Hindus have asked European Union and countries of Europe to urgently take steps to end apartheid of their Roma people, terming it as immoral and a dark stain on the face of Europe.

Acclaimed Hindu statesman, Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that it was moral obligation of Europe to take care of its largest minority Roma population and stop human rights violations reportedly regularly suffered by them, who numbered around ten million and were the most disadvantaged.

New York, Apr 24: A former devotee of Guru Sri Chinmoy has written a derisive memoir about her growing up life under his ministry.

In her tome titled ‘Cartwheels in a Sari’, Jayanti Tamm, 38, an English professor at Ocean County College in New Jersey, called the spiritual leader’s group as a ‘cult’.

She also talked about Chinmoy''s "masterful tactics of manipulation."

"He didn''t want his disciples to get an education,” the New York Daily News quoted Tamm as saying.

Amritsar, April 22: The Sikhs in Punjab are still in the ‘Baisakhi’ mood. Baisakhi is the commencement of the New Year, the day when harvesting is done and it also holds religious significance for the Sikh community, as it also happens to be the day when the Panth Khalsa was founded.

Sikhs from across the country and abroad take a holy dip in the Harminder Sahib, popularly known as the Golden Temple on the occasion of Baisakhi.

Guru Gobind Singh the 10th Sikh guru, had established the Khalsa Panth (the Order of the Pure Ones) on April 13, 1699.

Amritsar/ Jorhat, Apr 14 : Residents in different parts of the country indulged in fun and frolic as they rang in the traditional New Year in some states.

In Amritsar, devotees waited patiently to pay their respects at the Golden Temple on the occasion of Baisakhi.

After offering initial prayers, the devotees took a dip in the holy pond meant to cleanse them of their sins and purify their souls.

Parminder Singh, a devotee, who came along with his family, said he was visiting the Golden Temple to celebrate Baisakhi.

New Delhi, Apr. 14 : Four festivals – Bihu, Naba Barsh, Puthandu Pirappu and Vishu – are being celebrated today in different parts of the country.

President Pratibha Patil has greeted the nation on the occasion.

"On the auspicious occasion of Rongali Bihu, Naba Barsh, Puthandu Pirappu, and Vishu, I extend my greetings and good wishes to all my countrymen," she said.

"These festivals celebrated in different parts of the country, denote the underlying unity of our rich and diverse culture and strengthen the pluralistic heritage of the nation. May the festivals bring peace, happiness and prosperity to all," she added.

Hosur (Tamil Nadu), Apr 13: Hundreds of people attended a special yajna (religious fire ritual) ceremony held here for world peace on the last weekend.

Organised by Chinmaya Mission at Hosur in Tamil Nadu, the religious ceremony witnessed an overwhelming participation of people irrespective of their person religious faith.

The yajna was performed along with the recitation of powerful ''Gayatari Mantra'' for 108 times to promote harmony and seek relief for everyone suffering worldly troubles.