tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22973815709739346762024-03-13T21:19:15.927-07:00Hindu NewsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10662228993838100576noreply@blogger.comBlogger220125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2297381570973934676.post-68283245548443379442014-03-07T10:16:00.002-08:002014-03-07T10:16:44.545-08:00I’m not surprised<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="article" style="margin-bottom: 15px;">
<b>SATNARAYAN
Maharaj, head of the nation’s largest Hindu organisation, the Sanatan
Dharma Maha Sabha (SDMS) — yesterday said he was not surprised at
Archbishop of Port-of-Spain Joseph Harris’ observation that Carnival was
an exhibition of vulgarity. </b></div>
<div class="article">
Maharaj was
responding to statements by Archbishop Harris during his Ash Wednesday
homily at Our Lady of Perpetual Help RC Church, Harris Promenade in San
Fernando. Harris attacked the behaviour of some masqueraders during
Carnival Season, which he described as symptomatic of the pervasive
lawlessness in society.
<br />
<br />Maharaj said the women in this country who are normally sensible
young people, seem to lose all their inhibitions with the sound of
Carnival and the soca.
<br />
<br />“Now we are seeing them virtually naked on the streets, with just a
panty on and they airbrush their breasts. If at normal times, the police
were to see a lady on the street dressed in a panty, they would arrest
that person yet at Carnival time this is permitted. Nobody raises an
eyebrow,” he observed.
<br />
<br />Maharaj noted that Carnival was supposed to be a religious festival
and it never comes into play. He called those persons who attend
churches to receive their ashes after partying at the fetes and in the
streets, hypocrites.
<br />
<br />“They go for ashes, for what? They already planned how they were going to celebrate Carnival a year in advance,” he said.
<br />
<br />Maharaj said taxpayers’ money was being spent to corrupt the minds of the nation’s children.
<br />
<br />“Taxpayers’ money should not be spent on behaviour like this because
the community pays a heavy price in the long run. We have no role
models for our children,” he said.</div>
<div class="article">
<br /></div>
<div class="article">
source :newsday.co.tt </div>
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<img alt="spacer" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.newsday.co.tt/grafika/space.gif" width="1" /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10662228993838100576noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2297381570973934676.post-72304674955337501732014-03-07T10:15:00.001-08:002014-03-07T10:15:16.979-08:00Bharat Nivas celebrates the relevance of Sanskrit <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<img alt="Lt. Governor of Puducherry Virendra Kataria looking at an exhibit on Sanskrit language, after inaugurating an exhibition at Bharat Nivas in Auroville on Thursday. Photo: S.S. Kumar" class="main-image" height="390" src="http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/01773/01THSANSKRIT-LT_GO_1773221f.jpg" title="Lt. Governor of Puducherry Virendra Kataria looking at an exhibit on Sanskrit language, after inaugurating an exhibition at Bharat Nivas in Auroville on Thursday. Photo: S.S. Kumar" width="635" /> </div>
</div>
<div class="photo-caption">
<span class="photo-source">The Hindu</span>
Lt. Governor of Puducherry Virendra Kataria looking at an exhibit on
Sanskrit language, after inaugurating an exhibition at Bharat Nivas in
Auroville on Thursday. Photo: S.S. Kumar
</div>
<br />
<div class="body">
In most people’s perception, Sanskrit is a dead
language, and there is very little correlation between the language and
the modern world. The newer generation knows very little of the language
and it is thought to be an extremely difficult language. </div>
<div class="body">
Bharat Nivas is now hosting a series of events that will help dispel these myths about the language. </div>
<b>Dance performance</b><div class="body">
Part
of the celebrations was a dance performance based on the works of Jiddu
Krishnamurthi on Thursday. The performance was by five dancers in five
different styles – Smitha Madhav for Bharatnatyam, Masaka Ono for
Odissi, Prateeksha Kashi for Kuchupudi, Rashmi Menon for Mohiniattam and
Achutha Manasa dancing in the Kathak style. </div>
<div class="body">
The show titled ‘Essence of Life’ is the brainchild of Dega Dev Kumar Reddy, who produced the show. </div>
<div class="body">
The
idea of the show is to bring the philosophical teachings of Jiddu
Krishnamurthi to the common man through dance. During the process of
creating the show, we made a decision to translate Krishnamurthi’s work
into Sanskrit, because the elegant power of the language goes
beautifully with the dance form, Mr. Reddy explained. </div>
<div class="body">
It
is also a way to try and bring back tradition to the younger
generation. This is why we incorporated traditional art forms and
Sanskrit with modern existential problems that are faced by everyone. </div>
<div class="body">
The
performance was divided into three parts – Essence of Meditation,
Essence of Life and the Thillana, How to be free from the self, he said.
</div>
<div class="body">
On Thursday evening, Lieutenant Governor Virendra
Kataria, who attended the show, also inaugurated the Ujjeevanam
exhibition that shows how Sanskrit is also a modern language. Modern
philosophical and even scientific lessons are present in many of the
ancient Sanskrit texts. </div>
<div class="body">
The exhibition also features
panels with little known factoids on Sanskrit, like how the first words
spoken through the phonograph were in Sanskrit by Max Mueller. </div>
<div class="body">
Along
with the exhibition, on Saturday there is a workshop at Kalakendra on
chanting in Sanskrit and the magic and logic of the language from 9.30am
and a talk on the Relevance of Sanskrit in South Indian Languages,
organiser of the events Tapas said. </div>
<div class="body">
<br /></div>
<div class="body">
source :thehindu.com </div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10662228993838100576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2297381570973934676.post-30953468730458449252014-03-07T10:09:00.001-08:002014-03-07T10:09:40.436-08:00 Indian Hindus barred from entering Nankana Sahib on visa issue in Lahore<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqh_AL0k9AWIpU9YtWzc8c7TCletXEvZAJmjBWVswVu5oTBi1RQNKx39BkUf9jxbsvB834rMlh30PbuKQUqR_6erOf55Wc-9xofTsabqyKmkd54ymt9kTBA7DhKU6nS2L3DHUfgGMQW2E/s1600/hindu+news+pakistan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqh_AL0k9AWIpU9YtWzc8c7TCletXEvZAJmjBWVswVu5oTBi1RQNKx39BkUf9jxbsvB834rMlh30PbuKQUqR_6erOf55Wc-9xofTsabqyKmkd54ymt9kTBA7DhKU6nS2L3DHUfgGMQW2E/s1600/hindu+news+pakistan.jpg" /></a></div>
Five Indian Hindus including two women
have been barred from entering the Gurdwara Nankana Sahib near here as
they had no visa to enter the district, where the Sikh shrine is
located.<br />
A source in Evacuee Trust Property Board told PTI that the Hindus -
Vaneet Gupta, Neelam Gupta, Narindar Kumar, Hari Om and Vijay Lakhshami -
reached Gurdwara Janamasthan, the birthplace of Guru Nanak, by a car
from Lahore yesterday.<br />
The Gurdwara authorities, however, handed them over to the ETPB
officials after finding that they had no visa on their passports for the
district, some 80 kilometres from Lahore.<br />
When asked about the alleged visa violation, the Hindus said they
"wanted to visit the Sikh holy place out of respect", the source said. <span style="line-height: 1.6;">The
Hindus had come here to attend festivities in connection with the
'Shivratri' at historic Katasraj Mandir in Chakwal district, some 250
kilometres from here.</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 1.6;">When contacted, Deputy Secretary
(Hindu Affairs) Azhar Sulahry said the Hindus in question had visa for
Lahore and Chakwal only. </span><span style="line-height: 1.6;">"The
Hindu pilgrims were sent back to Gurdawar Dera Sahib Lahore from Nankana
and today they left for India along with other members of the group,"
he said.</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 1.6;">Over 150 Hindu pilgrims had arrived here on February 25 to attend the Shivratri festival at the Katasraj Mandir.</span><br />
<br />
source :dnaindia.com </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10662228993838100576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2297381570973934676.post-77022922249422886232014-03-07T10:06:00.003-08:002014-03-07T10:06:56.341-08:00Successful 3rd Hindu Youth Conference: The Power of Youth<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
3 March, 2014<br />
<b>Successful 3rd Hindu Youth Conference:
Dynamic You – The Power of Youth</b><br />
Hindu Youth New
Zealand (HYNZ) and New Zealand Hindu Students forum jointly
organized a very successful 3rd New Zealand Hindu Youth
Conference on Saturday 1st March at Aotea Centre in
Auckland. The theme of the conference was Dynamic You –
the power of youth. It was a conference calling for young
people to realise the power within through being inspired.
