Hindu Press International

HPI note: HPI has received reports of Diwali celebrations from the four corners of the world. Click on the links below to read some of them:

KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL, INDIA:

http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/004200810282180.htm

THE WHITE HOUSE, WASHINGTON, DC, USA:

http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/oct/29us.htm

LEICESTERSHIRE, UK:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/leicestershire/7694682.stm

NEW DELHI, INDIA:

http://www.ddinews.gov.in/Homepage/Homepage+-+Headlines/eeq2.htm

HOUSTON, TEXAS, USA:

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/religion/6081140.html

AUSTIN, TEXAS, USA:

http://www.dailytexanonline.com/festival_lights_up_the_night

NEW YORK CITY, NY, USA (Caribbean Hindus):

http://www.caribbeanworldnews.com/entertainment_one.php?sid=1373&a=2&cut=301&ad=entertainment

STATEN ISLAND, NY, USA:

http://www.silive.com/living/advance/religion/index.ssf?/base/living/122431232723200.xml&coll=1

LE MOULE, GUADALOUPE (in French):

http://www.coconews.com/pub/clicpub.php?campagne=686&portail=1

NEPALESE PRIME MINISTER’S RESIDENCE, KATHMANDU, NEPAL:

http://news.indiainfo.com/2008/10/29/0810292014_prachanda_hosts_deepawali_tea_reception.html

USA (Barack Obama wishes Hindus a “joyous Diwali”)

http://www.indiajournal.com/pages/event.php?id=4960

SIDNEY, AUSTRALIA:

http://www.tamilsydney.com/content/view/1484/37/

CALIFORNIA, USA:

http://www.indiajournal.com/pages/event.php?id=4969

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Quieter_cleaner_Diwali_in_Delhi_today/articleshow/3647483.cms

NEW DELHI, INDIA, October 29, 2008: This year’s festival of lights this year is a quieter affair than usual. The police issued fewer licenses to firecracker vendors and came down heavily on their illegal sale, and as a result crackers are not that readily available in the city. Environmentalists foresee a significant dip in the noise and pollution levels on Diwali night.

The Delhi Police’s licensing department issued about 1,000 licenses this year, compared to about 5,000 that are normally given out. Firecrackers have also become almost 40% more expensive than last year, both due to the shortage and rising costs of raw material.

Many are happy with the trend. “Bursting crackers is not the only way of celebrating Diwali. In the fun of things, nobody realized the highly harmful impact crackers have on health, specially those of children and people with breathing problems. Each year, air and noise pollution levels were going up unimaginably high, harming not only human beings but also animals,” said a senior government official in the environment department.

Source: http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/004200810300942.htm

MADURAI, INDIA, October 29, 2008: The Skandha Sashti festival began at Tiruparankunram Sri Subramaniaswamy temple here on Wednesday.

The devotees would take bath in the Saravanapoikai, go around the Tiruparankunram hills and take food only once during the festival. Soorasamharam would be held on November three, temple sources said.

The festival is celebrated by Hindus worldwide, but especially the Tamil community. The festival culminates in November 3.

Source: http://www.hinduismtoday.com/hpi

KAPAA, HAWAII, October 31, 2008: There was no edition of HPI yesterday due to unexpected technical problems. The HPI team apologizes.

Source: http://www.hinduismtoday.com/hpi/2008/10/31.shtml

Think twice before you talk.

Source: http://www.hinduismtoday.com/hpi

HPI note: HPI has received reports of Diwali celebrations from the four corners of the world. Click on the links below to read some of them:

KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL, INDIA: http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/004200810282180.htm

THE WHITE HOUSE, WASHINGTON, DC, USA:
http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/oct/29us.htm

LEICESTERSHIRE, UK:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/leicestershire/7694682.stm

NEW DELHI, INDIA:
http://www.ddinews.gov.in/Homepage/Homepage+-+Headlines/eeq2.htm

HOUSTON, TEXAS, USA:
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/religion/6081140.html

NEW YORK CITY, NY, USA (Caribbean Hindus):
http://www.caribbeanworldnews.com/entertainment_one.php?sid=1373&a=2&cut=301&ad=entertainment

STATEN ISLAND, NY, USA:
http://www.silive.com/living/advance/religion/index.ssf?/base/living/122431232723200.xml&coll=1

LE MOULE, GUADALOUPE (in French):
http://www.coconews.com/pub/clicpub.php?campagne=686&portail=1

