A million Hindus plunged into the freezing waters of the holy Ganges River Monday, marking the beginning of the world’s largest religious festival. The Kumbh Mela festival, held every 12 years in the Indian town of Allahabad, will see up to 100 million worshippers gather over the next 55 days to take a ritual bath […]
Italian Docudrama Wins Top Award at Berlin Film Festival
Posted February 18th, 2012 at 4:35 pm (UTC-5)
An Italian movie showing inmates of a high-security prison staging Shakespeare’s drama “Julius Caesar” has won the top award at the prestigious Berlin film festival. The documentary “Caesar Must Die” by directors Paolo Taviani and Vittorio Taviani received the Golden Bear award Saturday in the German capital. After receiving the award, Vittorio Taviani expressed hope […]
Philippine Catholics Defy Terror Alert
Posted January 9th, 2012 at 5:25 am (UTC-5)
Police in the Philippines’ capital estimate at least 3 million Catholics have joined an annual religious procession, despite a warning from the president that Islamic militants might target the gathering. The huge crowed of worshippers gathered Monday around a life-sized wooden statue of Jesus, known as the Black Nazarene, which believers say has healing powers. […]
Philippines Set for Possible Terrorist Attack
Posted January 8th, 2012 at 5:05 am (UTC-5)
Philippine President Benigno Aquino warned Sunday that authorities have discovered a plot by a terrorist group to disrupt a huge religious procession in Manila. Mr. Aquino did not identify the group, but said at a news conference that several terrorists had been spotted in the capital city, and that police are attempting to detain the […]
Activists Monitor Cancelation of China Dog-Eating Festival
Posted October 17th, 2011 at 2:20 am (UTC-5)
Animal rights activists are converging on the Chinese city of Jinhua to ensure that a festival Tuesday celebrating the eating of dogs does not proceed as scheduled. The city, in the eastern province of Zhejiang, canceled the 600-year-old festival in September after local officials were shamed by an Internet campaign begun by animal rights advocates. […]
Chinese Communities Worldwide Celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival
Posted September 12th, 2011 at 2:30 am (UTC-5)
Chinese communities around the world on Monday are celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival, one of the most important holidays on the Chinese calendar. The origins of the centuries-old holiday, also known as the Moon Festival, are lost in myth. But today it has become an occasion for families to reunite under the full moon – a […]
