I have already accepted and told what I have accepted. There is nothing new to be accepted.

Each others love and kindness the most.

A Healthy Lifestyle Triggers Genetic Changes

Source: www.reuters.com
WASHINGTON, DC, USA, June 18, 2008: Based on a small study, US researchers say that comprehensive lifestyle changes, including a better diet and more exercise, can quickly cause dramatic changes at the genetic level.

As reported in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the researchers tracked 30 men with low-risk prostate cancer who had decided against conventional medical treatment such as surgery and radiation or hormone therapy. Their decision allowed researchers to study biopsies in cancer patients before and after lifestyle changes. The men underwent three months of major lifestyle changes, including eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes and soy products, moderate exercise such as walking for half an hour a day, and an hour of daily stress management methods such as meditation.

As expected, they lost weight, lowered their blood pressure and saw other health improvements. But the “before” and “after” prostate biopsies were startling. That three-month period saw changes in activity in about 500 genes–including 48 that were turned on and 453 genes that were turned off. The activity of disease- preventing genes increased, while a number of disease-promoting genes, including those involved in prostate cancer and breast cancer, shut down.

The research was led by Dr. Dean Ornish, head of the Preventive Medicine Research Institute in Sausalito, California, and a well-known author advocating lifestyle changes to improve health. “It’s an exciting finding because so often people say, ‘Oh, it’s all in my genes, what can I do?’ Well, it turns out you may be able to do a lot,” Ornish, who is also affiliated with the University of California, San Francisco, said in a telephone interview. “‘In just three months, I can change hundreds of my genes simply by changing what I eat and how I live?’ That’s pretty exciting.”(HPI)

MUNNESWARA

Yesterday, we had a small pilgrimage to view Munneshvar and his wife Vadivambika . This temple is considered to be built before the Ramayana period and thus the name given like such.  Present temple has an image on a wall immediately  after passing through  the main entrance. It is called ‘Visvarupa Darshan’  as described in the Bhagavad gita.  Lord Krishna provided this to his disciple Arjuna.

There is another image carved out of  granite stone titled ‘Dhaksina Moorthi’ facing the south, thus the name provided as such.  There is another one made out of plaster of paris. Metal image of the same is kept in separate room.  This is the Nataraja of the famous cosmic dance.

There are several huge wall paintings behind the mother goddess shrine. They are all based on mythological stories.

Years before  the Sanskrit Professor  of the Ceylon University named : Kailasa Natha Kurukkal  took more interest on this temple and conducted several Yajnas and  Kumbabishekas.  Even now Budhists  too  come in huge crowds and worship all these deities.

This area is famous for pearl diving from unknown periods. Presently  Government conducts this process once in several years and  auction the shells brought from the sea bed. People will compete to buy them and open them to get the pearls inside. Only luckiest people will get pearls and others will lose their money.

Please see album for photos.

Hindu Mandir Executives’ Conference 2009 Announced

Source: mandirsangam.vhp-america.org
USA, June 1, 2009: The Hindu Mandir Executives’ Conference (HMEC) is an annual initiative designed to increase networking between the executives of all Hindu mandirs (temples) of America and to formally recognize their efforts. This year’s conference will be held on September 11-13 in Linthicum, MD–near the Baltimore-Washington Airport.

Organized by the VHP America, the conference has in its previous years gathered a dynamic and influential assembly of Hindu leaders in America. The schedule for the conference’s events are still in the works, and speakers can still be accommodated. Visit the website at the source link above to have more information about registration and fees. The Conference will also be a place where you could offer your wisdom in specific areas, for everyone else’s benefit.” The event is invitation-only, so if you and your temple are interested, contact the organizers.

The press release sent to several Hindu institutions states, “You, as a mandir executive, are the natural leader of Hindu society by virtue of your intense motivation, deep experience, and selfless service. You understand Hindu-American needs and challenges. At HMEC-2009 you will deliberate on ways of ensuring the sustenance of Hindu Dharma in America.(HPI)

as it is  time less and space less , there is no way of tracing my location.

Swami Sarvagatananda Passes Away At 96

Source: www.americamagazine.org
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, MAY 8, 2009: On May 3, Swami Sarvagatananda, a senior monk of the Ramakrishna Vedanta Society and long-time head of the Vedanta Society in Boston, died at the age of 96.

