INDIA, October 24, 2013 (Hindustan Times by Saudamini Jain): Ramnagar, on
the banks of the Ganga, opposite Varanasi, was the capital of the former
princely state of Banaras. It is now a dilapidated town -- best known for
its nearly-200-year-old Ramlila, the longest in the world. This Ramlila
begins in September or October on Anant Chaturdashi and ends 31 (sometimes
30, depending on the lunar cycle) days later on a full moon night. The
first episode is the birth of the raakshas king of Lanka, Raavan.
Subsequent episodes cover the entire story of Ram - the birth of King
Dasharath's four sons; Ram and Sita's wedding; their exile; Sita's
abduction; Ram's victory over Raavan; Bharat Milaap and the coronation of
Ram as king of Ayodhya. The Ramlila ends with an episode of Ram's
teachings.
For a month, Ramnagar is transformed into a giant stage for the story of
Ram to unfold. Permanent structures and parts of the town within a
five-kilometre radius are named after places mentioned in the epic, and
different episodes of the lila are enacted at different venues every day.
On most days, the Ramlila moves - the cast, the Kashi Naresh, audiences and
all. Sometimes, the movement is within a larger venue. Lanka, for example,
is a large tract of land and the scenes shift back and forth between Raavan
ka darbar on one end, Ram's camp on the other and Ashok Vatika in a corner.
On some days, the play becomes a procession as the audiences walk along
with the cast from venue to venue, which are sometimes more than a
kilometre apart.
It is believed that this is when (and where) Ramlilas first began. The
oldest Ramlila in the world, the more than 450-year-old Chitrakoot Ramlila,
is also Banarasi. The Ramnagar Ramlila began in the early 1800s during the
reign of the then Kashi Naresh, Maharaja Udit Narayan Singh. "He had
gone to Chhota Mirzapur where some traders had organized a Ramlila, but by
the time he got there, it was over. He was very disgruntled... and so his
wife suggested that he start one in Ramnagar," Jai Prakash Pathak,
personal secretary to the Kashi Naresh and Ramnagar Ramlila adhyaksh, told
us.
This Ramlila isn't meant to be a theatrical masterpiece. It is a fair, a
festival, a phenomenon. The crowd ranges from a few thousand for some
episodes, up to 100,000 for episodes like Ram and Sita's wedding, Dussehra
(when a 60-feet high effigy of the Raavan is burnt), Bharat Milaap, and the
coronation of Ram (the most auspicious episode).
Much more available at 'source' including several nice photos.
UNITED STATES, November 11, 2013 (Huffington Post): India has been
described by some traditional texts as Sa Prathama Sanskrati Vishvavara,
the first and supreme culture in the world. To this day, the South Asian
country remains a hotspring of ancient wisdom on mind-body health and
spirituality.
This wisdom has been steadily permeating American life for the past
century. Mindfulness -- the cultivation of a focused awareness on the
present moment, a concept with origins in ancient Indian philosophy -- is
"gaining its fair share of attention" in the West, with
increasing numbers of Americans practicing meditation, according to a recent
New York Times Magazine cover story. Words like guru, karma nirvana and om
are firmly situated in our cultural vocabulary, and yoga and meditation
have become the favorite past time of everyone from supermodels to
high-powered CEOs.
The Indian way has spread far beyond the U.S., and tourists from around the
world are flocking to the densely-populated country in search of inner
peace. India is the fastest-growing destination for wellness tourism, with
an average of 22 percent annual growth, according to recent data from
Stanford Research Center funded by Spafinder Wellness.
One reason we should look to India as an example of what it means to live
well is that it's the birthplace of yoga. Arguably India's most popular
export, yoga (Sanskrit for "divine union") has been passed down
from guru to student for many centuries. Traditionally, yoga is practiced
with the goal of stilling the thoughts of the unruly mind so that the
individual can eventually achieve moksha (liberation). Aside from yoga's
spiritual aims, the physical and mental health benefits of the practice are
extensive, from decreased anxiety to reduced neck and lower back pain to
increased sexual function.
Further reasons are: They view health from a holistic perspective, they
embrace vegetarianism, they have strong family values, they cook with
turmeric, they're making low-cost health innovations, they live in color,
they have a culture that prizes compassion, they know that breathing is
crucial to good health, they celebrate the power of music, and they value
inner wisdom.
For an in-depth description of the reasons we should look to India as an
example of what it means to live well see 'source' above.
UNITED STATES, November 15, 2013 (the Hindu): U.S. officials are destroying
more than six tons of confiscated ivory tusks, carvings and jewelry -- the
bulk of the country's "blood ivory" stockpile -- to support the
fight against a $10 billion global trade that slaughters tens of thousands
of elephants each year.
Officials on Thursday used rock crushers to pulverize the stockpile,
accumulated over the past 25 years, at the National Wildlife Property
Repository just north of Denver. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will
donate the crushed ivory particles to a museum to be determined for future
display. Service officials showed off thousands of ivory tusks, statues
ceremonial bowls, masks and ornaments, a collection they said represented
the killing of more than 2,000 adult elephants. The items were seized from
smugglers, traders and tourists at U.S. ports of entry after a global ban
on the ivory trade went into effect in 1989.
The message from the exercise will reach consumers more than the faraway
poachers and smugglers targeted by governments across the globe. Elephant
poaching is at an all-time high, thanks in large part to growing demand in
the U.S. and Asia. The British-based Born Free Foundation estimates that
poachers killed 32,000 elephants last year. It says that black-market ivory
sells for around $1,300 per pound.
Most elephants are killed in Africa, where there are about 300,000 African
elephants left. There are an estimated 50,000 Asian elephants found from
India to Vietnam.
Not everyone supported the ivory crush. Bob Weisblut, a co-founder of the
Florida-based International Ivory Society, said he thought the carvings and
tusks should be sold to raise money for anti-poaching efforts. "A lot
of this is beautiful art," Weisblut said. "And it's a shame to
destroy it."
There are three kinds of devotees. The inferior devotee says, "God is
out there" and thinks God is different from His creation. The mediocre
devotee says, "God is antaryami, the inner guide who dwells in
everyone's heart;" thus the mediocre devotee sees God within. But the
superior devotee sees that God alone is everything, for He has become the
twenty-four cosmic tattvas. That devotee finds that everything, above and
below, is filled with God.
-- Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa (1836-1886)
UDAIPUR, INDIA, October 4, 2013 (Times Of India): Devasthan temples in
Rajasthan are likely to get women priests/poojaris to conduct the rituals.
