(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)
UTTARAKHAND, INDIA, April 11, 2014 (domain-b.com): With tourists from
Maharashtra forming a considerable number of the total visitors to
Uttarakhand, the state tourism board has begun the exercise of attracting
Mumbaikars for the religious of Char Dham yatra, which is set to open for
the season from next month. The pilgrimage, which starts during summer, has
been popular since ancient times, as it involved difficult and arduous
trekking through the hilly regions of Uttarakhand and is considered to be
highly auspicious among Hindus.
The hill state, whose economy is hugely dependent on tourism, is home to
Hindu holy mountain shrines of Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and
Yamunotri, together constituting the Char Dham, which attract a large
number of devotees and religious travelers every year. The Uttarakhand
government is making special efforts to revive religious tourism following
the death of thousands and devastation to these shrines in the
flood-landslide disaster of last year, which cost the state US$200 million
worth of business.
"We are in the process of rebuilding the state's infrastructure. We
are ready to begin the holy yatra from 2 May with the opening of the
Yamunotri and Gangotri gates," state tourism secretary Umakant Panwar
told reporters in Mumbai. Panwar said that taking lessons from last year's
tragedy, the state plans to contain the number of visitors at any given
time. To enforce the plan, the tourism department has made arrangements for
mandatory biometric registration of the all the visitors. Also, each
visitor will be tracked with a GPS-based monitoring system.
CHENNAI, INDIA, April 14, 2014 (Times Of India): The Tamil New Year in 2014
will be called Jaya, the 28th year in the 60-year Tamil calendar. Though
January 1 is considered the New Year for official purposes, most Tamils
follow the Tamil calendar and celebrate April 14 as new year.
Each Tamil New Year is named from a calendar of 60 names which starts with
Prabhava (first in Sanskrit). The names repeat after every 60 years. Thus
the outgoing year is Vijaya and the next Tamil year will be called
Manmatha. In 1954, the Tamil New Year was called Jaya; those born that year
will be celebrating their 60th birthday this year.
Temples and monasteries across the state have lined up several religious
programs to mark the occasion. Special pujas and discourses have been
planned at temples from Monday morning. At the monasteries, senior pandits
will read the new almanac and predict the good and bad that the coming year
has in store for people. "Jaya will bring all-round prosperity to the
people of the country," forecasts astrologer R. Swaminathan.
"There will be good rain and good harvest. People will be generally
happy, but there is bound to be some hindrances during happy
occasions," he said.
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, April 17, 2014 (Press Release): Two major seminars on
subjects that impact the global Hindu community will be hosted at the
Global Hindu Conference 2014, scheduled for April 26th-27th weekend in San
Jose, CA, USA.
One of the two seminars is on development of Hindu Historiography, which is
a one-of-its kind initiative that is being done outside of, and in parallel
to, the conventional academic establishment. Sumeet Saxena, the coordinator
and chair of the historiography seminar, said that history plays too
important of a role in self-identification of Hindus all over the world to
be left only to the academia to deal with. The informal sector could also
engage equally in history writing. The conventional academic framework,
which is based on a Western worldview, is inadequate to capture the
complexity of Hindu culture and civilizational experience, in order to
properly express the Hindu historical narrative. Thus, the Western
expression of Hindu history often stands at odds with the representation of
Hindu community in global public affairs, leading to atypical "caste-sati"
type caricatures, mocking and even hate crimes. Decades of discrimination
has led to low self-esteem among Hindu youth, who now shun their Hindu
identity in public spaces. Therefore, the use of unorthodox methods and
setting is needed to accomplish the task of Hindu historiographical
development.
Paramacharya Sadasivanathaswami and Acharya Arumuganathaswami, editor and
managing editor, respectively, of Hinduism Today magazine will conduct a
special session on the representation of Hinduism in American public
schools. The presentation will draw on their two decades of experience with
the portrayal of Hinduism in school textbooks. The target audience will be
parents of Hindu children and social studies school teachers who teach
Hinduism in public schools. The special session will feature the Northern
California premiere of their documentary titled "The History of Hindu
India" which is intended for use in public schools in the U.S. to
supplement the deficient material now in use. The documentary establishes a
historical continuum of faith and practice by narrating the history of
Hinduism since the Indus Valley civilization until the modern age.
The other seminar at the conference will be on Hinduism-Christianity
Comparative Religion. The purpose of the comparative religion seminar is to
build competencies for a deeper and more meaningful engagement with the
Christian world. The current Hindu-Christian interlocution is largely
one-sided where the Hindus have been dependent on old ideological
formulations that were formed in a colonial milieu of 19th century India,
which is acutely compromised in its core and one that has yielded in
indeterminate results. This necessitates the need to learn more and
understand Christianity in a new light from its original sources.
Rajiv Varma, the conference director, expressed his satisfaction on the
overall organization of the conference. Laying down the purpose and vision
for the exercise, he stated that the central theme of the conference is to
build intellectual competencies among the Hindus for a meaningful
engagement with the outside world. Development of Hindu historiography is a
must to write an authentic Hindu narrative. He added that it is imperative
to build Hindu ideological competencies, and incrementally build clarity on
the nature of Hinduism in relation to Abrahamic religions in general, and
with Christianity in particular, in order to provide ideological direction
to the next generation of Hindus. He also outlined a vision of establishing
a comprehensive program for reviving Sindh's classical Hindu heritage, and
integrating the efforts towards Pakistani Hindu refugee rehabilitation into
that program. He clarified that this is necessary to establish an emotional
and cultural connection between refugees and the global Hindu community.
For more information, click source above, or email Rajiv Varma at info@ghfinc.net or call at (281)
576-7496 or (281) 576 7496.
In my silence, I experience one vast garden, spread out through the
universe. All plants, all human beings, all higher devas are about it in
various ways and each has his own uniqueness and beauty. Their presence and
variety give me great delight. Every one of you adds in a special way to
the glory of this garden."
-- Sri Anandamayi Ma, (1896-1982), Bengali mystic
UNITED KINGDOM, April 10, 2014 (The Northern Echo): Hindu followers from
across the region took part in a ceremony today to mark the installation of
a statue at a temple for Gurkha soldiers. Shivalinga, the representation of
the Hindu God Lord Shiva, was erected in an annex to the Gurkha Temple at
the Infantry Training Centre (ITC) in Catterick Garrison.
The statue was donated by Swami Shri Gopal Sharan Devacharya Ji Maharaj, a
high ranking Hindu priest who visited the ITC in 2012. Pundit Atmaram
Dahal, Gurkha Company religious teacher, said: "The statue was
constructed in India before being donated to our temple.
