JAMMU, INDIA, June 28, 2017 (The Hindu): The first batch of Amarnath pilgrims left here for the cave shrine in the Kashmir Valley amid extraordinary security arrangements after intelligent inputs cautioned of militant attacks, police said. A total of 2,280 pilgrims left the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas here for the Himalayan cave shrine in Anantnag district in 72 vehicles at 5:22 a.m., a police official said.
Given the prevailing law and order situation in the valley, a multi-layered security arrangement manned by the Army, CRPF, Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and the Jammu and Kashmir Police have been provided for the safe passage of the yatris right from their entry into Lakhanpur in Kathua district. This year 212,000 yatris have registered for the pilgrimage to the Hindu cave shrine situated nearly 14,000 feet above the sea level. The cave houses an ice stalagmite structure that waxes and wanes with the size of the visible moon. Devotees believe the structure symbolises mythical powers of Lord Shiva.
FIJI, July 2, 2017 (Fiji Sun): A three-day Hindu ritual and prayer in Vunika Labasa has brought together around 300 people to offer their thanksgiving to their divine mother Maha Kali. Pundit Shiva Sami says this is an annual event for many South Indians in Labasa where they gather at the Vunika Temple and pray for more blessings.
Mr. Sami said the temple has been around for around 127 years and legend has it that the temple was established by a brahmin in the early Girmit (indentured labor) years at the foot of the hill where it is now located. He said devotees get together for more peace, good harvest, and prosperity and eliminate diseases. ”We also seek for guidance, wealth and protection. The divine mother is known in many different forms but for this annual prayer we know her as Maha Kali,” he said.
INDIA, June 22, 2017 (India Facts by A.L. Chavda): On June 16, 2017, an article appeared in The Hindu titled ”How genetics is settling the Aryan migration debate” by Tony Joseph. This article claims that the question of the origin of the Indo-Aryan people has been ”settled,” based on the findings of a research paper that was published three months ago. In this response, I will go into some detail to refute Joseph’s claims. There are a number of reasons why Joseph’s claims and conclusions are incorrect.
Joseph’s article is typical of India’s leftist has-beens: devoid of original research, based on other people’s work, presents subjective opinions rather than hard results, and uses far-fetched and convoluted logic to make biased and untenable arguments that are unsupported by scientific evidence. It is perplexing that The Hindu published the article without fact-checking it. It is even more perplexing that The Hindu employs non-scientists to write articles about hard science, and presents their subjective opinions as facts.
Full lengthy rebuttal at ”source” above.
Do not look upon yoga as something beyond you or as calling for any extraordinary efforts. You can remain in your station of life, carry on your work and at the same time embark on the yogic path. Do japa, prayer, kirtan, meditation and asanas regularly.
— Swami Sivanada (1887-1963), founder of Divine Life Society
