was his father, Raja Ram Tiwari, who started this voluntary service at the 1946 Magh mela, which happens at Sangam every year between the 12-yearly Kumbhs and Ardh-Kumbhs. The 86-year-old man, who trained as an advocate, says, "I had come to the fair in 1946 with a few friends. We met an old woman who was lost. At that time, there were no tents and the whole affair was much smaller -- just 1,000-odd shacks on the sand around Sangam. It was easy to take her around the fair to find her associates. Then we saw others who were lost, too. So we started the service." The records he has maintained since show he helped some 870 men and women find their near and dear ones that year. Then a few friends joined him from Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh and the bureau got organised into the Bharat Seva Dal. It's one essential service at the fair that the government has left to the care of Tiwari's team of volunteers. They get just the space, the tents, electricity and water from the administration. The rest of the money is cobbled up from well-wishers. The fair has changed considerably. Fuelled by publicity and the ever-present attraction of washing off one's accumulated sins in one big dip, tens of millions converge at the Kumbh. The official figure of the number of people on the first auspicious day for a dip, January 14, was 8.5 million. Many more millions will surely follow in the two months that this fair will be on for. The tented city this year is spread over a horizon-defying 2,250 hectares, about one-and-a-half times the size it was during the Ardh-Kumbh six years ago. It's today the largest gathering of humans on Earth, manned by thousands of state officials and policemen. And the number the Bharat Seva Dal tots up runs into tens of thousands. More at source. No comment

Google Maps the Kumbha Mela Posted on 2013/2/1 17:36:11 ( 1090 reads ) Source PRAYAG, INDIA, February 1, 2013: Available at source above is a complete map of the Kumbha Mela with the site of each religious organization marked. You can click on government offices, police, health, fire stations, general amenitites, banking, santha (where the sadhus are), ghat and shops. No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2013/2/1 17:36:05 ( 722 reads ) Source To say "through silence He is realized" is not correct, because Supreme Knowledge does not come "through" anything. Supreme Knowledge reveals Itself. -- Anandamayi Ma

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2013/2/14 18:41:13 ( 688 reads ) Source The moment I have realized God sitting in the temple of every human body, the moment I stand in reverence before every human being and see God in him--that moment I am free from bondage, everything that binds vanishes, and I am free. -- Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902) No comment

Increased Security for Fifth Bathing Day At Kumbh Mela Posted on 2013/2/13 18:19:57 ( 954 reads ) Press Release ALLAHABAD, INDIA, February 13,2013 (Press Release): The Kumbh Mela administration said today that a foolproof comprehensive planning is in place for the fifth bathing festival of Maha Kumbh of Basant Panchmi. Allahabad Divisional Commissioner Devesh Chaturvedi today held a marathon meeting with all stake holders including railways, UP State Road Transport Corporation, Allahabad district administration, police and security forces to ensure safe and successful bathing. The Railways assured that it will continue to run the maximum number of special trains from different stations of Allahabad city to ferry the pilgrims for three days. These trains will be in addition to the trains passing through Allahabad junction and other city based stations and in each train a minimum of 20 bogies will be provided to accommodate maximum number of pilgrims. Similarly 1,500 additional buses will be pressed into service by UP roadways from seven different bus stands set up for the Mela. These buses will be put on diverted routes if jam like situation arises on normal routes. Allahabad district administration will be setting up seven shelter places to hold the crowd of pilgrims adjoining to Allahabad and other important railway stations. All basic facilities will be provided to pilgrims at every shelter place free of cost. Arrangements are also being done setting up a network of Public Address Systems in the city area to inform the pilgrims about movements of special trains. Steps are also being taken to provide medical facilities immediately in case of any urgency and four ambulances are being placed at Allahabad railway station and shelter houses meant for pilgrims. Seven ambulances will be parked at sensitive places in the city as reserve. The administration has also made arrangements to remove the vehicles from the roads in the case of any break down. Every department involved in the Kumbh Mela are leaving no stone unturned for the success of the third Shahi Snan of Akharas and the fifth bathing festival of the Kumbh Mela event in view of the stampede at Allahabad railway station on last Sunday claiming 36 lives. Senior officials from most of the different departments will monitor the arrangements being done for Basant Panchmi bathing festival. No comment

Uptick In Indian Weddings A Boon For Hawaii Visitor Industry Posted on 2013/2/13 18:19:51 ( 912 reads ) Source HAWAII, U.S., February 10, 2013 (Star Advertiser): The recent union of Gitika Ahuja and Rajeev Kaul was a love match that holds promise for the state of Hawaii. The New York couple brought about 150 guests from their native India and all over the world to their destination wedding on Oahu Island. The main event was a sacred Hindu ceremony February 1 at the Royal Hawaiian Golf Course in Kailua. The bejeweled groom arrived on horseback with a boisterous Bollywood-style entourage. The bride, who wore a custom-made white "lengha" with gold and ruby tones, looked regal. The helicopter flyover and orchid drop at the end of the ceremony cemented their VIP status. But the nuptials were only one part of the festivities. The full celebration spanned several days -- a welcome event at the Sheraton Waikiki's RumFire, pre-wedding parties at the Kathy Ireland estate in East Oahu, a wedding reception at the Royal Hawaiian and a next-day family brunch. "There were hundreds of people working on just this one wedding," said Mira Savara, owner of Indian Weddings in Hawaii, who coordinated the various events. "We worked with vendors from all over Oahu. They supplied everything from henna artistry to food and beverage to flowers and decorations, rentals, music, lighting, photography and videography, to transportation and more." Couples like the Kauls who come to the isles for traditional Indian weddings represent a small but growing trend for Hawaii's tourist economy. Few visitors come to Hawaii directly from India, but the country's developing economy and the recent boom in local Indian weddings has put the country on the visitor industry's radar. "As the second most populous country in the world, India has a growing middle class with disposable income and increasing demand to travel abroad," Hawaii Tourism Authority President and CEO Mike McCartney said. According to estimates from HTA and the federal Office of Travel and Tourism Industries, 2,229 Indian visitors came to Hawaii through August 2012. While HTA has no details on the reason for their visits, some in Hawaii's visitor industry speculate that wedding invitations have fueled demand. More at source. No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2013/2/13 18:19:45 ( 756 reads ) Source Free will is not free--it is a phenomenon bound by cause and effect--but there is something behind the will which is free. -- Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902) No comment

