Hindus have applauded Bernards Township School District (BTSD) in New Jersey for considering Diwali as a school holiday, calling it “a step in the right direction.”

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Dr. Mendis and daughter Samantha after having breakfast with Bishop Andradi at his residence in Anuradhapura.

Colombo, Sri Lanka — The Vatican’s newly appointed Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith in Sri Lanka received St. Peter Claver Church parishioner Dr. Patrick Mendis and his daughter Samantha at his residence in Colombo. During their visit the cardinal discussed the scholarships established by Mendis and spoke about his late grandparents who built the Holy Rosary church in Polonnaruwa — the birthplace of this longtime resident of St. Paul.

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The Minnesota Buddhist Vihara  invites the public to attend its New Year Blessings for 2012 on Jan. 1, from 5 to 6 p.m. at the Minnesota Buddhist Vihara, 3401 N 4th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55412-2617.

The event program will include a Buddha Puja, Seth pirith and Meditation. Guests are invited to bring flowers.

For information contact Witiyala Seewalie Nayaka Thera President/Abbot, Minnesota Buddhist Vihara at 612-522-1811 or mnbvusa@gmail.com. Visit online at www.mnbv.org.

Picture by: Aram Rowhani

In a remarkable interfaith gesture, Hindu statesman Rajan Zed recited prayers from ancient Hindu scriptures at Baha’i Faith founder Baha’u'llah’s 194th birth anniversary celebrations in Reno (Nevada, USA) on November 11.

Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, read Gayatri Mantra, the most sacred mantra of Hinduism, in Sanskrit and attendees repeated after him. He later translated Gayatri Mantra and other Sanskrit prayers into English.

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MINNEAPOLIS (Nov. 8, 2011) — Leaders of a number of Minnesota Muslim and Somali organizations today called on law enforcement agencies across the state to reject an upcoming training seminar for officers because of concerns about apparent anti-Muslim and anti-Somali bias.

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In the picture taken after the Diwali proclamation at Carson City Board of Supervisors on November three, from left to right, are — supervisors Shelly Aldean, Karen Abowd, Mayor Robert Crowell, Hindu leader Rajan Zed, Molly Walt and John McKenna. (Photo by: M.L. Bates)

Nevada’s capital Carson City in USA issued a proclamation on November three “recognizing the religious and historical significance of the festival of Diwali”.

Carson City Mayor Robert L. Crowell read the proclamation in the meeting of Carson City Board of Supervisors and then presented it to Hindu statesman Rajan Zed.

Reading out of the proclamation, Mayor Crowell said: I “do hereby recognize the historical and religious significance of Diwali, the festival of lights, and appreciate the religious diversity in both India, the United States and throughout the world and acknowledge and support the relationship of collaboration and respect between the United States and India.”

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Whole Foods Market, which claims to be “the leading natural and organic food retailer”, is celebrating Hindu festival Diwali with a festive cooking class and sampler dinner. An announcement of Minneapolis (Minnesota, USA) store of this Austin (Texas, USA) headquartered grocer suggests to “Recreate the festive atmosphere of Diwali” with a hands on Diwali cooking class and sampler dinner on October 22.

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MINNEAPOLIS (August 22, 2011) — For the second year in a row, the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations is calling on Swedish appliance manufacturer Electrolux to grant legally-mandated religious accommodation to Muslim employees at its St. Cloud plant during the Ramadan fast.

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The Venerable Palden Gyatso.

One of the world’s longest serving political prisoners will again visit Minnesota on Sun., Aug. 21, 2011 at 4 p.m. at the Tibetan Community Hall, 1096 Raymond Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55108. The Venerable Palden Gyatso is an 80 year old Tibetan monk and former Amnesty International Prisoner of Conscience. He is one of the world’s longest serving political prisoners after surviving 33 years of confinement in the Chinese gulag where he was constantly exposed to various forms of indoctrination and torture.

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People of all faiths are invited to one of eight Ramadan dinners organized by the Minnesota Council of Churches and metro-area mosques.

As our Muslim neighbors prepare for the sacred month of Ramadan this August, the Minnesota Council of Churches is excited to announce a series of open houses at area mosques organized by the council’s Taking Heart program. Eight mosques and Muslim Community Centers throughout the Metro area will be welcoming their non-Muslim neighbors for a traditional Ramadan Iftar, or fast-breaking meal.

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