The conference was attended by 150 participants.<br />
The
conference was a step towards bringing together youth from
different works of life and areas of interest to showcase
their capacity, capability and call for the delegates to
search for and realise their hidden potential.<br />
The day
began with a diya lighting ceremony in which invited
dignitaries – Member of Parliament, Community Board member
and Chair of Office of Ethnic Affairs – together with
youth representatives from youth groups - Bharatiya Samaj
Charitable Trust, Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, Chinmaya Mission,
Ram Mandir Youth Group, Indiance Dance Group, Sri Sathya Sai
Organization and Hindu Youth Australia.<br />
President of HYNZ,
Nitika Sharma, welcomed the guests introducing all delegates
to HYNZ, it’s activities and achievements in the preceding
years, calling all delegates to participate and make the
most of the day. Murali Magesan delivered the key note
address highlighting that Hindu’s make up 2% of New
Zealand’s population; as a group were significantly more
qualified in comparison to the total population and filled a
high percentage of professional occupations.
<br />
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</center>
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</div>
Speakers in
the Inspire session highlighted their motivators, challenges
and learning from their road to success in the different
sectors and encouraged young people to think about
participating more in their respective areas: Female youth
participation in frontline (Police) service (Telisha Kumar);
Traditional music participation at international level
(Krishna Ramarathinam); and Technology used for professional
and economic advancement (Kunal Bhargava).<br />
Ministry of
Youth Development ran two workshops encouraging participants
to learn about the importance of youth voice in
decision-making (Your Voice), and equipping themselves with
skills to be an effective leader (Your Leadership). Calling
on all participants to be agents of social change, speakers
in the Be the Change session highlighted their experiences
and ways of addressing areas of: Poverty (Divya Hariharan),
Creative industries and Collaboration (Bhavesh Bhuthadia),
Youth positive engagement (Akshita Nama) and Character
building through dharmic youth classes (Rahul Chopra).<br />
The
day also included discussion on youth getting involved in
city planning for the future, the position of women in the
Hindu society and experiences of leadership building program
(Outward Bound) attended by two HYNZ sponsored young people.
Fun energizers, team building exercises and a quiz was also
part of the day.<br />
The day concluded with an exercise on
brainstorming for activities that HYNZ could get involved in
to address youth issues and areas of interest.<br />
HYNZ is
committed to building capability in young people. For
further information on HYNZ contact Nitika Sharma: neatyka@gmail.com.<br />
The organizing
committee would like to extend their appreciation to the
event sponsors and the support from all participants, Hindu
Organizations, Temples and
Associations.<br />
ENDS<br />
source : scoop.co.nz </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10662228993838100576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2297381570973934676.post-83267550204116348182014-03-07T10:04:00.003-08:002014-03-07T10:04:50.411-08:00Raleigh show celebrates 19th century Hindu ambassador<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span class="dateline">RALEIGH</span> — The life of a monk
credited with introducing yoga and the Hindu religion to the west in the
late 19th century will be the subject of a show in Raleigh on Saturday.<br />
The
show was created to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the birth of
Swami Vivekananda, who died in 1902 at the age of 39. It combines live
performance with laser animation by laser artist Manick Sorcar.<br />
The
show, Swamiji, begins at the Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893,
where Swami Vivekananda spoke of religious tolerance and Vedanta, the
philosophical underpinnings of Hinduism.<br />
Swamiji begins at 7 p.m.
Saturday at the Fletcher Opera Theater in the Duke Energy Center for the
Performing Arts in downtown Raleigh. It is sponsored by the Ramakrishna
Vedanta Society of North Carolina, based in Morrisville. <br />
<br />sorce: newsobserver dot com</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10662228993838100576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2297381570973934676.post-80118390338846651682014-02-09T02:11:00.000-08:002014-02-09T02:11:18.674-08:00 Residents march against mounting of Hindu statue<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Kisumu, Kenya: Kisumu residents engaged police in running battles in the city centre to protest the construction of a statue by members of the Hindu religion along Nyerere Road. Police were forced to lobby teargas canisters at the protestors who had set the statue ablaze. The incident affected traffic on the busy road, as the angry mob converged on different corners playing hide and seek with the security officers. The protesters, Muslims and Christians, argued that erecting a religious statue in the heart of the town portrayed Kisumu as a city of the Hindu religion. The statue, which was constructed near Aga Khan Hall along Nyerere Road, was meant to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Sri Guru Singh Sabha temple in Kisumu.<br />
<br />
“Christians are not allowed to bow down to other gods and the location of the statue means everyone using this road bows,” said Erick Otieno, a resident. The statue is located on a roundabout next to the temple and the residents argued that road users were being distracted and that its continued presence could lead to accidents. Kenyan heroes The demonstrators asked the county government to build statues of Kenyan heroes. “Even we Christians and Muslims don’t erect statues of our gods on public roads; we do it inside places of worship, so why should Hindus be allowed to erect theirs on public roads?” asked Mr Otieno. On Tuesday, Christians from the Ministry of Repentance and Holiness Church demonstrated against the monument, saying it would promote idolatry in the region.<br />
<br />
Kisumu Central Deputy OCPD Joe Lekuta asked the residents to appeal to the county government, which approved the placement of the statue. “The construction of the statue was not a coincidence. It was allowed by the county government so do not engage in acts that demean the gods of other people,” said Lekuta. He warned that police would take action against those who engage in destruction of the monument.<br />
source: standardmedia.co.ke<br />
<div style="left: -99999px; position: absolute;">
Kisumu, Kenya: Kisumu
residents engaged police in running battles in the city centre to
protest the construction of a statue by members of the Hindu religion
along Nyerere Road.
Police were forced to lobby teargas canisters at the protestors who had
set the statue ablaze.
The incident affected traffic on the busy road, as the angry mob
converged on different corners playing hide and seek with the security
officers.
The protesters, Muslims and Christians, argued that erecting a religious
statue in the heart of the town portrayed Kisumu as a city of the Hindu
religion.
The statue, which was constructed near Aga Khan Hall along Nyerere Road,
was meant to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Sri Guru Singh
Sabha temple in Kisumu.<br /> Read more at: <a href="http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/thecounties/article/2000104181/residents-march-against-mounting-of-hindu-statue">http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/thecounties/article/2000104181/residents-march-against-mounting-of-hindu-statue</a></div>
<div style="left: -99999px; position: absolute;">
<div style="left: -99999px; position: absolute;">
Kisumu, Kenya: Kisumu
residents engaged police in running battles in the city centre to
protest the construction of a statue by members of the Hindu religion
along Nyerere Road.
Police were forced to lobby teargas canisters at the protestors who had
set the statue ablaze.
The incident affected traffic on the busy road, as the angry mob
converged on different corners playing hide and seek with the security
officers.
The protesters, Muslims and Christians, argued that erecting a religious
statue in the heart of the town portrayed Kisumu as a city of the Hindu
religion.
The statue, which was constructed near Aga Khan Hall along Nyerere Road,
was meant to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Sri Guru Singh
Sabha temple in Kisumu.<br /> Read more at: <a href="http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/thecounties/article/2000104181/residents-march-against-mounting-of-hindu-statue">http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/thecounties/article/2000104181/residents-march-against-mounting-of-hindu-statue</a></div>
Kisumu, Kenya: Kisumu
residents engaged police in running battles in the city centre to
protest the construction of a statue by members of the Hindu religion
along Nyerere Road.
Police were forced to lobby teargas canisters at the protestors who had
set the statue ablaze.
The incident affected traffic on the busy road, as the angry mob
converged on different corners playing hide and seek with the security
officers.
The protesters, Muslims and Christians, argued that erecting a religious
statue in the heart of the town portrayed Kisumu as a city of the Hindu
religion.