This comes after the devasthan department has announced recruitment for the
posts of manager, poojari and sevagir for its various temples in the state
through written tests.
As the department's announcement did not put any restrictions on female
candidates, any woman can be appointed for the posts based on her merit in
the written examinations.
The recruitment notice comes after 24 years and it is for the first time
that a written exam procedure has been taken up. Aspirants will have to
clear a written examination of 100 marks for the appointment. While a
managerial post candidate needs to be well versed in Hindi and English, an
examinee contesting for the post of poojari require to exhibit his or her
intensive knowledge in Hindu mythology especially in hymns and mantra
chantings like Durga Saptashati, Vishnu Sahasranamam and Shiva Mahimna
Stotras among others.
A poojari is expected to have a good knowledge of the Hindu calendar or
Panchang. Apart from a good understanding of Sanskrit language, folk
customs and Vedic rituals, candidates appearing for all posts shall have to
prove their awareness on current affairs and general science.
One of the conditions listed under the eligibility criteria is that the
candidates should not have been a recipient of dowry during their marriage.
While the upper age limit for the appointment for male candidates is 35,
divorcees or separated female candidates will be free of such limitations.
MUMBAI, INDIA, November 13, 2103 (Press Release): Chinmaya Mission,
Sandeepany Sadhanalaya, Mumbai opens their 16th Vedanta Course in English.
Applications are invited from University graduates, men and women. They
must be unmarried and free from family encumbrances, with a sincere
interest in the study of Vedanta, a zeal to share the message of the
Rishis, and between ages 20-30 years. The course duration is two years starting
on August 29, 2014. It is free of cost - all accommodation, food, clothes
books and medical care will be provided by Chinmaya Mission.
The Chief Acharya for the 16th Vedanta Course will be the head of Chinmaya
Mission world-wide, Swami Tejomayananda and the resident acharya will be
Swami Bodhatmananda. Application forms are available from http://sandeepany.chinmayamission.com.
The deadline for applications is April 30, 2014.
UNITED STATES, May 18, 2013 (CSGlobe): Turmeric is one the most thoroughly
researched plants in existence today. Its medicinal properties and
components (primarily curcumin) have been the subject of over 5,600
peer-reviewed and published biomedical studies. In fact, our five-year long
research project on this sacred plant has revealed over 600 potential
preventive and therapeutic applications, as well as 175 distinct beneficial
physiological effects.
Given the sheer density of research performed on this remarkable spice, it
is no wonder that a growing number of studies have concluded that it
compares favorably to a variety of conventional medications, including:
Lipitor/Atorvastatin(cholesterol medication): A 2008 study published in the
journal Drugs in R & D found that a standardized preparation of
curcuminoids from Turmeric compared favorably to the drug atorvastatin
(trade name Lipitor) on endothelial dysfunction, the underlying pathology
of the blood vessels that drives atherosclerosis, in association with
reductions in inflammation and oxidative stress in type 2 diabetic
patients.
Studies have also compared turmeric favorably with: Corticosteroids
(steroid medications), Prozac/Fluoxetine & Imipramine
(antidepressants), Aspirin (blood thinner), Anti-inflammatory Drugs,
Oxaliplatin (chemotherapy drug), and Metformin (diabetes drug).
Another way in which turmeric and its components reveal their remarkable
therapeutic properties is in research on drug resistant- and multi-drug
resistant cancers. We have two sections on our site dedicated to
researching natural and integrative therapies on these topics, and while
there are dozens of substances with demonstrable efficacy against these
chemotherapy- and radiation-resistant cancers, curcumin tops both lists of
drug resistant and multi-drug resistant cancers.
Considering how strong a track record turmeric (curcumin) has, having been
used as both food and medicine in a wide range of cultures, for thousands
of years, a strong argument can be made for using curcumin as a drug
alternative or adjuvant in cancer treatment.
CHENNAI, INDIA, November 8, 2013 (The Hindu): Watchtowers and a police
outpost are being planned at the world heritage site in Mamallapuram by the
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The security measures will come up
early next year, as part of ASI's drive to secure world heritage sites from
attacks and damages following the attacks at Bodh Gaya in Bihar in July
this year.
Tamil Nadu has four world heritage sites. The group of 35 monuments at
Mamallapuram and Brihadeeshwara Temple (Big Temple), Tanjore, will get the
security cover in the first drive. Brihadeeshwara Temple in
Gangaikondacholapuram and Sri Airavateswara temple in Darasuram near
Kumbakonam will be up for security cover next.
ASI will coordinate with the Kancheepuram district police to set up a
police booth near the Shore temple and at least 100 security guards will be
deployed at various strategic and crucial points within Mamallapuram.
Further, watchtowers will be set up near the monuments along the seashore
at Mamallapuram.
ASI's Chennai Circle team led by G. Maheswari, superintending
archaeologist, has been holding a series of meetings with district
collectors and superintendents of police where heritage sites are located.
"Providing security cover to the monuments is also part of the conservation
work," she said. The four world heritage sites are a part of 248
centrally-protected monuments under the jurisdiction of Chennai Circle that
comprises Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry.
UNITED STATES, November, 2013 (Press Release): The Hindu American
Foundation invites applications from academics in the humanities who are
studying or conducting research related to Hinduism. Applicants can be
graduate students, post-doctoral students, or junior faculty. The program
aims to fund rigorous scholarly research on Hindu Americans, Hinduism as it
is practiced in America, or the intersection of Hindu Americans and public
policy. Where feasible, comparisons to the practice of Hinduism in other parts
of the diaspora or India are encouraged. The primary focus should be on
Hinduism in America broadly construed.
The following are examples of eligible areas of research (the list is not
exclusive and other ideas will be considered):
Association between generation and religious practice in the American Hindu
Diaspora
Dharmic theory and practice in the American Hindu Diaspora
American Hindus of Non-Indian Extraction: Who are they?
Charitable giving among Hindus in the US: How much, which causes?
Hinduism and the Media: Methodological approaches to understanding
portrayal
Visibility of Hindu Americans in elected office or public policy roles
Demographic studies of the Hindu American community
The status of recent Hindu refugee communities in America and in the world
Analysis of Hindu American advocacy compared to other faith communities in
America
This is a one year grant for $2,500, with the possibility of renewal if
work remains outstanding and the grant officers believe that extra time and
money will contribute significantly to the final product and to the
literature. Funding may be used for research personnel, supplies, travel to
a conference to present findings, and other justifiable expenses. Funding
may not be used for direct salary support. The application deadline is
January 31, 2014.