Captain Rajeshkumar Gurung, from Gurkha Company, said religion played an
important part in the development of recruits, with religious teachers using
examples of Lord Shiva to explain the moral component and duties of a
soldier in combat.
MALANG, INDONESIA, April 6, 2014 (The Jakarta Globe): Rice cakes wrapped in
palm leaves, or ketupat, is a usually a treat reserved for the Islamic
holiday of Idul Fitri, but for Hindus in Malang, East Java, ketupat serves
as a customary dish in celebrating Nyepi, the day of silence.
Last week, 33 educational institutions and temples in Malang participated
in a ceremony on Balekambang Beach to celebrate one of the biggest holidays
in the local Hindu calendar. The ceremony, called Jala Nidhi Puja, is held
before Nyepi and it beautifully displays the diversity of Indonesia. In
Sanskrit, "jala " means sea, "nidhi " means sanctity
and "puja " means ceremony.
Apart from the use of ketupat and the Javanese gamelan, Hindus in Malang
also decorate their offerings differently from their better-known
counterparts in Bali. Every offering contains five mandatory elements:
leaves, flowers, fruits, water and incense. Suharsono, the chairman of the
Indonesian Hindu Association (PDHI) in Malang, said that they customized
their offerings according to the things that flourished in their hometown,
but staples like yellow rice, bananas and yellow palm fronds were a common
element.
DENPASAR, BALI, April 12, 2014 (The Jakarta Post): Hindu experts from
around the world are slated to gather in Denpasar, Bali, next Thursday, to
attend the second World Hindu Wisdom Meet. Five hundred delegates from six
countries, namely India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Russia, Singapore and the UK,
have confirmed their attendance.
The meeting, which will discuss Hindu-based education, is being organized
by the World Hindu Parisad, a Hindu discussion and deliberation forum that
aims to expand the network of Hindus around the globe.
"We hope the meeting will result in a set of basic principles and
essential referrals that can be used by Hindus for guidance in developing
Hindu-based education and educational institutions," World Hindu
Parisad's president, Ida Pedanda Ketut Sebali Tianyar Arimbawa, said during
a press conference in Denpasar on Friday.
KAUAI, HAWAII, April 12, 2014 (HPI): Click source above to see the three
pieces of art we've found so far of Saint Akka Mahadevi of Karnataka.
Unfortunately, none are high enough resolution for use in Hinduism Today
magazine. We need photos taken at least 1024 pixels wide, with a file size
of at least 1.5MB. If you have something, or know where we can get it,
kindly email us at letters@hindu.org.
WASHINGTON, May 2, 2014, (by Cathy Lynn Grossman, RNS): Believers don't buy
the Big Bang, God-less evolution or a human responsibility for global
warming. Actually, neither do many Americans. But a new survey by The
Associated Press found that religious identity -- particularly evangelical
Protestant -- was one of the sharpest indicators of skepticism toward key
issues in science.
The survey presented a series of statements that several prize-winning
scientist say are facts. However, the research shows that confidence in
their correctness varies sharply among U.S. adults. It found:
* 51 percent of U.S. adults overall (including 77 percent of people who say
they are born-again or evangelical) have little or no confidence that
"the universe began 13.8 billion years ago with a big bang."
* 42 percent overall (76 percent of evangelicals) doubt that "life on
Earth, including human beings, evolved through a process of natural
selection."
* 37 percent overall (58 percent of evangelicals) doubt that the Earth's
temperature is rising "mostly because of man-made heat-trapping
greenhouse gases."
* 36 percent overall (56 percent of evangelicals) doubt "the Earth is
4.5 billion years old."
On the flip side, most people are pretty sure the "universe is so
complex, there must be a supreme being guiding its creation" -- 54
percent of all Americans, and 87 percent of evangelicals. Nobel Prize-winning
scientists expressed dismay at the findings. "When you are putting up
facts against faith, facts can't argue against faith," Duke University
biochemist Robert Lefkowitz, who won a Nobel Prize in 2012, told The
Associated Press. He called faith "untestable."
CAMBODIA, April 22, 2014: Her Royal Highness Princess Norodom Buppha Devi,
head of the Royal Ballet of Cambodia, is pleased to announce the company's
upcoming tour of Theatre of Shadows. The show, featuring 23 dancers and ten
musicians, combines elements of the Ream Ker, the Cambodian Ramayana, with
Sbek Thom, traditional Khmer shadow theater. Renowned for its graceful hand
gestures and stunning costumes, the Royal Ballet of Cambodia, also known as
Khmer Classical Dance, has been closely associated with the Khmer court for
over one thousand years. Infused with a sacred and symbolic role, the dance
embodies the traditional values of refinement, respect and spirituality.
Its repertory perpetuates the legends associated with the origins of the
Khmer people.The gestures and poses, mastered by the dancers only after
years of intensive training, evoke the gamut of human emotions.
The Royal Ballet practically ceased to exist under the repressive rule of
the Khmer Rouge, who eliminated almost all master dancers and musicians.
Immediately after Pol Pot's defeat in 1979, dance troupes re-emerged and
performances of the ancient repertory resumed. The ballet has regained its
former splendor but still faces numerous difficulties such as a lack of
funding and suitable performance spaces, competition from modern media.
The troupe will perform on May 3 and 4 in France, May 6 and 7 in Portugal
and May 10, 2014 in Venice, Italy.
MARKHAM, CANADA, April 6, 2014 (Weekly Voice): Keeping in line with the
principles of Arya Samaj to disseminate and propagate Aryan values as
propounded by the Vedas, Arya Samaj of Markham and Arya Samaj of Toronto
jointly launched an English translation of the Four Vedas in eight volumes
covering eight thousand pages, flown directly from India for this most
auspicious occasion, coinciding with the celebration of 139th Anniversary
of the founding of Arya Samaj in India by Maharshi Dayanand in 1875 A.D.
The Himalayan task of translating the most sacred Vedic religious
scriptures in Canada was done by a renowned octogenarian, Indo-Canadian
Vedic scholar, Dr. Tulasi Ram Sharma (formerly Professor of English in
Delhi University), author of many books and articles on Vedic literature,
culture and heritage. Dr.Tulasi Ram Sharma was honored with a plaque for
his outstanding achievement.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, INDIA, November 6, 2013 (The Hindu): Russia has
expressed its keenness to take Ayurveda to new realms and to work with
Kerala to see how best they can integrate the age-old system of medicine
with theirs. The intention to popularize Ayurveda in Russia and
Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries was conveyed by the
Russian delegation to Chief Minister Oommen Chandy when they called on him
on Tuesday.
The Chief Minister pledged full support for the delegation's desire to take
Ayurveda to new realms. The delegation conveyed to the Chief Minister their
intention to recommend Ayurveda treatment in Russia, to promote the
traditional system of medicine in Russian universities and to establish a
chair.
