Hemant Parikh

Christmas Knowledge by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Each one of you is a special gift on the planet! You are the Christmas tree. The Christmas tree is pointing upwards and its branches grow on all sides, and we all have that capacity to blossom to the fullest of the human potential.At the time of year when no tree bears anything, the Christmas tree has many gifts to offer and it is evergreen throughout the year. A Christmas tree bears the gifts and the lights not for itself, but for all. The gifts you are carrying in your life are for others. You offer the gift of service to anyone one in need, and you will wonder how your needs are being taken care of!

Hindus seek Diwali holiday in all New Zealand universities Hindus are asking all universities of New Zealand to declare Diwali, most popular Hindu holy day, as a university-wide holiday. Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada today, pointed out that it would be a step in the right direction in view of presence of a substantial number of Hindu students at New Zealand universities, as it was important to meet the religious and spiritual needs of these students. Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, indicated that universities should make efforts to accommodate the religious requirements of Hindu students and employees and show respect to their faith by not conducting regular business and scheduling classes on Diwali. We did not want our students to be put at an unnecessary disadvantage for missing tests/examinations/papers, assignments, class work, etc., by taking a day-off to observe Diwali. If universities had declared other religious ho