NEPALESE PRIME MINISTER’S RESIDENCE, KATHMANDU, NEPAL:
http://news.indiainfo.com/2008/10/29/0810292014_prachanda_hosts_deepawali_tea_reception.html

USA (Barack Obama wishes Hindus a “joyous Diwali”)
http://www.indiajournal.com/pages/event.php?id=4960

SIDNEY, AUSTRALIA:
http://www.tamilsydney.com/content/view/1484/37/

CALIFORNIA, USA:
http://www.indiajournal.com/pages/event.php?id=4969

Source: http://hinducentre.org.sg/hindu/

SINGAPORE, August 20, 2008: How does Hinduism reconcile its messages with the challenges of change facing it everyday? To address these and other questions facing Hinduism today, the Hindu Centre, an independent organization that is committed to the spiritual evolution of Hindus in Singapore, will bring together several eminent scholars and teachers from abroad for a two-day Conference. Entitled Hinduism in a Changing World: Challenges and Opportunities, it will be held on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24.

The Guest of Honour will be Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Minister for Finance. Other guests include Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami, from Kauai Aadheenam, USA, who will give a discourse on Hinduism and Modern Life; Dr. Sangeetha Menon, of the National Institute of Advanced Studies of India, who will speak about Hinduism and Consciousness Studies; Sri Dhira Chaitanya, from New York, talking about Emotional and Spiritual Growth; and several others.

The conference is held in conjunction with the Hindu Centre’s 30th Anniversary Celebrations. You can click on the link above to know more and to register for the conference.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Quieter_cleaner_Diwali_in_Delhi_today/articleshow/3647483.cms

NEW DELHI, INDIA, October 29, 2008: This year’s festival of lights this year is a quieter affair than usual. The police issued fewer licenses to firecracker vendors and came down heavily on their illegal sale, and as a result crackers are not that readily available in the city. Environmentalists foresee a significant dip in the noise and pollution levels on Diwali night.

The Delhi Police’s licensing department issued about 1,000 licenses this year, compared to about 5,000 that are normally given out. Firecrackers have also become almost 40% more expensive than last year, both due to the shortage and rising costs of raw material.

Many are happy with the trend. “Bursting crackers is not the only way of celebrating Diwali. In the fun of things, nobody realized the highly harmful impact crackers have on health, specially those of children and people with breathing problems. Each year, air and noise pollution levels were going up unimaginably high, harming not only human beings but also animals,” said a senior government official in the environment department.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Quieter_cleaner_Diwali_in_Delhi_today/articleshow/3647483.cms

NEW DELHI, INDIA, October 29, 2008: This year’s festival of lights this year is a quieter affair than usual. The police issued fewer licenses to firecracker vendors and came down heavily on their illegal sale, and as a result crackers are not that readily available in the city. Environmentalists foresee a significant dip in the noise and pollution levels on Diwali night.

The Delhi Police’s licensing department issued about 1,000 licenses this year, compared to about 5,000 that are normally given out. Firecrackers have also become almost 40% more expensive than last year, both due to the shortage and rising costs of raw material.

Many are happy with the trend. “Bursting crackers is not the only way of celebrating Diwali. In the fun of things, nobody realized the highly harmful impact crackers have on health, specially those of children and people with breathing problems. Each year, air and noise pollution levels were going up unimaginably high, harming not only human beings but also animals,” said a senior government official in the environment department.

Source: http://specials.rediff.com/getahead/2008/aug/14sld1.htm

INDIA, August 14, 2008: [HPI note: these are the first paragraphs of a first-hand account of this year’s Amarnatha Yatra, by Swapnil Bhumkar. You can read the whole diary by clicking on the link above.]

Sri Ganganagar was where we came across our first langar, where free food is distributed to anyone and everyone. We were in Jammu, six of us, on the way to Amarnath, and beyond. The amazing thing about the Amarnath langars is that the food is not just clean, but also delicious. The sevaks urged us to eat more and stuffed our plates with Puris and Kheer.

Among the sadhus were Batuk Hanuman Maharaj, who wanted to trek barefoot to the ice Shivalinga, Ganeshdas Baba, a priest from a Malegaon, Maharashtra, and Hari Om Baba from Kashi. The urban opinion about sadhus is negative. Let me tell you, their schedule is tighter, and rules and principals tougher than that of the military. It takes a real man to become a sadhu.