Two Killed In Kumbha Mela Stampede Posted on 2013/2/12 18:00:55 ( 733 reads ) Source ALLAHABAD, INDIA, February 10, 2013 (India Times): In a separate incident from the railway station disaster, two pilgrims were killed in a stampede at the Maha Kumbha Mela here on Sunday as over thirty million people converged for a holy dip on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya, considered the most auspicious day during the 12-yearly congregation. The stampede broke out in Sector 12 of the mela area this evening killing a woman hailing from Varanasi and a middle-aged man, who had come from West Bengal, sector magistrate Abhay Raj told PTI. A few other persons received minor injuries in the stampede which occurred due to rush of devotees who were returning from the river banks, he said, adding the situation was under control and the injured were undergoing treatment. A sea of humanity converged on Sunday at the sprawling city of tents, spread across 6,000 acres, making it briefly the most populous place in the world. Earlier, Kumbh Mela officer Mani Prasad Mishra said, "As per our estimates, thirty million people have taken a holy dip till 3 pm. The influx of visitors has slowed down a bit since then but the turn-out has already exceeded our expectations." A sea of devotees kept surging towards the confluence of the holy rivers Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati throughout the day, while the 13 akharas (monastic orders) took out their processions for the second shahi snan (royal bath) during the Mahakumbh. No comment

India's Growing Appetite For Meat Challenges Traditional Values Posted on 2013/2/12 18:00:49 ( 852 reads ) Source NEW YORK, February 5, 2013 (NY Daily News): With German sausages, French duck and homegrown chicken, Francis Menezes is cashing in on the growing appetite for meat among Indians -- even in one of Mumbai's most strictly vegetarian areas. But Menezes, co-manager of the Cafe Ridge food store, says he does a brisk trade in "non-veg", especially with those who have studied abroad. "Things like Thanksgiving, which was never celebrated over here in Mumbai, is now being celebrated every year. The new generation are cool with eating anything," he said. India's booming middle-class is driving the demand for meat in a country with a traditionally low intake -- a survey in 2006 showed that 40 percent of the population were vegetarian. Fish and meat have long been part of other Indians' diets but for many they used to be a rarity, said Arvind Singhal, chairman of the consumer consultancy group Technopak Advisors. "With rising disposable incomes, meat consumption is increasing," he told AFP. "Before meat would have been seen as for a special occasion." Members of the Jain faith and some groups within India's majority Hindu religion hold vegetarianism as an ideal. Father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi espoused a meat-free diet as part of his non-violent philosophy. There are no recent figures on overall meat consumption, but the UN Food and Agriculture Organization in 2007 put India's per capita intake at 5.0 to 5.5kg -- the country's highest since records began, with further increases expected. HPI note: Worldwide meat consumption is 46.6 kg/person, according to a chart at http://chartsbin.com/view/bhy. That same chart lists India as the lowest consumption in the world at 3.26 kg, Luxembourg the highest as 136.72 kg, the US and Australia tied for second at 123 kg/year. Much more at source. No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2013/2/12 18:00:34 ( 679 reads ) Source I have nothing new to teach the world, Truth and nonviolence are as old as the hills. -- Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948) No comment