Born in 1912, Swami Sarvagatananda joined the Ramakrishna Order in 1935, received mantra-diksha from Revered Swami Akhandananda Maharaj in 1936, and sannyasa (renunciation vows) from Revered Swami Virajananda Maharaj in 1944. He came to the United States in 1954 to assist Swami Akhilananda Maharaj. He became the head of the centers in Providence and Boston in 1962, and continued in that position until 2001 (Providence) and 2002 (Boston). Even after his formal retirement from active work, he continued to meet with devotees and to guide them. His untiring service to the Vedanta work in Boston and Providence, his unbounded love for devotees and, above all, his sterling spiritual life have been, and will continue to be, a source of inspiration to all.”

A 1996 volume that was published in Swami’s honor, “The Lamplighter: Swami Sarvagatananda in the West,” contains about 50 reminiscences from friends and disciples who knew Swami over the years: testimonies to his wisdom, love, sense of humor, his great joy and perennial hope for the spiritual advancement of the human race in its quest to realize God.(HPI)

Waiting for that to happen.

Meenakshi Jain on a Distorted Teaching of India’s History

Source: www.geocities.com
[HPI note: this is a valuable resource recently made available on the web. Other articles of a similiar nature can be read at the same website.]

INDIA, August 6, 1998: Welcoming the recent reexamination of popularly accepted assertions about India’s history, Meenakshi Jain (a historian and professor at Delhi University) points in particular to the widely promulgated idea that early India was never religiously or philosophically cohesive but was just a geographically juxtaposed collection of peoples having highly divergent beliefs. That interpretation of India’s history has given fodder to those who claim that “the modern search for an imagined Hindu identity from the past” is politically and economically motivated, aim barbs at “saffron-tinged” scholars, and decry attempts to reduce “the multiplicity of classical traditions” in the subcontinent to one unitary tradition.

The Veda-centrism of Hinduism has failed to impress such historians. The fact that the seeds of all subsequent philosophic ideas of the Hindus can be found in Vedic literature is routinely overlooked. Diversity is highlighted without comprehension of shared underlying values and assumptions.

For those willing to see, there is ample proof of the coherence of the Hindu tradition. When the study of India was in its infancy, Max Mueller commented on the existence of a national or popular philosophy, a large lake of philosophical thought and language which thinkers could draw upon.

Irrespective of sect, sex, caste, or class, all believed in karma, rebirth, mukti, nirvana. All linked the notion of Maya to that of Brahman. All felt the discovery of cosmic illusion was meaningless unless followed by the quest of absolute Being. All observed the same general principles of ethical conduct. But despite this overwhelming evidence of the existence of a unitary civilization, the themes of domination, suppression, and segregation continue to be presented as the theme songs of Indian history.

Please click on “Source” above to read the complete article.
(HPI)

Celebrations For Indian Arrival Day In Grenada

Source: www.grenadabroadcast.com
[HPI note: Grenada is an island nation and sovereign state consisting of the island of Grenada and six smaller islands in the southeastern Caribbean Sea. Grenada is located northwest of Trinidad and Tobago, which also has a significant Hindu population.]

ST. GEORGE’S, GRANADA, April 29, 2009: The Indo-Grenadian Heritage Foundation held a Memorial and Thanksgiving Service on Friday May 1st at the Samaritan Presbyterian Church to mark the arrival of the first batch of Indians to Grenada on 1st May, 1857.

On that date, the Maidstone landed 287 persons at Irwin’s Bay, St. Patrick’s. This was the first of several ships bringing a total of 3,200 indentured workers from India to Grenada, the seeds of today’s large Indo-Grenadian community.

The Prime Minister of Grenada, Hon. Tillman Thomas, and his cabinet have agreed that May 1st will be officially recognized as Indian Arrival Day, along with the already established Labour Day.

On Sunday May 3rd the celebrations continued on the grounds of the Belmont Estate, where Grenadians experienced a little bit of Indo-Grenadian Cuisine and culture.
(HPI)

Lifestyles/story/35492/community-celebrates-hindu-temple-opening

Source:

Hindus and non-Hindus alike are invited to come experience the temple. Morrisville resident Sharat Reedy said, “I would definitely recommend people just come and visit and see the rituals that go on and see the culture of India.”