We had crossed Patni Top, where the real beauty of the mountains begins, as does trouble. Hundreds of cars and buses were being stopped, the reason being, they said, riots. A few constables told us the Yatra is suspended because of violence in Udhampur, Pahalgam, Baltal. They said we could go ahead if we liked but the administration would not take responsibility. We waited there for almost seven hours. People had started getting restless so a convoy along with five military trucks started to move towards Pahalgam. We could only see soldiers, and more soldiers…

Source: http://www.dailytexanonline.com/festival_lights_up_the_night

AUSTIN, TEXAS, USA, October 29, 2008: Fireworks illuminated the night sky for Diwali, a traditional Indian celebration that represents the victory of good over evil. The Hindu Students Council hosted a Diwali celebration Tuesday night on the Main Mall.

Candlelit steps, with piles of shoes strewn at the bottom, welcomed Hindu and non-Hindu students to a ritual of mock sacrifice, called havan. The ritual was led by a priest and involved a fire ceremony, which was meant to bring prosperity and luck to the new year.

“[Diwali celebrates] a universal idea,” said Santanu Rahman, Multicultural Information Center program coordinator. “Anyone can connect to it. There is a huge visual aspect, but the meaning is very powerful.” “Diwali is the largest Hindu holiday of the year,” said Nikhil Nayak, president of Hindu Students Council. “We celebrate in an authentic style.”

It is hard for students to go home and celebrate Diwali traditionally with family, said Ronak Shah, council co-chair. “Our goal was to recreate the atmosphere,” Shah said.

Source: http://www.dailytexanonline.com/festival_lights_up_the_night

AUSTIN, TEXAS, USA, October 29, 2008: Fireworks illuminated the night sky for Diwali, a traditional Indian celebration that represents the victory of good over evil. The Hindu Students Council hosted a Diwali celebration Tuesday night on the Main Mall.

Candlelit steps, with piles of shoes strewn at the bottom, welcomed Hindu and non-Hindu students to a ritual of mock sacrifice, called havan. The ritual was led by a priest and involved a fire ceremony, which was meant to bring prosperity and luck to the new year.

“[Diwali celebrates] a universal idea,” said Santanu Rahman, Multicultural Information Center program coordinator. “Anyone can connect to it. There is a huge visual aspect, but the meaning is very powerful.” “Diwali is the largest Hindu holiday of the year,” said Nikhil Nayak, president of Hindu Students Council. “We celebrate in an authentic style.”

It is hard for students to go home and celebrate Diwali traditionally with family, said Ronak Shah, council co-chair. “Our goal was to recreate the atmosphere,” Shah said.

Source: http://www.sahilonline.net/english/news.php?catID=coastalnews&nid=3112&viewed=0

BHATKAL, KARNATAKA, INDIA, August 19, 2008: In the peaceful and densely forested district of Uttara Kannada, in the state of Karnataka, local societies and authorities gathered to address community problems and affirm mutual friendship. The Rabita Society Bhatkal and the Majlise Islah Tanzeem Bhatkal met with the presence of Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri, the district’s education minister. JD Naik, a Hindu leader, said that the local people are peace lovers and they want to receive education and live peacefully. The president of the local Muslim society said that Islam has venues for peace, and verses of the Quran that emphasizes that idea.

Source: http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/004200810300942.htm

MADURAI, INDIA, October 29, 2008: The Skandha Sashti festival began at Tiruparankunram Sri Subramaniaswamy temple here on Wednesday.

The devotees would take bath in the Saravanapoikai, go around the Tiruparankunram hills and take food only once during the festival. Soorasamharam would be held on November three, temple sources said.

The festival is celebrated by Hindus worldwide, but especially the Tamil community. The festival culminates in November 3.

Source: http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/004200810300942.htm

MADURAI, INDIA, October 29, 2008: The Skandha Sashti festival began at Tiruparankunram Sri Subramaniaswamy temple here on Wednesday.

The devotees would take bath in the Saravanapoikai, go around the Tiruparankunram hills and take food only once during the festival. Soorasamharam would be held on November three, temple sources said.

The festival is celebrated by Hindus worldwide, but especially the Tamil community. The festival culminates in November 3.

Source: http://www.hinduismtoday.com/hpi/2008/8/19.shtml

Siva is the Life of our life.
   Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami (1927-2001)