Earlier, addressing a press conference, Dr. Kalashnikov said they were
searching for new areas, especially Ayurveda, as the WHO had suggested
adopting local knowledge. "Our visit is basically to look into the
aspects of the cost, besides if this can be possibly integrated with our
system of medicine," he said. The entire Russian delegation
experienced Ayurveda at a resort at Poovar. They also visited the
Government Ayurveda College here.
UNITED STATES, April 24, 2014 (HAF): The Hindu American Foundation is
pleased to announce the creation of The Bhutanese American Community Grant
Program. This grant program is specifically intended to support Bhutanese
Hindus struggling to maintain their religion, culture, and traditions
through their resettlement in America. Through the Grant Program, a total
of $5,000 has been made available for multiple grants that will directly
benefit the Bhutanese Hindu community throughout the country. Grants will
be awarded to eligible projects or programs initiated and led by Bhutanese
Hindu community members only.
The Bhutanese American Community Grant Program seeks to provide grants in
the areas of community development, social services, health, education, and
youth activities, among others. The Application Deadline is Friday, May 23,
2014. Examples of projects or programs that would qualify for this grant
program can be viewed at 'source' above.
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
INDIA, April 20, 2014 (Daily Mail): Heavy snowfall accompanied by rainfall
since Saturday night has hampered reconstruction work at flood-hit
Kedarnath in Rudraprayag district. Presently a Special Task Force (STF)
team, comprising Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (Uttarkashi) and the
Uttarakhand Police, is engaged in constructing a trek road to the famous
Hindu shrine, which will reopen on May 4. Preparations are underway to
restore tourist facilities in Kedarnath, which includes creating a trek
route, helipad ground, fixing water supply, electricity and other basic
amenities.
Devotees in large numbers visit Kedarnath from different parts of India to
offer tributes to Lord Shiva. But the flow of tourists has seen a drastic
decline ever since last year's devastating flash-flood.
Till last year, the trek for Kedarnath used to start from Gaurikund but
this time the pilgrims will have to walk an additional distance because of
the slow reconstruction work. Located at a height of 11,750 ft., pilgrims
visiting Kedarnath will have to use a new 4.3 mile pedestrian road from
Rambara onwards to reach the shrine. The earlier trek connecting Rambara to
Kedarnath has been abandoned. But the trek connecting Rambara to Gaurikund
will more or less remain the same.
NEW DELHI, INDIA, April 19, 2014 (Times Of India): [HPI note: this report
should be taken with a grain of salt. Ever since the discovery of the
temple's wealth, the state government has been trying to take control of
the temple's finances, something they can do only if mismanagement is
proven. The temple's present management has challenged this amicus curiae
report.)
The untold riches of Thiruvananthapuram's Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple,
which was discovered three years ago and was estimated at US$16.5 billion,
may be getting pilfered, an explosive report on the state of affairs in the
temple submitted to the Supreme Court said. Rare jewels, stone-studded
crowns, heaps of gold and silver coins, statues and gold, silver and brass
platters and lamps, were found in the temple in July 2011, catapulting it
overnight to one of the richest in the country.
Amicus curiae Gopal Subramaniam, after a 35-day inspection of the temple,
told the court in his report about recent discovery of a gold plating
machine in the temple premises and expressed apprehension that some
original temple gold and ornaments may have been pilfered and replaced with
fakes. Subramaniam, tasked to report on the state of affairs of the temple
as well as the wealth, said there appeared to be a deep-rooted conspiracy
in the apparent mismanagement of the temple wealth and suggested a detailed
audit by former comptroller and auditor general Vinod Rai.
Importantly, he urged the court to open Kallara (vaults) 'B' and assess the
wealth in it. Till now, Kallara A to F had been opened and valuables
listed, except 'B'. There was opposition to the opening of vault 'B' on
various counts, which ranged from religious to dogmatic. Interestingly,
Subramaniam found two more vaults and named them Kallara 'G' and 'H'. He
urged the court to order authorities to open these two new vaults and
inventory the valuables.
He also found discrepancies in the general account kept by the temple
management and suggested an audit of it. Subramaniam said for the last 30
years, the receipts from devotees had not been accounted for properly and
said this was an additional reason for a detailed audit of temple accounts.
MIDLANDS,TEXAS, Feb 19, 2014 ( Kauai Aadheenam, Hawaii): On February 19,
2014, one Hindu, one Jew and three Christians sat together to answer
questions submitted by the moderator and the local community before an
audience of mixed faiths at First Baptist Church in Midland, Texas. This
was the fourth such interfaith panel held in the Permian Basin.
The five speakers this year were Rabbi Holly Levin Cohn of Temple Beth El,
Odessa, Texas, Msgr. Larry Droll, Pastor, St. Ann's Catholic Church,
Midland, Texas, Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami of Kauai's Hindu Monastery,
Hawaii, Rt. Rev. Sam B. Hulsey, Bishop (Retd.), Episcopal Diocese of
Northwest Texas and Dr. Randel Everett, Pastor, First Baptist Church,
Midland, Texas.
Topics discussed were gay marriage, non-Christian children being told by
their peers they were going to hell, and belief in the supernatural world.
REUNION ISLAND, April, 16 2014 (Zinfos): The Reunion Tamil Federation, the
Reunion Vaikoundam Association and the insurance company, Assurances
Australes, have teamed up to offer the population of Reunion the
possibility of organizing a funeral according to Hindu rites. It is a first
for the island. This funeral agreement is a turnkey product to avoid
financial and administrative burdens on families. The objective is avoid
administrative and financial hassles for bereaved families. In exchange for
an annual subscription, the insurer takes care of everything (a lump sum
payment of 3,500 euros funeral service chosen by the family
According to Hindu tradition, the death ritual takes place in four steps
and requires the use of a pujari (priest) who organizes the ceremony. The
Hindu ritual surrounding death is very special. There is a vigil, cremation
or burial, the Karoumadi ceremony (16th day after death) and Devsam
ceremony (one year and one day after death.) "There has been a lot of
trouble for families to organize the proper sequence of ceremonies. So
difficult that most have opted for a conventional funeral in the church. We
are here to liberate families of all their worries," says Jose Krishna
Amouny, pujari in the southern town of Saint-Pierre.
The biggest sorrow is poverty. The greatest happiness is that of meeting
with a saint, which is beyond compare.
-- Tulsidas in the Ramacharitamanasa, 16th century
INDIA, April 15, 2014 (BBC): India's Supreme Court has recognized
transgender people as a third gender, in a landmark ruling. "It is the
right of every human being to choose their gender," it said in
granting rights to those who identify themselves as neither male nor
female. It ordered the government to provide transgender people with quotas
in jobs and education in line with other minorities, as well as key
amenities.