The temple devotees reported about the great ceremony, “It was a moment beyond words. Thousands of devotees, all gazing into the sky to get a glimpse of the Kumbhasamprokshana. The sound of ‘Srinivasa Govinda, Cary Vasa Govinda!’ reverberated throughout the Temple campus, from all sides of the temple. The thoughts that were crossing the minds of the devotees were all deep and varied as they shared later in several languages, English, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, Oriya, Punjabi and Bengali. Some said, it is a life time opportunity. Some said, they feel like they are in India. Others said they never thought they would witness such an event and have such an experience in their life. As they describe it, their faces were glowing, competing with the spectacle in front of them, with deep satisfaction and amazement!”

The temple’s elaborate and dynamic website is http://svtemplenc.org/
(HPI)

I got married just for the fun of it. This continuing life is a game to be played with all the time. I also encourage all the others to take this life of yours and play it like a game of yours all the time. We adopted this life to live and only this type of attitude would help us to swim in it without fear.

Devotees Throng Varanasi to Mark Ganga Dussehra

Source: www.hinduonnet.com
VARANASI, INDIA, June 2, 2009: Over four hundred thousand devotees took a holy dip in river Ganga at Varanasi on Tuesday to mark the occasion of Ganga Dussehra, the day of arrival of the river on earth. The devotees thronged the banks of the holy river early in the morning to offer prayers and seek blessings.

During the occasion, women offered prayers and distributed fruits and food to the priests. Kripa Nath, a sadhu, said, “We pray to the Goddess that we get rid of this cycle of birth and death and attain moksha.”

In Hinduism, Ganga is a celestial river originating in the heavens. It was gifted to mankind and descended on the earth after great penance undertaken by king Bhagirath, after whom she is also called Bhagirathi.
(HPI)

 "There's a yellow rose in Texas, I'm going there to see..." With a song as famous as that, how could we NOT think that the state flower of Texas is the yellow rose? And yet...  in 1901, the Bluebonnet was adopted as the state flower of Texas. The bluebonnet is one of the state's most popular wildflowers, carpeting huge areas of Texas when it blooms in the spring. Here are some other tidbits about the Lone Star State: the state bird is the mockingbird; the state motto is "Friendship"; and the name Texas is based on a word used by Native Americans of the Caddo tribe, meaning "friends."

Hinduism Today Magazine Proudly Announces the Launch of its New Website

www.hinduismtoday.com

KAUAI, HAWAII, June 3, 2009: Hindus have always embraced technology. We know that every ingenious work of man can be of spiritual service if it is infused with the light of the soul, be it the discovery of palm leaf writing, the God-inspired architecture breakthroughs that built our temples or the mystical, astrological insights of the sages.

Hinduism Today magazine is, once more, on the cutting edge with the launch of its new website at www.hinduismtoday.com The editorial excellence that you, the reader, are used to in the magazine can now be seen online in a new format, with enhanced organization, interactivity and many more resources than before.

We have offered the magazine in HTML (web) format for some time, but it is now easier to read, navigate and have your say. You can comment on any article you read on the new website, and see the opinions of others. Plus, you can download any issue as a PDF to enjoy on your own computer with all the visually stunning impact of the printed edition. All for free.

At the new website, you will read the latest world news from Hindu Press International — and find a link to our Twitter page. Easily peruse our publisher’s latest insights, our many videos and an archive of Hinduism Today going back 30 years. You can read about others who, like you, are interested in the Hindu renaissance: famous readers of the magazine, the latest lifetime subscribers and also the monks who are behind Hinduism Today. We have a corner for youth, too, written by vibrant young Hindus who have intelligent things to say.

Hinduism Today has accumulated, over the decades, a treasure-trove of information about Hinduism in all its aspects, from the mystical to the trivial, from the personal to the global. See the best and most relevant Education Insight sections from the magazine in our “What Is Hinduism?” area of the new website, drawn from the eponymous book. You can also read and download the acclaimed series of lessons created for the purpose of accurately portraying Indian and Hindu history to America’s sixth-grade students.

Join the Hindu renaissance and explore Hinduism Today’s new website!

www.hinduismtoday.com
(HPI)

Asia Facing “Diabetes Explosion”

Source: news.bbc.co.uk
UNITED KINGDOM, May 29, 2009: New research suggests diabetes is becoming a global problem, with more than 60% of all cases likely to occur in Asia. India will see its numbers grow from 40 million to nearly 70 million.

A study in the Journal of the American Medicine Association shows those hit in Asia are younger and less likely to be overweight than those in the West.

The study said trends of diabetes in Asia are influenced by everything from genetic and cultural differences. While in the West, type-2 diabetes is often seen as a consequence of diet, age and obesity, in Asia it is not.