Many Kumbh Pilgrimes Die in Stampede at Allahabad Railway Station Posted on 2013/2/11 18:23:49 ( 743 reads ) Source ALLAHABAD, India, February 12, 2013 (Times of India): HPI note: There are dozens of stories on the tragic events at the Kumbha Mela yesterday. This Times of India story is as complete as any. Hinduism Today reporter Rajiv Malik tells us by phone that the disaster has cast a gloom over all the pilgrims still at the Mela. The Allahabad railway station seldom sees more than 15,000 passengers on any given day. But on Sunday, when over 32.5 million people thronged Kumbh for a shahi snan on mauni amavasya, 150,000 lakh people were waiting for trains in the same station a little after 6 in the evening, and the railways had no contingency plan in place. In the stampede that followed, 36 people have died so far, 50 others are seriously injured. A day after the tragedy, chairman of the Kumbh Mela Committee Azam Khan resigned claiming moral responsibility. In a hastily convened press conference, UP chief secretary Jawed Usmani said a probe committee would look into "what went wrong" and turn in its report in a month. Railway minister Pawan Bansal, who visited Allahabad on Monday, also said a two-member committee would be appointed to investigate the matter. But the way the events unfolded on Sunday clearly point to a serious lapse on the part of the railways. Crowds were allowed to enter the station till there was no room for anyone to move. Afterward, a desperate Government Railway Police (GRP) resorted to lathi charge to control the crowds. That was not all. After announcing the arrival of a train on platform no 4, eyewitnesses said, the railways made another announcement saying the train had arrived, instead, on platform number 6. Frenzied travelers, mostly travelling with several pieces of luggage, rushed in that direction. As they climbed up the stairs, they found passengers on the foot overbridge running towards them, fleeing from the lathi charge. At that point of time, some 6,000 people were jostling for space on that overbridge. In the melee, people were pushed down the stairs, some killed, scores injured and a large number separated from their families. After the tragedy struck though, victims were also left unattended for over three hours, according to eyewitnesses. Till late into Sunday night, the administration also failed to give an exact count of the number of victims. One eyewitness and volunteer, Mohini Singh, said, "We helped the people we could by picking up bodies and moving them to the side. No emergency medical aid was made available to the victims though. Several people could have been saved if the officials had shown a little more sympathy." What is also strange is why the railways and the local administration made no contingency plan. The official estimates -- a 28% increase in the number of pilgrims over the previous Maha Kumbh in 2001 -- was available to the administration nearly one month before the mela began. There were serious lapses on the part of the district administration as well. Every year, the mela administration puts together a formal traffic movement plan. On Sunday, a complete failure of the government machinery was visible, with only one route leading out of the Kumbh mela grounds. Though exit routes could have been planned from Jhusi, Phaphamau, Prayag and Rambagh, everyone who came out of Kumbh, was diverted towards the Allahabad railway station. Allahabad division commissioner Devesh Chaturvedi said, by Sunday noon over 20 million people had bathed in the Sangam. A sizable percentage of this number was headed for the station. Though the entire railways in the country could not have tackled the crowds that reach the station on Sunday, the extent of unpreparedness was shocking. All trains were running behind schedule, some even 21 hours late. This meant people who should have left the station after boarding their train were waiting while new passengers were entering the station. Station manager Girish Kanchan said, "The regular trains are running behind schedule as a result of the special trains. There are delays, but there is little we can do to control it." Also, several trains that reached Allahabad had faulty signages: coaches indicating they were plying between Agra and Ajmer were, in fact, headed to Jhansi via Manekpur and Banda. In another instance, a Delhi-bound Duronto Express turned out to be a train headed for Mughalsarai. To make matters worse, the public address system at the station was being used mostly for lost-and-found announcements instead of announcing the arrival and departure of trains, adding to the chaos and confusion. No comment

Sadhvis Rise Among Male-Dominated Ranks Posted on 2013/2/11 18:23:43 ( 805 reads ) Source ALLAHABAD, INDIA, February 9, 2013 (Express India): Allahabad Sadhvis at Kumbh 2013 are gradually and surely going up the hierarchy in a predominantly male-dominated system. Sai Maa Laxmi Devi, who was born in Mauritius and is a French citizen, was the first woman from outside India to be given the title "Jagat Guru" of the Vaishnavite Nirmohi akhara in the 2007 Ardh-Kumbh. A disciple of Sathya Sai Baba, who got her deeksha in the Sri Satua Baba lineage of Varanasi, Sai Maa says, "In 2007, we just had a small space in far-off Arail. This time, we have been allotted a bigger space and have better infrastructure to serve the people." One of her devotees said that while last time she would visit the camps of many sadhus to take their blessings, now it was almost the reverse. Overall, the number of female mahamandaleshwars (scholarly sadhvis, who are consulted on various spiritual issues among akharas) has also increased this time, estimated to be over 30. "In Juna akhara, there are around 15 female mahamandaleshwars. The sadhvis have been traditionally less in numbers. But in terms of proportion, the number of female mahamandaleshwars is going up fast," says Shri Mahant Vidyanand Saraswati, secretary of Juna akhara, the biggest of the 13 akharas. The Juna akhara has also, for the first time in Kumbh, accorded a separate enclosure for sadhvis and allowed them to use the name Sanyasini Akhara. Earlier, these enclosures, often without adequate facilities, were referred to as Mai Bara (enclosures for mothers). "But bara is generally used to describe a place where the occupants live in herds, like animals. It had a connotation of disrespect. They protested and now have got rid of that name," says Vidyanand. No comment

Can Big Data From Epic Indian Pilgrimage Help Save Lives? Posted on 2013/2/11 18:23:37 ( 855 reads ) Source ALLAHABAD, INDIA, February 8, 2013 (NY Times): The South Asia Institute at Harvard has sent a team of public health specialists to one of the largest gatherings in the world, the Kumbh Mela in India, with a goal of assembling the largest public health data set ever among a transient population. The pilgrims are there to bathe. The epidemiologists are there to study their health. They are analyzing data from the four hospitals that cater to the congregants to try to gauge who is ailing from what and when. By mapping "complaints, diagnoses, medications and geographical origins of patients," the researchers said, they hope to discover disease outbreaks and patterns. The real-time surveillance, the researchers say, could be useful if disease breaks out this time and to plan for future Kumbh Melas. It could hold lessons for other countries looking to tap the power of data for public health. "This will be the largest data set of its kind in a temporary mass gathering, its size allowing us to develop new metrics for detecting epidemics when total population size fluctuates widely from day to day," said Dr. Satchit Balsari, a fellow at the FXB Center for Health and Human Rights at Harvard and a doctor at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2013/2/11 18:23:31 ( 684 reads ) Source There is no true path that leads away from religion. -- Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami (1927-2001), founder of Hinduism Today No comment