According to one estimate, India has about two million transgender people.
Campaigners say they live on the fringes of society, often in poverty,
ostracized because of their gender identity. Most make a living by singing
and dancing or by begging and prostitution.
Members of the third gender have played a prominent role in Indian culture
and were once treated with great respect. They find mention in the ancient
Hindu scriptures and were written about in the greatest epics Ramayana and
Mahabharata. In medieval India too, they played a prominent role in the
royal courts of the Mughal emperors and some Hindu rulers. Many of them
rose to powerful positions.
Their fall from grace started in the 18th Century during the British
colonial rule when the Criminal Tribes Act of 1871 categorized the entire
transgender community as "criminals" who were "addicted"
to committing serious crimes. After Independence, the law was repealed in
1949, but mistrust of the transgender community has continued. It is hoped
that the landmark court ruling will help bring them into the mainstream and
improve their lot.
AUSTRALIA, March 1, 2014 (The Indian Sun): Inspired by His Holiness Pramukh
Swami Maharaj, the current spiritual head of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, the
newly reconstructed BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Rosehill, Sydney was
officially inaugurated with Vedic rituals by Sadguru Sant Pujya
Ishwarcharan Swami, a senior BAPS sadhu, and the State Premier of New South
Wales, the Honorable Barry O'Farrell, on Sunday, 9 February 2014.
The murti-pratishtha ceremony marked the climax of the four-day Mandir
Mahotsav. The murtis, previously sanctified and consecrated by His Holiness
Pramukh Swami Maharaj during his visit in 2002, were reinstalled in the new
mandir amidst the chanting of Vedic mantras. This was followed by a
traditional folk dance performed by children and the first arti of the
murtis in the new mandir.
Another BAPS mandir was inaugurated in Brisbane the following week with a
two-day celebrations on 14 and 15 February. With this two mandir openings,
BAPS now holds four mandirs in Australia, specifically in Sydney, Perth,
Melbourne and Brisbane with Adelaide to go next as well as Perth
renovations in the pipeline.
INDIA, March 1, 2014 (Global Post): Female sadhus, or holy Hindu women,
have broken away from tradition and formed a new all-female group in India
that they hope will end male domination of spiritual practices. In the
northern city of Allahabad a group of women sadhus formally established
their group or akhada, holding ceremonies on the banks of the River Ganges
which is considered sacred by Hindus. Mahant Trikal Bhavanta, a leading
woman sadhu, told AFP late Friday that the all-women akhada was believed to
be the first in the history of Hinduism in India.
An akhada is a group of sadhus -- reclusive ascetics or wandering monks who
renounce normal life and are often widely respected for their holiness.
India has more than a dozen such groups, all male-dominated. According to
some Hindu lore, it is believed the first akhada was formed by Hindu
philosopher Adi Shankaracharya in the eighth century with the aim of
safeguarding the religion's interests.
Bhavanta said the all-women group was facing criticism from male sadhus,
who claim the move goes against age-old customs. "Nowhere in the Hindu
scriptures is it mentioned that women cannot have an akhada of their
own," she told AFP.
BELGIUM, March 31, 2014 (Metrobali): Hundreds of expatriate Balinese Hindus
living in the EU (and their European friends and relatives) enthusiastically
welcomed the New Year Saka 1936 in suburban Brussels on Saturday, March 29,
2014. On the grounds of the Indonesian Embassy, the event was kicked off
with Hindu prayer and worship including a traditional dance. Then six large
ogoh-ogoh effigies were paraded through the surrounding city streets
accompanied by the crowd. The parade, accompanied by a police escort and
and the loud and rhythmic beat of Belgium's Gamelan Group Bleganjur Saling
Asah, caused a stir of excitement among the citizens along the one
kilometer route.
The celebration of Nyepi and the Saka New Year with an Ogoh-Ogoh parade was
the brainchild of Ambassador Arif Havas Oegrosenothe. It was brought to
fruition by the hard work of the Balinese of the local Banjar Dharma Shanti
association and the broader community in Luxembourg, Germany, France and
the Netherlands. This event was the fourth annual edition.
In his speech, the ambassador invited all Indonesian Hindus in Europe is to
remain fond of the values taught by their culture and continue to implement
them in daily life. And on this day, when life on Bali comes to a
standstill, everyone should remember that at the heart of silence (Nyepi)
we can explore our inner identity and maintain harmony and balance with
God, our fellow human beings and the environment so that peace is realized
in our lives.
MARYLAND, U.S., May 1, 2014 (Huffington Post): Over the past few months,
the Hindu American Foundation, Kaur Foundation and Sikh Kid To Kid worked
with the Montgomery County (MD) Public Schools to implement a three-part
training for teachers, involving cultural immersions at Sikh and Hindu
places of worship (separate trips), followed by a reflection session
designed to improve classroom approaches to teaching about the two faiths.
The workshops were a product of conversations between the groups and Maria
Tarasuk, the social studies supervisor for the Montgomery County Public
Schools, who has long advocated for community-based approaches to teaching
about diversity.
Following yesterday's reflection session, it was apparent that the school
district had helped to lay the groundwork for something sustaining in the
county, and replicable in other parts of the country. Tarasuk said the
experience was "powerful" for teachers. "It helped them
connect on an emotional level, not only with the content but with their
students," she said. "Because of that, teachers are going to be
much more comfortable sharing with their students. It was a wonderful
partnership between the schools and all the organizations involved."
Over the past month, teachers who attended the workshops (an early April visit
to area Gurdwaras, the Guru Gobind Singh Foundation and the Guru Nanak
Foundation of America, followed by a visit last weekend to the Chinmaya
Mission of D.C.) learned about several commonly misunderstood facts about
Hinduism and Sikhism. The Hindu American trainers helped to explain key
concepts of Hinduism such as dharma, karma, and moksha, and how they relate
to daily practice, including how Hindus worship the Divine. We also helped
to showcase the evolution and the development of Hindu history over 5,000
years. The teachers learned, for example, that the Aryan Invasion Theory -
long a staple of textbooks - has been debunked (though the Aryan Migration
Theory is still popular among many linguists), and that caste is not
intrinsic to Hindu philosophy (caste is an Indian social practice).
Try to treat with equal love all the people with whom you have relations.
Thus the abyss between 'myself' and 'yourself' will be filled in, which is
the goal of all religious worship.