To enter into the spiritual life is a rare blessedness, it is a great good:
to take it seriously and engage in active spiritual Sadhana is a second
blessedness and a still greater good: but to persevere in the spiritual
life, to be ever progressive and ceaseless in one's spiritual life, is the
greatest good, the crowning blessedness.
-- Swami Chidananda (1916-2008), President of Divine Life Society
KABUL, AFGHANISTAN, November 6, 2013 (New York Times): Community leaders of
this country's two religious minorities--Hindus and Sikhs--estimate that 35
years ago around 100,000 of them lived in Afghanistan. After three decades
of fleeing from conflict to countries like India, Canada and Germany, only
3,000 are left. The majority of the 300 families remaining are Sikhs.
Most of the Hindus and Sikhs who remain in Afghanistan are weary of
religious discrimination and absence of economic opportunities, and they
are hoping to leave their country as anxieties grow about their prospects
after American troops withdraw from Afghanistan at the end of 2014. In
September, for instance, President Hamid Karzai had to issue a legislative
decree to reserve a single seat for Sikh and Hindu Afghan nationals in the
lower house of Parliament after lawmakers refused to do so.
Among those trying to get out of Afghanistan is Ram Prakash, who owns the
oldest photography shop in Kabul established in 1955. With most of his
family already in India, the elderly Mr. Prakash is only waiting for a good
offer to sell his business, but none has come so far. "There is no
point being emotional about it. Our shop is a famous institution and that
also makes us targets," he said.
Under the Taliban regime from 1996 to 2001, Hindus had to identify themselves
by yellow markings on their forehead or wearing a red cloth. On a late
afternoon in August, a few people lazing around the Asamai temple grounds
in Kabul shared different memories of the time.
One man recalled that Hindus with a yellow dot could get away without a
beard but that terrible retribution was unleashed on a Muslim who shaved.
Another said that he was forced to convert to Islam by the Taliban and
marry a Muslim woman because he was seen speaking to her in a shop.
In recent years, some Afghan Hindus and Sikhs have made their way back
home, at least temporarily because of financial pressures. Most of those
who returned to find work left their families behind.
But a few like Balram Dhameja, the caretaker of a Hindu temple in Kabul,
came back with their daughters and wives. Mr. Dhameja returned to
Afghanistan with his family after 14 years because he couldn't make a
living in India.
Mr. Dhameja said that he served in the Afghan police force when the country
was led by the Moscow-backed President Mohammad Najibullah, who was toppled
in 1992 by the America-backed mujahedeen, and hanged from a lamp post by
the Taliban four years later.
The former police officer recalled fleeing to India in 1992 along with at
least 15,000 other Hindu families. "It was easy to get refugee status
then because the Indian government responded to it like an emergency,"
he said. "The hard part was finding jobs to stay on and make a good
life."
Refugees say that India is slow to grant them citizenship, and without it,
they have a difficult time finding work. According to the United Nations
High Commissioner for Refugees, as of January 2013, there were 10,046
Afghan refugees and 958 Afghan asylum seekers living in India.
For the rest of this informative report, click "Source" above.
WASHINGTON, DC, September 27, 2013 (Press Release): Hindu American Seva
Communities (HASC) cohosted, with the White House Office of Public
Engagement the fourth annual conference, "Dharmic Seva: Transforming
Our Self, Our Communities, Our Country", in the nation's capital on
September 27th to promote seva and civic engagement to address social
justice issues and celebrate an inside-out approach to development through
seva and tradition. Seva is an important part of our Dharma and sadhana
(spiritual practice). The inspired conference, focused on
self-transformation leadership, youth, women, environment, strengthening of
our community, places of worship and country through global Diaspora
engagement. Various policy papers and ideas were presented at the White
House to the policy makers, senior administrators and the community. Some
of these are available on our website, "source" above.
The conference theme is inspired by Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902) on his
150th birth anniversary; the first Hindu monk who came to America in 1893.
It honored the first Parliament of World Religions conference which ended
on 9/27/1893.
Let me tell you the truth: there is nothing wrong in your being in the
world. But you must direct your mind towards God; otherwise you will not
succeed. Do your duty with one hand and with the other hold to God. After
the duty is over, you will hold to God with both hands.
-- Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa (1836-1886)
UNITED KINGDOM, November 8, 2013: Tattoo parlors across the world are
offering free swastika tattoos next week as part of an event to
"reclaim" the symbol from the Nazis. Parlors have signed up to
the worldwide scheme entitled "Learn to Love the Swastika" which
aims to "spread knowledge and appreciation of the gentle swastika"
before it was used by the Nazi Regime in World War 2.
For thousands of years, the swastika was seen as a symbol of peace and luck
and remains one of the most prominent spiritual symbols in Hinduism, and
Buddhism. The connotations of the symbol - at least in the western world -
has since changed to one of hatred and anti-Semitism, after Adolf Hitler
adopted the Swastika for the Nazi regime.
The campaign to "take back" the swastika began as a tribute to
Canadian artist ManWoman, who campaigned for most of his life to reclaim the
Swastika from the Nazis before his death last year. ManWoman, real name
Patrick Charles Kemball, wrote a book called Gentle Swastika, Reclaiming
the Innocence and covered his body in more than 200 swastikas as part of
his campaign.
Now tattoo parlors from all over the world have agreed to offer free
swastika tattoos on 13 November in order to educate people about the
origins and true meaning of the Swastika. More than 170 artists across 40
countries have agreed to take part in the event, including parlors in the
UK, US and even Germany.
One man wrote on the event's official Facebook page: "I am so happy to
be booked in to get my swastika done I am really looking forward to it,
It's been too long that the neo-nazi's have hijacked what is a symbol for
love and peace. I will wear mine with pride."
Audrie Cabena, from Yankee tattoo parlor in Dundee, Scotland, told the
Evening Telegraph: "I met ManWoman once and he was covered in
swastikas. I think it is important to recover that symbol and educate
people. It's been a peace symbol for thousands of years, but it's now seen
as a symbol of hatred because of a relatively short amount of time. I'll
talk to the people who come in and make sure they are doing it for the
right reasons. I'm not saying it's safe to walk around with a swastika on
you. You might get people making comments. But if I receive any backlash
over this, I'll have to deal with it when it happens."
A spokesperson for Show Racism The Red Card in Scotland said she is against
the free tattooing event. "Much as the swastika may have started as
meaning one thing, fascism is what it represents now," she said.