Temple Issues Certificate For Holiness Posted on 2013/2/8 18:01:57 ( 1365 reads ) Source INDIA, February 5, 2013 (BBC by Narayan Bareth): There is a remote and unique temple - a virtually undiscovered spiritual centre in the striking border wilderness between the states of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan - where you can get a written certificate for holiness. Gautameshwar is a pilgrim centre where you can submerge yourself in holy waters, wash away your sins and get a certificate to prove you are cleansed. All Hindus believe that a dip in holy waters washes away sin and many from across the country travel to pilgrim towns like Haridwar and Pushkar to take the holy dip. But this is not simply about piety. Here it is also about holding together the fabric of local tribal communities. People ostracized in their own villages come here to take a dip and then they can take back the certificate to prove themselves free of sin. It is possible to get a certificate in other places to prove you have partaken in certain prayers or taken a holy dip - but this appears to be quite an unusual kind of document. It is a "centuries old tradition" and thousands of devotees come to offer prayers and get rid of their sins, says officiating priest Jagdish Sharma. Since 1947 six priests who serve at the temple have kept records of all the certificates issued. This centre - dedicated to Lord Shiva - has been described as "the Haridwar for tribals". The site has a water tank called the Mandakini Kund, where people take a bath to purify their body and soul. The legend here goes that a sage named Gautam was blamed for the death of an animal and cursed as a result of that. "Gautam came here and prayed to the gods. So the River Ganges appeared here in Mandakini's form - a tributary of Ganga. He took a holy bath and found he was free from the curse. Ever since then people have been coming here to wash away their sins," Jagdish Sharma said when relating the rest of the story. No comment

St. Lucia's East Indian Community Hosts Forum Posted on 2013/2/8 18:01:50 ( 905 reads ) Source ST. LUCIA, CARIBBEAN, February 2, 2013 (The Voice): The local East Indian community is preparing to host a forum to discuss a number of issues affecting them. The event will be held on Sunday, February 10 from 1:00 pm at the Augier Combined School. Among the topics to be discussed are: *The positive contributions the East Indian population has made to Saint Lucia over the past century and a half *The formation of an official organization to bring East Indians and other ethnic groups closer *Seeking ways to keep the traditional values of Saint Lucia and the Indian Diaspora alive *Creation of a database to document the family names within the local East Indian community *Sourcing funds to undertake various projects that will benefit of Saint Lucians in general *Keeping the channels of dialogue open in an effort to widen the social network Last Sunday afternoon, scores of Saint Lucians of East Indian descent and other ethnic groups took part in a familiarization exercise at the Bexon Primary School. During that meeting, attendees were given a brief historical account of the East Indians arrival in Saint Lucia. Indian foods were also part of the highlights, as well as recognizing the elders present. According to an account published by Richard B. Cheddie and James Rambally, 318 East Indian indentured laborers arrived in Castries, Saint Lucia aboard the ship, "Palmyra", on May 6, 1859. There were 240 male adults, 58 female adults, 2 male minors, 11 female minors, and 5 children (2 unaccounted for). The "Palmyra" was the first of thirteen ships that brought 4,354 Indians to Saint Lucia. These Indian laborers were assigned to over 23 different estates and domiciles across the island to work in the sugarcane industry that was Saint Lucia's principal economic crop at the time. They all received wages according to the type of and number of tasks they performed and were also afforded certain basic human rights. At the end of their initial contracts, some re-indentured while others did not. During the latter years of indentureship, free Indians could accept a parcel of land if they chose to remain in the colony, or apply for free passage back to India. It was these factors that set them apart from being slaves, although the work and the punishments were no less harsh. By the time indentureship ended in Saint Lucia, 2,560 Indians had returned to India, while the remainder of them stayed behind to help build their homes. Today, the East Indian population in Saint Lucia is estimated to be between 8% and 10%, many of whom include people of mixed races. According to attorney Clarence Rambally, the new movement in no way attempts to create division among the various ethnic groups in Saint Lucia. Instead, he told The VOICE last Sunday, it aims to focus on how East Indians have been able to integrate themselves into the Saint Lucian society to the extent that racial discrimination is almost non-existent. "This is a Saint Lucian thing, not just an Indian thing," Rambally said. "Nevertheless, we're noticing that the East Indian values are sort of dying out. For example, our foods, our dances and the things we do that are different and unique to us are dying out. This whole idea is to make the point that when our history is read down the line, we want to be seen as a people who embraced their culture while at the same time embraced the other values and peoples that reflect our national identity." Organizer Benny Ghirawoo told The VOICE that the forum is not restricted to Saint Lucians of East Indian descent - all are welcome to next week Sunday's meeting. For further information, Ghirawoo can be contacted at 287 7664. No comment