The statue, which was constructed near Aga Khan Hall along Nyerere Road,
was meant to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Sri Guru Singh
Sabha temple in Kisumu.<br /> Read more at: <a href="http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/thecounties/article/2000104181/residents-march-against-mounting-of-hindu-statue">http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/thecounties/article/2000104181/residents-march-against-mounting-of-hindu-statue</a></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10662228993838100576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2297381570973934676.post-59067302277881904242014-02-09T02:04:00.002-08:002014-02-09T02:04:40.676-08:00Sibal condemns Hindu Sena protest against Caravan magazine over Aseemanand's interview<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="first">
New Delhi, Feb.7 (ANI): Minister of Communication and
Information Technology Kapil Sibal on Friday criticized Hindu Sena
workers for protesting outside the office of Caravan Magazine, for
running the interview of Swami Aseemanand, in which he allegedly
implicated Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat for his
involvement in the 2007 terror attacks.</div>
Sibal asserted that the mindset of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is anti-freedom of expression.<br />
"This is a violent attack on the freedom of expression, and the
experience of the NDA should make you recognize and understand that this
is something they did even during 1999-2004, when people from Tehelka
were able to expose them. What did they do? They set up a commission to
destroy them. Same thing is happening now," he told media here today.<br />
"Caravan is not a Congress agent; it is a periodical which
investigates thoroughly some issues. They have investigated what
Aseemanand has been saying. And they stand by their story. And now they
are attacking them. The mindset of BJP is anti-freedom of expression.
The mindset of BJP is to destroy whoever comes on their way," he added.<br />
Earlier in the day, Hindu Sena workers staged a protest outside
Caravan magazine's office over the Aseemanand controversial interview.<br />
"If any Hindu leader or organization is accused of terror then it's
an accusation on all 100 crore Hindus. Caravan Magazine should be shut
down or else Hindu Sena will shut it down," a Hindu Sena worker Vishnu
Gupta said. (ANI)<br />
<br />
source:in.news.yahoo.com </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10662228993838100576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2297381570973934676.post-59625951436140201492014-02-09T02:02:00.002-08:002014-02-09T02:02:49.298-08:00Hindu prayer services raise money for Bangladeshi victims of attacks<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/polopoly_fs/wk06_ela_special_prayer_held_for_the_hindus_of_bangladesh_1_3288336%21image/137778047.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_630/137778047.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[archantGallery]" title="Young children joined in the prayers for victims in Bangladesh">
<img alt="Young children joined in the prayers for victims in Bangladesh" src="http://www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/polopoly_fs/wk06_ela_special_prayer_held_for_the_hindus_of_bangladesh_1_3288336%21image/137778047.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_490/137778047.jpg" width="465" />
</a>
<em> </em><br />
<em>Young children joined in the prayers for victims in Bangladesh</em><br />
<br />
Hindu prayer services were held in Bromley-by-Bow to raise money for
victims of attacks on Bangladesh’s Hindu minority following the
country’s recent election. <br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="sharinganchor"></a>
<div id="article-top">
</div>
Children as young as three added their voices to the recital of
verses from holy Hindu scripture, The Bhagavad Gita as the congregation
demanded safety and security for the victims.<br />
The services at
Kingsley Hall last week, part of a series of events across Britain,
began with the Narayan Puja, a prayer to the deity Vishnu. <br />
The Aarti was also recited, a prayer to remove darkness and give relief to the suffering. <br />
Ajanta
Deb Roy, co-organiser of the event, said: “These events should happen
more, because in Bangladesh they are targeting minority people, and this
shows that not everyone is involved in the violence.<br />
“People from all faiths have showed their support.”<br />
The
January 5 election in Bangladesh was boycotted by main opposition
parties, and saw the re-election of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of the
Awami League in a record low turnout. <br />
A bloody period of political turmoil has seen more than 300 people killed since the beginning of last year.<br />
<br />
source:eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk <br />
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10662228993838100576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2297381570973934676.post-75991372359262858952014-02-09T02:00:00.002-08:002014-02-09T02:00:50.997-08:00No Decision on Declaring Diwali School Holiday: NYC Mayor<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The City of New York is still undecided on declaring school holidays for
Diwali festival, a longstanding demand of the Indian community, the
largest South Asian group here.<br />
<br />
However, for Eid and the Chinese New Year, the city's Mayor said, "The goal is to get there."<br />
<br />
"Have not spoken about Diwali yet. On the other two (festivals), goal is
to get there (declare school holidays)," Mayor Bill de Blasio said.<br />
<br />
"It will take time. It is complicated in terms of logistics and school
calendar and budget. But it is something I want to get done in a
reasonable time frame," de Blasio said.<br />
<br />
Appearing on a local radio show, the Mayor was asked if he would make
the Lunar New Year, Eid (both Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha) and Diwali
school holidays.<br />
<br />
Indians are the largest South Asian group here, comprising 2.4 per cent of the city's population of more than 8 million people.<br />
<br />
The New York City metropolitan area is home to nearly 600,000
Indian-Americans, with a majority of residents concentrated in Queens
neighbourhoods such as Jackson Heights, Flushing, Glen Oaks, Floral
Park, Bellerose, Jamaica, Kew Gardens, and Elmhurst.<br />
<br />
The ethnic community has long been demanding that the city's schools should be closed on Diwali.<br />
<br />
A representative of the Association of Indians in America, Shashi Shah told the <i> New York Daily New</i>s that the community is disappointed that Diwali is not a school holiday in the city.<br />
<br />
Shah appealed to the Mayor to recognise the Hindu holiday, saying, "We
are disappointed. We have been trying for a long time. It's very
important for the community."<br />
<br />
Former Mayor Michael Bloomberg too had opposed a school holiday on Diwali saying kids should not miss more school<br />
<br />
source:news.outlookindia.com <br />
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10662228993838100576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2297381570973934676.post-6083702228413432202014-02-09T01:59:00.000-08:002014-02-09T01:59:07.481-08:00 Kalaghoda axes play after Hindu groups call it 'anti-national'; producers move it to YouTube<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="slug">
The art festival drops the play loosely based on
Mohammad Ali Jinnah after right wing group Hindu Janajagruti Samiti
protests by calling it anti-national </div>
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<div class="view view-article-images view-id-article_images view-display-id-block view-dom-id-a8c57fbecd3b9185c14bb937e7c92eaf">
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<ul>
<li class="">
<img alt="" height="400" src="http://d1dfn78x11yngl.cloudfront.net/sites/default/files/2014/02/06/alij.jpg" width="400" />
<em></em>
<em></em> </li>
</ul>
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</figure>
Mumbai's iconic art festival known for its rich
portrayal of contemporary art and culture took little consideration
while bending over backwards following threats from rightwing Hindu
groups.<br />
The play dubbed as 'Ali J' was scheduled to take place on Thursday,
Feburary 6. However, following threats by a Hindu nationalist group,
Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, that called for the play to be cancelled
terming it as 'anti-national' and that it 'spreads communal–hatred'.<br />
On their <strong>website</strong>,
that boasts a tagline 'For establishment of a Hindu nation', the group
accuses the play of glorifying Mohammad Ali Jinnah, who they blame for
partition of India 67 years ago. The website also states that it led a
motely crew of right wing groups to submit a complaint in the Colaba
police station, a fact also confirmed by the police. Along with this a
warning was also issued to the organisers that if attempts were made to
stage its show, the group would hold demonstrations. “Patriotic Hindus
are registering their protest,” it stated.<br />
<blockquote>
Protest : Show of play ‘Ali J’ glorifying Jinnah to be staged on 6 Feb at Mumbai http://t.co/gZPXcm53Pc<br />
— Hindujagrutiorg (@hindujagrutiorg) February 5, 2014</blockquote>
<strong>So what is 'Ali J' really about?</strong><br />Touted as a political thriller, <em>Ali J </em>is
a one act play starring Karthik Kumar, and deals with being Muslim in
today's India. However, Sunil Vishnu K, director of Evan Entertainment
that produced the play, in conversation with <strong>dna</strong>, explains, “It is not anti-national or anti-Hindu! If anything, it implores concerns of a generation about partition.”<br />
Further calling the accusations to be unfounded, Sunil is appalled
that the protesters would boycott the play without even having watched
it. “The play deals with ideas of secularism and unity. It is far from
being anti-national!”<br />
Ironically, Sunil explains, the play imagines how things would be if we were all a little more tolerant.<br />
The show was earlier presented in Bangalore and also faced some mild
objections by local Hindu groups. But Sunil informs how the theatre
community in the city, led by renowned personality Arundathi Nag, came
out in solidarity to ensure a peaceful and successful showcase.<br />
Commenting on the art festival's decision to drop the play, Sunil
says, “Kalaghoda was made to believe that there would be a law and order
situation if they showed <em>Ali J</em>. My play wasn't dropped because
the law forbids it; on the contrary, it was because such situations
were created, that suppressed our freedoms to present it.”<br />
<strong>Web to the rescue</strong><br />But even as Kalaghoda backs out
and refuses to provide a platform to present this theatre, YouTube
comes as a much stronger alternative. The show will air online on
Thursday at 5.30 pm on Evam Entertainment's <strong>YouTube channel</strong>.<br />
“It isn't just about this play,” explains Sunil. “It is about freedom
of speech. Or else anything and everything can be banned just because
someone claimed that it was 'anti-national'.”<br />
On a <strong>Facebook group </strong>protesting the cancellation of the play screening, the producers point out, “<em>Ali J</em>
was prevented from performing based on protests and threats from
fundamentalist groups, without them even watching the play. This is an
outrage against the freedom of speech and artistic expression, in a
secular Democracy. You have stopped us from performing using force; but
can you stop people from watching it?”<br />
“I only want to share this play with the masses,” Sunil explains his decision to make <em>Ali J </em>available
on a public platform, which is sure to cost him. “I want people to
watch it, share it and talk about it. I want them to see for themselves
if whether the play evokes anti-national emotions.”<br />
He urges people to watch the play in solidarity of freedom of speech.