NEW DELHI, INDIA, November 8, 2013: Prince Charles and the Duchess of
Cornwall were pictured on day three of their India tour in front of a magnificent
Hindu Temple complex of Akshardham. This will be the Royal couple's third
official visit to India together and their most extensive yet. The temple
was constructed with the help of thousands of volunteers over five years
and is now a huge pilgrimage and tourist attraction.
There is something beyond our mind which abides in silence within our mind.
It is the supreme mystery beyond thought. Let one's mind and one's subtle
body rest upon that and not rest on anything else.
-- Maitri Upanishad
UNITED KINGDOM, November 2013 (BBC): For many people, the main concern in a
yoga class is whether they are breathing correctly or their legs are
aligned. But for others, there are lingering doubts about whether they
should be there at all, or whether they are betraying their religion.
Suspicions about yoga are shared by many Muslims, Christians and Jews
around the world and relate to yoga's history as an ancient spiritual
practice with connections to Hinduism and Buddhism.
Last year, a yoga class was banned from a church hall in the UK. "Yoga
is a Hindu spiritual exercise," said the priest, Father John Chandler.
"Being a Catholic church we have to promote the gospel, and that's
what we use our premises for." Anglican churches in the UK have taken
similar decisions at one time or another. In the US, prominent pastors have
called yoga "demonic."
One answer to the question of whether yoga really is a religious activity
will soon be given by the Supreme Court in the country of its birth, India.
Last month, a pro-yoga group petitioned the court to make it a compulsory
part of the school syllabus on health grounds - but state schools in India
are avowedly secular. The court said it was uncomfortable with the idea,
and will gather the views of minority groups in the coming weeks.
"Yoga is such a broad term - that's what causes a difficulty,"
says Rebecca French, the co-founder YogaLondon -- a yoga teacher academy --
and the philosophy tutor at the school. There are different forms of yoga,
she says, some of which are more overtly religious than others. What most
people in the West think of as yoga is properly known as hatha yoga - a
path towards enlightenment that focuses on building physical and mental
strength.
But what "enlightenment" means also depends on tradition. For
some Hindus it is liberation from the cycle of reincarnation, but for many
yoga practitioners it is a point where you achieve stillness in your mind,
or understand the true nature of the world and your place in it. Whether
that is compatible with Christianity, Islam and other religions is
debatable.
Yoga classes vary. While some feature the chanting of Hindu sutras, others
will make vaguer references to a "life force" or "cosmic
energy". A session might end with a greeting of "namaste"
and a gesture of prayer. There will probably be a moment for meditation, at
which point participants may be encouraged to repeat the sacred word
"Om," which Buddhists and Hindus regard as a primordial sound
which brought the universe into being.
But other classes may make no overt reference to spirituality at all.
That's the way things are in Iran, where yoga is very popular. It has
managed to flourish in a country with Sharia law and an Islamist political
system, by divesting itself of anything that could be construed as
blasphemy. Yoga teachers are careful to always refer to "the sport of
yoga" and are accredited by the Yoga Federation, which operates in the
same way as a tennis or football organisation.
Much more of this lengthy discussion at "source" above.
KAUAI, HAWAII, November 23, 2013: Himalayan Academy is producing a series
of books for Hindu youth and invites both experienced and aspiring writers
alike to contribute. We're offering US$100 to the person who submits the
best short story illustrating the character trait of loyalty from a Hindu
point of view. This is a part of a series on good character traits, such as
humility, initiative, courteousness, obedience, etc.
Loyalty means having firm and constant devotion to one's family, friends,
religion and country. One express loyalty when one is faithful in all their
relationships. The opposite is disloyalty. For example, if a schoolmate
makes an incorrect statement about Hinduism, the loyal Hindu youth responds
with the correct Hindu viewpoint while the disloyal youth says nothing. If
one's neighborhood experiences serious floods, the loyal youth joins the
cleanup effort while the disloyal youth does nothing.
The story should be about 2,000 words long, written at 6th grade English
level. It may be set in any country. The main character is always a Hindu,
and may be a boy or a girl. Other characters may be appropriate for the
country--ie, other Hindus if set in India, or people of various races if
set in the USA. They should be in standard short story form, taking place
in one more or less continuous flow of action, in a relatively short time
and with few characters. The story is set in the modern times and
circumstances in which Hindu youth grow up today, offering them perspective
and advice.
A possible plot on loyalty could involve the "cows, caste and
karma" kind of presentation in one's sixth grade class. A Hindu girl
in the class objects, saying the social studies book is inaccurate, plus
Hinduism is portrayed as much worse than the other religions. She appeals
to the principal, who agrees to have someone from the temple come and give
a presentation to the class.
The deadline is December 20th. The author of the best story among those
submitted will receive $100.
The fine print: The winning story for which payment is made is considered a
"work for hire" with all rights owned by Himalayan Academy. The
story may or may not be eventually published. If published, the story will
be edited and the author's name attached.
For questions or to discuss plot ideas and story requirements, write
Acharya Arumuganathaswami, ar@hindu.org.
Enquire: 'Who am I?' and you will find the answer. Look at a tree: from one
seed arises a huge tree; from it comes numerous seeds, each one of which in
its turn grows into a tree. No two fruits are alike. Yet it is one life
that throbs in every particle of the tree. So, it is the same atman
everywhere.
-- Sri Anandamayi Ma (1896-1982), Bengali mystic
INDIA, November 21, 2013 (The Hindu): Dressed in black cloths and with the
customary sacred bundle (irumudikkettu) on their head, a 14-member team of
Ayyappa devotees from Russia reached the holy hillock for the 12th
consecutive year on Tuesday night.
Induchoodan, aka Iliya Padukova, the team leader and Guruswami, said he,
along with a group of devotees from St. Petersburg, has been undertaking
the annual pilgrimage for the past 12 years. He is an Ayurvedic doctor in
St. Petersburg and is a disciple at the Panchalipeedha Ashram at Valakode
in Idukki where he learned the Kerala martial art of Kalarippayattu a
decade ago.
The team, accompanied by a few Keralite disciples at the ashram, had set
off from the ashram on their pilgrimage to Sabarimala on Tuesday forenoon
and reached the Sannidhanam later in the evening. They offered prayers at
the Ayyappa Temple on Wednesday morning before leaving for Idukki.
WASHINGTON, D.C., November 21, 2013 (Hindu American Foundation):
Persecution of Hindus and religious minorities in Bangladesh took center
stage at a Congressional hearing entitled Bangladesh in Turmoil: A Nation
on the Brink, hosted by the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific yesterday.
Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman of the House Foreign Affair Committee, and
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), who served as the acting Ranking Member of the
hearing, peppered witnesses with questions about concerns over growing
radicalization and recent violence targeting Bangladesh's Hindu population.
"I am particularly concerned over issues...regarding religious freedom
and specifically over attacks on the minority Hindu community remaining in
Bangladesh today," said Rep. Gabbard. "I think it's unfortunate
that sometimes perpetrators of crimes against this community go unpunished,
and it's up to the Government of Bangladesh to act authoritatively against
those who incite and commit violence against anyone and protect the rights
of all minorities."
While noting that the majority of the population in Bangladesh had no role
in violence against minorities, Chairman Royce drew a parallel to Pakistan
in expressing concern over the growing radicalization of young men being
educated in Islamist schools. "Unless the State in Bangladesh is ready
to come forward and close these particular Deobandi schools, the ones that
have been identified as the most radical, the ones that are telling their
charges, their graduates to go out and commit this kind of
violence...[Bangladesh, like Pakistan,] are going down roads here where the
consequences will eventually engulf the state itself," said Chairman
Royce.
"While we were initially concerned by the lack of Hindu or any
minority representation on the witness panel, we're pleased that the plight
of Bangladeshi Hindus as well as other religious minorities became the
central theme of the hearing," said Samir Kalra, Esq., HAF's Senior
Human Rights Fellow. "We appreciate Chairman Royce, Rep. Gabbard, and
Rep. Sherman for being vocal critics of the violence being perpetrated
against innocent minority populations in Bangladesh."
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
USA, November 19, 2013 (Wall Street Journal): Since the mid-1990s, the
share of people 65 years old and over living with their children or other
relatives in the United States has risen from around 6.6% to 7.3% in 2013,
according to an analysis of data from the Census Bureau's Current
Population Survey by Jed Kolko, chief economist at Trulia, a real-estate
listings site.
According to the American Community Survey -- a bigger Census study with a
sample size large enough to analyze specific demographic groups -- 9% of
seniors lived in a household headed by their children, children-in-law or
other relatives besides their spouses in 2012. Another 2% lived with people
they weren't related to, while 3% lived in places like nursing homes. The
rest, about 85%, lived in their own homes.
The recession and weak recovery forced a growing number of young Americans
to shack up with their parents, creating more "intergenerational"
households. Seniors, meanwhile, are playing a critical role by offering
financial lifelines and other types of support to adult children who are
struggling to get by--or who are having difficulty achieving milestones
like buying a house.
But what's driving the trend of more seniors living with their children
isn't low income-growth or high joblessness -- it's mainly the fact that
the share of seniors born in another country is rising -- indeed, it's
already gone from 8% in 1994 to 13% in 2013.
That is important because foreign-born seniors are four times more likely
to live with their children. Around 25% of foreign-born seniors in the U.S.
live with relatives, compared with just 6% for U.S.-born seniors.
Whether or not Grandma and Grandpa are going to live with you varies hugely
by which country they were born in.
Nearly half of all U.S. seniors born in India (47%) were living with
relatives. Vietnam (44%), the Philippines (38%), Mexico (35%) and China
(34%) also posted high shares. By contrast, only 5% of Canadian-born
seniors live with their kids, below even the 6% share of U.S.-born seniors.
German-born seniors in the U.S. were at 6%; England-born, at 7%.
It's not all about whether seniors are born in the West or not -- factors
like age and race are important, too.
Seniors are more likely to live with relatives if they're older. The share
of seniors who are 80 or older has grown from 22% in 1994 to 25% in 2013.
Just 6% of the youngest seniors (65 to 69) live with relatives, versus 15%
for those 85 and older. African-American, Asian-American and Hispanic
seniors born in the U.S. are all twice as likely as whites to live with
relatives. Other factors that make seniors more likely to live with
children include not being married, being female (women live longer) and
living in a metro area with fewer seniors.
AUSTRALIA, November 2013 (press release): Bushfires raging in the Blue
Mountains around Sydney as early as October is being seen by Hindu
community leaders as a call to action. This call is the subject of the
Hindu Climate Change Action Kit, jointly published by the Australian
Religious Response to Climate Change (ARRCC) and the Hindu Council of
Australia, and was launched on Saturday, 26th October by Rev. Swami
Sunishthananda of the Sydney Vedanta Centre. The launch took place as part
of the Deepavali Festival at Sydney Olympic Park.
ARRCC's President Thea Ormerod, who was present at the launch said,
"After a week of uncharacteristically hot weather for October and
terrible bushfires, it is imperative that we all step up and take
responsibility for addressing climate change. We need to start making
Earth-friendly choices both as individuals and communities. Like our
Christian Kit, the Hindu Climate Change Action Kit provides loads of
well-grounded, easy-to-use, creative ideas to assist Hindus to play their
part. From Hindu spirituality to the science basics and improving energy
efficiency, from ideas for nurturing a sense of connection with Mother
Nature to advocacy, this kit will support Australian Hindus in making their
contribution."
Sri Venkateswara Temple, Helensburgh, is one example of a temple that has
taken the sorts of actions that the kit recommends. These include
insulating the temple to conserve energy and reducing the size of the pits
used for the Omum (Havan) fire ceremony, to reduce firewood consumption.
"Mahatma Gandhi said: 'The rich must live more simply so the poor may
simply live'," quoted Professor Agar. "The simple message is to
control our desires and reduce the demand on precious natural resources.
Spirituality is at the heart of sustainability. The Hindu Climate Change
Action Kit encourages us all to conserve energy, live a simple, contented
and fulfilled life with mental peace and tranquillity, green our worship
and festivals at the temple and at home, and live healthy active lives
including a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables. This is a
message for our wider communities, businesses and for our political
representatives as well. I highly commend the kit to all Hindus."
The Hindu Climate Change Action Kit is downloadable from 'source.'
The sages, being filled with universal love for all beings, did not want to
keep their enlightenment to themselves. They declared to all: "O
mortals, striving and struggling upon this Earth plane, weeping, wailing,
buffeted by the vicissitudes of life: we have come upon a great discovery.
There is something beyond these appearances, these vanishing names and
forms that go to make up this universe. There is something beyond, which is
the very source and support of all these objects of the phenomenal world.
Why do you search in vain for happiness outside? Come, come, happiness
resides within."
