Source: Los Angeles Times

http://www.latimes.com/features/religion/la-me-beliefs3jan03,1,2771185.story?coll=la-news-religion

On January 3, 2004 the Los Angeles Times reported that members of the Konko Church of Los Angeles celebrated the new year with a purifying ceremony using elements of an ancient Japanese ritual "aimed at clearing out the negative energies of the past... Although New Year's Day has become a secular...

Source: Helena Independent Record

http://www.helenair.com/articles/2004/01/03/helena_top/a01010304_05.txt

On January 3, 2004 the Helena Independent Record reported, "After two days of labor, Subhashini Sakthivel gave birth Thursday to Helena's first child of 2004 at St. Peter's Hospital...Originally from Madurai, India, this is the first child for the Sakthivels." The article discusses how the Indian couple adapted to different American customs such...

Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/0104/02barrow.html

On January 2, 2004 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported, "Another religious display has been set up in the Barrow County Courthouse. The latest display includes alternate versions of the Ten Commandments, Hindu stories, Buddhist teachings, excerpts from the Quran and writings defining agnosticism. It has been placed across a breezeway from a Ten Commandments...

Source: The Union Leader

http://www.theunionleader.com/articles_showa.html?article=30990

On January 2, 2004 The Union Leader reported that the Saraswati Mandiram Hindu temple caught fire in Epping Wednesday night. The fire was likely sparked by an electrical problem. Nine figures of Hindu gods and goddesses were ruined in the blaze.

Source: ZENIT News Agency

http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=46903

On January 1, 2004 ZENIT News Agency reported, "Sri Lanka hopes to introduce a law that will limit conversions from one religion to another, the country's Minister of Religious Affairs announced. The Colombo government will promote a legislative disposition directed to those who use a variety of 'incentives' to convince others to change their religion. 'More than 7,000 Hindus, from the...

Source: North Shore Magazine

http://www.northshoremag.com/cgi-bin/ns-article?articlewhat=articles/01-04-monsoon_wedding.dat

On January 1, 2004 North Shore Magazine published an article on traditional Indian wedding ceremonies: "Like the festivities depicted in last year's award-winning film Monsoon Wedding — which introduced Western audiences to a typical, upper-middle-class Hindu wedding ceremony — the entire affair is not...

Source: Hinduism Today

Source: The Dallas Morning News

http://www.dallasnews.com/religion/stories/122703dnrelconnect.ed78.html

On December 26, 2003 The Dallas Morning News published a profile on Mike Ghouse, the host of Dallas' new "The Multi-Faith Radio Program," weekdays at 6 a.m. on KBIS-AM (1150) and KYNG-AM (950). Each day, Gouse "interviews a guest from a local religious community, with the goal of helping his listeners learn to 'cherish and respect every which way...

Source: The Kansas City Star

http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/7557392.htm

On December 23, 2003 The Kansas City Star published an article in which a Hindu and Muslim answered the question: "Are people of other faiths offended when this country is referred to as Judeo-Christian?" Kris Krishna,a member of the Hindu community, agrees in her response that America is Judeo-Christian but adds:"Only a naive person should think this is used to give Judeo-Christian...

Source: The Argus

http://www.theargusonline.com/Stories/0,1413,83~1971~1847179,00.html

On December 22, 2003 The Argus reported on how Hindus in the Bay Area are celebrating Christmas day. A temple and spiritual center where many Tri-City Hindus worship -- the Badarikashrama in San Leandro -- sponsors a Christmas program each year on Dec. 25. Celebrations will include not Christmas music, but with a concert featuring vocalists trained by gurus, an...

Source: The Morning Call

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-a1_5religionsdec22,0,2875692.story?coll=all-newslocal-hed

On December 22, 2003 The Morning Call reported on the increased religious diversity in Lehigh Valley, noting that practitioners of India's four major faiths — Hinduism, Jain, Sikh and Buddhism all share a temple in Hanover Township, Northampton County. The shared use of sacred space is "an amazingly successful...

Source: Yahoo! News

Source: Maclean's

http://www.macleans.ca/topstories/life/article.jsp?content=20031222_71973_71973

On December 19, 2003 Maclean's ran a feature section on how different faiths celebrate or recognize Christmas in Canada. Stories included an article from a woman reflecting on her attempt to explain what Santa Claus has to do with the birth of Jesus ("my six-year-old daughter is still trying to sort out some relationship issues. To wit: if Santa...

Source: The Times of India

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/xml/uncomp/articleshow?msid=360962

On December 16, 2003 The Times of India reported, "Standing side by side on the corner of a road at IS Sadan, Saidabad, a temple and a masjid have become a lasting example of communal harmony in the bustling locality. A deep and long-standing friendship between the purohit and the mouzan has made that possible. The mouzan, Syed Pahelwan Ali...

Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-phindu15dec15,0,786745.story?coll=sfla-news-palm

On December 15, 2003 South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported that about 100 worshippers met at a private residence in Lakeworth to celebrate the installation of a 800-pound marble statue of Hanuman, a Hindu monkey god central to the ancient epic, Ramayan,in their local temple on Lantana...