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Quebec’s Hindu temple to launch $1.75 million expansion project
 
Hindu-Mandir in Dollard-des-Ormeaux (Quebec, Canada) is reportedly planning to launch $1.75 million expansion project in the near future.
 
It will include a large multi-purpose hall, classrooms, etc.; reports suggest.
 
According to reports, this temple was opened in 1998 with the primary aim of meeting “the spiritual, ritual, ceremonial and social needs of Hindus” and “besides being a place of worship and spiritual guidance, this Mandir was intended to act as focal point for our community and a place of congregation”. It currently serves about 4,000 devotees and opens daily at eight am.
 
Meanwhile, distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada today, commended efforts of temple leaders and area community towards expansion of this temple.
 
Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, further said that it was important to pass on Hindu spirituality, concepts and traditions to coming generations amidst so many distractions in the consumerist society and hoped that this temple would help in this direction. Zed stressed that instead of running after materialism; we should focus on inner search and realization of Self and work towards achieving moksh (liberation), which was the goal of Hinduism.
 
Besides worship services, this two-storey temple also reportedly conducts culture, religion and arts classes; runs camps; holds programs for seniors; and participates in various charitable activities. All are welcome to visit and attend its services and its Sunday service is followed by a complimentary community lunch. It offers various services, including “Jaagran”, which costs $1151.
 
Acharya Dharampal and Pandit Vimlesh Jha are the priests. Subhash Khanna, Kul Khurana and Mohinder Gulati are Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Secretary respectively of the Trust; while Rajesh Kapoor, Devi Pathak and Deepak Lal are President, Vice-President and Secretary respectively of the Board.

Hindus welcome inflight yoga launch by Cathay Pacific Airways
 
Hindus have welcomed the reported launch of “Travel Well with Yoga” program in all the routes of Cathay Pacific and Cathay Dragon airlines, thus bringing yoga to the sky.
 
In partnership with Pure Yoga, this inflight well-being program; in English, Cantonese, Mandarin and Japanese; includes series of videos on inflight entertainment screens “to help passengers ease into their journeys with yoga and meditation exercises and tips”. Six easy-to-follow videos demonstrate “yoga and meditation routines that can be done before, during or after a flight”. “Exercises are designed to improve circulation, enhance joint mobility and relax the mind for a comfortable and restful journey”. “There are a series of exercises that can easily be done from an economy class seat…”, according to a release.
 
Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, termed it as a step in the positive direction to make yoga and meditation available inflight to passengers. He urged other world airlines also to follow.
 
Yoga, referred as “a living fossil”, was a mental and physical discipline, for everybody to share and benefit from, whose traces went back to around 2,000 BCE to Indus Valley civilization, Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, noted.
 
Rajan Zed further said that yoga, although introduced and nourished by Hinduism, was a world heritage and liberation powerhouse to be utilized by all. According to Patanjali who codified it in Yoga Sutra, yoga was a methodical effort to attain perfection, through the control of the different elements of human nature, physical and psychical.
 
According to US National Institutes of Health, yoga may help one to feel more relaxed, be more flexible, improve posture, breathe deeply, and get rid of stress. According to a “2016 Yoga in America Study”, about 37 million Americans (which included many celebrities) now practice yoga; and yoga is strongly correlated with having a positive self image.  Yoga was the repository of something basic in the human soul and psyche, Zed added.
 
Founded in 1946, Hong Kong-based awards-winning Cathay Pacific Group (which includes Cathay Pacific, Cathay Dragon, and AHK Air Hong Kong airlines) offers scheduled passenger and cargo services to over 200 destinations in Asia, North America, Australia, Europe and Africa. John Slosar and Rupert Hogg are Chairman and CEO respectively. Pure Yoga; with locations in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore, Taipei and New York; offers a wide variety of yoga and meditation classes and private yoga programs, including workshops with renowned teachers.

Hinduism grew by 60% in Australia
 
Hinduism grew by 60% in Australia during 2011-2016, raising the numbers of Hindus to 440,300; according to an Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) release referring to 2016 Census of Population and Housing.
 
It was now the fourth largest religion in Australia after Christianity, Islam and Buddhism. Median age of Australian Hindus is 31, 92% live in urban areas, and 81% are born overseas; per this release.
 
Various religions which saw drop in numbers during 2011-2016 included Christianity, Judaism, Paganism, Spiritualism, Wiccan and Taoism. 61% of Australian population is “affiliated with a religion or spiritual belief”. About “48,000 people reported themselves as Jedi”, although it is not a recognized religion in Australia. The religion with the highest proportion of females to males is Wiccan, with 26 males per 100 females; while Rastafari had 346 males per 100 females; ABS release points out.
 
On February eight at seven pm, the resident population of Australia was projected to be 24,823,766; where there is overall total population increase of one person every one minute and 26 seconds.
 
Meanwhile, distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, congratulated the Hindu community in Australia for continuing with the traditional values of hard work, higher morals, stress on education, sanctity of marriage, etc.; amidst so many distractions.
 
Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, advised Hindus to focus on inner search, stay pure, explore the vast wisdom of scriptures, make spirituality more attractive to youth and children, stay away from the greed, and always keep God in your life.
 
Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about 1.1 billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal.
 
ABS, Australia’s national statistical agency, whose Vision is “Unleashing the power of statistics for a better Australia”, was established as a Statutory Authority in the Australian Bureau of Statistics Act 1975; although statistics were collected by each state in 1901. Headquartered in Canberra, it is headed by the Australian Statistician David W. Kalisch.