“If this becomes a trend, then we, the artists, might as well pack our
bags and go,” he says in conclusion.<br />
<br />
source:dnaindia.com </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10662228993838100576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2297381570973934676.post-78116650205065591382014-02-09T01:56:00.002-08:002014-02-09T01:56:22.451-08:00Robert Village Hindu School—An Example<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img alt="" height="265" src="http://guardian.co.tt/sites/default/files/field/image/Sat%20Maharaj_18_80.jpg" width="231" /> </div>
<br />
The
Robert Village Hindu School, in the Tableland catchment, Southeast
Trinidad, was established 50 years ago. The first principal was
Chandreika Maharaj, a wellknown teacher and religious activist. When he
retired as principal, Robert Village Hindu was recognised in the
educational sector as a most successful primary school. Maharaj was
credited with training a group of young teachers who became committed
educators.
<br />
<br />
<br />
The Maha Sabha Education Board was impressed with Maharaj’s
dedication and performance, and went on to name the school the
Chandreika Maharaj, Robert Village Hindu School. On January 19, the
school halls were filled with more than 600 parents, past pupils and
well-wishers, as the school celebrated its golden jubilee—50 years of
providing education to children from rural Trinidad.<br />
<br />
<br />
Parents and teachers celebrated in typical Hindu fashion by inviting
pundit Moonilal Maharaj from Chaguanas and pundit Ajay Maharaj to
conduct puja and readings from the Hindu holy book, The Ramayan. The
acting principal, Shoba Maharaj in a special 50thanniversary
publication, spoke about the history and successes of this self-help
venture into education: “This prestigious establishment has certainly
produced many outstanding citizens, all of whom make contributions to
the development of our twin-island republic.<br />
<br />
source:guardian.co.tt/ </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10662228993838100576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2297381570973934676.post-46289497126431790612014-02-09T01:50:00.001-08:002014-02-09T01:50:27.496-08:00Eight dead after holy Indian cave at Hindu temple collapses<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div id="image_attachment_container">
</div>
<div id="image_attachment_container">
<img alt="A Hindu devotee pours oil into a wick lamp at a temple for the Hindu God Shiva (AFP)" class="attachment-in_article wp-post-image" height="345" src="http://www.rawstory.com/rs/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/A-Hindu-devotee-pours-oil-into-a-wick-lamp-at-a-temple-for-the-Hindu-God-Shiva-AFP.jpg" width="615" /></div>
<div class="clear" style="height: 10px;">
</div>
Dated 4th feb <br />
The wall of a cave leading to a popular Hindu
temple in central India collapsed on Tuesday killing eight worshippers,
including three young girls, police said.<br />
State Home Minister Ram Sewak Pekra said the accident at Bildwar Cave
in Chhattisgarh may have been triggered by blasts in nearby coal mines.<br />
“Frequent blasts are carried out in the nearby coal mines and that
could be the reason for the cave-in. We have asked the rescue team to do
a thorough combing of the site to ensure no one else is trapped,” Pekra
told AFP.<br />
Senior police officer Manisha Thakur told AFP that eight bodies had
been recovered — three were girls aged between 10 and 13, and five men.<br />
?Three others are injured. They are in a serious condition,? said Thakur.<br />
India has a long history of accidents at religious festivals and
sites, with 18 killed at a stampede during a funeral procession for a
Muslim spiritual leader in Mumbai last month.<br />
Heavy machinery was still clearing the mound of debris at the cave
into the evening on Tuesday after the collapse, which happened at around
5:00 pm (1130 GMT).<br />
The temple is visited by devotees all year round.<br />
Pekra said that a detailed investigation into the collapse would be carried out.<br />
<br />
source:rawstory.com <br />
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10662228993838100576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2297381570973934676.post-41587949813214527142014-02-04T10:38:00.003-08:002014-02-04T10:38:49.070-08:00Devout Hindus celebrate Basant Panchmi in Allahabad<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="first">
Allahabad, Feb.4 (ANI): Thousands of devout Hindus took
a holy bath and dip in the sacred waters of 'Sangam', the confluence of
River Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, on Tuesday in Allahabad,
Uttar Pradesh, on the occasion of Basant Panchmi, a festival that marks
the onset of spring.</div>
The festival glorifies Hindu Goddess Saraswati, patron of knowledge, music and the arts.<br />
The devotees offered prayers and performed religious rituals on the banks of the river early on Tuesday.<br />
Security has also been tightened in and around the city, as police
personnel have been deployed in large numbers keeping in mind huge rush
of devotees.<br />
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Umesh Kumar said his team was determined to make the festival a successful one.<br />
"Crowd of devotees are coming to take holy dip on the occasion Basant
Panchmi. Till now, around 2 lakh devotees have taken holy bathe. We are
determined to make the holy dip successful with the help of police
personnel," said Kumar.<br />
Locals queued up before priests who had erected makeshift altars on the riverbanks to perform the rituals and offer prayers.<br />
A devotee, Aman said that he came to seek the blessings of Goddess Saraswati.<br />
"I have come here to take holy dip on the occasion of Hindu festival,
Basant Panchmi. We will also pray before Hindu Goddess, Saraswati as we
hope that we will be blessed with knowledge and wisdom," said Aman.<br />
'Saraswati Puja' is a festive day for students of all disciplines,
special worship ceremonies to honour the goddess 'Saraswati' are put
together at various places in India.<br />
Saraswati Puja is observed on the fifth day after the no moon night in the Hindu month of Magh (early in February).<br />
It is believed that of Goddess Saraswati was born on this day. Saraswati has been identified with the Vedic Saraswati River.<br />
The festival concurs with 'Vasant Panchami', which is also named as
'Shree Panchami'. Women dress in yellow, which is the colour of spring,
and prepare a variety of sweets flavoured with saffron. (ANI)<br />
<br />
source:in.news.yahoo.com </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10662228993838100576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2297381570973934676.post-34293736593064099262014-02-04T10:34:00.002-08:002014-02-04T10:34:30.272-08:00 The Hindus are the sons of Bangladesh soil<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-writer">
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
By Muhammad Shafiqur Rahman </div>
</div>
</div>
<span class="image-caption-container image-caption-container-left" style="display: block; float: left; width: 150px;"><img align="" alt="" class="caption" height="207" src="http://www.asiantribune.com/sites/asiantribune.com/files/images/2012/Shafiqur%20Rahman.jpg" title="" width=" 150" /><span class="image-caption" style="display: block;"></span></span>
It seems be came the fate of religious minority, especially the
members of Hindu community, who take birth in the soil of Bangladesh and
are living here from generation to generation that Hindus fell prey to
casualties. When the country faces hard time of a political crisis or a
change, the the Hindu community, becomes the target of minority
persecution by the So-called Islamist terrorist organizations.<br />
When it goes under a electioneering process, parliament or local
governments, as if it is the destine of the Hindus that they will lose
their lives, their women will be raped, their houses would be ransacked
and destroyed, business establishments and shops will be looted and
touched into ashes, their mondirs and temples will be damaged and put
on fire, and their property, houses or agricultural lands would be
grabbed by the lootera Muslim criminal organization Jamaate Islami and
its terrorist student wing Chhatra Shibir, Popularly known as Gestapo
Bahini. BNP (the so-called Bangladesh Nationalist Party) was always with
them.<br />
We have been observing since 1947 when India was divided into
Pakistan & Hindustan on the basis of Jinnah's two nation theory,
that means Muslim majority areas will be made Pakistan (name should be
Muslimstan) and Hindu majority areas Hindustan. Minority persecution
happened in 1947, in 1962, 64, and 1971 when we were in the war of
liberation, again after the assassination of country's founding father
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975, we saw in 1992 when the
fundamentalist Hindus destroyed Babri Mosque in Uttar Prodesh, India,
the fundamentalist Muslims destroyed 247 Mondirs in different places of
Bangladesh and its capital Dhaka. <br />
It has happened after the election of 2001 and last January 5, 2014.
