Fw: HPI, January 21, 2005

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-"Hindu Press InternationalHindu Press International" HPI, January 21, 2005Fri, 21 Jan 2005 12:46:02 -1000Yogacharya Dr.Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani

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Today's Stories:

1. Court Allows withdrawal Of Notification On Tiruvannamalai Temple

2. Pongal Festival " Bull Fighting " a Dangerous Task

3. Chaos At Press Conference for Evangelist Benny Hinn's Bangalore

Program

 

1. Court Allows withdrawal Of Notification On Tiruvannamalai Temple

http://athens-olympics-2004.newkerala.com/?action=fullnews & id=62504

 

NEW DELHI, INDIA, January 20, 2005: The Supreme court Thursday

permitted the central government to withdraw an Archaeological Survey

of India (ASI) notification declaring Tamil Nadu's Arunachaleswarar

temple a national heritage monument. While granting permission, judges

Y. K. Sabharwal and P. P. Naolekar told Additional Solicitor General B.

Dutta to submit in four weeks whether the government had any other

proposal for protection and conservation of the temple. The ASI had

declared the temple at Tiruvannamalai, dedicated to Lord Siva, a

heritage monument in September, 2002. In its affidavit, the government

said following the ASI notification, a number of objections were

received and there had been widespread protests by the people of

Tiruvannamalai, devotees and others in Tamil Nadu. They had objected

that the notification was ill-conceived and went against the temple's

sanctity. Considering the objections, the government decided to

withdraw the notification.

 

Describing the central government's scheme as " ill-conceived and

unsuitable, " the Tamil Nadu government said the proposal attempted to

highlight the temple and the town as a tourist center, forgetting the

religious aspects involved. The state government said the temple was

governed by provisions of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments

Act, a complete code not only for the management and preservation of

such shrines but also for preservation of their properties. If the

temple's ancient nature and crowded manner in which Tiruvannamalai had

developed were the reasons for the ASI to lend its protective cover,

then many temples in India ought to have come under the ASI, the state

government said.

 

2. Pongal Festival " Bull Fighting " a Dangerous Task

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4188611.stm

 

TAMIL NADU, INDIA, January 21, 2005: Bullfighting is usually thought of

as a Spanish entertainment, but in the southern Indian state of Tamil

Nadu a local variation is growing in popularity. It also appears to be

becoming more dangerous. Bullfighting, or jallikattu as it is known

here, is centred on two villages near the town of Madurai. Its

exponents say it is thousands of years old. Hundreds of bulls are

released one at a time into a large open space. Each bull has prizes

and valuables tied to its horns. The contestants have to get close

enough to the bulls to grab the prizes. And that often involves

grappling with the bulls. One key difference with Spanish bullfighting

is that the bulls in Tamil Nadu are not intentionally killed. They are

only " tamed " so that participants can help themselves to the prizes.

The fights are held during the annual harvest festival, known as

Pongal.

 

This year five people were killed and more than 200 injured during the

fights. Taming the bulls is not easy. The bulls are often frenzied and

alarmed, ferociously removing anyone brave - or stupid - enough to

stand directly in their way. Because the bullfighting does not take

place in a stadium, inevitably those taking part and those watching are

often injured as the bulls rush into the crowd. The best technique is

to cling on for dear life to the bull's horns as the beasts vigorously

try to shake off the raiders.

 

Animal rights campaigners say it is a grisly sport, which results in

many bulls being tortured and harassed. But organizers argue that

bullfighting is an ancient and sacrosanct Indian tradition. " This is a

sport which has been here for more than 2000 years, " says R. Raghupathi

who organizes the annual event. " We have descriptions of such events in

our ancient literature... in those days women married only those who

were able to tame the bulls and show their valor. " It is an integral

part of Tamil culture. " Mr. Raghupathi denies the animals are

mistreated or harmed in any way. As word of Tamil Nadu's bullfighting

spreads, more and more tourists are coming every year, with travel

agents even organizing package deals.

 

3. Chaos At Press Conference for Evangelist Benny Hinn's Bangalore

Program

http://www.rss.org/New_RSS/News/NewsDetail.jsp

 

BANGALORE, INDIA, January 21, 2005: There was a total chaos in the

press meet organized by the committee of " Pray for India and Festival

of Blessing " (Benny Hinn's Program) in Bangalore. This colorful report

from the Hindu activist RSS news service ( " source " ) reads, in part:

 

The program organizers Gul Kriplani, Paul Thangaiah, former DGP Kolaso,

Ruban, Satyavrat and Samuel spoke about the objectives of Benny Hinn's

program to be organized in the city of 21st of this month. After all

this, question/answer session started: First a Hindu Voice

Representative questioned about the handbills which has been

distributed throughout Bangalore city in which it has targeted Hindus

as followers of idol worship, prostitution, black magic, etc. and

advised to accept Jesus as the only God. Gul Kriplani evades the

question by saying that it is not their pamphlet and they have nothing

to do with that. He demanded a copy of the leaflet to be produced

immediately and said that whosoever is responsible action will be taken

against him. Suddenly a media person presented it to him saying, " Here

it is. " Stunned Gul Kriplani said: " I have no idea about it, Mr. Colaso

and Paul Thangaiah will answer you. " Paul Thangaiah and Colaso said:

" This pamphlet is not for public distribution, but for Church

circulation and should have been distributed only to Christians. "

Hearing this, the media men were on their feet and protested his

comments, saying: " You people have already circulated over 300,000

pamphlets in all the pockets of Bangalore and now you are saying it is

only for church circulation, who are you trying to fool? That means you

are preaching hate against the Hindu community in your churches, " for

which both Paul Thangaiah and Colaso had become voiceless and were

looking helpless.

 

HPI adds: It is a violation of Indian law to circulate material which

is critical of other religions, which made the pamphlet a substantial

issue.

 

 

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