Tuesday, August 18, 2009

"Let (US) All Say Aum"

Lisa Miller wrote an article in the Newsweek titled "We are all Hindus now". The article talks about the change in mindset among the Americans regarding religion. Looks like its time for US.... I mean United States to say Aum. Excerpts from the article are below:

America is not a Christian nation. We are, it is true, a nation founded by Christians, and according to a 2008 survey, 76 percent of us continue to identify as Christian (still, that's the lowest percentage in American history). A million-plus Hindus live in the United States, a fraction of the billion who live on Earth.

A Hindu believes there are many paths to God.The most traditional, conservative Christians have not been taught to think like this. They learn in Sunday school that their religion is true, and others are false. According to a 2008 Pew Forum survey, 65 percent of us believe that "many religions can lead to eternal life"-including 37 percent of white evangelicals, the group most likely to believe that salvation is theirs alone!

Thirty percent of Americans call themselves "spiritual, not religious," according to a 2009 NEWSWEEK Poll, up from 24 percent in 2005. Says Stephen Prothero, religion professor at Boston University "It isn't about orthodoxy. It's about whatever works. If going to yoga works, great-and if going to Catholic mass works, great. And if going to Catholic mass plus the yoga plus the Buddhist retreat works, that's great, too."

24 percent of Americans say they believe in reincarnation, according to a 2008 Harris poll. So agnostic are we about the ultimate fates of our bodies that we're burning them-like Hindus-after death. More than a third of Americans now choose cremation, according to the Cremation Association of North America, up from 6
percent in 1975.

So let us all say "Om."

Source:
Newsweek

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Fete de Ganesh in Paris

Taking place on August 30th, Fete de Ganesh is Paris' version of the Notting Hill Carnival and is a colourful and entertaining celebration of the arts. The event centres around the Sri Manicka Vinayakar Alayam Temple, in the Little India district of the city.

Spectators can expect to hear Indian music and see costumed dancers and street entertainers, who traditionally carry an arch made of peacock feathers and flowers above their heads. Dancers also carry terracotta pots filled with burning camphor.

Thousands of coconuts are smashed on the streets during the procession, which, according to festival organisers, is an offering to the gods and symbolises the world and human egos. Sweets, cold drinks and blessed gifts are distributed to spectators as the statue of Ganesha is carried through the city.

Source: www.pr-inside.com