One Hundred Low Caste Scavengers Honored at Kumbha Mela Posted on 2013/2/8 18:01:44 ( 838 reads ) Source PRAYAG, INDIA, February 8, 2013 (Deccan Chronicle): On the banks of Ganga and Yamuna, history was written silently and unobtrusively on Thursday when around 100 scavengers performed puja and took a holy dip at Sangam. Scavengers, termed untouchables, were brought from Alwar and Tonk districts of Rajasthan by social reformer Dr Bindeshwar Pathak, who heads the Sulabh International. For the 100-odd "pilgrims" from Rajasthan, it was a new beginning as they stepped into the waters and after a few moments of hesitation, shouted out aloud, "Har Har Gange". These visitors from Rajasthan were delighted to have top priests perform the puja for them. "We have been invited for a meal with the religious leaders and for us, this is an unbelievable experience," said Jhinu. Dr Pathak, who is the founder of sanitation movement Sulabh International, said that his organisation had played a significant role in liberating untouchable scavengers from the sub-human occupation of cleaning night soil. Dr Pathak said that so far Sulabh has converted 1.3 million bucket toilets into flush toilets and hundreds of thousands of scavengers have been freed from manual cleaning of human excreta and shackles of untouchability. Sulabh has constructed more than 8,000 public toilets at important places all over the country which are being used by more than 15 million people everyday. 200 of them are linked with biogas plants. Dr Pathak said after the human scavengers were relieved from this sub-human occupation, it was then a question of their livelihood -- to rehabilitate the scavengers and to bring them in the mainstream of the society which was the dream of Mahatma Gandhi. "We have been giving them vocational education in different trades like making pappadam, noodles, pickles, stitching, tailoring, embroidery, and facial and beauty parlor training so that they can be self-reliant," he said. The products made by them are being sold in the market, hotels and also in the same homes where earlier they used to go and clean the toilets," he said.

No comment

Lawsuit Targets School Yoga Program Posted on 2013/2/21 18:41:43 ( 1001 reads ) Source ENCINITAS, CALIFORNIA, February 20, 2013 (utsandiego.com): The National Center for Law & Policy, a nonprofit law firm, announced Wednesday that it has filed a lawsuit against the Encinitas Union School District over a district yoga program that the plaintiffs argue is a form of religious indoctrination. Dean Broyles, the attorney who runs the center, said the lawsuit doesn't seek money from the district, but demands that it stop the yoga program, which he argues is based on religion and is a violation of the California constitution's religious freedom provisions. The Encinitas school district introduced yoga at half of its campuses last year after receiving a $533,000 grant from the Jois Foundation, an Encinitas-based nonprofit that promotes childhood health and wellness through Ashtanga Yoga. The program expanded to all nine EUSD schools after the winter break. The grant is also supposed to fund a three-year study of the effect of yoga on students. Some parents have said they oppose the program because Ashtanga Yoga is rooted in Hinduism, but many parents and district officials say the yoga lessons being taught in the district are just exercise and any religious elements have been stripped out. "It's not religious," EUSD Superintendent Tim Baird said Wednesday. "To make something religious, you have to teach the religious doctrine and instruct the religious believes. You have to make the tie to the religion. Frankly, we're not doing that." Broyles, however, argues that the practice of yoga cannot be separated from its religious roots. In the lawsuit, he argues that even if the practice is stripped of its spiritual language and instruction, yoga still would promote Hinduism. No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2013/2/21 18:41:37 ( 769 reads ) Source God is within you. He has no eyes, no ears, but we place Him outside and worship. God has become father, mother and guru. God has become this mango tree also. God has become you and He has become I. -- Satguru Yogaswami (1872-1964), Sri Lanka's most revered contemporary mystic No comment

Kumbh Pilgrims Face Tough Time Due to Nationwide Strike Posted on 2013/2/20 18:57:28 ( 785 reads ) Source ALLAHABAD, INDIA, February 21, 2013: Pilgrims at the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela faced a tough time on Wednesday due to the nationwide strike called by central trade unions which has brought movement of Uttar Pradesh roadways buses to a standstill. Despite charging exorbitant rates, private buses were seen overcrowded with pilgrims while taxis ferried stranded passengers. There were also longer-than-usual queues at the railway stations' ticket counters as people looked for alternative modes of transport on account of the non-availability of state roadways buses. Half-a-dozen bus terminuses, which have been witnessing movement of thousands of vehicles every day during the Kumbh, wore a deserted look with security personnel deployed in strength to tackle any flare-up between desperate passengers and resolute roadways employees who have extended their "full support" to the nation-wide strike. Pilgrims could be seen standing for hours or trudging several miles, with their belongings in search of a private bus or taxi which charged exorbitant rates, seizing the opportunity offered by the strike. Work remained paralyzed at banks, post offices and the Nagar Nigam as well where employees gathered to hold demonstrations. Though, power supply was not affected due to the strike but it caused anxiety among residents of several localities where there have been break-downs as power corporation employees were reluctant to fix any technical snag until the strike was over. No untoward incident has been, however, reported from any part of the city so far. No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2013/2/20 18:57:22 ( 910 reads ) Source There was once a time when all human beings were Gods, but they so abused their divinity that Brahma decided to take it away from them and hide it where it could never be found. Where to hide their divinity was the question. So Brahma called a council of the Gods to help him decide. "Let's bury it deep in the Earth, " offered the Gods. But Brahma answered, "No, that will not do, because humans will dig into the Earth and find it." Then the Gods said, "Let's sink it in the deepest ocean." But Brahma responded, "No, not there, for they will learn to dive into the ocean and will find it." Then the Gods said, "Let's take it to the top of the highest mountain and hide it there." But once again Brahma replied, "No, that will not do either, because they will eventually climb every mountain and once again take up their divinity." Then the Gods gave up and lamented, "We do not know where to hide it, because it seems that there is no place on Earth or in the sea that human beings will not eventually reach." Brahma thought for a long time and then proffered, "Here is what we will do. We will hide their divinity deep in the center of their own being, for humans will never think to look for it there." All the Gods agreed that this was the perfect hiding place, and the deed was done. And since that time humans have been going up and down the Earth, digging, diving, climbing and exploring--searching for something already within themselves. -- An old Hindu legend No comment