-- Anandamayi Ma (1896-1982), God-intoxicated yogini and mystic Bengali
saint
BERBICE, GUYANA, April 22, 2014 (Kaieteur News): The Hindu Society of Berbice
opened the multi-million-dollar Shri Krishna Mandir with a grand ceremony
on Sunday at Gay Park, Greater New Amsterdam. The edifice, which models the
rare designs of Hindu places of worship in Southern India, is a rarity
among architectural designs in these parts of the world. President Donald
Ramotar and First Lady Deolatchmee Ramotar were present as were thousands
of Hindus from across Guyana.
Hindu activist Mrs. Chandrowtie Maraj noted that a former structure was
erected in the area in the 1990's. The old mandir was located adjacent to
the present structure, she added, but became termite-infested over time.
The new Shri Krishna Mandir is complemented by a Maha Kali and Bhagwan
Shiva Mandir sitting on both sides in the compound. Its intricately interior
and exterior designs go hand-in-hand with its exquisite ceilings and
elaborate towering domes.
Guru Dr. Prema Panduraji, a Television personality said, "When one
enters a mandir, all bad and evil thoughts are gone. You are closer to God,
that's why when you come to a temple; you greet everybody with a
smile." She said that nothing in Hinduism is secular. "Our art is
spiritual; Mathematics, dance, music, literature--everything is
spiritual...That is why when you come to the temple, you are intuitively,
naturally, spontaneously spiritual--that is what happens."
INDIA, April 30, 2014 (UCANews): Hindus from Pakistan often travel to India
on one-month pilgrim visas, purportedly to visit the innumerable Hindu holy
places and shrines around the country. But since 2011, the number of
Pakistani Hindus refusing to leave at the end of their stay has increased
dramatically in response to the easing of visa regulations by the Indian
government, which has announced that Hindus from Pakistan can get long term
visas if they follow certain rules.
Most hail from Pakistan's Hyderabad province, home to the majority of the
country's 2.5 million Hindus. Once in India, they can apply for refugee or
asylum seeker status. But if their applications are denied, they can simply
go on extending their visas. Those who stay usually end up living in tents
on land offered on a temporary basis by religious groups or temples. But
lack of identification documents means no real jobs, limited income and no
means to benefit from state welfare schemes.
Refugees, who may arrive in groups as large as 100 or more, claim they
deserve asylum or refugee status or Indian citizenship because their
families are not safe in Pakistan. According to the Human Rights Commission
of Pakistan, the country saw a 22 percent rise in religious violence last
year, with 687 people killed in more than 200 attacks. But religious
freedom is meaningless unless Pakistani Hindus are given legal status and
allowed to hold legitimate jobs so that they can provide adequately for
their families, said Ram Das, a college graduate who came to India in 2011.
Like most other asylum seekers from Pakistan, despite his education, Das
now makes his living as a lowly street vendor.
Overall, Pakistani Hindus have not benefited as much as other migrants from
Tibet, Myanmar and Afghanistan, who have been assisted by the United
Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR). India shelters some 100,000
Tibetans, more than 110,000 Chin refugees, and some 250 who have fled
Afghanistan.
MADURAI, INDIA, April 29, 2014 (The Hindu): Invoking the God of rains, a
special puja (Varuna Jeba Yagam) was performed at the Meenakshi
Sundareswarar Temple in the early hours of Monday. A special abishekam was
performed on the Nandi statue at the Veeravasantharayar Mandapam. Verses
were recited from the Thirumurai of Sundaramoorthy Nayanar by the temple
priests and a nagaswaram troupe performed music in Amrithavarshini,
Meghavarshini, Anandha Bhairavi and Roopa Kalyani ragams which are believed
to bring rain. Devotees and visitors at the temple also took part in the
proceedings.
Speaking about the Yagam, P. Jayaraman, Executive Officer of the temple and
Joint Commissioner of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR and CE)
department said owing to drought-like situation across Tamil Nadu, special
pujas were being performed at all temples under the HR and CE control in
the State.
Tirunelveli district is witnessing a monsoon failure for the fifth
successive year. Poor storage level in dams has forced officials to release
a meagre quantity of water from reservoirs to meet drinking water purposes.
Subsequently, the small quantity of water being pumped from the
infiltration wells is being distributed to residents on turn basis. The
problems of cattle is even worse as there is virtually no grass in the
district. In the Varuna Jabam (prayers for abundant rains) offered at Sri
Nellaiyappar Gandhimathi Ambal Temple here, the pradhosha (parade Deity)
Nandi (Siva's vahana or mount) was kept in neck-deep water to appease rain
gods and a special abhishekam was performed with water drawn from the
Tamiraparani.
INDIA, April 17, 2014 (The Hindu): Unless the rules under the HR and CE Act
provision relating to appointment and duties of Executive Officers is
issued, the Commissioner cannot appoint any Executive Officer, irrespective
of the situation in the administration of a temple, the Madras High Court
has ruled. The court judgment is likely to have an effect on EO
appointments already made.
Justice S. Nagamuthu passed the order while allowing a writ petition by the
Arulmigu Vaithianathaswamy Devasthanam, Vaitheeswaran Koil, Nagapattinam
district. The devasthanam challenged a HR and CE Commissioner's show cause
notice of February 12 this year calling upon it to explain why an Executive
Officer (EO) should not be appointed for the temple for one year and the
consequential proceedings. In the notice, six alleged irregularities were
noted.
The petitioner challenged the notice on the ground that the Commissioner
had no jurisdiction to issue it and to appoint an EO for the temple. This
was because under Section 45 (1) of the HR and CE Act (Appointment and
duties of Executive Officers) the government had not issued any rule
prescribing the conditions upon which the EO could be appointed.
The syllable gu means shadows. The syllable ru, he who disperses them.
Because of the power to disperse darkness, the guru is thus named.
-- Advayataraka Upanishad
INDIA, May 2,2014 (by Ananth Krishnan, The Hindu): Chinese entrepreneur
Zhao Qingfeng's shop sits hidden in a maze of several thousand outlets at
the Yiwu market - a sprawling area stretching across the size of 750
football fields that is the world's largest commodity market. It attracts
half a million businessmen from 90 countries in search of everything from
computer parts and mobile phones to toy cars and plastic buckets.
Mr. Zhao's shop,one would not expect to find in officially atheist China:
on one corner is a collection of beautifully rendered images of the god
Krishna as a child. There are, on the shop's walls, framed photographs of
half a dozen gods and goddesses from the Hindu pantheon: images of Ganesha,
Hanuman and Saraswathi on a lotus. From this small shop in Yiwu, these
images will find their way to homes and offices - and possibly even places
of worship - across India. More than a hundred Indian companies buy Mr.
Zhao's products, supplying and distributing them across India - often
without making their customers aware of the fact that the images that adorn
their prayer rooms were all put together by Chinese workers in a factory in
Zhejiang province.