But can any body deny that Hindus and other religious minority Buddist,
Christian’s are the sons of this soil. Still I remember my village, my
childhood. It was a remote village of Chandpur district where half of
the year was remaining under the rainy season and we used to go to
school by boat together, play together, even we the boys both Muslims
and Hindus of our village used to masticating sugarcane sitting on the
boat and enjoy each others family & religious festivals. We took
part in our war of liberation together. Of course none of us ever has
forgotten our own religious belief and obligations. <br />
We believe that the religion is personal and the state belongs to
every body, it should not be mixed with our Political and state life.
Still I remember my friend Priya, Jagadish, Dulal, Santosh, Ranajit,
Badal, Shomvo, Gandhi and many others whom I can not remember now. I
don't know where they are, how they are? I know only Priya and Dulal
left Bangladesh in sixties were settled in Kolkata, India (Dulal died
two years back). Priya lives a Posh life there, but I saw him crying for
motherland. <br />
The panic and horror I saw in sixties on their face & eyes at
the time of communal riots in 1964 and Pakistan India war in 1965 were
seen during the last January 5 election. I sow the same horror in the
eyes of Hindus in different parts of the country published on the front
page of news papers and the main bulletins of the television channels.
Main two Prime reasons behind this act of terror are (1) our neighboring
country is Hindu majority Hindustan or India and BNP and its alley
Jamaat consider Hindus are the enemy of the country (2) Hindus Prefer to
vote for AL (Awami League) as it is a secular non-communal political
party. So they suffer if vote for, even do not. This time it happened in
Jessore, Khulna, Rajshahi, Joypurhat, Rangpur, Gaibandha, Pabna,
Satkhira, Ovoynagar, Dinajpur, panchagarh, Chittagong, Baushkhali,
Shitakunda, Laksmipur, Chandpur and other places of the Country. We saw
hundreds of thousands of Hindus left their places for life leaving their
houses, lands, Business, Valuable etc behind. <br />
Following the parliament election held on October 2001, Nation saw
with sorrows and panic that the BNP and its terrorist alley Jamaat &
shibir led by Begum Khaleda Zia tried to observed their victory
celebration through the heinous act of ethnic cleansing. We have been
seeing this for last 66 years (1947-2014) and the Hindus became weaker
and weaker financially and numerically. Exodus of Hindus to the
neighboring India is a known fact for us, but fact remains we didn't do
anything to stop it. <br />
Irony is that the party which claiming to be the Nationalist and its
leader Begum Khaleda Zia who Claimed herself uncompromising? Is she
responsible for these communal attacks? Khaleda Zia herself ordered
terrorist to come down on the street with Petrol Bomb, lathel weapon. We
saw in may 5, 2013 in the time of Hifazat gathering around Shapla
Chattar that she ordered her party activities to join the Hefazat and
help (?) them when Hefazat started damaging the road dividers, tourching
the book shops including the Holy Qurran and Hadith (S) selling shops
and other road side hawkers shops and the party office of Awami league
and CPB (Communist Party of Bangladesh) aiming at they wanted to free
their leaders now facing capital punishment by international war crime
tribunals by creating Lawless in the Country. It also wanted to create a
Tahier squire in Dhaka to achieve their target, particularly at the
time of the execution of Jamaat leader Kader Molla, popularly known as
`Mirpur's Kashai' BNP's target was to reduce the percentage of Hindu
votes, popularly known as AL's vote bank. Because AL is a non-communal,
democratic and secular political party and it believes in Bengali
Nationalism. <br />
All are still very lively in my mind. The fears I saw among them
during Pakistan-India war and riots in 60s, such fears were seen in
face-eyes of Hindus of different regions after the recent elections
(Jatiya Sangsad 2014). There are two prime reasons of it-our neighbour
India is a country of Hindu majority. So Hindus will have to be
identified as ‘enemy’ (?), second Hindus like Awami League as secular
political party, . . . so general impression is they are giving vote for
AL even do not, they become victim. <br />
The executive director of ‘Broti’ Sharmin Murshid in a TV talk-show
said anyone having black colour on finger was tortured. Thousands of
Hindus were forced to take shelter in other places to save life. The
road of Abhainagor is like the ‘71’s Jessore Road which became important
in September 1971 when millions used it as a highway to life defying
natural calamities to evade Pakistani atrocities. They fall prey to
killing-torture in the same way after 2001 October elections. They
naturally became weak economically because their land-property,
businesses were looted-grabbed gradually over the last 66 years
(1947-2014). Moreover, this time only they are realising what an inhuman
life they are maintaining in the prevailing cold weather after leaving
their houses in the face of torture. This time it has been cleared who
are launching such attacks—Jamaat-Shibir is committing such inhuman
crimes against humanity under the protection of Begum Khaleda zia, who
is now populary call Amir-e-Hajabi (Hafarzat+Jamat+BNP). Their target is
to save Jamaat leaders who are under-trial or facing death sentences
for their war-time crimes and BNP’s target is to reduce vote of Awami
League. Jamaat dreams to create Egypt’s Brotherhood’s Tahrir Square like
movement; create mass upsurge. But it is Bangladsesh, they also realize
it. So they launch attacks on Hindus who are minority and weak
socially and financially. It is our national shame that we could not
save them. Although, it was possible to resist criminals if steps would
have been taken. Because, it did not happen all of a sudden or all over
the country, such attacks, killings, torture-repression have started
from the day the court began to hand down verdicts on war crimes cases,
it was very beginning of last year. But it seems that the administration
was enjoying daydream. <br />
Thanks to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and conveying her gratitude on
be half of the citizens of the state, she does not sleep if everyone
remains asleep, as if she is responsible for whole things only. In 1964,
Bangabandhu resisted the riot launching a campaign styled “Purbabangla
stand against riot”. During that time the government was unfavorable,
because Ayub's Military Junta was in power. This time government is
different. It was needed to remain alert and take precautionary
measures. Nonetheless, Iqbalur Rahim M.P of Dinajpur was found trying to
resist it. Such people are allover the country but why they were
asleep? For getting party nomination, they take to the street wearing
white clothes (such clothes are used to wrap up dead body of a Muslim
for burial), chant slogan by hiring people on payment ‘ . . . brother go
ahead, we are with you’ and now trying to be minister.<br />
<br />
source:asiantribune.com </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10662228993838100576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2297381570973934676.post-45174494163838854872014-02-03T10:15:00.001-08:002014-02-03T10:15:35.158-08:00Ten Hindu pilgrims killed in bus accident in Nepal<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>Kathmandu: </b> A bus carrying Hindu pilgrims skidded off a
mountain road and fell down more than 300-metre in eastern Nepal,
killing at least 10 people, police said today.<br /><br />The bus, carrying
66 passengers to Haleshi Mahadev of Khotang from Sindhuli district,
skidded off the road and plunged some 300-meter down in Suklatar village
of Okhaldhunga district on Friday, a police officer told PTI.<br /><br />Three
people died on the spot, while seven others succumbed to their injuries
in different hospitals yesterday, the officer said.<br /><br />Fifty-six
passengers, who were seriously injured, have been admitted to Katari
Hospital in Udaypur, Neuro Hospital in Biratnagar and B&B Hospital
in Lalitpur district.<br />
<br />