The problem is that although Asian obesity rates are low, changing diets and sedentary lifestyles, associated with rapid economic development, are taking their toll.

(HPI)

Hindu Temple Opens In North Carolina (re-issued)

Source: wake.mync.com
[HPI note: A technical mishap caused the first item of yesterday's edition of HPI to appear truncated. We are sending today the corrected version, below.]

CARY, NC, USA, May 28, 2009: After almost ten years and more than $3 million, the Hindu temple in Cary is officially open. In a grand opening celebration, priests have purified the temple with fire and water. On Thursday, Lord Venkateswara was moved into place.

Hindus and non-Hindus alike are invited to come experience the temple. Morrisville resident Sharat Reedy said, “I would definitely recommend people just come and visit and see the rituals that go on and see the culture of India.”

The temple devotees reported about the great ceremony, “It was a moment beyond words. Thousands of devotees, all gazing into the sky to get a glimpse of the Kumbhasamprokshana. The sound of ‘Srinivasa Govinada, Cary Vasa Govinda!’ reverberated throughout the Temple campus, from all sides of the temple. The thoughts that were crossing the minds of the devotees were all deep and varied as they shared later in several languages, English, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, Oriya, Punjabi and Bengali. Some said, it is a life time opportunity. Some said, they feel like they are in India. Others said they never thought they would witness such an event and have such an experience in their life. As they describe it, their faces were glowing, competing with the spectacle in front of them, with deep satisfaction and amazement!”

The temple’s elaborate and dynamic website is http://svtemplenc.org/
(HPI)

After A Century, Devotees Set Out on Gangbal Pilgrimage

Source: www.hinduonnet.com
KANGAN, INDIA, June 2, 2009: The first batch of 100 devotees set out on a pilgrimage to the ancient Harmukh-Gangbal shrine, an ancient abode of Lord Shiva situated at an altitude of 12,000 ft in Ganderbal district as the sacred sojourn was revived after about a century.

The three-day-long yatra had been revived as part of efforts to restore historic religious places which are of importance to Kashmiri pandits and preserve their cultural and religious history.
(HPI)

i wish to find the answer for the question taught by Ramana maharishi. When his name was mentioned in the Zaadz advertisement, I joined it that it might help to find the answer.

Source: www.siliconindia.com
LONDON, ENGLAND, May 12, 2009: Indian-born MP Virendra Sharma has pointed out that the Equality Bill currently under discussion in Parliament needs to address the caste-based discrimination among South Asians in Britain.

As written, the bill aims to consolidate nine existing equality laws into a single law banning discrimination based on race, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief. Sharma, representing the Indian-dominated London suburb of Southall, argues that this list is incomplete and must address caste discrimination. “There are no exceptions: people try to make it into a Hindu issue, but it is not. It is social. Whether you are Muslim, Christian, Buddhist or Sikh, if you have come from the subcontinent you will have caste built into your social fabric.”

Sharma says caste prejudice is a big issue in his Southall constituency and that leglislation is urgently needed: “There are more and more Indian companies coming here and they are bringing in senior managers who are in a position to recruit… They can tell your caste from your surname.”

Eugene Culas, Director of Voice of Dalit International, agrees: “There is discrimination in marriage, jobs, service and education, but people don’t want to talk about it out of embarrassment - especially second generation immigrants. People won’t admit to the problem without some sort of moral support.” Britain-based Dalit groups say there are at least 50,000 Dalits living in Britain.
(HPI)

Texas Longhorns
Longhorn bulls reside in Texas. The Daily Texan's sports editor and later became editor, D.A. Frank, was the first to use "Longhorns" in the newspaper when referring to the Texas football team during the 1903 season. Prior to that point, the team had been known as "Varsity." Texas Varsity was sporadically referred to as the "long horns" by some Texas sports writers beginning in 1900. However, David Frank, Alex Weisburg (editor) and one other individual, made the choice to always refer to University of Texas sports teams as "Longhorns" and believed that if they used the name consistently it would eventually catch on with students, faculty and the alumni. By 1906, the name was official. "Longhorn" was chosen as a name because the particular breed of cattle was an integral part of Texas history and for many represented a unique tenaciousness, strength and individuality. For them, the Longhorn was symbolic of Texas and therefore appropriate for the University of Texas. An actual Longhorn was presented in 1916 by Stephen Pinckney to the University of Texas to serve as a mascot. Longhorns were introduced to the longhorn during halftime of the Texas Longhorn versus Texas A&M football game. The Longhorns went on to win the game 22-7.

