• India comes alive at Achariya Bala Siksha Mandir
• Indian pilgrims in Pakistan to participate in festival
• Taj set to enter new 7 Wonders

• Preserving the roots of Indian Culture
• Pak tohire Indian pundit
• Austin gets its first Hindu temple

Joint Director of Tribal Welfare V. China Veerabhadrudu has called for preserving tribal literature in its various forms, as the roots of Indian culture lie in `adivasi' life and traditions. Though tribals constitute just 6.59 per cent of the population in the State, their ways of living and expression are uniquely different from all others, he said, addressing the inaugural meeting of a two-day national conference on `Tribal literature and culture' at Maris Stella College here on Monday. Prof. Veerabhadrudu said tribals constituted only 8 per cent of the total population of the country as per the 2001 Census. But States like Punjab, Haryana and Delhi had no traces of tribal presence at all.

Special provisions
Mr. Veerabhadrudu pointed out that special provisions had been made for protecting the rights of tribals in the country and even the British had underscored this vital necessity. He drew attention to the fact that the first resistance to the British Raj came from tribals. Jayadheer Tirumala Rao, director of Oriental Manuscripts Library & Research Institute, said tribals would consider loss of land as loss of their culture. Some manuscripts had been found in tribal pockets and it showed that the tribals paid reasonable attention to recording their skills in various fields, including medicinal plants. Prof. Rao said there was a strong element of human and natural approach in the ways and manner of tribal life. This life was coming under threat due to irrigation projects and efforts should be made to give them protection in this respect. Dhulipalla Ramakrishna, coordinator of the seminar, said tribals had made a lot of contribution to modern life in their own way. He stressed the need for taking a close view of tribal agitations and find out the real reasons for this, so as to provide lasting solutions. Maris Stella College principal Theresiamma, correspondent Bala and others were present.

Courtesy: www.hindu.com, February 20, 2007

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The Achariya Bala Siksha Mandir (Uppalam campus) came alive during the school's two-day project work exhibition held this weekend. Children of the KG classes welcomed visitors to classrooms decorated with various themes from States like Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab and Tamil Nadu. The children, who wore the traditional dress of each State, also presented a traditional dance number. They displayed charts displaying the language of the State and the important locations and festivals. Some classes in the CBSE section chose topics like health, water and agriculture and decorated their rooms accordingly. Each child had an explanation, if not an exhibit, to offer. "The students were taken to a water purifying plant to show them how it really worked. They had incorporated details from the visit in the presentation," said J. Arawindan, chief mentor, Achariya Group of institutions.

St Joseph of Cluny's Swarnalatha, of Standard XI C, participated in the Southern India Science Fair held at Hubli and won a special Industrial prize for her exhibit - `Smoke Purifier'. Students of Standard VII - IX and XI were taken to visit the Coast Guard's Hovercraft stationed here. Students of Standard VII had a session on "The importance of their identity - Character", students of Standard VIII on "What is fear and how to overcome stress?" and students of Standard X on "Winning Strategies". The valedictory function of the YCS / YSM (Young Student's Movement) was held on February 16. National co-ordinator of the YCS / YSM Jane was chief guest. The 86 members of this movementenacted creative skits and depicted their motto through banners and placards. They resolved themselves `to see, judge and act', which is also the motto of the movement. The Foundation Stone for "A Centre for Wholeness - Cluny Prashanth Vanam" was laid on February 19. The Tamil Nadu Board practical examinations were conducted for Plus Two students in biology, physics, chemistry and computer science. 277 Petit Seminaire students appeared. A special mass was held on February 9. Principal S. Antonisamy and Robert, parish priest of Our Lady of Lourdes, Villianur participated. Students of Standard VIII, along with six teachers, went on an educational trip to Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Kallanai, Poondi and Tanjore Brahadeeswara temple. The 23rd Venkatarangar Memorial State level Karate tournament was held on February 11. A total of 35 students of Petit Seminaire won prizes in the first, second and third categories. They were honoured by V. Vaithialingam, Minister for Agriculture, in the presence of Karate Thiagarajan of the All India Karate Association. The school was declared as the best institution in karate for the second time consecutively. St. Patrick Matriculation Higher Secondary School won the R. Venkataranga Reddiar Memorial Trophy for the second consecutive year. It bagged a total of 25 prizes in various categories. In the same function, Mr. Thiagarajan conferred the Black Belt Awards. Shreya Agarwal of the school received the 2nd Level Black Belt. Ten other students from the same school received black belts in the function.