Sadhus Begin to Depart Kumbha Mela Posted on 2013/2/19 18:31:02 ( 1060 reads ) Source ALLAHABAD, INDIA, February 20, 2013 (Times of India): Following the third and the last Shahi Snaan on Basant Panchami, saints and seers along with thousands of Naga Sadhus camping in various akharas have started to bid adieu to the second Kumbh of the century, Maha Kumbh 2013. While the Nagas of Shaiv Akharas, which have been center of attraction for devotees and tourists alike, will head towards the city of salvation-Kashi (Varanasi), the seers of Vaishnav and Udaseen Akharas will disperse and head towards their respective destinations from Prayag (Allahabad). After the shahi snaan, seers of all seven Shaiv Akharas including Mahanirwani, Atal, Niranjani, Anand, Juna, Ahwaan and Agni, following the ancient tradition on such occasions, have started dismantling the akharas. After enjoying a sumptuous treat of kadhi-pakora and loosening the strings that kept the Naga 'dharm dwajha' (large, saffron flag) fluttering atop their respective camps, the seers have begun to disperse and head towards Varanasi. At Kashi, the Seers and Naga Sadhu, of the Shaiv Akharas, will take a dip in the Ganga on the occasion of Maha Shivratri on March 10 and play Holi with colours to celebrate a successful Maha Kumbh before dispersing. The reason for the seers to head to Varanasi for these rituals and not perform them at Allahabad is the inauspicious planetary configuration called Panchak or Dhanista Panchakam. Dhanista, Shatbhishak, Poorvabhadrapada, Uttarbhadrapada and Revati Nakshatras are known as Panchaks and it occurs when the moon's longitude exists between 296 and 360 degrees. In Southern India, this constellation of five stars is called Dhanistha Panchakam. According to Hindu scriptures, no auspicious events are carried out during this period. The three Vaishnav Akharas, including Shri Dighambar Ani, Shri Nirwani Ani and Shri Nirmohi Ani,as well as those of the three Akharas of Udaseen sect including Shri Panchayati Bada Udaseen, Shri Panchayati Naya Udaseen and Shri Nirmal Panchayati too have begun preparations for leaving the Maha Kumbh. For thousands of pilgrims performing Kalpwas on the banks of Sangam the departure is another 10 days away as their month-long camping and a life of austerity will come to an end only with the bathing of Maghi Purnima on February 25. Because of adverse conditions following the recent heavy rains, many of these Kalpwasis too have been leaving the Mela. No comment

Overnight Downpour Wreaks Havoc At Mahakumbh Mela Posted on 2013/2/19 18:30:55 ( 912 reads ) LUCKNOW, INDIA, February 17, 2013 (India Today): Despite a flood-like situation and nearly half submerged tents in Maha Kumbh, a large number of kalpvasis have refused to shift from there to over 26 schools vacated for them in Allahabad city. The rain on Saturday night played havoc, leaving over 100,000 resident pilgrims high and dry as at least 20,000 tents sunk in an incessant downpour and cyclonic winds. The rainfall in Allahabad broke all records with 60 mm (2.4 inches) downpour in the last 24 hours. At least 15 sadhus and 20 kalpvasis have also sustained injuries and been admitted to several hospitals in Mela and the city. Interestingly, while the sadhus started leaving the Mela area on Saturday morning and the security forces shifted to the vacated schools, a large number of kalpvasis stayed back. The month-long kalpvas (staying near Sangam to perform round the clock rituals) which had started on January 25 would conclude on February 25. The kalpvasis during this period cook their food on their own and take it once a day. They also take a holy dip two or three times a day and continuously worship all the Hindu gods. The impact of heavy rainfall and strong winds was so intense that all 18 magnificent gates which were erected to welcome the pilgrims collapsed. A large number of electric poles also fell on the ground resulting in complete blackout. AK Mittal, designated nodal officer of UP Power Corporation said the department was working on a war footing to restore electricity supply in the camps. Ramawati Devi, a kalpvasi of Madhya Pradesh's Satna said, "We have completed our 22 days of kalpvas. So leaving holy Sangam area eight days before wouldn't be a wise decision. It is God's place where we are staying and taking holy bath every day. How will we come here from the schools 10 to 20 kms from here?" No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2013/2/19 18:30:48 ( 729 reads ) Source To have an altar at home alters our life. -- Swami Tejomayananda, spiritual head of Chinmaya Mission No comment

