Source ALLAHABAD, INDIA, February 1, 2013 (Wall Street Journal): For up to 80 million pilgrims–think 10 New York Cities–a Hindu festival now taking place on the banks of the Ganges River in Allahabad, India, is a chance to wash away their sins under ideal astrological conditions. For Suresh Dwivedi, chief medical officer at what is called the Kumbh Mela, the…
Source Every two miles the water doth change, and every four the dialect.— Hindi proverb on India’s languages
Source NEW DELHI, INDIA, February 2, 2013 (India Times): Young Muslim women in India, and even Pakistan, can be increasingly seen sporting the chooda (red bangles), mangalsutra (thaali) and often the sindoor (kumkum powder). And they see no taboo in it, taking it as a fashion statement, something that adds to their “just married” look. “Wearing a chooda doesn’t make…
Source ORLAND, FLORIDA, February 5, 2013: Fifty years after they began arriving from India, the first generation of Indian-Americans is retiring and finding itself in a quandary. Although many have the resources to live comfortably in retirement, some still depend on their children and suffer from social isolation as they navigate old age in an adopted country. The problem is…
Source ALLAHABAD, INDIA, February 5, 2013: The much-anticipated visit of Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama to the ongoing Maha Kumbh has been finally called off despite security clearance given by the Uttar Pradesh government for his two-day visit. Senior Superintendent of Police Mohit Agrawal said, “We have received information that the Dalai Lama is pre-occupied till February 15 and, if…
Source To say “through silence He is realized” is not correct, because Supreme Knowledge does not come “through” anything. Supreme Knowledge reveals Itself. — Anandamayi Ma
Source PRAYAG, INDIA, February 1, 2013: Available at source above is a complete map of the Kumbha Mela with the site of each religious organization marked. You can click on government offices, police, health, fire stations, general amenitites, banking, santha (where the sadhus are), ghat and shops.
Source ALLAHABAD, INDIA, January 2013 (The Hindu): It’s two days to the first auspicious dip at the Kumbh mela. The fair’s lost-and-found bureau is not open for business — the tin sheds and canvas tents are up, but it isn’t yet hooked up to the 4,000-odd public address speakers spread around the confluence of the Ganga and the Yamuna that…
Source The sages, being filled with universal love for all beings, did not want to keep their enlightenment to themselves. They declared to all: “O mortals, striving and struggling upon this Earth plane, weeping, wailing, buffeted by the vicissitudes of life: we have come upon a great discovery. There is something beyond these appearances, these vanishing names and forms that…
KAUAI, HAWAII, January 30, 2013: Hinduism Today’s team, correspondent Rajiv Malik and photographer Thomas Kelly are settled in for the next ten days at the Kumbha Mela. They report it is an inspiring event spread over a huge area–for a few days it will be one of the largest cities in the world! We are trying to reach a wide…