Om Sweet Om

Thoughts from Kumbha Mela

sheetal — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 20:53:12 +0000

My good friend and colleague at the Hindu American Foundation, Swaminathan Venkataraman, recently had the amazing opportunity to attend the Hindu festival of Kumbha Mela. Below are a few lovely thoughts he shared with the team: Today, Feb 10, 2013, a larger number of people than the populations of most countries on earth will gather in a twenty sq. km area to honor a most sacred religious ritual that is thousands of years old. The Hindu festival of Kumbha Mela takes place once every 12...

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Happy Diwali: Being like the wick

sheetal — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 16:16:58 +0000

Today, Hindus around the world celebrate Diwali, the Festival of Lights, which symbolizes the light of knowledge over the darkness of ignorance. It's a day for children to light small firecrackers, family and friends to exchange mithai, and celebrants to light diyas in their homes. As Diwali greetings fill my inbox, one in particular stood out. "For an oil lamp to burn, the wick has to be in the oil, yet out of the oil. If the wick is drowned in oil, it cannot bring light....

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An exciting night for Hindu Americans

sheetal — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 16:44:53 +0000

History was made on Nov. 6, for a number of reasons. But the reason I'm talking about is the election of the first Hindu American. Tulsi Gabbard, the Democratic contender from Hawaii's 2nd Congressional District, will be the first Hindu American to be a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Many in the Hindu American community have been keen supporters of Tulsi's campaign and are immensely proud to see one of their own elected to Congress. For more details on Tulsi and her...

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The Vedic Woman: Who Was She and Why We Need Her Back

sheetal — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 21:20:58 +0000

This past Saturday, my friend and colleague at HAF, Suhag Shukla, delivered an amazing talk at the Marg Foundation on women, their role in Hinduism, and their roles in society today. The text of her awesome speech, "The Vedic woman: Who was she and why we need her back," is below. The Vedic woman: Who was she and why we need her back By Suhag Shukla, Esq. To stay abreast of the ins and outs of the Hindu world, I subscribe to a news service called Hindu Press...

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10/11/12 Day of the Girl

sheetal — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 15:37:30 +0000

I just learned that today, in addition to being 10/11/12, is also Day of the Girl. This initiative, established through the United Nations, is about "highlighting, celebrating, discussing, and advancing girls lives and opportunities across the globe." In light of the horrific shooting of the 14-year-old Malala Yousafzai in Pakistan, campaigns such Day of the Girl take on renewed importance in our lives. This morning, CNN aired a year-old interview...

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Wise words from Gurcharan Das

sheetal — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 21:12:23 +0000

Gurcharan Das is the author of one my favorite books, The Difficulty of Being Good: The Subtle Art of Dharma. A friend of mine recently sent me a link to a great blog post by Das. It's worth a quick read: http://gurcharandas.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-loss-of-inheritance.html...

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Eleven years…

sheetal — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 14:32:11 +0000

On this crisp morning, I am staring at the partially constructed Freedom Tower. In fact, I look out at that tower every morning from my office window and every night from my bedroom window. Some days, it's easier to not remember the horrific tragedy that struck our great nation...to just marvel at the soaring height and magnificence of this new tower. But other days, like today, it's impossible to forget. It's impossible to forget the countless innocent lives that were lost eleven...

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Decline in Pakistan’s Hindu Population Due to “Better” Family Planning

sheetal — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 17:56:58 +0000

If you have any interest in minority human rights in Pakistan and have the patience to sit through 30 minutes of mayhem, this news segment on Hindus in Pakistan is worth a watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06cUS2IcN7I&feature=share. As most of us who stay abreast of the situation in Pakistan know, Hindus and other minorities face serious human rights violations in the country. Hindus are routinely attacked...

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Sharing in Grief with Sikh Americans

sheetal — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 14:01:17 +0000

In the wake of the horrific attack at the Sikh gurudwara yesterday, I share my deepest condolences with the families of the victims and the Sikh community at large. Last night, the Hindu American Foundation - of which I am a part - released the following statement: We, at the Hindu American Foundation, join all Americans in shared shock, disbelief, and outrage over today’s tragic events that unfolded...

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NY yoga studios exempt from sale tax

sheetal — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 14:57:51 +0000

Looks like the NY yoga community successfully battled its case. Tax department officials ruled that yoga is not a "true exercise." Read more here: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/yoga-ruled-true-exercise-state-tax-department-article-1.1123779...

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