source:ndtv.com </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10662228993838100576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2297381570973934676.post-14964902150096043902014-02-03T10:10:00.002-08:002014-02-03T10:10:38.424-08:00Necessary protection: Hindu community demands adequate security<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="story-image">
<div class="story-image-container">
<img alt="" height="469" src="http://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/666709-HealthMinisterShaukatYousafzaiPPI-1391402907-696-640x480.jpg" width="625" />
</div>
<div class="caption">
Health Minister Shaukat Yousafzai. PHOTO: PPI </div>
</div>
<strong><strong class="location">PESHAWAR: </strong>The
Hindu community has voiced strong disapproval over Health Minister
Shaukat Yousafzai’s order to remove the security gate from Pir Ratan
Nath Temple which was constructed after a police constable was shot dead
outside the place of worship last week.</strong><br />
In a press statement, All Pakistan Hindu Rights Movement Chairman
Haroon Sarbdyal spoke out against the issue. He said two days ago, the
minister visited the area where residents complained that the gate was a
hurdle for traffic. Yousafzai then ordered the police to remove it.<br />
<img alt=" photo HaroonSarbdyal_zps7d51290b.jpg" id="placeHolder_2" src="http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac89/etwebdesk/etwebdesk002/HaroonSarbdyal_zps7d51290b.jpg" /><br />
“The security gate was constructed by the Hindu community to protect
itself and the police guards against such attacks in the future,” said
Sarbdyal, “But the minister ordered its removal without even consulting
us.”<br />
He lamented the police had safeguarded their stations and other
government and religious buildings by placing blockades and barbed wires
around them, whereas one step taken by the Hindu community to protect
themselves was not acceptable to Yousafzai. “We may be a minority, but
we are citizens of Pakistan and have equal rights,” said Sarbdyal.<br />
In his defence, Yousafzai said he had earlier ordered the capital
city police officer to sit down with locals and resolve the issue
amicably. He stressed his intention was to facilitate all inhabitants of
the locality.<br />
source:tribune.com.pk </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10662228993838100576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2297381570973934676.post-73983764289353121482014-02-03T10:06:00.004-08:002014-02-03T10:06:41.751-08:00Demanding rights: ‘No security for Hindu community’<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div>
<br /><img alt="http://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/666408-hinduxx-1391287619-898-640x480.jpg" class="decoded" src="http://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/666408-hinduxx-1391287619-898-640x480.jpg" />Hindu Panchayat president Mukhi Eshwar Lal Makheja
laments string of violent incidents. PHOTO: FILE </div>
<div>
<strong class="location"> </strong></div>
<div>
<strong class="location">SUKKUR: </strong>
<strong>Minorities’ rights and their safety are guaranteed under the
Constitution of Pakistan but the Hindu community laments that they are
deprived of their basic right. </strong><br />
</div>
<div align="left">
Speaking to <em>The Express Tribune,</em> Hindu
Panchayat president Mukhi Eshwar Lal Makheja reported that a string of
violent incidents, including kidnapping for ransom, robbery, extortion,
gang rape and forced conversions had been inflicted upon members of the
community over the last three months.</div>
<div align="left">
Citing examples of the incidents, Makheja said that a
trader, Lachman Das, had been kidnapped from Airport Road, Sukkur, about
two and a half months ago and had not been rescued to date. Another
trader belonging to the Hindu community, Ravi Kumar, was kidnapped near
Sangi but was later rescued.</div>
<div align="left">
Makheja appealed to the authorities to provide
protection to the Hindu traders as they were an important part of the
country’s economy. “Members of the Hindu community are involved in the
rice and dates trades, apart from playing their roles in the services
sector as doctors and pharmacists,” he said.</div>
<div align="left">
source:tribune.com.pk</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10662228993838100576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2297381570973934676.post-65311287478796842012014-02-03T09:41:00.001-08:002014-02-03T09:41:27.383-08:00 Cherukolppuzha Hindu Meet Begins<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<img alt="Swami Kashikananda Giri Maharaj inaugurating the 102nd Ayroor-Cherukolppuzha Hindu religious convention on Sunday" src="http://media.newindianexpress.com/Swami-Kashikananda-Giri-Mah.jpg/2014/02/03/article2035056.ece/alternates/w460/Swami-Kashikananda-Giri-Mah.jpg" /></div>
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Swami Kashikananda Giri Maharaj inaugurating the 102nd Ayroor-Cherukolppuzha Hindu religious convention on Sunday </div>
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The eight-day long 102nd Ayroor-Cherukolppuzha Hindu religious
convention, organised under the auspices of Hindu Maha Mandalam, began
on the sand-bed of Pampa at Ayroor Vidyadhiraja Nagar near Kozhenchery
on Sunday.<br />
Delivering the inaugural address, Swami Kashikananda
Giri Maharaj of Kandivli Anandabhavan Ashramam in Mumbai called on the
people to surrender before God through prayer.<br />
The Swami said that
the people should reach out to God with a determination and
unconditional prayer.“People could purge their mind through meditation,”
the seer said. “One could see God’s presence in all living objects and
through meditation one could feel it,” Swami Kashikananda Giri
said.Hindu Maha Mandalam president T N Upendranatha Kurup welcomed the
gathering. Prime Minister’s advisor T K A Nair presided over the
function.<br />
Swami Nirmalanandagiri delivered the introductory
address. Swami Prajnananda Theerthapada of the Vazhoor Theerthapada
Ashramam delivered the benedictory address. Yogakshema Sabha president
Akeeramon Kalidasa Bhattathiri delivered the keynote address.<br />
Maha Mandalam secretary M P Sasidharan Nair proposed a vote of thanks on the occasion.<br />
At
10 am, Maha Mandalam president T N Upendranatha Kurup received the
processions carrying the portrait of Vidyadhiraja Chattambi Swami, the
torchlight and flag at Vidyadhiraja Nagar, followed by hoisting of the
flag in front of the auditorium.<br />
<br />
source:newindianexpress.com <br />
</div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10662228993838100576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2297381570973934676.post-74801508742595681032014-02-01T10:32:00.001-08:002014-02-01T10:32:27.012-08:00Universities urged to designate prayer spaces for Hindu<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="info">
<span class="association printer-source">Michael Sergel, Newstalk ZB</span>
<span class="stamp printer-date">February 1, 2014, 1:19 pm</span></div>
<div class="info">
<span class="stamp printer-date"> </span></div>
<div class="info">
Universities are being urged to provide designated prayer spaces for Hindu students.<br />
A growing number of students identify as Hindu, especially in the Auckland region.<br />
Rajen
Zed, spokesman for the Universal Society of Hinduism, says universities
should set aside halls for Hindu spiritual exercise.<br />
He says the halls should include statues of popular deities, and be equipped with a traditional bell and drum.<br />
He says Hindu students should have their spiritual needs met, in the same way Christian and Muslim students are accommodated.</div>
<div class="info">
<span class="stamp printer-date"> </span></div>
<div class="info">
<span class="stamp printer-date">source:nz.news.yahoo.com </span>
</div>
<div class="media-social">
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10662228993838100576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2297381570973934676.post-33039020084587080242014-01-31T19:26:00.003-08:002014-01-31T19:26:53.208-08:00Meeting to give update on £12 million Northampton Hindu temple plans<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<img alt="Hindu blessing ceremony. Hindus blessing land by Lings Way, Proposed sight for Hindu Temple.
