Source: Brigham Young University Newsnet

http://newsnet.byu.edu/story.cfm/46394

On October 26, 2003 Brigham Young University Newsnet reported that "the Festival of Lights, the largest festival in India, filled the Hare Krishna Temple in Spanish Fork on Saturday, Oct. 25, with many celebrators. 'The India Fest is the biggest event at this temple, but as far as traditional festivals are concerned, Diwali is India's biggest festival, like what Christmas is to the Western world,' said...

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/south_east/3214137.stm

On October 26, 2003 the BBC News reported on celebrations of Diwali in the UK: "On Friday more than 150 people attended a ceremony at Caerphilly, south Wales, to worship the goddess Kali. The event marked the first day of the religious festival, one of the most important of the year for Hindus, Jains and Sikhs. And the festivities will culminate when more than 300 members of...

Source: Des Moines Register

http://www.dmregister.com/news/stories/c4788998/22595726.html

On October 26, 2003 the Des Moines Register reported that "Fireworks lit up the sky over the Hindu Temple in rural Granger Saturday as Hindus celebrated Diwali. The festival is the most important Hindu celebration, said Mani Bonthala, president of the temple's executive committee... In past years, Hindu families celebrated Diwali in their homes. However, construction of a...

Source: Guyana Chronicle

http://www.guyanachronicle.com/ARCHIVES/archive%20%2026-10-03.html#Anchor-13933

On October 26, 2003 the Guyana Chronicle reported that "hundreds of Guyanese lined the streets of Georgetown and the East Coast Public Road to view the annual Deepavali motorcade, and many more turned up at the La Bonne Intention (LBI) Community Centre Ground where the magnificently illuminated floats were judged...

Source: rediff.com

http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/oct/24us1.htm

On October 25, 2003 rediff.com reported that "Indians celebrated Diwali for the first time ever at the White House with President George W Bush's chief political advisor Karl Rove presiding over the festivities in the Indian Treaty Room. Rove, who is often referred to as the president's 'prime minister', lit the symbolic brass lamp inaugurating the festivities on Thursday evening in which some 70 select members...

Source: Brunswick News

Source: Public Broadcasting Service

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/week708/belief.html

On October 24, 2003 Public Broadcasting Service spoke with Kamanashish Chakraborty, a founding member of the Washington Kali Temple in Burtonsville, Maryland, on the Hindu goddess Kali, who represents opposites such as life and death, creation and destruction. Chakraborty said that "'goddess Kali we consider to be the prime cosmic energy. She is the creator. She...

Source: icCoventry

http://iccoventry.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100localnews/content_objectid=13546535_method=full_siteid=50003_headline=-Strike-a-light-name_page.html

On October 23, 2003 icCoventry reported that "Diwali is to be celebrated in the city centre this week with a simple lighting ceremony. Foleshill is the traditional centre for Coventry's Diwali celebrations,...

Source: Times of India

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow?msid=247596

On October 23, 2003 Times of India reported that " the US Postal Service has issued a commemorative stamp on the occasion of Diwali... At a pre-Diwali event in Maryland, the US Postal Service launched a special 'festival of lights station' for a pictorial revocation of the postage stamp, which says 'Diwali Greetings' with a burning lamp on it...

Source: The Plain Dealer

http://www.cleveland.com/living/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/living/1066901629123710.xml

On October 23, 2003 The Plain Dealer discussed the recent revival of religious imagery and iconography in places of worship. According to the article, "the increasing religious diversity of the nation is exposing more people to the idea of how art can enhance spiritual reflection in homes and sanctuaries. Along the walls of...

Source: The Guardian

http://www.guardian.co.uk/russia/article/0,2763,1067931,00.html

On October 22, 2003 The Guardian [UK] reported that "Alfred Ford, a great-grandson of the motoring legend, Henry, has outraged the conservative Russian Orthodox Church with his plans to build a huge centre for Hare Krishna and Vedic religion worshippers in the centre of Moscow. The Orthodox Church, whose influence in Russia is rocketing since the fall of Communism eased...

Source: Hindustan Times

http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/5967_428411,001600060001.htm

On October 22, 2003 the Hindustan Times reported, "It's not just India that is revving up for Diwali. The festival spins joy and celebration in South Africa as well - and not just for its estimated 800,000 Hindus! The spirit of charity and goodwill that is so much a part of the festival of lights, better known in South Africa as Deepavali, cuts across communities....

Source: AllAfrica Global Media

http://allafrica.com/stories/200310210471.html

On October 21, 2003 AllAfrica Global Media posted a BuaNews article that reported, "President Thabo Mbeki is meeting with the representatives of the Presidential Religious Working Group in Pretoria today. The Presidency said the meeting sought to promote meaningful interaction between the government and religious communities. President Mbeki has met with the religious group before and a...

Source: Rediff

http://ushome.rediff.com/news/2003/oct/20can.htm

On October 20, 2003, Rediff reported that "over 300 Indo-Canadians, carrying placards and shouting slogans like 'give respect, get respect,' 'we want apology,' gathered in front of the Toronto Star building in downtown Toronto on Saturday. Led by leaders like Labhamal Sabharwal, president of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (Canada), Narendar Bhalla, president of Overseas Friends of BJP (Canada), Anil Sarangi, a...

Source: Hindustan Times

http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_424576,000600010002.htm

On October 19, 2003 the Hindustan Times ran a Press Trust of India article on the Ayodhya dispute which reported, "the Centre [government] said it was making efforts to hold talks between Hindu and Muslim leaders for an amicable settlement to the vexed Ayodhya imbroglio and expressed hope that the issue would be resolved within a year...Though the Centre has been...