Source: www.sahilonline.org

UDUPI, INDIA, September 2, 2010: [HPI note: Krishna Janmastami, the birthday of Lord Krishna, was celebreated with fervor by Hindus across the world. HPI brings you a few reports.]

Krishna Janmastami was celebrated with love and gaiety on Wednesday with thousands of devotees ascending on this temple town known for its Krishna temple. The entire town and the main car street here has been decorated with flowers and specially erected poles around the car street. The grand celebrations began midnight today and continue for the next two days.

The temple was specially decorated with flowers and the sanctum sanctorum of the temple fully covered with flowers where the Arghyapradan (offering of milk and holy water) was offered to the specially made clay murti of Lord Krishna by the devotees under the guidance of Sri Laxmivara Thirtha Swamiji of Paryaya Shiroor Mutt to mark the birth of Lord Sri Krishna. The presiding deity was decorated by the Paryaya seer in the form of Bala Krishna.

Large number of devotees from cowherd community from the surrounding places of Udupi taluk are camping at the temple town since last night. Special Poojas will be performed at the temple from midnight after observing a day fasting by the swamijis as well as the devotees.

A grand tiger dance competition has also been arranged by the mutt tomorrow.

In Bangalore, thousands thronged the Sri Krishna temple built by ISKCON, a prominent religious and tourist destination in the tech hub. In the morning Krishna costume show witnessed hundreds of toddlers dressed up like Lord Krishna was a big hit with the visitors. Madhyaratrika Maha Abhishekam is scheduled to begin at 6:00am with a display of 108 food offerings to the Lord.

Source: sify.com

BANGLADESH, September 2, 2010: Janmashtami, the birthday of Lord Krishna, is being celebrated Wednesday across Muslim-majority Bangladesh. The day’s programmes include worship of Lord Krishna, puja, Gita Jagna, kirtan, discussions and peace processions. The day is a public holiday in the country. Bangladesh has the third largest population of Hindus, who constitute less than 10 percent of the 156 million people.

President Zillur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have greeted the minority Hindu community on the occasion.

The festival, however, coincides with Ramadan, the holy month of the Muslims. Home Minister Sahera Khatun had earlier requested the Hindus to complete their festivities by 5 p.m., in time for the breaking of fast by the Muslims, a statement that had been criticized by the country’s media as discriminatory.

Source: www.financialexpress.com

VRINDAVAN, INDIA, September 2, 2010: Amid blowing of conch shells, the famous Radha Raman temple at Vrindaban today reverberated with “Hare Krishna” as thousands of devotees thronged the premises to celebrate Janmashtami

A large number of devotees gathered in the temple courtyard to have a glimpse of ‘abhishek’ of the Lord with milk, curd, honey and ghee amid chanting of vedic hymns.

Source: www.southasiamail.com

AUSTIN, TEXAS, September 2, 2010: A Texas appellate-court ruling that a newly built Sikh temple near Austin must be razed or moved has sparked an international outcry from members of the religious group, some of whom claim discrimination is at the heart of the case.

While disputes over buildings between municipal officials and religious groups are common, this case is unusual in that zoning laws aren’t an issue. And most property suits don’t persist after construction has been completed.

The dispute began when a couple in the neighborhood filed a lawsuit on the grounds that the temple violated the subdivision’s rules restricting construction to single-family dwellings. The couple, John and Leslie Bollier, say it isn’t about religion, but rather the construction of a building that could bring down property values in a residential neighborhood.

Bee Cave officials say the temple meets zoning laws for that area, and it doesn’t enforce private residency restrictions. Only property owners that are subject to the covenants can file suit to enforce the rules.

The congregation started plans to build a temple on the property and obtained all necessary permits from the city, said Harnek Bains, president of the Austin congregation. He said his group was unaware of the subdivision’s restricting covenants stating that only single-family dwellings can be built on the lot and that they must be used as housing.

Sikh organization Austin Gurdwara Sahib said it cost $350,000 to build the temple, and it paid $100,000 for the land. The temple was built to replace a mobile home that the congregation of about 60 families in central Texas had been using as a place of worship since 2003. Construction was completed in April and has been used by congregation ever since.

Source: www.hinduismtoday.com

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