News: Nick
081019KC70" src="http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/webimage/1.5847546.1391166645%21/image/1295405990.jpg_gen/derivatives/articleImgDeriv_628px/1295405990.jpg" width="628" /><br />
<b>People in Northampton are being invited to an ‘open forum’ next
Friday where an update on plans to build a new £12 million Hindu temple
in the town will be revealed.</b><br />
<br />
The Indian Hindu Welfare Association (IHWO) were given
planning permission to build a new temple on land off Lings Way in
Lumbertubs in 2012, after plans were revealed in 2008.<br />
The new
facility, which will be known as the Northampton Kutumb Centre, will
also provide room for sports, leisure, and educational activities.<br />
An open forum will be held at Northampton College on Friday, February 7 at 7pm in the college’s drama theatre.<br />
The
event will reveal latest planning designs for the centre and provide
details on the fund-raising strategy, construction plans and the build
timeline. <br />
<div class="left" id="1.5847548">
<img src="http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/webimage/1.5847548%21/image/1056594576.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_215/1056594576.jpg" width="215" /></div>
A
speech in support of the centre will be given by Northampton North MP,
Michael Ellis and other guest speakers include Chairman of the Home
Affairs Select Committee, Labour MP for Leicester East Keith Vaz and
David Mackintosh, leader of Northampton Borough Council.<br />
Mr Ellis
said: “The Northampton Kutumb Centre will be a wonderful resource for
our entire community in Northampton and I am very pleased to support
this ambitious project. I have supported this endeavour for many years
now and I look forward to seeing it become a reality.”<br />
Neelam
Aggarwal-Singh MBE , Chairperson of IHWO, said: “Once built, the
Northampton Kutumb (or ‘wider family’) Centre will be an innovative and
eco-friendly landmark complex. It will be open to people of all ages and
backgrounds and will encompass state-of-the-art sports, leisure,
educational and enterprise facilities, as well as a spectacular Hindu
temple.” <br />
The Northampton Kutumb Centre has been designed to use
sustainable solar technology as well as geo-thermal pump technology,
which will use the natural heat within the ground to heat up the centre.
<br />
There will be a rain water collection and recycling system,
which will reduce the demand on public water supplies. The roof space
will provide a “green” space made up of vegetation, which will encourage
the habitation of local bird life. A large area of land will also be
designated as ‘wild meadow’, which again will encourage the habitation
of local wildlife. <br />
The Hindu temple will be open to everyone and
the IHWO hopes the temple will be a site of interest to people from all
backgrounds and has plans to use it as an educational facility in
partnership with local schools.<br />
source:northamptonchron.co.uk <br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10662228993838100576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2297381570973934676.post-36389830174431848982014-01-31T19:14:00.000-08:002014-01-31T19:14:13.717-08:00HC Acquits Muslim Youth Accused of Raping Hindu Girl<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A Muslim youth, accused of raping a teenaged Hindu girl he married
nine years ago after eloping, has got reprieve from the Delhi High Court
which upheld his acquittal, observing that religion was the "biggest
hurdle" in their matrimonial alliance.<br />
<br />
Hasim, a hairdresser in southeast Delhi, and the 14-year- old schoolgirl
were in love with each other and had twice ran away from home to be
together.<br />
<br />
In 2005, the couple apprehending trouble from their respective families,
left for Moradabad after their 'nikah' (marriage) in Delhi and
applying for registration under the Special Marriage Act.<br />
<br />
The duo were traced to Moradabad by the police and brought back to Delhi
where a kidnapping and rape case was slapped on Hasim and the girl was
married off elsewhere.<br />
<br />
A Delhi trial court acquitted Hasim following which police appealed
against the verdict in the high court, saying the girl was a minor.<br />
<br />
Upholding the acquittal, the high court said, "This is an unfortunate
case where perhaps different religion of the boy and the girl was the
biggest hurdle in their way to marry each other.<br />
<br />
"They wanted to marry crossing this hurdle, hence firstly nikah was
performed on February 11, 2005 and thereafter notice for intended
marriage under the Special Marriage Act was also given. However, destiny
had something else in store for them."<br />
<br />
In its 16-page judgment, a bench of justices Pratibha Rani and Reva
Khetrapal held that opposition to runaway marriages by parents is mostly
on account of caste, religion or disparities in social status.<br />
<br />
"With a view to breaking the matrimonial alliance, they (girl's parents)
continue pressing the charge of kidnapping and rape on the boy," it
said.<br />
<br />
The court observed that "runaway marriages not only cause mental agony
to the family of the couple but also compel the couple to run for
shelter to protect their lives and escape honour killing".<br />
<br />
The court also took note of the increasing number of petitions by
parents for production of their wards who leave their parental house in
runaway marriages.<br />
<br />
"While parents of such girls suffer due to social stigma attached with
such marriages, the family of the boy is harassed not only by the family
of the girl but also by the police to pressurize them to disclose the
whereabouts of the boy.<br />
<br />
"If the police is able to recover the couple, the 'husband' is generally
accused of kidnapping and rape. Most of the time, such girls turn out
to be minor. In such circumstances, either the girl has to stay in Nari
Niketan and wait for the release of the husband or to return to the
parents and succumb to their wishes to marry the person of their choice
and stand as a witness against the person with whom she is in love," the
bench observed.<br />
<br />
In this case, the girl was a consenting party and had left home on her
own to join the company of the person with whom she was in love, the
trial court had said while acquitting Hasim.<br />
<br />
The bench rejected police argument that the girl was a minor according to the school records.<br />
<br />
"In the absence of any material on the basis of which date of birth was
recorded at the time of her admission in the said school and failure of
the prosecution to get the ossification test conducted despite being
advised so by the concerned doctor, we are of the view that benefit of
doubt in case of proven consent must go to the Respondent (boy)," it
said.<br />
<br />
The bench said it was established beyond reasonable doubt that the girl
was "in love with the respondent. As the girl was Hindu by religion and
the boy was a Muslim, to provide legal status to their relationship she
left home and performed nikah in 2005. She also initiated steps for
getting their marriage registered under Special Marriage Act".<br />
<br />
"Even at the time of her being found on April 3, 2006 by the police in
the presence of her father as well as at the time of her medical
examination by the doctor in the presence of her mother, she did not
complain of being sexually assaulted by the boy under any threat or
fear," it said.<br />
<br />
"In fact, she had run away not once but twice but ultimately had to
marry the person chosen by her family which speaks of the volume of
influence exercised upon her after she was recovered second time by the
police," the bench noted.<br />
The father of the girl had lodged a missing report in Sangam Vihar
police station in southeast Delhi. Later, he lodged an FIR and named
Hasim as the person who had kidnapped her daughter.<br />
<br />
In her statement to the magistrate after they were traced, the girl said
that on February 23, Hasim's maternal uncle and aunt had forcibly taken
her to Dingerpur and made her stay with him. She said the boy raped her
during her stay there.<br />
<br />
However, she said she did not want Hasim to be punished.<br />
<br />
The high court noted that the girl and her father were not consistent in
their deposition before the police and the trial court and that "their
versions continued changing colour at every level".<br />
<br />
The bench also borrowed from a 2006 judgement to say that "runaway
marriages are manifestation of a generational change due to variety of
factors, including increased interaction between the sexes, with young
boys and girls attaining maturity rapidly".<br />
<br />
"It is a complex problem with inter play of social, economic, religious,
caste, educational factors, including sex education and vulnerability
and backwardness of the weaker sex having its impact."<br />
<br />
source:news.outlookindia.com </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10662228993838100576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2297381570973934676.post-91346188513985352052014-01-30T19:36:00.000-08:002014-01-30T19:36:10.594-08:00 Multicultural festival to celebrate Hindu deity<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="articleSinglePhotoLandscape">
<img alt="This Is Wiltshire: Members of the Swindon Puja Committee." border="0" height="305" src="http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/resources/images/2834799.jpg?type=articleLandscape" title="This Is Wiltshire: Members of the Swindon Puja Committee." width="458" /> </div>
<div class="articleSinglePhotoLandscape">
<span>
Members of the Swindon Puja Committee.
</span>
</div>
PEOPLE across Swindon will gather to honour the Hindu goddess of knowledge and wisdom next week.
<br />
The Swindon Puja Committee has organised the second annual Hindu
festival on Tuesday to celebrate Saraswati Puja, an event devoted to the
goddess Saraswati, at The Platform in Faringdon Road.
<br />
More than 200 people attended the event last year, which was the first
of its kind held in the town and organisers are hoping for an even
bigger turn out this year.
<br />
The festival’s cultural secretary, Sujan Saha, 33, of Commercial Road,
said: “Last year, we were pleased that 200 people attended.
<br />
“We arranged the multicultural event ourselves, providing homemade sweets, food and drinks.
<br />
This year we are celebrating for the second time and I would like to
invite Swindon people so that they can come and enjoy a different
culture.
<br />
“The festival will start at 10am and we will pray to our goddess Saraswati at 11am.
<br />
“The committee has also organised a multicultural programme in the evening.”