Zuma Inaugurated As South African President With Sanskrit Chants

Source: blog.taragana.com
PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA, May 9, 2009: - A Hindu prayer started off the inauguration of South African President Jacob Zuma at the Union Buildings on Saturday.

As Indian Vice-President Hamid Ansari joined heads of state of 28 other countries, South African Hindu Maha Sabha president Ashwin Trikamjee recited a few lines in Sanskrit before translating them into English and making a plea for divine guidance to assist Zuma in resolving a range of challenges facing the country under his leadership.
(HPI)

To Some Doctors, Worshiping Is Part Of Their Profession

Source: http://blog.taragana.com/n/nagpur-doctors-perform-fire-ritual-59053/

NAGPUR, INDIA, May 11, 2009: Doctors treat, but God heals, so goes the adage. Doctors in Nagpur invoked the Gods by performing a homa ritual for the good health and longevity of the people.

Doctors said the fire ritual was another manifestation of the Hippocratic oath that they took the day they had stepped into the profession, to work for the good health and cause of all humanity.

“All the doctors perform the treatment but behind the hand of the God is omnipresent and every one believes in this statement. This is the reason why this ritual is being performed,” said Shailesh Upadhay, a medical consultant.
(HPI)

Born to a Jewish family in Germany, he grew up in Munich, Germany, and in 1894 he moved to Aarau, Switzerland. He attended a technical school in Zürich (graduating in 1900) and during this period renounced his German citizenship; stateless for some years, he became a Swiss citizen in 1901. When Hitler came to power, Einstein moved to Princeton, N.J. He became a U.S. citizen in 1940, but retained his Swiss citizenship.

Encyclopaedia Britannica Will Review Its Hinduism Article

Source: HPI
KAPAA, HAWAII, May 15, 2009: After a detailed letter exposed the flaws of their article on Hinduism, Encyclopeadia Britannica announced it will revise it while “strives for balance in all subjects.” The letter was written by Amit Raj Dhawan, an electrical engineer by profession and a Hindu.

In his expose, Dhawan wrote, “Britannica has misrepresented the concept and message of Hinduism, and Hindu values have been disparaged. The articles on Christianity, Islam, and Judaism have been written in a very good sense, and the evils of these religions have been subjugated by the way of presentation of those themes. It seems that the ambition of Encyclopaedia Britannica is to show Hinduism inferior to Christianity, Islam, and Judaism.”

Britannica’s editors were responsive. Brian Duignan, Senior Editor of Philosophy and Religion, said that “We agree that the article is in need of revision. We are working now to identify a Hindu scholar to lead that revision.” Brian welcomed the thoughtful criticism and reassured Hindus about Britannica’s approach to religious subjects, “We don’t expect to please everyone–balance by nature will always disappoint some people–but we weigh all earnest criticism seriously, especially when it reflects as much work and thought as yours. We agree with your premise that all religions should be treated with equal respect and that this can be achieved without compromising scholarly standards.”

The revision, Britannica says, will take some time. You can read Amit Raj Dhawan’s submission to Britannica clicking here.
(HPI)

Six-Part Video Showcases Ancient India’s Achievements

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgf86k8C62g“>www.youtube.com
This well-made British video explores many of ancient India’s impressive
achievements. Many people still do not realize that it was India that gave the world the concept of zero and developed the modern decimal numbering system, the digits zero through nine. This system (later mislabeled as Arabic in origin) made calculations much easier and led to advances in many fields, including astronomy, navigation and business. When the system finally reached Europe, in the 13th century, the Catholic church responded by pronouncing it the work of the devil–and mathematicians who used it were burned at the stake.

The great cities of the Harappan civilization, such as Mohenjodaro and Dholavira, were constructed over 4,000 years ago on carefully designed plans; each house had a well, washroom and lavatory, draining into a sophisticated sewage system that ran underneath every street in town. These people were among the most technically advanced of all ancient civilizations.

India’s early metalworkers used techniques unknown to the rest of the world, such as the “lost wax” method of casting figures and the art of making iron rust-free. In the medical field, India pioneered cataract surgery, plastic surgery and inoculation to prevent smallpox; she gave the world ayurveda, from which Western medicine has gained much, and yoga, which has been shown to be helpful in a wide range of medical conditions. India’s cotton cloth was so finely made that the ancient Greeks and Romans often mistook it for silk. India’s original dyeing techniques produced a stunning array of colors from which her weavers created masterpieces of design, and cotton cloth from India was traded all over the world.