Tide of Kumbha Mela Pilgrims Recedes, Only Seven Million Take Holy Bath on Last Main Bathing Day Posted on 2013/2/16 18:52:58 ( 1000 reads ) Source PRAYAG, INDIA, February 16, 2013 (Times of India): Amid intermittent rain on Friday, about seven million devotees took the holy dip in Sangam on the occasion of Basant Panchami, which also marked the third Shahi Snan of Kumbh. This was the figure available till 2 pm but it was unlikely that the number of devotees would touch 19.3 million which the Mela officials were expecting. The final figures were expected in late evening after the completion of the snan. However, officials claimed that more than 13.5 million pilgrims took the dip in the past 24 hours. Since rain had been predicted, the Mela administration had barricaded all 22 ghats for the safety of pilgrims. Yet, many pilgrims slipped on the ghats due to rain but were helped by jawans (officers) of Jal Police. The Mela administration had put crowd management measures in place in all 14 sectors, Sangam noz, Mela area and streets leading to Sangam. IG Allahabad zone Alok Sharma said no untoward incident was reported and the snan passed of peacefully. As many as 30 magistrates were deployed on duty to coordinate and supervise crowd control along with the Mela authorities. Among the first to take holy dip were mahamandleshwars, mahants, sadhus and Naga sadhus from Maha Nirvani and Atal Akharas. They were followed by Niranjani with Anand, Juna along with Awahan and Panch Agni, Nirmohi, Digambar, Nirwani, Naya Panchayati, Bada Panchayati and Nirmal Panchayati Akharas. The usual pomp and show in the akhara processions was, however, missing on Friday as a mark of respect for those killed in the stampede at Allahabad Junction. No comment

UK Hindu temple to allow equal marriage ceremonies Posted on 2013/2/16 18:52:52 ( 1049 reads ) Source SUSSEX, UNITED KINGDOM, February 15, 2013 (pinknews.com): A Hindu temple in Sussex has been granted a marriage license, and has said that gay couples are welcome to marry there, stating a need to "respect everyone". The Apple Tree Centre in Ifield, West Sussex, home to the Gurjar Hindu Union, is now able to host civil ceremonies, and is the first non-Christian venue in Sussex to be granted a marriage license. Trustee of the Apple Tree, Bharat Lukka, said: "Times have changed and we need to change with it. We need to respect everyone. "Hindus are generally laid back about religion and everyone in our community has ben supportive of the idea. We are quite lucky to have a young community in Crawley so they are quite relaxed about issues and understanding. "We hold Indian weddings there now but we have wanted to open it up to all religions and sections of the community for some time. "Now anyone can come along to the centre to have their wedding. Perhaps people might assume that the centre is just for Hindus and we want people to know it is open to everyone, regardless of race, religion or sexuality. "This is one way of us integrating with the community." This change means that couples can legally register to marry, exchange religious vows and hold their reception all at the same venue, reports ThisIsSussex. No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2013/2/16 18:52:46 ( 846 reads ) Source Go beyond science, into the region of metaphysics. Real religion is beyond argument. It can only be lived simultaneously inwardly and outwardly. -- Swami Sivananda (1887-1963), founder of Divine Life Society, Rishikesh No comment

Going To Vaishno Devi This Summer? Take A Train To Katra Posted on 2013/2/15 18:48:41 ( 854 reads ) Source KATRA, INDIA, February 14, 2013 (The Hindu Businessline): By mid-2013, Katra, a destination in Jammu near Vaishno Devi temple, one of the main Hindu pilgrim destinations, is set to become accessible by rail. At present, the nearest railhead to Katra is Jammu, from where people travel by road for about two hours along the hills to reach Katra. The train journey will be more comfortable, cheaper and picturesque compared to the road option, though the time saved may not be significant, as the train will chug to Katra through Udhampur. About 20,000-25,000 people visit Katra everyday, according to industry estimates. Along with a train connection to Katra, pilgrims will get accommodation as well as shopping and food outlets on the first floor of the railway station. Tickets for the shrine will also be available at the station. "By May, a 25-km (15.5 mile) rail track between Katra and Udhampur should be ready for trial run. Udhampur is already connected to Jammu," said B.D Garg, Chief Administrative Officer, Udhampur Srinagar Baramullah Railway Link (USBRL), Northern Railway. No comment

Homage Paid to Goddess of Knowledge Posted on 2013/2/15 18:48:35 ( 912 reads ) Source KATHMANDU, NEPAL, February 15, 2013 (Himalayan Times): Hindu devotees today observed the Saraswati Puja, also known as Basanta Panchami, by worshipping Saraswati, the Goddess of learning, across the county. Students, teachers, musicians, artists and others worshipped the Goddess. The kids who are about to enroll at school were made to scribble letters today with a belief that the Goddess bless them as they seek knowledge. Devotees and students were seen thronging various Saraswati temples in the Kathmandu Valley and across the country since early morning. According to the Hindu calendar, the day also marks the end of the winter and beginning of the spring season. No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2013/2/15 18:48:28 ( 764 reads ) Source If there is one place on the face of earth where all the dreams of living men have found a home from the very earliest days when man began the dream of existence, it is India. -- French scholar Romain Rolland No comment The Temple Guardian Posted on 2013/2/14 18:41:25 ( 816 reads ) Source NEW DELHI, INDIA, February 10, 2013 (The Hindu): K. K. Muhammed's job, in the capacity of Director (North), Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is over. But he still has a lot of work to do, even after retirement. Pursuing academic work on history and archaeology, that he loves so much, he is also spreading the word through his talks. Recently at Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), he presented a talk "Dacoits, illegal mining and temple conservation in Chambal Valley". Muhammed's 24-year-long career in the ASI has been eventful but his work on the Bateshwar temples in Madhya Pradesh, was particularly special. And now he is spending some time talking about the challenging task of rescuing the 1300-year-old temple firstly from the dreaded dacoits (bandits) of Chambal and then the mining mafia. These were not his main challenges, his primary job was to restore the magnificent temple to its old glory, a task monumental because the structure was in ruins. "The objective of these talks is that there are 200 temples out of which only 80 temples have been completed. Forty are half done so there is still lot of work left to be done. The mining is going on there. So, we need to maintain the momentum of our work, our commitment towards the cause," says Muhammed.