Mr. Zhao's business illustrates the depth to which Chinese manufacturing
has penetrated the Indian market. Mr. Zhang was one of the earliest
producers of images of Hindu gods. Today, he estimates, there are between
30 and 40 companies in China doing the same. "Many of the new
factories offer poor quality, but the Indian customers are very price
sensitive so business is down," he said. Despite rising prices,
however, Indian orders haven't stopped coming. One reason: their clients
say they simply have no other alternative "It's still easier to order
from China," one trader said. "Everything is produced in bulk,
and the trade is very organised. Where am I going to find such factories in
India?"
KERALA, INDIA, April 23, 2014 (Indian Express): The controversy surrounding
the alleged mismanagement of Kerala's famous Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple on
Wednesday evoked sharp reaction from the Supreme Court, which said there
are certain "disturbing features" and "extremely serious"
issues which require immediate redressal.
The observation by the bench came at the outset of the hearing when senior
advocate Gopal Subramaniam, who is appearing as an amicus curiae in the
matter, was about to apprise the court about his April 15 report in which
he highlighted several serious irregularities in the management of the
temple and its wealth (estimated in the billions of dollars). He submitted
there was need for independent management of the temple so that officials
can carry out their function freely and fearlessly.
After an hour-long hearing during which senior advocate K. K. Venugopal,
appearing for scion of Travancore Royal family, raised objections to
Subramaniam's report, the bench said parties including Kerala Government
will be given chance to respond to the findings in the report. "The
matter requires immediate hearing. To us it is an extremely serious matter.
We would like to hear all of you," the bench said, posting further
hearing for Thursday. Venugopal said everything in the report was not
acceptable as astonishing things have been stated and in many cases wrong
inferences have been drawn.
The sprawling temple, an architectural splendor in granite, was rebuilt in
its present form in the 18th century by the Travancore Royal House which
had ruled southern Kerala and some adjoining parts of Tamil Nadu before
integration of the princely state with Indian Union in 1947. Even after
India's independence, the temple continued to be governed by a trust
controlled by the erstwhile royal family for whom Lord Padmanabha (Vishnu)
is their family deity.
NEW DELHI, INDIA, April 24, 2014 (Vancouverdesi): The Supreme Court
Thursday entrusted the administration of the Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple in
Kerala to a five-member committee headed by the district judge of
Thiruvananthapuram. The court also said the keys of the temple vault
holding its treasure would be handed over to the district judge.
The court's interim order on the administration of the temple came on the
recommendations of amicus curiae Gopal Subramaniam, who had sought
overhauling of the functioning of the temple. Before passing the order, the
court took on board counsel K.K. Venugopal and Additional Solicitor General
K.V. Vishwanathan representing the royal family and the Kerala government,
respectively.
The court appointed senior Indian Administrative Service officer and former
administrator of the Guruvayur temple Satish Kumar as the executive officer
of the Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple. After appointing Satish Kumar, the court
said the incumbent executive officer and administrative officer would proceed
on a four-month leave. The court said none of the properties of the temple
would be alienated or dealt with.
The five-member committee will comprise the Thiruvananthapuram district
judge, a tantri and chief nambi of the Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple and two
more members, of which one will be appointed in consultation with the state
government. If the district judge of Thiruvananthapuram is not a Hindu,
then the senior-most judicial officer in the city would step in as head of
the administration committee, the court said.
WASHINGTON D.C., U.S., April 24, 2014 (Times Of India): With Indians and
other Asian-Americans and Pacific-Islanders growing in number at a fast
pace, people of color will be in the majority in the US by mid-century,
according to a new report. They are also quickly reaching the critical mass
needed to be politically relevant, says the report from the Centre for
American Progress and AAPI Data on how the growth of this group will affect
a variety of key policy areas from immigration and education to healthcare
and the environment.
With the Indian-American population shooting up 76 per cent in the first 12
years of the 21st century, Indian-Americans numbering 3.34 million are
already the third largest Asian community in the US, after people from
China and the Philippines.
As many as 56 per cent of the Asian-American population lives in the top
five states of California, New York, Texas, New Jersey and Hawaii, the
report noted. The largest concentration of Indian-Americans is in three
States -- California (19 per cent), New York (12 per cent) and New Jersey
(10 per cent).
SOUTH AFRICA, April 23, 2014 (The Media Online): The recent decision issued
by the Press Appeal Panel in a complaint lodged by the South African Hindu
Dharma Sabha against the Sunday Times raises important questions regarding
the intersection between freedom of expression and religion. The complaint
concerned a Zapiro cartoon depicting officials of Cricket South Africa
(CSA) sacrificing their chief executive officer Haroon Lorgat to the Hindu
deity, Lord Ganesha. The cartoon caused outrage within the Hindu community
and numerous complaints were lodged with the Press Ombudsman against the
Sunday Times on the basis that the cartoon disrespected Lord Ganesha.
The context in which the cartoon was published was that CSA and its Indian
counterpart, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), were
involved in a public spat concerning Lorgat. BCCI had reportedly insisted
Lorgat should be removed as the head of CSA, failing which it would cancel
games between South Africa and India and this would cause serious financial
loss to CSA.
The section of the Press Code in terms of which the complaints were
considered states that "except where it is strictly relevant to the
matter reported and it is in the public interest to do so, the press shall
avoid discriminatory or denigratory references to people's... religion...
belief, culture...".
The Press Ombudsman said he had to weigh up the right to freedom of
expression against the offence that the cartoon caused. He decided that the
cartoon was primarily a comment about CSA's reaction to the demands made by
BCCI as opposed to a comment on Hindu religion. He said that if the cartoon
has ridiculed Lord Ganesha, the outcome of the complaints may have been
different. He concluded that although the cartoon was in bad taste, the
complaints should be dismissed. On appeal the Press Appeal Panel agreed
with the Ombudsman's reasoning and dismissed the appeal.
HAVANA,CUBA, January 21, 2014 (5 de Septiembre): A new digital portal
called Kamala was created in order to promote the culture and literature of
India, and its presence in Cuba. Sponsored by the Asia House, the site can
be found at the website http://www.kamala.comlu.com
and contains sections dedicated to science, cooking, religion, tours of
India and other subjects of interest.
In its home page editorial, Kamala - Sanskrit for lotus flower, promises to
focus on the relations between the two peoples and comment on places of
interest in Havana that are relevant to this ancient culture.
Last October the first Cultural Festival of India in Cuba was held in
Havana , which coincided with the visit of Indian Vice President Mohammad
Hamid Ansari. The festival gave a display of Indian culture never before
seen in Latin America, dance performances, crafts, intellectual workshops,
painters, chefs and yogis .