-- Swami Chidananda (1916-2008), president of Divine Life Society
FIJI, November 19, 2013 (Fiji Sun): The Vishwa Hindu Parishad Fiji says
comments by Cook Islands bishop, Tutai Pere, condemning Diwali celebrations
held in the island nation are saddening.
VHP Fiji national president Jay Dayal said the bishop was forgetting the
values of Christianity. "At the same time, we in Fiji are fortunate
and so ever thankful to our government that Fiji is a secular nation that
allows freedom of religious practices and personal beliefs bringing
everyone together during their respective festivals," Mr. Dayal said.
"As a Christian, the bishop should learn to love his neighbors rather
than enforce his imprudent personal beliefs on others that divide a society
in a tiny island nation like the Cooks, said Dayal.
Bishop Pere was on Radio Australia labeling Hindus as idol worshipers
(listen to the full recording at http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/inte ...
tion-as-blasphemy/1220374). Mr. Dayal said: "Diwali is a
festival of light not idolatry or blasphemy against Christians as alleged
by the Bishop Tutai Pere. "He needs understanding with the
significance of Diwali. Diwali celebrates the triumph of good over evil,
light over darkness, falsehood to truth and death to immortality.
Diwali was festively celebrated at the US Presidential White House by
President Barack Obama with the First Lady. The British Prime Minister
David Cameron, accompanied by his wife Samantha, visited the Swaminarayan
Mandir, the largest traditional Hindu temple outside India, in north-west
London and celebrated Diwali.
The Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper marked Diwali with members of
Canada's South Asian community with crowds of hundreds in Mississauga,
Toronto, Canada. The Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak
and wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor embraced Malaysian Hindus at the Batu
Caves and celebrated Diwali as well.
Mr. Dayal said: "As the leaders of some of the world's great nations
joined hands with Hindus to openly celebrate Diwali on the same token the
comments and dim-witted protest by Tutai Pere, Bishop of the Apostolic
Church of the Cook Islands is sad but insignificant and VHP can only
suggest to him to seek knowledge of the divine and rise above religious
fanaticism." (You can listen to his complete response, also on Radio
Australia, at http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/inte ...
n-of-idol-worship/1221206)
CANADA, October 2, 2013 (Canadian Public Opinion Poll): The last of three
national surveys about values and religion in Canada shows English and
French Canadians most favorable towards Christianity and least favorable
towards Islam. Favorability of all religions is down since 2009.
The results from the last of three comprehensive national surveys about
religion, religious freedom and values by Angus Reid Global show, as a
whole, (54%) of Canadians view Islam unfavorably, while almost three
quarters (73%) hold a favorable opinion of Christianity. Favorable opinions
of other religions vary, with Buddhism (56%) and Judaism (51%) coming
second and third to Christianity, followed by Hinduism (44%) and the Sikh
faith (29%).
Demographics tell another story, with younger and university educated
Canadian adults holding more favorable opinions of non-Judeo-Christian
religions. The same trend emerges when Canadians were asked whether it
would be acceptable or unacceptable if their children married people from
non-Judeo-Christian religions. Canadian adults aged 18-34 and those with a
university education were most accepting of this scenario. Scenarios where
children were to marry a Christian partner were the only ones to garner
widespread acceptance across regional, age and educational lines.
"The Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees our ability to practice
the religions of our choice in Canada," says Kurl. "However, how
much we choose to educate our neighbors about our faiths may be one factor
in the deep disconnect between how we perceive different religions in this
country."
You must not let your life run in the ordinary way; do something that
nobody else has done, something that will dazzle the world. Show that God's
creative principle works in you. -- Paramahansa Yogananda (1893-1952), founder of Self Realization
Fellowship
BELIZE, November 15, 2013 (Press Release): Following the sporadic series of
conferences on the Indian Diaspora in the Caribbean since 1975 held mainly
in Trinidad and Tobago, there is a plan to organize one conference every
year in various parts of the region. Next year's conference will be held in
Belize from August 5 to 11, 2014 on the theme "The Indian Diaspora in
Belize and the Wider Caribbean." This is the first conference of its
kind to be held in this English-speaking country, and in Central America.
Formally known as British Honduras, Belize is the only English-speaking
country in Central America. Bordered by Mexico in the North and Guatemala
in the West and South, it lies at the heart of the Caribbean Basin. Belize
has giant Mayan Temples and the world's second largest barrier reef. It has
a melange of over ten different cultures which are concentrated in specific
areas in six districts.
Unlike any other Caribbean country, Belize experienced three waves of East
Indian migration, commencing in 1858. The first wave of migrants consisted
of 1000 deported ex-soldiers (and their families) who had rebelled against
the British Government in India's First War of Independence/ Sepoy
Rebellion. The second wave of Indians came to Belize in 1872 as ex-indentured
workers from Jamaica. The third wave of Indian migrants to Belize left from
Guatemala, from where they had gone to work in the coffee plantations in
Cafe Mountains.
Unique to Indian history in the Caribbean is the fact that early immigrant
laborers worked in Belize in the sugarcane, as well as lumber and banana
plantations. As early as the 1860s, they worked under the employment of
American ex-confederates. With the passage of time, the mainly-Hindu
immigrants have all converted to Christianity, resulting in the absence of
temples and lack of festivals in the country. The only remnants of Indian
culture are the special preparation of food with turmeric [curry] and the
observance of Hosay/ Muharram [Who-se-me-say]. Indians now comprise about
four percent (7,000 persons) of the multi-ethnic population of Belize.
Corozal Organization of East Indian Cultural Heritage (COEICH) will be the
main host and organiser of the conference. COEICH was formed in 2009 as a
non-profit organization committed to preserve and promote East Indian
culture in Corozal in particular, and Belize in general. It has embraced
opportunities to establish connections with people of similar culture
within and outside of Belize and, in so doing, has built a support network
to help revive a lost heritage.
The tentative programme includes ceremonial speeches, cultural
performances, exhibition displays and academic presentations in Corozal in
north Belize and Punta Gorda (PG) in the south. There will be educational
tours to the National Assembly, Herman's cave and Blue Hole in Belmopan,
and visits to East Indian communities in Forest Home, Elridgeville,
Jacintoville and Mafredi.
The conference aims to bring together academics, scholars, teachers and
students at all levels with an interest in the Indian Diaspora in the
Caribbean to discuss their research findings. Space will be provided for
less formal presentations from activists and practitioners in the field in
order to contribute to the limited store of public knowledge on Indians in
Belize.
Possible paper themes can include, but are not limited to history,
migration, inter-ethnic marriages, culture loss, alcoholism, business,
remittances, agriculture, education and gender.
