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Happy Deepavali!

November 13th, 2007
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I know its kind of late, anyway, to all Hindus readers, belated Deepavali naalvalthukal (Happy Deepavali)! May the spark of godliness in us remove veils of ignorance and ego in us. Let us strive to illuminate our lives and also of those around us.

As with most Hindu families, the eve was spent having prayers for the demised.

On Deepavali day, we were at my parents house for prayer, followed by visit to Then’s hometown. The next few days were spent visiting relatives around Klang Valley.

One of the conversation topic wherever we went was the temple demolition at Padang Jawa which was not highlighted in media, except in tamil papers for the first few days. Most of the people I met were extremely unhappy about the issue, and condemned Selangor government and MIC for this. I think BN have lot of salvage work to do in the coming elections.

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Perak never rejected application for temple land titles

November 13th, 2007
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Apply for land titles, temples told MIC: State has never rejected applications

By CLARA CHOOI

Perak MIC chairman Datuk G. Rajoo said he was confident the state government would not reject their applications, as it had not done so before. 

“Since 2000, the state has issued land titles to 38 temples,” he told reporters at his Deepavali open house in Ipoh recently. 

His comments came following the demolition of a temple in Shah Alam by the Selangor Government on Oct 30 that sparked off a controversy. 

On the 38 temples issued land titles, Rajoo said, some had been allowed to remain in their current location while others were given alternative plots of between 0.404ha and 0.808ha. 

“The state government also gives an RM300,000 annual allocation for the maintenance of the legalised temples,” he said. 

Despite this, he said, there were still so many illegal Hindu temples in Perak. 

“This is because the temple committees are not willing to move from their current locations. They do not apply for land titles as they may be asked to relocate to a new spot,” he said. 

He added that in Ipoh alone, at least 400 Hindu temples were squatting illegally on government land. 

“Still, Perak has never demolished temples to make way for development,” he said, adding that with negotiations, such problems could be resolved amicably. 

“However, we would like to urge all temple committees to legalise their temples and apply for the grants. 

“They must register their details with the Malaysia Hindu Sangam and their applications can be sent to the state government through the Perak MIC,” he said. 

Earlier at the open house, Rajoo donated RM5,000 each to six orphanages in Ipoh.

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Jakim, police and Hindu Sangam meet to sort out religious issues

November 11th, 2007
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Jakim, cops and Hindu Sangam meet to sort out religious issues
 
By LOURDES CHARLES
 
KUALA LUMPUR: The Islamic Development Department (Jakim), police and Hindu Sangam are working on an amicable way to resolve religious issues affecting Hindus, particularly concerning conversion to Islam and demolition of temples. This was discussed in a meeting between Jakim director-general Datuk Wan Mohamed Sheikh Abdul Aziz and Hindu Sangam president Datuk A. Vaithilingam, arranged by Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan in Bukit Aman on Wednesday.
 
Vaithilingam, who said the meeting had opened up a "new channel", added that the aim was to come up with standard operating procedures on such matters. "This is the beginning of positive things to follow. We now have a better understanding of each others' role as far as religious matters are concerned," he said, adding that the Hindu Sangam and Jakim had agreed to consult each other on religious matters and the issues involved. Vaithilingam praised Musa for his role and concern in wanting to resolve such religious issues peacefully.
 
Wan Mohamed said more discussions were needed, adding that the department was still in an early stage of exploring and understanding the sensitivity of conversion to Islam. "We will sit down and discuss such sensitive matters with others to find a solution," he assured. 
 
Musa said he called for the meeting, as he did not want certain quarters to exploit the matter. "The best way is to sit down and discuss, and I am available to meet any party to resolve such issues. "The Prime Minister has said that he must be informed before a temple is to be demolished," added the IGP, who sat in at the meeting.  

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Perak MIC chief urges temples to apply for land

November 11th, 2007
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IPOH: Do not wait until the last minute to legalise Hindu temples sitting on private or government-owned land, Perak MIC chief Datuk G. Rajoo said yesterday. 
 

"Some of them don't care, and some don't have a committee to deal with the matter. As long as no one is disturbing them, they are happy to keep quiet. "But I'm saying that it's better to start applying now," he said in response to the demolition of a 100-year-old Hindu temple in Kampung Rimba Jaya by the Shah Alam Municipal Council on Oct 30. Rajoo said there had been no demolition of Hindu temples built illegally in Perak and the state government had not turned down any land applications made by temples. Since 2000, 38 temples succeeded in their application for land in Perak, either to remain at their present site or to relocate elsewhere, he said at his Deepavali open house. Rajoo estimated that there were 1,500 illegal temples in Perak, of which about 400 were in Ipoh.

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Clay lamps a must for Deepavali

November 2nd, 2007
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Clay lamps a must for the season

source

Photos by K.K. SHAM

Signs of devotion: Some of the completed lamps.

CLAY lamps or agal villaku that are lit on the night of the Festival of Lights illuminate the homes and hearts giving new reason for success, prosperity and love. 

Master craftsman S. Kandasamy, 58, who can make 1,800 agal villakus from 8am to 6pm daily, explained that agal means within one’s hand while villaku means light. 

Finishing touches: A worker preparing to pack the lamps.

“All Hindu homes must have the agal villaku as it is sacred and auspicious.  

“Prayers are offered with it as the baked earthen lamps remind us to be humble,” he explained. 

Other than lighting the lamps, buying jewelery and new clothes is a must, even something simple would do, as such a practice welcomes the goddess Lakshimi for prosperity. 

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