Source: The Straits Times

[straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/world/story/0,4386,219915,00.html]

On November 14, 2003 The Straits Times reported that "eighteen years after publishing a study of the Hindu god Ganesha, a US university professor is under fire from believers who brand sexual references in the book as an insidious 'hate crime'. Hindu student activists are demanding that Ganesa, Lord of Obstacles, Lord of Beginnings be taken out of circulation until author Paul Courtright from Emory University in Atlanta removes '...

Source: The Moscow Times

[themoscowtimes.com/stories/2003/11/12/013.html]

On November 12, 2003 The Moscow Times reported, "Worship for Moscow's 30,000 Hindus and Hare Krishna devotees could be under threat, as the city's only Hare Krishna temple is to be demolished to make way for a luxury high-rise block...In April, City Hall promised to provide an alternative site for the construction of a Vedic Cultural Center, including a place of worship for members of the Russian chapter of the International Society for Krishna...

Source: Pacific News Service

http://news.ncmonline.com/news/view_article.html?article_id=de05b5d002253839a0aa483ffc80d8f1

On November 12, 2003 Pacific News Service published an editorial by Sandip Roy on the appearance of an Indian girl in the Hollywood film "The Matrix Revolutions." Roy writes that "the Bollywoodization of American popular culture has long been underway. There have been misfires, like those images of Hindu gods...

Source: The Times of India

[timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow?msid=275122]

On November 10, 2003 The Times of India reported, "From next year, Park Street will be known as Mother Teresa Sarani. Mayor Subrata Mukherjee announced the decision formally on Sunday...Earlier in the day, members from various walks of life joined a prayer for Mother Teresa. From Amritsar and Barrackpore to Chandernagore and Dakshineshwar, they were all there on Sunday as Jain, Muslim, Sikh, Buddhist, Zoroastrian and Hindu...

Source: The Jersey Journal

[nj.com/news/jjournal/index.ssf?/base/news-1/1068117141190180.xml]

On November 7, 2003 The Jersey Journal reported that "proceeds from a religious Indian festival celebrated in the streets of Jersey City's Little India Neighborhood six weeks ago will be used to help a needy student attend Hudson County Community College for one year. The Hudson County Community College Foundation recently received a $3,000 donation from the Jersey City Merchants Association, which sponsored this year's Navratri...

Source: The Oregonian

[oregonlive.com/metrosouthwest/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/metro_southwest_news/106812384283310.xml]

On November 6, 2003 The Oregonian reported that "when representatives of many faiths gather Saturday at Oregon's new Hindu temple, each will light one of several wicks in a traditional Indian oil lamp, signifying solidarity in the light of an infinite being. It will be a celebration in which temple supporters, most of them raised in India's Hindu culture, welcome followers of the many religions in their...

Source: Suburban

[suburban.gmnews.com/news/2003/1106/Front_Page/027.html]

On November 6, 2003 the Suburban reported that "despite mediation by the borough’s Human Relations Commission, tension between members of the Dwarkadish Temple and neighboring residents has escalated again. Some 50 borough residents gathered at a meeting of the Borough Council Oct. 27 to contend that fireworks set off during recent Diwali celebrations were illegal and endangered their homes and well-being during the 12 days of the Hindu observance...

Source: MetroWest

http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/local_regional/ashl_temple11052003.htm

On November 5, 2003 MetroWest reported that police officers in Ashland are "investigating whether racial slurs spray-painted on a rock near the Sri Lakshmi Temple are connected to other vandalism to nearby homes found this week. A message containing racial slurs and the word 'beware' was spray-painted in red on a rock near the Hindu temple's...

Source: Sun-Sentinel

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-ptemple03nov03,0,2100975.story?coll=sfla-news-palm

On November 3, 2003 the Sun-Sentinel reported that the Florida Hindu Cultural and Religious Association bought 2.7 acres near Royal Palm Beach two years ago in order to construct a Hindu Temple. They still needs about $200,000 to build the structure." The temple is one of two mandirs planned for...

Source: The Scotsman

http://www.thescotsman.co.uk/scotland.cfm?id=1192452003

On October 29, 2003 The Scotsman reported that "a Nobel prize-winner, who is credited with helping to transform education in the developing world, has criticised the Scottish Executive’s stance on denominational schools, claiming single-faith establishments damage educational attainment. Amartya Sen, an economist from India, made his comments yesterday in a keynote speech to the...

Source: The Tampa Tribune

[tampatrib.com/FloridaMetro/MGAEB3IZ9MD.html]

On October 27, 2003 The Tampa Tribune discussed the increasing religious diversity in Tampa as a result of Indian immigration."Between 1990 and 2000, U.S. census records show the number of Indians in the Tampa Bay area nearly tripled. In Pinellas County, the population grew from 1,248 in 1990 to 3,424 in 2000. The number of Indians in Hillsborough County climbed from 2,316 in 1990 to 6,329 in 2000. Among Asian members of the population, Indians are the...

Source: Amarillo Globe-News

[amarillonet.com/stories/102603/new_diwali.shtml]

On October 26, 2003 the Amarillo Globe-News reported that "about 250 people packed the Indian Association of Amarillo Hall to celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights that signals the end of the Hindu calendar with almost three hours of traditional Indian dances in bright traditional Indian costumes."

Source: Brigham Young University Newsnet

[newsnet.byu.edu/story.cfm/46394]

On October 26, 2003 Brigham Young University Newsnet reported that "the Festival of Lights, the largest festival in India, filled the Hare Krishna Temple in Spanish Fork on Saturday, Oct. 25, with many celebrators. 'The India Fest is the biggest event at this temple, but as far as traditional festivals are concerned, Diwali is India's biggest festival, like what Christmas is to the Western world,' said Rajeeb Danank, a visitor from Orem."

Source: Guyana Chronicle

[guyanachronicle.com/ARCHIVES/archive%20%2026-10-03.html#Anchor-13933]

On October 26, 2003 the Guyana Chronicle reported that "hundreds of Guyanese lined the streets of Georgetown and the East Coast Public Road to view the annual Deepavali motorcade, and many more turned up at the La Bonne Intention (LBI) Community Centre Ground where the magnificently illuminated floats were judged. Deepavali or Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, was observed yesterday, a national holiday...In his address,...

Source: Des Moines Register

http://www.dmregister.com/news/stories/c4788998/22595726.html

On October 26, 2003 the Des Moines Register reported that "Fireworks lit up the sky over the Hindu Temple in rural Granger Saturday as Hindus celebrated Diwali. The festival is the most important Hindu celebration, said Mani Bonthala, president of the temple's executive committee... In past years, Hindu families celebrated Diwali in their homes. However, construction of a...