<br />
The event begins with various prayers throughout the day, followed by a
cultural programme from 5pm including sari-tying workshops and henna
art.
<br />
Music Performances from bass player Phil Spalding, Giorgio Mollo, and
local artist Adam Hodges, and others. Call for more details on
07946506747.<br />
<br />
source:thisiswiltshire.co.uk </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10662228993838100576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2297381570973934676.post-12697076566997189962014-01-28T09:01:00.001-08:002014-01-28T09:01:30.052-08:00Indian Consulate looking into ‘Vedic pandits’ disappearance<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="articleLead">
<h2>
Consul General Ausaf Sayeed said none of the pandits had sought any
assistance from the Consulate for their repatriation to India.</h2>
</div>
<div class="body">
The Indian Consul General in Chicago has said that no
complaints or information has been received from either the Iowa-based
Maharishi Vedic City, or from any one of the 130 “Vedic pandits,” or
religious scholars brought here from India for studies and training, who
have said to have gone “missing” in the last seven months.</div>
<div class="body">
In an email to <i>The Hindu </i>Consul
General Ausaf Sayeed said none of the pandits had sought any assistance
from the Consulate for their repatriation to India, and “The Consulate
has no information on the current whereabouts of the missing pandits and
whether they are working elsewhere.”</div>
<div class="body">
Dr. Sayeed
further clarified, “The Maharishi University has also not deposited any
passport of their missing employees with the Consulate.”</div>
<div class="body">
Earlier,
a Maharishi University official said that the missing pandits were “in
violation of U.S. immigration law and it is therefore a federal matter,
beyond the legal jurisdiction of local officials in Iowa or the Indian
Consul General in Chicago,” however adding that, “The prior Consul
General has visited the pandit campus in Iowa and expressed great
pleasure at the program and facilities.”</div>
<div class="body">
Although Dr.
Sayeed said that the Consulate General was in the process of
ascertaining full facts of the case, what is evident is that
unprecedented numbers of R-1 visa holders have been vanishing from the
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi institutions since they began coming here for
their training since 2006.</div>
<div class="body">
In messages sent to <i>The Hindu </i>earlier,
William Goldstein, Dean of Global Development and General Counsel to
the Maharishi University of Management, based in Fairfield, Iowa, said
that the Global Country of World Peace (GCWP), the U.S. organisation
sponsoring the pandits’ R-1 visas and their stay in this country, had
not received any prior communication from the scholars before they went
“AWOL” (Absence Without Leave).</div>
<div class="body">
Mr. Goldstein said
that while they did not know for sure what they pandits were doing after
their departure from the Vedic city, but suspected that many of them
were “working simple jobs in restaurants as the ones who have returned
or the few we have information on seem to have followed that pattern”.</div>
<div class="body">
He
added that it could be that, “Someone is misinforming them about the
financial opportunities and the legal implications, and their prime
motive appears to be to generate more money for their families,” and
there could be an “organised racket brokering the operation”.</div>
<div class="body">
Further, Mr. Goldstein said that few, if any, of the pandits spoke English at all, and allegations made by the Chicago-based <i>Hi India</i>
newspaper that the pandits’ initial contract signed with the Maharishi
institutions for travel to the U.S. had not been translated from English
to Hindi were “untrue”.</div>
<div class="body">
Mr. Goldstein also said, “I
am the attorney who spent many hours before and after the project
launched working with the U.S. State Department and Indian passport
officials setting up the visas for the project.”</div>
<div class="body">
<i>The Hindu</i> contacted
the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) regarding this
matter, but their office in Minneapolis, which is dealing with the case,
was closed owing to extreme weather conditions.</div>
<div class="body">
An
ICE official however noted that missing person reports were generally
not filed with ICE, rather they had to be submitted to local law
enforcement authorities and in the case of foreign nationals with the
government concerned.</div>
<div class="body">
<br /></div>
<div class="body">
source:thehindu.com </div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10662228993838100576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2297381570973934676.post-6841791828836536862014-01-28T08:52:00.005-08:002014-01-28T08:52:06.364-08:00Only 5% Vedic Pandits Missing in US, Claims Vedic Univ<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="finalstorytext3">
The Iowa-based institutions of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
have said about only five per cent of the 2,600 Vedic pandits, who were
brought to the US from north Indian villages, have gone missing in
recent years.<br />
<br />
"Each of these cases the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have
been informed about Vedic pandits leaving their United States
Citizenship and Immigration Services and State Department approved
programme at its Iowa campus," said William Goldstein, Dean of Global
Development and General Counsel to the Maharishi University of
Management.<br />
<br />
"Only a small number of the over 2,600 pandits, about five per cent, who
have come on this unprecedented Vedic programme to the US have gone
AWOL (absent without leave)," Goldstein told <em>PTI </em>in an email.<br />
<br />
"For the first four years of this programme, it was a very small number.
In recent months this number has been unfortunately increasing," he
said.<br />
<br />
He alleged that they appear to have been induced by individuals
providing false and bad information of high earnings, or by unscrupulous
employers taking advantage of them.<br />
<br />
He also denied allegations of mistreatment of the priests, including giving them low wages.<br />
<br />
In an investigative report, Chicago-based ethnic weekly newspaper <em>Hi India </em>alleged that 163 Vedic pandits brought to the US lived in pathetic conditions and were paid less than 75 cents an hour.<br />
<br />
Goldstein claimed that these pandits come to the US under R-1 visas and thus are not subject to the minimum wage rules.<br />
<br />
"They are on R-1 visas. They are not in possession of a visa to be day
labourers nor are they equipped to be such. Their visa only entitles
them, and they are solely qualified to engage in, their spiritual
vocation of meditation and Vedic performances," he said.<br />
<br />
"They are not subject to minimum wage laws in this spiritual or
ministerial vocation, like monks in a monastery," said the official from
Maharishi University of Management. The Iowa campus has been
specifically inspected and approved for this precise purpose by USCIS,
for use as a site for R-1 pandits," he said.<br />
<br />
Denying allegations that pandits brought to the US are underage, he
said, "No pandit has ever come on the programme under 18 years of age."<br />
<br />
He said that it has been agreed with the pandits that of the USD 200 per
month base cash compensation, USD 150 will be transmitted to their
families in India.<br />
<br />
All the pandits, contrary to the allegations, reside in modern, fully
heated and air-conditioned comfortable modular homes, with an indoor and
outdoor athletic facility and a large organic vegetarian kitchen and
cafeteria, along with their meditation halls, classrooms, and Vedic
performance halls, he said.<br />
<br />
source:news.outlookindia.com <br />
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10662228993838100576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2297381570973934676.post-77160668081396545962014-01-27T09:01:00.000-08:002014-01-27T09:01:02.543-08:005-year-old Hindu girl raped in Sibi <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="story-image">
<div class="story-image-container">
<img alt="" height="469" src="http://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/662708-_-1390539240-315-640x480.jpg" width="625" />
</div>
<div class="caption">
Rapist is said to be drug addict and is being interrogated, Sibi police says. PHOTO: FILE </div>
</div>
<strong><strong class="location">QUETTA: </strong>A
five-year-old Hindu girl was abducted and raped before she was left
unconscious near the Railway Colony in Sibi district on Wednesday. The
police traced the accused, with the help of sniffer dogs, and arrested
him. The rapist is said to be drug addict and is being interrogated,
said the Sibi police on Thursday.</strong><br />
“The girl went out at 7pm on Wednesday to buy candy from a nearby
shop when she was abducted,” a relative of the victim told reporters.
Three hours later some passers-by spotted the girl in an unconscious
state in Railway Colony, where was lying in the dark and informed the
police. She was taken to hospital for treatment where doctors asked the
relatives to move her to Quetta instead because of her critical wounds.
She was constantly bleeding, said doctors.<br />
“The culprit is identified as Sunny Masih. The Hindu community
observed a shutter-down strike in Sibi on Thursday against the incident
and held protest demonstrations, demanding the immediate arrest of the
accused.<br />
Protesters organised a procession and marched to Sibi city. “The
police should protect the life and property of people. Criminals need to
be severely punished for this brutality,” said one of the protesters.<br />
<em>Published in The Express Tribune, January 24<sup>th</sup>, 2014.</em><br />
<br />
<em>source:http://tribune.com.pk </em></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10662228993838100576noreply@blogger.com0