ENCINITAS, CALIFORNIA, April 24, 2014 (The Coast News): At Broome Street
Academy, a school that serves homeless and foster-care teens in New York
City, students have been doing yoga since January. The template for their
program: Encinitas Union School District yoga. "I'm actually surprised
at how it's been embraced," said Barbara McKeon, Head of School at
Broome Street Academy. "Even the hard-nosed streetball guys are doing
downward dog."
In 2011, a representative from the Sonima Foundation, previously known as
the Jois Foundation, introduced yoga at Capri Elementary in Encinitas.
Encouraged by the results, in 2012 the organization put together a $700,000
grant for yoga and nutrition at EUSD schools. That was followed by a $1.4
million grant from the foundation for this school year, which increased the
number of yoga teachers at all nine district schools. Drawing from EUSD
best practices, the Sonima Foundation developed a yoga curriculum. A
challenge to the program was dismissed by the courts.
The foundation has since exported the program to 10 schools over the past
year, including in Florida and New York. In the county, yoga has made its
way to two schools in the Cajon Valley Union School District and the
Monarch School in San Diego.
McKeon said she's grateful for the program because her average student
doesn't have a lot of exercise opportunities. And many are grappling with
social and emotional issues. "Students are using the calming
techniques outside of yoga class, we've noticed," McKeon said. She
added Broome Street Academy is partnering with the University of Virginia
to research the program's impact on students. Culturally and geographically
speaking, Broome Street is very different from EUSD schools, McKeon said.
Not to mention, Broome Street students are older. So, the program had to be
adapted to fit her school. Still, she said yoga seems to help people of all
stripes.
SOUTH AFRICA, September 14, 2014 (Wordpress): The Ramakrishna Centre of
South Africa hosted the "Swami Vivekananda Peace Concert", which
was performed by the Kwa-Zulu Natal Philharmonic Orchestra on Saturday, 14
September 2013 at the Durban City Hall.
The 65-piece orchestra performed numerous pieces, including songs on and by
Swami Vivekananda viz., Murta Maheshwara, Khandana Bhava Bandana. The
audience responded with a standing ovation. Approximately two thousand
guests and devotees were in attendance.
You may turn your bones to fuel, your flesh to meat, letting them roast and
sizzle in the gold-red blaze of severe austerities. But unless your heart
melts in love's sweet ecstacy, you never can possess my Lord Siva, my
treasure-trove.
-- Tirumantiram Verse 272
NEW ZEALAND, March 13, 2014 (Indian News Link): The younger members of the
Hindu community have called on their peers to realize the power inherent in
them and seek self-inspiration to bring about quality changes in lifestyle
and promote a better society.
Organized jointly by the Hindu Youth New Zealand and the New Zealand Hindu
Students Forum, the Conference held under the theme, "Dynamic You: The
Power of Youth" attracted 150 participants. Among them were university
students, professionals and entrepreneurs with a passion for Hindu values.
The conference, held on March 1 at Aotea Centre in Auckland's Central
Business District, was the third in an annual series. It brought together
young men and women from both sides of the Tasman. It was an event that
channelized the enthusiasm and exuberance of the younger members of the
society, providing them a platform for exchange of ideas and information,
and more importantly, find ways and means of assimilating the Hindu way of
life.
Murali Magesan, who undertook various responsibilities for the annual
gathering, said in his keynote address that Hindu youth can be the leading
light of the multicultural, multi-religious and multilingual community of
New Zealand, provided they harnessed their capabilities for the common
good. "There are about 80,000 Hindus in New Zealand, accounting for
about 2% of the population. As a group, we are significantly more qualified
compared to the rest of the population. It is heartening that a high
percentage of Hindus are highly successful professionals in this
country," he said.
SOUTH AFRICA, January 25, 2014 (Herald Live): For the Ganeshan family from
Felicity Avenue in Westering, staying true to one's roots is just as
important as family. At first glance the family look like any normal
family, but behind the scenes are talented dancers and a drummer, and a
husband and father that supports his family no matter what.
Kalyani and Siva, who is originally from Mauritius, met some 20 years ago
and have been married for the last 18. It is not surprising that Siva is
fluent in Tamil, French and Creole. "We were introduced by one of my
dance students," explained Kalyani who has been teaching Indian
traditional folk dancing since 1986 after doing a dance course in Cape
Town.
In 1991 she became the first person from the Eastern Cape to have an
arangtram - a graduation course presentation, and then started teaching
Indian classical and Bharata Natyam. The couple have two children.
Jayshree, 16, has followed her mom's dance steps while brother Yuven, 14,
is learning the Indian classical drum - mridangam. Kalyani said her son is
the only person in the city learning the mridangam at the moment because no
one offers classes here.
COLUMBUS, OHIO, April 21, 2014 (Columbus Dispatch): Refugees resettled in
the U.S. face cultural, language and religious barriers. They worry about
the loved ones and friends they've left behind. There's often a disconnect
between their idyllic views of America and the difficulties they encounter
finding good-paying jobs, especially in the recent economic downturn.
"It's not uncommon for them to be dealing with high levels of anxiety,
stress and the lingering effects of trauma," said Kelly Yotebieng, the
wellness coordinator for Community Refugee & Immigration Services, or
CRIS, in Columbus.
One group that has particularly struggled is the Bhutanese. More than
60,000 of Bhutan's ethnic Nepalese have been resettled in the United States
after being driven into exile by the country's monarchy. Of the 1,285
refugees who were settled in Columbus last year, 444 were from the Asian
nation of Bhutan.
To help address those issues, CRIS created a refugee-wellness program six
months ago. New arrivals from any country are screened for symptoms of
mental distress and referred to counseling when needed. The program also
offers eight-week support groups to help refugees adjust to their new
lives. Next month, CRIS will start offering yoga and music sessions as
alternative ways to help clients deal with stress.
MICHIGAN, US, May 9, 2014 (Hometown Life): Hindu Temple of Canton leaders,
inspired after their spring health fair delivered free care to hundreds of
people, already have indicated they will offer a similar event next year.
"We want to help people change their lifestyle for the better so they
can be healthier," said Jatin Desai, a health fair organizer.
The latest numbers are in and Hindu Temple officials said more than 300 patients
received free medical consultations April 30 - the second phase of the 12th
annual fair - from 67 volunteer doctors from the Michigan Association of
Physicians of Indian Origin, or MAPI, along with Oakwood Hospital-Wayne
health care volunteers.
Patients saw primary care physicians, cardiologists, dentists, pharmacists,
nutritionists and other specialists as the Hindu Temple, MAPI and Oakwood
finished an effort to help people who might otherwise delay health care
they often can't afford. Officials such as Don Hazaert, director of
Michigan Consumers for Healthcare, a coalition of health-related
organizations, have said even with changes in health care, efforts such as
that of the Hindu Temple still are needed to help local communities address
gaps in care.