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2013/3/3 18:24:33 ( 736 reads ) Source "A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks that others throw at him." -- Swami Chinmayananda (1917-1993), Vedantist writer, lecturer and Hindu renaissance founder of Chinmaya Mission International No comment

Toronto Pilgrims Head To Holy Waters Of Mauritius Posted on 2013/3/2 18:17:49 ( 845 reads ) Source TORONTO, CANADA, March 1, 2013 (Globe and Mail): The first week of March, all roads in the island republic of Mauritius lead to the Ganga Talao (Holy Ganges). The lake, named for India's sacred river, is in the mountains, 2,000 feet above sea level, and every year it attracts Hindu pilgrims from around the world to Mauritius. This year Canada, home to 4,000 Hindus from the island, officially joins the roster of countries sending worshippers. Also known as "the Grand Basin," Ganga Talao is more than just the symbolic namesake of India's holy waterway. "As the story goes when the Hindus from India started migrating to Mauritius during the middle of 18th century and early part of 1900, they carried with them sacred water from the Ganga Ma (mother Ganges) and poured that water in the Ganga Talao and that's how, we Hindus believe the water from Ganga Talao is the sacred water," explains Ishwar Lall, 53, an office worker in Toronto who came to Canada in 2011. The pilgrimage to the basin begins the week before the Hindu festival of Shivratree, the night of Shiva. Villagers and visitors carry bamboo frames, strewn with flowers, on their shoulders - within are containers for the sacred water, which they carry home. Shivratree this year falls on March 10. Robin Doobay and his wife, Parvati, will make the two-kilometre walk from their village to the basin. it's the first time the Toronto couple is participating in the ritual in Mauritius - for 35 years they have celebrated Shivratree at the Vishnu Temple in Richmond Hill. Mr. Ben Sennik, 80, Mauritius's honorary consul to Canada, has promoted a visit by a small group from Toronto, including the Doobays, to the holy site this year, where he says Shivratree is celebrated "with passion." No comment

NGO To Help Poor Students Pursue Vocational Training Posted on 2013/3/2 18:17:43 ( 747 reads ) Source DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA, February 19, 2013 (IPPmedia): The Shree Maha Dharm Bhakt Mandal Youth (SMDBM-YOUTH) is out to help the country's students who fail to continue with their vocational training studies due to poverty. Speaking in Dar es Salaam yesterday after completing a peace and solidarity walk, Rajesh Mistry chairperson of the SMDBM-YOUTH said that poverty hinders many to realize their destiny. "Apart from helping us to maintain our identity, heritage, culture and religion, SMDBM-YOUTH is also meant to realize the role we can play in education advancement...poverty loses our youngsters' future...we want to help them," he said. For his part, the SMDBM-YOUTH Nishit Surelia said: "Shree Ramdevji Maharaj or Ramdev Pir is a Hindu folk-deity of Rajasthan in India who devoted his life to help the exploited and poor people in the society... therefore we want to emulate what he did during his stay on earth....Our donations are from average people all over the world who support the cause, since SMDBM-YOUTH is a non-profit organisation...its members work and contribute voluntarily when needed." No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2013/3/2 18:17:37 ( 698 reads ) Source One who is established in a comfortable posture while concentrating on the inner Self naturally becomes immersed in the Heart's ocean of bliss. -- Siva Sutras III, 16 No comment

Thanjavur Veena To Get GI Status Soon Posted on 2013/3/1 18:25:50 ( 942 reads ) Source THANJAVUR, INDIA, February 18, 2013 (Press Information Bureau): The Thanjavur Veena - one of the most ancient and revered musical instruments of South India - is all set to receive the Geographical Indication tag (GI). Dr. Chinnaraja G. Naidu, Geographical Indications Registry, Chennai revealed that the application for GI Tag for the Thanjavur Veena is in the examination stage and that the formalities in respect of registration of Geographical Indication status is expected to be complete by March 2013 itself. The veena, in general, has been described as a complete instrument. The four playing strings and the three drone strings of the veena together provide all the basic components of classical music - sruti and laya - all in a single instrument. There is no other instrument with this quality. The noble prize winning physicist Sir C.V. Raman has described the veena as having a unique construction. The string terminations at both ends are curved and not sharp. Also, the frets have much more curvature than any other instrument. Unlike in guitar, the string does not have to be pushed down to the very base of the neck and thus the possibility of generating a rattling sound is completely avoided. This design enables a continuous control over the string tension, which produces more harmonics than any other instrument. A Geographical Indication is used to identify agricultural, natural or manufactured goods originating in a particular area. The Geographical Indications Registry has specified that such goods must have special qualities or characteristics unique to the geographical indication. While registration of Geographical indication is not compulsory, it offers better legal protection for action for infringement. The handiwork of the Thanjavur Veena is unique to the artisans who live in an around the town of Thanjavur which lies on the South East coast of Tamil Nadu. The variety of wood used to make the Thanjavur Veena is from a particular strain of matured Jackwood tree, which is unique to the area. The craftsmanship and the skill in making the functional resonator (Kudam) of the veena is also unique to the Thanjavur Veena. Much more at source. No comment

 

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)