ALBANY, NEW YORK, July 21, 2006: Sikh, Muslim, Buddhist, Jewish, Hindu, and Christian -- each faith has its holy days and schools across the country are asking how to respect them all. Consider the University at Albany, New York, which canceled classes on major Muslim holidays. The faculty wanted the move out of concern for Muslim students after the Sept. 11 attacks. But then came the questions: What about Hindus? Buddhists? University President Kermit Hall last fall decided to return to the original calendar. "Can you operate a university and give each religious group an accommodation? I think the answer is, 'No,'" he said. Make that "maybe." School administrators across the country are rethinking their calendars as their
student bodies become more diverse.
Some school districts now mark "special observance days" when no exams can be scheduled. Other districts find inspiration in the business world -- each student gets a number of "floating" days to celebrate his or her own holidays with an excused absence.'"Choose your own holiday' has become more popular," said Kathryn Lohre, assistant director of Harvard University's Pluralism Project, which studies diversity in religion. "It takes pressure off the school boards." New Jersey's board of education now lists 76 excused religious holidays, from Russian Orthodox to Sikh. New York City schools are even more flexible. Students with a letter from parents get an excused absence for a holiday in any religion.
Some school districts now mark "special observance days" when no exams can be scheduled. Other districts find inspiration in the business world -- each student gets a number of "floating" days to celebrate his or her own holidays with an excused absence.'"Choose your own holiday' has become more popular," said Kathryn Lohre, assistant director of Harvard University's Pluralism Project, which studies diversity in religion. "It takes pressure off the school boards." New Jersey's board of education now lists 76 excused religious holidays, from Russian Orthodox to Sikh. New York City schools are even more flexible. Students with a letter from parents get an excused absence for a holiday in any religion.
Hindu Press International <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
![Hindu Press International]()
July 23, 20061. Tirupati Declaration Protests Attempt to Limit Temple Area
TIRUPATI, INDIA, July 17, 2006: The controversial government order issued by the Andrha Pradesh State Government reportedly restricting the jurisdiction of the Tirumala Temple (TTD) to only 4 square miles around the shrine snowballed into such a major controversy that the sadhus and saints, and a number of pro-active Hindu organizations on Saturday converged in Tirupati to demand the immediate withdrawal of the contentious order. The row began with apprehension among devotees and various Hindu organizations that in the wake of the G.O., Tirumala would no longer remain the sacred 'Seven Hills' but would have to be content with only two hills as the remaining five would go out of its purview. A 'Sankallpa Diwas' (the day to take a pledge) was held under the banner of the Tirumala Tirupati Samrakashna Samithi with the Swamiji of Pejawar Mutt, Udipi to protest against the G.O. The meet also expressed its deep concern over the reported increase in Christian evan gelical activities at Tirumala and Tirupati. The meet cited a High Court ruling which said "the rights of Tirumala-Tirupati vest with Lord Venkateswara himself and the trust board and the E.O. are only trustees of the property. None can take any measures violating the right. All the seven hills fall under Tirumala." (W.P.No:25146 OF 1996-97 (2) ald 59 (db) DT.7.9. 96.
Besides Pejawar Swamiji, the summit was attended by Sri Dayananda Saraswati, founder of the Arsha Vidya Peetham, Varada Ramanuja Jeeyar from Uttar Pradesh and members of the fact finding committee. The meeting adopted five major resolutions and set August 9 as the deadline for the Government/TTD to remove all 'distortions' apparently referring to the 'Ayodhya Rath Yatra." The first resolution wants the State Government to enact a new law declaring that Tirumala meant 'Seven Hills' after duly rectifying the 'flaw' in its earlier G.O. The second resolution called upon the TTD to dismiss all non-Hindu staff members from Tirumala as, under the TTD manual, only Hindus should be appointed in the TTD. The meet expressed anguish that as many as 40 Christians posted as TTD employees were allegedly celebrating their festivals and religious activities on the hills. The meet criticized the State Government's move to convert Tirupati/Tirumala into a tourist destination. It also adopted a resolution demanding a ban on evangelical activities in the TTD-run educational and medical institutions.
2. Guru Purnima in Kathmandu
KATHMANDU, NEPAL, July 11, 2006: Guru Purnima, traditionally known as the day when a devotee honors their spiritual guru, takes on a different flavor in Kathmandu by honoring teachers. "Every year Guru Purnima (Teachers Day) is celebrated on the full moon day in the third week of Asad, the day when Lord Gautam Buddha imparted his sermons to his disciples in Sarnath, India. Since then teachers have found a special place in the hearts of their students," the news release explains. Students shower their teachers with special gifts, bouquets, dance performances, songs, speeches and delicacies. The article highlights some of the festivities, "Founder principal of the Academy Rishi Tiwari cut a cake while students offered flowers and tika to their teachers. Students of Mount Valley Boarding School at Matatirtha presented their talents to mark the day. Altogether 21 students presented spiritual drama 'Sirko Pida' in front of their teachers and guru of conscience Nar-Narayan Baba." Professor Padma Prasad Devkota, an English literature teacher, said that he started receiving calls from early morning with students wishing him a happy and prosperous life. President of Nepal International Taekwondo Federation and international instructor Krishna Bahadur Balal reported that more than 1,000 students wished him with the break of daylight and presented gifts.
