Author: JOANNA VALLELY

Source: Edinburgh Evening News

http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=1486682006

MONKEYS and demons are set to invade the city centre tomorrow as part of the biggest ever celebration of the Hindu festival of Dusshera in Edinburgh.

Horse-drawn chariots, giant puppets and live music will add to the spectacular parade through the city centre, which has been compared to a Bollywood movie premiere.
...

Author: LARRY MITCHELL

Source: Chico Enterprise-Record

http://www.chicoer.com/newshome/ci_4456866

Harminder Bhogal, who was born in the Indian state of Punjab, enjoys almost everything about Chico.

"It's just our town -- a nice place to raise kids, much better than being in a busy city life," she said.

But one thing is missing.

"There's nothing happening in terms of (Indian) religion and culture," she said.

Bhogal is...

Source: Reuters

http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/internet/10/04/india.festival.web.reut/index.html

Thousands of Indians living abroad are logging on to religious Web sites in the run-up to the main Hindu festival of Diwali, courtesy of a stream of portals offering services like online praying and blessings.

October 20 marks the beginning of the three-day Hindu festival of light, and some of the millions of Indians living in countries like...

Source: Hindu University

http://www.hindu-university.edu/

Hindu University of America (HUA), located in Orlando, Florida, yesterday announced the appointment of Dr. T. R. (Narsimha) Rao as its new president. Dr. Rao assumed his duties on Vijaya-Dashami, an important Hindu festival day, which also is Gandhi Jayanti, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi. Mr. Shri Braham R. Aggarwal, the Chairman of the Board of HUA and Chairman of Park Square Homes in Orlando, said in welcoming Dr. Rao: “The...

Source: Yale Daily News

http://www.yaledailynews.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=33501

On October 2, 2006 the Yale Daily News reported, "The music is raucous, there is dancing in the aisles, and the band would not be complete without that clarinet. Dozens of polo shirt-clad students clap and stamp their feet singing the refrain. 'I will bless the Lord. Bless the Lord at all times!' This is the scene at the first All-Campus worship of the 2006-’07 school year, a...

Source: The Toledo Blade

http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061002/NEWS08/610020366

On October 2, 2006 The Toledo Blade reported, "Christians singing, dancing, and praying together with Hindus and Muslims. Mahatma Gandhi leading his followers in a protest against the British tax on salt. The Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., looking out to the crowd and bellowing, 'I have a dream.' This was the scene at Lourdes College's...

Source: Islamic Republic News Agency

http://www.irna.com/en/news/view/line-16/0610026962200532.htm

On October 2, 2006 the Islamic Republic News Agency reported, "Setting a perfect example of communal harmony, 23 Hindu prisoners, four of them women, of Bhagalpur Central Jail are observing [the] Ramadan fast along with Muslim inmates, jail sources said on Monday. A total of 303 inmates are observing [the] Ramadan fast in the high-security Bhagalpur Central Jail...

Source: MonstersAndCritics.com

Wire Service: IANS

http://news.monstersandcritics.com/india/article_1207395.php/Nation_remembers_Mahatma_Gandhi__Roundup_

On October 2, 2006 the Indo-Asian News Service reported, "With a Bollywood blockbuster spawning a new enthusiasm about Mahatma Gandhi, hundreds of youngsters joined politicians and diplomats in paying homage to the father of the nation on...

Source: KLTV

http://www.kltv.com/Global/story.asp?S=5484604

On October 2, 2006 KLTV reported, "Four times a day, Hindu devotees flock to Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, a spectacular temple erected not in India or Nepal, but in Stafford, Texas. 'We felt something divine about this particular location,' said temple member Nilkanth Patel. Hindus aren't the only ones drawn to Stafford. In a town with just one movie theater, two grocery stores, and 14 gas stations, there are 51...

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/5401122.stm

Idols of Hindu gods were immersed in the river Thames in west London, as hundreds from the Hindu Bengali community attended the ceremony.

This is the first time the community was allowed to give a traditional send-off to the deities by London's port authorities.

The idols, belonging to a tableau measuring 18ft by 20ft, were made from clay, straw and vegetable dyes....

Source: The Herald-Dispatch

http://www.herald-dispatch.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061002/NEWS01/61002004/1001/NEWS10

On October 2, 2006 The Herald-Dispatch reported, "Signs of hope, diversity and tolerance are the themes for the 2006 Festival of Diwali, presented by the Tristate India Association. The festival, also known as the Hindu Festival of Lights, is a good chance for the association to promote an understanding of...

Source: Your Hub

http://denver.yourhub.com/AURORASOUTH/Stories/Faith/General-Faith/Story~131986.aspx

On October 1, 2006 Your Hub reported, "Almost 300 people of different faiths and sects celebrate as God traveled to the Delmar Park in Aurora, Colorado. Perfect day, perfect setting and Pundit Dhruv Narain Sharma of Chicago made it still better by chanting the sacred mantras with Vedic fire invocation. Ninth day of Navratra's is the day...

Source: Hindu American Foundation press release

http://www.hinduamericanfoundation.org/media_press_release_dc2006.htm

On September 30, 2006 a Hindu American Foundation press release reported, "The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) concluded its third annual Government Outreach and Leadership Conference on September 28, 2006. Two days of individual meetings with over twenty-five senators and members of the House of Representatives, Department of Justice,...

Source: East Valley Tribune

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=75440

On September 30, 2006 the East Valley Tribune reported, "God goes by many names in Scottsdale, more so now than ever. The city’s growth has brought with it adherents of many faiths, who pray in their own ways and often in different languages. Some have reached a critical mass and have built their own houses of worship, in addition to the 81 Christian churches of various...

Source: Evening Star 24