The point is very nicely made that India’s science has always been closely allied with her religion. It is important to perform one’s religious rituals promptly at specified times and to select an auspicious day for an important task. In Jaipur is a huge, brilliantly engineered stone observatory built in the early 18th century, with a wide variety of astronomical instruments including a massive sundial that tells time accurately to the minute. But of course, sundials aren’t much help at night or on overcast days. India also developed a water clock so that people could perform their religious rituals as required, regardless of whether the sun was visible.
(HPI)

Nothing different so far. Life is flowing like a river and I feel like a flower going along with the flow. I expect nothing more than that.

First New Zealand Hindu Youth Conference

Source: mailto:indu.nz@gmail.com
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND, May 2, 2009: The first New Zealand Hindu Youth Conference, “Living in Modern New Zealand with Traditional Values,” was held May 2, 2009 in Mangere, Auckland. The conference was organized by the Hindu Youth Foundation, a division of the Hindu Council of New Zealand Inc, with enthusiastic support from the Hindu Elders Foundation.

Over 130 delegates, including six parliamentarians, participated in the conference. All were welcomed in the traditional Hindu way by placing a tilak on their forehead, and the conference started with lighting of the lamps by special guests. Maori elder Haare Williams blessed the conference with a Maori karakia (prayer and blessing) and Swami Vigyananand blessed the occasion with a Vedic prayer.

Speeches given by youth leaders Meena Lakshmanan, Nikita Sharma and Deepal Singh drew enthusiastic applause. Meena Lakshmanan pointed out that in terms of youth power “Hindu civilization is the youngest!” because 700 million Hindus are below the age of 35, 560 million are under 25, 350 million are under 19, and 250 million are under 14.

Workshops and youth meetings were held. In addition, the dynamic participants launched the New Zealand Hindu Students Forum, for university students.
(HPI)

New Balinese Hindu Temple in Belgium Brings Stones Halfway Across the World

Source: blog.baliwww.com
BELGIUM, May 19, 2009: Good news for Balinese Hindus came from Belgium. A new Balinese Hindu temple was completed in Paradisio Parc. This new temple was established in a 135-acre park owned by Eric Domb, a Belgian who has deep affection to Bali. Though the construction has been completed, the inauguration ceremony (pemelapas) has not been conducted yet, so Balinese Hindus can not pray in this temple yet. This temple will be opened for public next year.

This new temple in Belgium is the biggest Balinese Hindu temple outside Indonesia. The first stage of construction started in August 2007 until January 2008, the second stage started in April 2008 until August 2008. 30 artists and 300 containers of building materials, mostly stones, were brought from Bali for the construction of this temple.

Looking at the photos of this new temple, Balinese can easily mistake this temple for Gelap temple in Besakih, also made of black porous stone.

Visitors can discover particular temples in the complex. The Pura Agung Santi Bhuwan shrine is said to evoke harmony, serenity, prosperity and happiness. In the Pura Bunga, the temple of flowers, visitors experience the animist aspects of Balinese Hinduism that emphasizes life in all things. The park also features a 14-acre sanctuary for elephants called “The Kingdom of Ganesha.”

This new temple in Belgium will be an oasis for Balinese and followers of Balinese Hindu faith who live in Europe to alleviate homesick for the paradise island of Bali. You can see a video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5RwF3pyaaw&feature=related
(HPI)

Belgian City Plans “Veggie Days”

Source: news.bbc.co.uk
GHENT, BELGIUM, May 2009: The Belgian city of Ghent is about to become the first in the world to go vegetarian at least once a week. [HPI note: of course, many Indian towns and maybe cities are completely vegetarian all the time following their tradition, religion and culture. But Ghent is making an effort toward vegetarianism while immersed in a western context.]

Starting this week there will be a regular weekly meatless day, in which civil servants and elected councillors will opt for vegetarian meals.

Ghent means to recognise the impact of livestock on the environment. The UN says livestock is responsible for nearly one-fifth of global greenhouse gas emissions, hence Ghent’s declaration of a weekly “veggie day”.

Public officials and politicians will be the first to give up meat for a day. Schoolchildren will follow suit with their own veggie day in September. It is hoped the move will cut Ghent’s environmental footprint and help tackle obesity.
(HPI)