3. Swami Dayanand Saraswathiji Urges Media to Defend the Hindu Dharma
CHENNAI, INDIA, June 26, 2006: In an event organized by Swami Dayanand Saraswathiji for the media, Swami recognized the problems that the media has in covering items pertinent to the Hindu dharma, tradition and culture. He also asked them to report the news in such a way that they are champions for the Hindu Dharma. Swami specifically addressed the issue of conversion and said, "The Pope is concerned when Catholics get converted by other sects of Christianity like Seventh Day Adventist, Jehovah's witnesses or Pentecostals. But he forgets that he is reaping what he had sown. Our culture is under attack. In some missionary schools, girls are discouraged from sporting bindi on their foreheads or tucking flowers in their hair. If the practice of one religion involves the destruction of another religion, we cannot accept it. The communists and the Congress are playing vote- bank politics. It is unfortunate that the media is a silent witness to all this. The media has a responsibility to present the truth. It has to shape the public opinion and be the watchdog of the society." For the full news release, refer to the URL noted under "Source" above.
4. Chinmaya Mission Opens Center in Bakersfield
BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA, July 9, 2006: The Chinmaya Mission Worldwide celebrated another milestone on July 9, 2006 with the opening of Chinmaya Mission Bakersfield. It now has 243 mission centers around the globe. The mission activities were originally started in India in 1951 by Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda. After attaining his Mahasamadhi in 1993, the mission has been carried forward by Gurudev Swami Tejomayananda. The inauguration of the new center in Bakersfield was graced with an opening address by Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayanandaji who gave upadesh on two topics, "Instead of trying to improve the world, change yourself. When you change, the world around you will change," and "Serve others - that is the only way to make this world a better place. " Several other Acharyas of the mission were in attendance as well as religious leader Mohan Priyacharyaji Maharaj from Kalimpong, West Bengal, and representatives from other religious organizations in Bakersfield. Political leaders from the community expressed their appreciation to the Hindu community and they emphasized the United States Constitution's right to practise one's own religion. The news release by the Anil Mehta, President of the mission, explains, "The activities in Bakersfield were first started by Guruji in 1992. Since then the Chinmaya family has continued to grow. The seed planted in 1992 has borne fruit today in this beautiful new center. The building has a main hall seating 400 people and Krishna with cow as a Deity. It has 8 classrooms, Acharya quarters, dining lounge, library, and office. It has weekly Balvihar and various adult study groups, yoga and meditation classes, Hindi and Gujarati classes, and gita chanting. Celebration of Hindu festivals are some of the other activities. Chinmaya Bakersfield also organizes an annual seminar on Meditation and Stress Management related topics in collaboration with Bakersfield Memorial Hospital."
5. New Trend for Schools - Students Choose Their Own Holidays?
ALBANY, NEW YORK, July 21, 2006: Sikh, Muslim, Buddhist, Jewish, Hindu, and Christian -- each faith has its holy days and schools across the country are asking how to respect them all. Consider the University at Albany, New York, which canceled classes on major Muslim holidays. The faculty wanted the move out of concern for Muslim students after the Sept. 11 attacks. But then came the questions: What about Hindus? Buddhists? University President Kermit Hall last fall decided to return to the original calendar. "Can you operate a university and give each religious group an accommodation? I think the answer is, 'No,'" he said. Make that "maybe." School administrators across the country are rethinking their calendars as their student bodies become more diverse.
Some school districts now mark "special observance days" when no exams can be scheduled. Other districts find inspiration in the business world -- each student gets a number of "floating" days to celebrate his or her own holidays with an excused absence.'"Choose your own holiday' has become more popular," said Kathryn Lohre, assistant director of Harvard University's Pluralism Project, which studies diversity in religion. "It takes pressure off the school boards." New Jersey's board of education now lists 76 excused religious holidays, from Russian Orthodox to Sikh. New York City schools are even more flexible. Students with a letter from parents get an excused absence for a holiday in any religion.
NOTICE: Some source URLs cited in HPI articles are only valid on the date the article was issued. Most are invalid a week to a few months later. When a URL fails to work, go to the top level of the source's website and search for the article.Daily Inspiration
Our peace of mind increases in spite of suffering; we become braver and more enterprising; we understand more clearly the difference between what is everlasting and what is not; we learn how to distinguish between what is our duty and what is not. Our pride melts away and we become humble. Our worldly attachments diminish and, likewise, the evil within us diminishes from day to day. Mahatma GandhiOpportunities and Submissions
Please send us URLs to super Hindu web sites that inspire you.
Individuals and organizations are invited to submit Hindu-related news and announcements for distribution by HPI.News is our major thrust--the more current and global, the better. When sending news to HPI, please provide the source and text of the original item, either by e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] or by fax to 808-822-4351. News should clearly relate to the Hindu religion.For announcements, please prepare a short summary of the subject and provide a URL to a web page with details. For example, "Swamiji will be visiting San Francisco November 14-19 and Ann Arbor, Michigan, November 21-23, 2006. For further information visit www.swamiswami.org. Alternatively, one could provide an e-mail address. Acceptable subjects for announcements include significant world tours of religious leaders, major events of organizations, major cultural exhibitions and outstanding artistic performances.
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