Source: The Sikh Coalition

http://www.sikhcoalition.org/advisories/SikhsNowAllowedtoServe.htm

The federal government has issued a policy allowing all Sikhs to serve as federal security officers while maintaining their turbans and beards.  The decision was the result of a discrimination case filed by a Sikh security officer who was told that he could not maintain his turban and beard on the job. 

The lawsuit settlement and change in policy...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: Newstrack India

http://newstrackindia.com/newsdetails/129025

Hindus have applauded two east London boroughs for declaring Diwali, Eid and Guru Nanak Birthday as school holidays.

Waltham Forest and Newham councils have reportedly announced Eid, Diwali, and Guru Nanak Birthday as school closure days in all the community primary and secondary schools.

Acclaimed Hindu statesman Rajan Zed...

Author: Pablo Lopez

Source: The Fresno Bee

http://www.fresnobee.com/local/story/1680851.html

A Selma man who was fired from his federal security-guard job for refusing to shave his beard and take off his religious turban has reached a legal settlement with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Raghbir Singh, 69, argued in U.S. District Court in San Francisco that as an observant Sikh, he must wear a beard and turban.

In 2005, he was...

Author: Amy Julia Harris

Source: The Stanford Daily

http://www.stanforddaily.com/cgi-bin/?p=1034540

The Old Union courtyard was awash in saris, food, candlelight and music Sunday night as hundreds of students celebrated the Hindu holiday of Diwali.

This year, four of Stanford’s most prominent South Asian organizations — the Hindu Student Council, Sanskriti, the Stanford India Association and the dance team Basmati Raas — pooled...

Author: Gregg Evans

Source: Birmingham Mail

http://www.birminghammail.net/news/birmingham-news/2009/10/19/devotees-gather-to-celebrate-the-triumph-of-good-over-evil-97319-24963585/

Thousands of worshippers gathered in Birmingham to mark Diwali, the Festival of Lights. Members of the Hindu, Jain and Sikh religions turned out to celebrate the triumph of good over...

Author: Tom Godfrey

Source: The Toronto Sun

http://www.torontosun.com/news/torontoandgta/2009/10/18/11438616-sun.html

Hindus across the GTA are celebrating Diwali, a festival of lights, that marks the beginning of a new year for believers of the world's oldest religion.

Toronto-area temples were filled last night as worshippers celebrated an end of the old and beginning today of a new year in the Hindu calendar.

...

Author: Tristan Kirk

Source: Times

http://www.times-series.co.uk/news/4689056.Hindus_in_Golders_Green_give_money__food__and_blood_for_Diwali/

A Hindu temple in Golders Green has celebrated Diwali this weekend by encouraging its members to give blood.

The Shree Swaminarayan Temple, in Finchley Road, opened its doors for the annual festival of light, in which Hindus are encouraged to give...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/coventry_warwickshire/8313153.stm

A procession is to be held to mark the opening of an £11m Sikh temple in Warwickshire.

Around 7,000 worshippers are expected to join a colourful procession through Leamington Spa next Sunday when the temple opens on Tachbrook Park.

The cost of building the new temple has been funded entirely...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: The Statesman

Author: Jonathan Wynne-Jones and Ian Johnston

Source: Telegraph

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/6358886/Row-over-school-closures-for-Muslim-Hindu-and-Sikh-holidays.html

Two councils have instructed all schools under their control to shut for the annual celebrations of Eid-Ul-Fitr, Diwali and Guru Nanak's Birthday, in addition to the Christian festivals of...

Author: Ron Orozco

Source: The Fresno Bee

http://www.fresnobee.com/lifestyle/faith-and-values/story/1676462.html

In Sikhism, there is nothing more important than the holy book, Sri Guru Granth Sahib.

The book is so important that it is often protected -- only accessible by Sikh priests and stored in a locked room. Priests will perform ceremonies to show the book respect, such as fanning it with Chaur Sahib fashioned out of...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: SikhNet

http://www.sikhnet.com/news/sikhs-tv-100-countries-200-million-viewers

Today, the civil rights concerns of the Sikh American community were featured on RT--an international English-language news channel broadcast to more than 200 million viewers in 100 countries on five continents throughout the world.

Earlier this week, SALDEF was present at the White House when President Obama signed...

Author: Zaki Cooper

Source: Times Online

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article6878351.ece

Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, an annual five-day celebration of the triumph of good over evil, starts today, and festivities in the UK are being led by Bharti Tailor. She is the new secretary general of the Hindu Forum of Britain, and thus a key figure in the UK Hindu community, which is now thought to number far more...

Author: Annysa Johnson

Source: Journal Sentinel

http://www.jsonline.com/features/religion/64652562.html

Fireworks will brighten the night sky over the Hindu Temple in Pewaukee on Saturday night, its interior ablaze in light, as more than a thousand people gather for Diwali, the annual celebration of light over darkness, of goodness over evil.

"It's meant to arouse the light within," said Lakshmi Bharadwaj, who teaches sociology and...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: BC Local News

http://www.bclocalnews.com/breaking_news/64454892.html

Baptized Sikhs will be allowed to wear the kirpan (the ceremonial dagger that is worn as an article of religious faith) to the winter Olympics, with certain restrictions.

The RCMP announced the guidelines Thursday, saying they were developed in consultation with representatives of the Sikh community.

A written statement said the...