USA  March 20, 2014: Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed has called for prayers for the passengers and crew of the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 and their relatives and loved ones.

Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, appealed to the worldwide Hindu community to hold special prayer sessions in Hindu temples.

Expressing deep sympathies to the families and loved ones of the passengers and the crew of this plane missing since March eight after departing from Kuala Lumpur, Rajan Zed said that it was highly tragic and difficult time for them. His heart and thoughts go to the people on board and their families and loved ones, Zed added.

Zed further said that he was full of sorrow for this mysterious disappearance and urged other world religious leaders to join him in prayers. It was a heartbreaking incident, Zed noted.

Choultry turns into Hindu art gallery during ten-day Panguni festival 

Pictorial representations of traditional stories such as this one are a treat for devotees during Panguni festival.

It is a choultry, a marriage hall and a place where anadanam is served regularly, but during the ten-day Panguni festival, Vyasarpadi Vinayaga Mudaliar Charities on South Mada Street in Mylapore turns into an art gallery displaying a huge collection of antique paintings and hand-crafted dolls which are priceless, rare, and of historic value. Exhibited only during the course of the temple festival, the items are later locked up.

The practice was started by one Vysarpadi Vinayaka Mudaliar, an ardent believer in Hinduism, from the 19th century.

He chose this time for the exhibition to draw the huge crowd that came to visit the Kapaleeshwar temple for the festival.

And long after his death, the practice still continues. Paintings by famous artists such as Ravi Varma, N.S. Ramasamy Naidu and Narottam Narain Nathdwara are part of the exhibition.