Other religions have all been founded by individuals, but Hinduism is not
based on the teachings of any one single person. Before any prophet was
born, the Sanatana Dharma was there.
-- Swami Rama Thirtha (1873-1906)
ALBERTA, CANADA, April 6, 2014 (Canadian Bhutanese Society Alberta): The
first group of 18 Canadian Bhutanese Society members, who are resettled in
Southern Alberta since 2009, have received Canadian citizenship. The
special ceremony was held in Lethbridge Court on the 5th of April 2014. The
ceremony was held in four groups by Citizenship and Immigration Canada, which
was presided over by Citizenship Judge at Lethbridge Court House. Present
as special guest on the occasion were Federal MP Jim Hillyer, MLA for
Lethbridge East Bridget A Pastoor and Mayor Chris Spearman, City of
Lethbridge.
Under third country resettlement process, Bhutanese started coming to
Canada since 2008 after spending about two decades in refugee camps in
Nepal. Lethbridge has the largest population Bhutanese resettled in Canada.
There are about 800 Bhutanese who call the city of Lethbridge home. A
second batch of 21 Bhutanese members are in the process to receive
citizenship in the coming months.
As per the present policy anyone residing as permanent resident for three
complete years are eligible to apply for Canadian Citizenship. Minister of Citizenship
and Immigration have proposed a new policy to come into effect that the
time for qualification to apply has been increased to four years. The
requirement to show proof of language at the time of application has now
been extended for those aged 14-64. The current Act applies to applicants
for ages 18-54. The doubled processing fees are already into effect as per
the new policy.
DENPASAR, BALI, May 5, 2014 (The Bali Daily): Starting this year, the
provincial administration will pay for the enrollment and participation of
the island's thousands of Hindu high priests and temple priests in the
national health insurance (JKN) program. "Funds will be allocated from
the provincial annual budget to cover the necessary premium for the high
priests, temple priests, as well as ritual leaders in public temples across
the island." Bali Health Agency head Ketut Suarjaya said recently.
"This policy reflects the administration's commitment to provide
health services to religious leaders, who dedicate themselves to the
community." "The council has informed us that there are around
1,200 high priests and temple priests on the island. In 2014, the
provincial and regency administrations allocated a total of Rp 334.71
billion (US$29.05 million) to fund JKBM.
Hinduism was organized for peaceful and harmonious coexistence, not for
continued confrontation with external enemies in the shape of unbelievers.
It is no accident of history that, though Hinduism knew internal feuds like
any social polity, it never crossed its borders to wage wars against people
simply because they worshiped different Gods.
-- Ram Swarup (1920-1998), foremost spokesperson of Hindu spirituality and
culture in India
DEHRADUN, INDIA, May 4, 2014 (India Today): Sacred portals of the Kedarnath
temple were reopened to devotees amid elaborate rituals early on Sunday morning,
about a year after the Himalayan shrine was marred by flash floods that had
left thousands of people dead and many others stranded. Chief priest of the
shrine (Rawal) Bhima Shankar Ling presided over the rituals as its gates
were opened amid chanting of Vedic hymns. About 1,252 devotees including
eight foreign nationals visited the shrine on the opening day.
It is the first Char Dham yatra (to four sacred places in the Himalayas:
Kedarnath, Gangotri, Badrinath and Yamnotri) after last year's calamity.
The annual pilgrimage was struck by the unprecedented flash floods last
year causing large-scale loss of lives and property. Over 5,000 people were
dead or missing, including pilgrims from various parts of the country.
Expressing happiness over the first day turnout, Committee CEO V.D Singh
said it was much more than their expectations. "The crowd was bigger
than expected and there was much enthusiasm among the devotees. It is an
indication that the fear psychosis gripping people outside the state in the
wake of last years tragedy is subsiding gradually. "The crowd of
visitors is likely to swell as the snow begins to melt," he said.
DEHRADUN, INDIA, May 3, 2014 (Times Of India): Last year's mid-June flash
floods did not deter 15,000-odd devotees from across the country from
converging at Yamnotri and Gangotri shrines in Uttarkashi district to
attend the sacred ceremony marking the re-opening of these shrines'
portals. With this, the Char Dham yatra has commenced in Uttarakhand.
Amid chanting of Vedic mantras, the doors of Gangotri and Yamnotri were
re-opened at 12:01 pm and 1:20 pm, respectively minutes after their
"doli" (palanquin in which the statues are carried) reached the
temples from their winter abode at Mukhba and Kharsali villages in the
district. The winter abode of Goddess Ganga is located at a distance of
about 9 miles from Gangotri shrine and 6 miles from Yamnotri shrine.
Residents in Mukhba and Kharsali villages consider Goddess Ganga and
Goddess Yamuna as their daughters. On Thursday, with moist eyes, they
accorded a ceremonial send-off to the two statuess, respectively in their
doli decked with flowers. When contacted, devotees at Gangotri and Yamnotri
said they had to trek for several miles on the 20 mile Badkot-Jangalchatti
and the 15.5 mile Gangori-Sukhi motorable roads to reach Yamnotri and
Gangotri shrines, as they are still being re-constructed.
BANGALORE, INDIA, May 5, 2014 (Bangalore Mirror): She is stunning even at
age 150. With her long black hair bedecked with flowers, a crimson tilak on
her face, a big nose-ring, chunky earrings, and a curvaceous figure under a
bright red nine-yard sari, she looks resplendent. Queen, all of two feet,
is a leather puppet, created from deer leather, crafted by a puppeteer
hailing from Bellary. She, along with about 399 others, has been taken out
of her 30-year residence in the basement of the Chitrakala Parishath (CKP),
to be displayed at CKP's first such large exposition on leather puppets.
For the first time, these wondrous creations will be reliving their old
days of glory, when village folk gathered in the evenings to see the grand
magnificent shadow act narration of the Ramayana or the Mahabharata.
Part of MS Nanjunda Rao's, the grand doyen of CKP's 3,000 plus collection,
one of the largest in the country, Queen was bought from her puppeteer
during the 1960s. Rao had travelled through villages with a research team,
coaxing puppeteers to sell some puppets. Until the '60s and '70s, puppets
would provide complex entertainment to villagers. Puppeteers learned the
craft from their family, and belonged to the Chitavaaru, Sellekethe,
Jananga, Gomberamdavaru or Katbhajananga community.
As many as 400 leather puppets, some over 100 years old, will be celebrated
at a city festival that aims to reclaim their past glory. The Festival of
Leather Puppets, Chitrakala Parishath, will be held May 3 - 11.
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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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