Hindus want recognition of yoga’s religious roots – Press

For many of the nearly 16 million Americans who practice yoga, the ancient discipline is about shedding pounds, increasing stamina, reducing stress, finding inner peace or some combination of benefits. For Hindus, it is an integral part of their religion, a path toward mastery over the mind and body and bringing them closer to the divine. Some leading American Hindus don't mind the profusion of yoga classes in strip malls and on fitness-club mats in the Inland area Read more [...]

Las Vegas City Council in USA opened with Hindu mantras

  City Council of Las Vegas (USA), world's entertainment capital, reverberated with Sanskrit mantras from ancient Hindu scriptures on January 19. Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed delivered invocation from Sanskrit scriptures before Las Vegas City Council on January 19. After Sanskrit delivery, he then read the English translation of the prayer. Sanskrit is considered a sacred language in Hinduism and root language of Indo-European languages. Zed, who is the president of Universal Read more [...]

Belgium Ice sculpture festival displayed Lord Shiv and Ganesh

  Internationally renowned 10th annual UNESCO Brugge Snow and Ice Sculpture Festival in Belgium, which ended on January 16, displayed sculptures of Lord Ganesh and Lord Shiv.istinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed has commended the organizers for carrying sculptures of Hindu deities in this world-level exhibition. Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, suggested that the next Festival should include depiction from ancient Hindu scriptures Mahabharat Read more [...]

Same Old Story, Great New Look

By Margherita Stancati If a new edition of a book that’s been around for centuries is creating a buzz, there must be something pretty special about it. An upcoming version of the ancient Hindu epic “Ramayan,” put together by French publisher Diane de Selliers, seems to be doing just that. In Delhi, academics have been talking about it for months. Courtesy photo An early 17th century miniature painting depicting Lord Ram, his wife Sita and his brother Lakshman, the protagonists of the Read more [...]

River of life and death

Laundry day ... women prepare to dry their saris on the ghats of the Ganges. Photo: AP Although lined with funeral pyres, the Ganges is the lifeblood of Varanasi, along with its silk industry, writes Anthony Dennis. A JEEP with a corpse conspicuously wrapped in a brocade-like orange silk shroud and strapped to the roof is negotiating its way through the hectic early-morning streets of Varanasi. The male Hindu mourners squeezed inside the Read more [...]

Wealthy Indians revive ancient fire ritual

The tradition faded in modern times, and pious Hindus fear it could die out as young Indians embrace a Western lifestyle and a culture of lavish spending. But in this rapidly modernizing country, new money is also reviving old traditions. A group of mostly urban professionals has teamed up to help conduct the fire ritual this spring in a village that last witnessed it 35 years ago. "We want to do our bit to ensure that Indian culture survives," said Neelakantan Pillai, a banker and member of the Read more [...]

Hindustani music is our music

It is virtually impossible to accurately trace the genealogy of what is today commonly known as Indian classical music – a hybrid entity that it is neither monolithic nor coherent. There is no written history to go by, only sculpture, paintings, crumbling manuscripts and a host of anecdotal references that are coloured by different biases and personal histories. Even the stories surrounding gharanas (schools of music) and ragas have an element of fantasy surrounding them, whether it is the legendary Read more [...]

Pile of Bricks in Bojonegoro Presumed to be Ancient Hindu Temple

TEMPO Interactive, Bojonegoro:A pile of old red bricks discovered in the tourist destination of Kayangan Api of Sendangharjo Village in Ngasem Sub-districts of Bojonegoro, East Java, is presumed to be the ruins of a temple from the Majapahit era, around the 1400-1500. The archaeological team from the University of Indonesia, which spent six days excavating the site, said that they recognized the temples characteristics from its structure and surrounding area. Archeologist Ali Akbar is Read more [...]

B’deshi Hindus in shock as worship at ancient temple suspended

Hindus in Bangladesh are in shock following the suspension of worship at the capital's Dhakeshwari National Temple, the most important place of worship for the minority community in the country, after a theft today. Gold and silver ornaments and Taka 4.5 lakh have been stolen from the temple, said Tapan Bhattacharya, the in-charge of the state-owned Dhakeshwari Temple. Worship at the ancient Dhakeswari National Temple has been suspended for an indefinite period following the theft, the Read more [...]