These themes can be approached from a variety of disciplines, and can be
inter- as well as multi-disciplinary. At least two-thirds of each paper to
be presented must deal with Indians in Belize. Submitted papers will be
assigned to particular panels according to similarities in theme, topic and
discipline.
For details contact:
Ms. Sylvia Perez Gilharry in Belize - sylviaperez1@yahoo.com,
Corozal Organization of East Indian Cultural Heritage (COEICH)
Dr. Kumar Mahabir in Trinidad - dmahabir@gmail.com,
University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT)
INDIA, October 24, 2013 (Hindustan Times by Saudamini Jain): Ramnagar, on
the banks of the Ganga, opposite Varanasi, was the capital of the former
princely state of Banaras. It is now a dilapidated town -- best known for
its nearly-200-year-old Ramlila, the longest in the world. This Ramlila
begins in September or October on Anant Chaturdashi and ends 31 (sometimes
30, depending on the lunar cycle) days later on a full moon night. The
first episode is the birth of the raakshas king of Lanka, Raavan.
Subsequent episodes cover the entire story of Ram - the birth of King
Dasharath's four sons; Ram and Sita's wedding; their exile; Sita's
abduction; Ram's victory over Raavan; Bharat Milaap and the coronation of
Ram as king of Ayodhya. The Ramlila ends with an episode of Ram's
teachings.
For a month, Ramnagar is transformed into a giant stage for the story of
Ram to unfold. Permanent structures and parts of the town within a
five-kilometre radius are named after places mentioned in the epic, and
different episodes of the lila are enacted at different venues every day.
On most days, the Ramlila moves - the cast, the Kashi Naresh, audiences and
all. Sometimes, the movement is within a larger venue. Lanka, for example,
is a large tract of land and the scenes shift back and forth between Raavan
ka darbar on one end, Ram's camp on the other and Ashok Vatika in a corner.
On some days, the play becomes a procession as the audiences walk along
with the cast from venue to venue, which are sometimes more than a
kilometre apart.
It is believed that this is when (and where) Ramlilas first began. The
oldest Ramlila in the world, the more than 450-year-old Chitrakoot Ramlila,
is also Banarasi. The Ramnagar Ramlila began in the early 1800s during the
reign of the then Kashi Naresh, Maharaja Udit Narayan Singh. "He had
gone to Chhota Mirzapur where some traders had organized a Ramlila, but by
the time he got there, it was over. He was very disgruntled... and so his
wife suggested that he start one in Ramnagar," Jai Prakash Pathak,
personal secretary to the Kashi Naresh and Ramnagar Ramlila adhyaksh, told
us.
This Ramlila isn't meant to be a theatrical masterpiece. It is a fair, a
festival, a phenomenon. The crowd ranges from a few thousand for some
episodes, up to 100,000 for episodes like Ram and Sita's wedding, Dussehra
(when a 60-feet high effigy of the Raavan is burnt), Bharat Milaap, and the
coronation of Ram (the most auspicious episode).
Much more available at 'source' including several nice photos.
UNITED STATES, November 11, 2013 (Huffington Post): India has been
described by some traditional texts as Sa Prathama Sanskrati Vishvavara,
the first and supreme culture in the world. To this day, the South Asian
country remains a hotspring of ancient wisdom on mind-body health and
spirituality.
This wisdom has been steadily permeating American life for the past
century. Mindfulness -- the cultivation of a focused awareness on the
present moment, a concept with origins in ancient Indian philosophy -- is
"gaining its fair share of attention" in the West, with
increasing numbers of Americans practicing meditation, according to a
recent New York Times Magazine cover story. Words like guru, karma nirvana
and om are firmly situated in our cultural vocabulary, and yoga and
meditation have become the favorite past time of everyone from supermodels
to high-powered CEOs.
The Indian way has spread far beyond the U.S., and tourists from around the
world are flocking to the densely-populated country in search of inner
peace. India is the fastest-growing destination for wellness tourism, with
an average of 22 percent annual growth, according to recent data from Stanford
Research Center funded by Spafinder Wellness.
One reason we should look to India as an example of what it means to live
well is that it's the birthplace of yoga. Arguably India's most popular
export, yoga (Sanskrit for "divine union") has been passed down
from guru to student for many centuries. Traditionally, yoga is practiced
with the goal of stilling the thoughts of the unruly mind so that the
individual can eventually achieve moksha (liberation). Aside from yoga's
spiritual aims, the physical and mental health benefits of the practice are
extensive, from decreased anxiety to reduced neck and lower back pain to
increased sexual function.
Further reasons are: They view health from a holistic perspective, they
embrace vegetarianism, they have strong family values, they cook with
turmeric, they're making low-cost health innovations, they live in color,
they have a culture that prizes compassion, they know that breathing is
crucial to good health, they celebrate the power of music, and they value
inner wisdom.
For an in-depth description of the reasons we should look to India as an
example of what it means to live well see 'source' above.
UNITED STATES, November 15, 2013 (the Hindu): U.S. officials are destroying
more than six tons of confiscated ivory tusks, carvings and jewelry -- the
bulk of the country's "blood ivory" stockpile -- to support the
fight against a $10 billion global trade that slaughters tens of thousands of
elephants each year.
Officials on Thursday used rock crushers to pulverize the stockpile,
accumulated over the past 25 years, at the National Wildlife Property
Repository just north of Denver. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will
donate the crushed ivory particles to a museum to be determined for future
display. Service officials showed off thousands of ivory tusks, statues
ceremonial bowls, masks and ornaments, a collection they said represented the
killing of more than 2,000 adult elephants. The items were seized from
smugglers, traders and tourists at U.S. ports of entry after a global ban on
the ivory trade went into effect in 1989.
The message from the exercise will reach consumers more than the faraway
poachers and smugglers targeted by governments across the globe. Elephant
poaching is at an all-time high, thanks in large part to growing demand in
the U.S. and Asia. The British-based Born Free Foundation estimates that
poachers killed 32,000 elephants last year. It says that black-market ivory
sells for around $1,300 per pound.
Most elephants are killed in Africa, where there are about 300,000 African
elephants left. There are an estimated 50,000 Asian elephants found from
India to Vietnam.
Not everyone supported the ivory crush. Bob Weisblut, a co-founder of the
Florida-based International Ivory Society, said he thought the carvings and
tusks should be sold to raise money for anti-poaching efforts. "A lot of
this is beautiful art," Weisblut said. "And it's a shame to destroy
it."