Courtesy: www.hindu.com, February 20, 2007

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Efforts are underway to bring a priest from India to take care of the ancient Katas Raj temples in Pakistan's Punjab province where hundreds of Hindu pilgrims attended a festival. The temple was the scene of hectic activity over the past two days with hundreds of Hindu pilgrims offering prayers there on the occasion of Shivratri. Sardari Lal Gosvami, secretary general of the Temple Council of India, Sanatam Dharam Pertindhti Sabha Punjab, who led the Indian pilgrims said efforts are underway for bringing a 'pundit' from India permanently. He said the only problems they were facing were a long-term visa for the 'pundit' and that there was no Hindu community near the temples. He said they were also considering sending 'pundits' every year or on monthly or bimonthly basis. Pundit Vanay Kumar Bansi, who led the prayers at the temple, told Daily Times that they wanted to send a 'pundit' from India because no 'pundit' belonging to a high caste was available in Pakistan. They also want a pundit from the same family that used to inhabit Katas Raj at the time when Katas was still the centre of Hindu worship. He said he was one such heir and was being appointed to lead the worship at these temples for three years now. According to another proposal, a 'pundit' could be posted at the temples who could spend the week in the Hindu community of Lahore and come to the temples every Sunday or for special worship days.

Courtesy: www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com, February 18, 2007

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Indian pilgrims arrived in Pakistan to take part in a Hindu festival for the first time since partition at the ancient Katas Raj temple near Chinot in Punjab province. At least 180 pilgrims reached Lahore Thursday by the 'samjhota Express' to take part in Jirgrattan festival at the temple situated on top of a hill named Saidan Shah, about 120 kms from Islamabad. The temple has special significance and mention in the ancient Hindu and Sikh scriptures. "The Hindu pilgrims have arrived and will travel to the temple near Islamabad on Friday," a railways official said. "The pilgrims have been given a warm welcome and we are making them comfortable," he said. The Punjab chief minister, Pervez Ellahi, who visited the temple to see the arrangements, said the festival would bring the people of the two countries closer. "The temple is being restored with the government patronage. It is our effort in the ongoing peace process with India," Elahi said. "In the past Hindus have been visiting the temple privately but this is the first time the festival is being held officially on such a grand-scale since independence," Maqbool Jan, director-general of the Punjab Archaeology Department told agencies. The Katas Raj temple is being restored and renovated by Pakistani archaeologists who travelled to India to study modern renovation techniques that are being used in the USD 1.8 mn renovation project under government patronage. India's former Deputy Prime Minister L. K. Advani had visited the temple during his Pakistan tour in 2005 and called for its restoration due to its significance for Hindus.

Courtesy: www.zeenews.com, February 15, 2007

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Texas' Austin city has got its first Hindu temple and community centre. The 76-acre temple and community centre cost $15 million, funded mostly by donations from the Hindu community and some from corporations such as Dell Inc. 'The centre is available to everyone. There are only a few restrictions, which include no meat, no alcohol and no shoes,' said Harish Kotecha, treasurer of the centre. Earlier, the Hindu community of Austin had to move from facility to facility for daily ceremonies and cultural activities. Hundreds of people attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony Sunday by Senator John Cornyn. 'The great thing about this culture is that it is not exclusionary, it is inclusive,' Cornyn said. 'People are welcomed without regard to religion, nationality or race.' He said the Indian-American community in Texas was well educated and productive and would enrich the culture and the quality of life in Austin. The centre will offer educational classes that will include teachings on discipline in life and Hinduism, according to the Daily Texan newspaper. 'The classes will teach about why we practise Hinduism,' said Jagannath Vedula, a religious coordinator. Austin Mayor Will Wynn, who also spoke at the event, said the temple would help people be more aware of the diversity of Austin and its importance economically, academically and spiritually. 'It is a great way to bring us all together,' said Sujata Ghosh, a medical student.

Courtesy: www.earthtimes.org, February 13, 2007

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The Taj Mahal appears set to figure among the new seven Wonders of the World, with votes polled across the world so far placing it among the top seven candidates for the title. People from around the world are voting to choose the new seven wonders of the world, and the Taj is ranked among the top seven of 21 monuments on the basis of votes cast as of January 31. The 17th century monument of love built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan does not need a certificate of popularity, but it made it to the grand finale of the multimedia competition to choose the new seven wonders. The competition started with 77 monuments in the fray, and this was brought down to 21 in the final phase of the New7Wonders campaign. According to New7wonders.com, the website of the organisers of the campaign, the Taj is among the top seven monuments, and the other would-be new wonders including the Colosseum, the Great Wall of China, Machu Picchu, Petra, the Pyramids of Giza and the statues of Eastern Island. As part of a world tour by the organisers to popularise the voting campaign, a hi-tech New7Wonders airship had soared over the marvel in white marble on December five, 2006. The world tour started at the Acropolis as a tribute to the ancient Greek origin of the wonders of the world concept. The new wonders of the world will be announced at a official declaration ceremony at Lisbon in Portugal on July seven.

Courtesy: www.expressindia.com, February 1, 2007

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