LALMONIRHAT, BANGLADESH, November 29, 2013 (The Daily Star): Hindus came
under attack allegedly by activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatra
Shibir at Patgram upazila in Lalmonirhat for the second time in a month
yesterday. The attackers beat up at least 12 women and children and torched
and looted at least five shops and two houses at Ghoshpara village of
Jongra union on the third day of the opposition-sponsored 71-hour blockade.
The incident fueled concerns over a fresh spell of attacks on the Hindus as
men of the village have fled in fear of further attacks
SELANGOR, MALAYSIA, November 26, 2013 (The Star): The Selangor government
has decided to only award financial assistance to Hindu temples registered
with the Malaysian Hindu Sangam. In announcing the decision, Selangor
executive councillor for poverty and estate affairs V. Ganabatirau said the
Negri Sembilan, Perak and Malacca state governments had already implemented
this. "Hindu Sangam is the umbrella body to oversee the situation and
work together with the temples. We have set up a committee to monitor the
temples and Hindu Sangam will play an active role in it," he said.
Malaysian Hindu Sangam president Datuk R.S. Mohan Shan said currently only
600 temples in the state were registered with the organisation. Unofficial
statistics, however, reveal some 2,500 temples in Selangor. Both
Ganabatirau and Mohan were at the 2013 Selangor Hindu Temples forum in Shah
Alam, attended by some 400 temple committee members and Indian community
leaders.
In his speech, Mohan said the temple should play a big role in recognizing
communities around the temple. "Temple funds should be allocated for
the teaching of human values and religious classes. The poor should be
identified and help should be extended to them.
OSLO, NORWAY, November 20, 2013 (Times of India): The Norwegian military
said Tuesday it plans to put its troops on a vegetarian diet once a week in
a bid to fight a new kind of enemy -- climate change. The army said its new
meatless Mondays are meant to cut its consumption of ecologically
unfriendly foods whose production contributes heavily to global warming.
"It's a step to protect our climate. The idea is to serve food that's
respectful of the environment," spokesman Eystein Kvarving told AFP.
The diet has already been introduced at one of Norway's main bases and will
soon be rolled out to all units, including those serving overseas, said the
army, estimating it would cut its meat consumption by 150 tonnes per year.
"It's not about saving money," said Kvarving. "It's about
being more concerned for our climate, more ecologically friendly and also
healthier."
A Norwegian environmental group that campaigns for meatless Mondays
nationwide, The Future in Our Hands, welcomed the army announcement.
"The defense ministry deserves a lot of praise because it's taking
climate and environmental issues seriously," said the group's
director, Arild Hermstad.
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
HAMILTON, ONTARIO, CANADA, November 27, 2013 (The Globe and Mail): Hamilton
Police have laid charges in a 12-year-old hate crime that garnered
international attention and scarred the city's reputation in the wake of
9/11 terrorist attacks.
At a morning press conference in the $2-million Hindu temple that rose from
the ashes of a smaller temple destroyed in an early-morning arson on Sept.
15, 2001, Staff Sergeant Matt Kavanagh announced charges of arson to
property, possession of incendiary material and mischief under $5,000
against three Hamilton men: Christopher Pollard, 33, Scott Ryan, 33 and
Damien Marsh, 34.
"[Because of] the fact that this incident took place 4 days after the
tragedy of 9/11, and the two places of worship that were targeted by the
accused parties were a mosque and a Hindu temple, the Hamilton Police
Service will present this case as a hate crime," said Staff Sergeant
Kavanagh.
The firebombing of the Hindu Samaj Temple was one of the worst examples of
post-9/11 "revenge" attacks anywhere in North America and became
frequently cited as proof that Canadian attitudes towards diversity had
narrowed considerably following the collapse of the World Trade Center
towers. CNN and other networks covered the blaze extensively, staining
Hamilton with an international reputation for bigotry and intolerance that
the city has worked to erase ever since. Despite all the city's work to
undo the physical and emotional damage that occurred that day, the case
remained unsolved, leaving city mosques and temples with a lingering
unease.
The fire that changed Hamilton actually began as a smaller attack at the
nearby Hamilton Mountain Mosque. Late on Friday, September 14, 2001, police
allege that the three men smashed a large front window at the mosque.
For reasons unknown, the alleged attackers travelled five kilometres to the
Hindu Samaj Temple, then a small building being converted from an old
United Church, and used an accelerant to ignite the front doors.
Because of the temple's remote location on piece of property bordered by
farmer's fields and rural homes, the fire department had to truck in water
to the site. By 6 a.m. on Saturday morning, little was left of the
building. Temple president Narendar Passi could only stand beyond the
flames and weep.
"It was horrible," he said. "It was in the back of
everyone's minds that something like this could happen, but not here, we
were Hindus, we did not commit the crimes in New York City."
At the mosque, attendance at the Muslim school dropped by 70 per cent in
the days after the attack. For several months, security was ever-present at
area mosques. News networks portrayed the city as plagued by hate.
"On CNN, we were a redneck town, a backwater town," said Evelyn
Myrie, executive director of the Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion, a
community organization that sprung up as a result of the temple fire to
promote inclusion and speak out against discrimination. "It really put
Hamilton in a bad light."
The city's will to fight that perception emerged even before the blaze had
smoldered out. Hundreds of people attended a rally at city hall that day to
show support for the temple. Within days, fundraisers were held to help
cover the massive costs of rebuilding and posters bearing the slogan
"an attack on one is an attack on all" appeared outside hundreds
of area homes and businesses.
Rather than shrink in fear, the congregation at the temple swelled, from
around 300 families in 2001 to over 800 today.
But even as the temple and the city moved on, the police investigation
stalled several times. Detectives initially identified two suspects, both
of whom have since been cleared, with police dropping charges against one
man in 2003. Since 2005, at least three officers have continually chased
leads in the case. On the 10th anniversary of the fire, police issued a
plea for witnesses to come forward and pinned their hopes on profiling of
DNA samples collected at the crime scene.
Police are revealing little about the recent break in the case, saying only
that earlier this year they received new information from the public that
led to the arrests.
"As sad as it is to recount the events of that day," said Mayor
Bob Bratina, "we were wishing that this day hopefully would come so
that Hamiltonians as a whole can get the feeling that the matter was
pursued."
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Om Tat Sat (Continued...)
(My humble salutations to Sadguru Sri Sivaya Subramuniyaswami ji,
Satguru Bodhianatha Velayanswami ji, Hinduism
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