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Bhama to Obama, Hanuman ready for flight

25 Jun 2008, 0306 hrs IST, Swati Roy,TNN

NEW DELHI: The endearing and much revered Hanuman is apparently one of the ‘charms’ behind Barack Obama, the Democratic
presidential candidate for 2008. The Hanuman connection now has Obama striking a chord beyond US borders. On Tuesday, All India
Congress Committee member, Brij Mohan Bhama, presented a two-foot high, gold-plated idol of Hanuman to Carolyn Sauvage,
chairperson of Democrats Abroad India, a gift that he hopes will finally reach Obama himself.

Bhama’s gift for Obama was given at a special prayer performed by 12 priests at the Sankat Mochan Dham on Pusa Road on Tuesday
afternoon. The prayer, arranged by the Sankat Mochan Dham Trust, was also a show of support for Obama’s entry into the White House
as it invoked Lord Hanuman for his blessings for Obama’s victory.

Bhama claims that while he has always been a supporter of Obama, the Democratic candidate’s devotion to Hanuman has strengthened
his backing. "Barack Obama is a Hanuman devotee and so am I — hence I thought I should gift him the idol," said Bhama.

Carolyn Sauvage was herself presented with a garland and made to wear a decorated turban by Bhama. Ovewhelmed by the gesture, she
presented Bhama with two American flags and a badge that read ‘Obama ‘08’. While Sauvage thanked "Bhama and this community
(referring to the Trust)" for the gift, she graciously reminded the hosts that she would be in-principle unable to carry anything but good
wishes back to Obama. "I can only carry good wishes, as any sitting US senator cannot receive a gift of over $10 from anybody." The
idol, as Bhama informed Times City, is worth a lakh.

In face of this news, Bhama and others from the Trust remained unfazed and enthusiastic. They clearly announced that "the idol shall
reach Obama 11 days from now. Till then it will be kept in the same temple and worshipped everyday." Speaking to Times City, Bhama
said: "If the idol cannot go through Ms Sauvage, someone else will carry it. In any case, the idol will reach United States of America
before the final elections are held, if not just after 11 days."

According to news reports, among Obama’s good luck charms are "a bracelet belonging to a soldier deployed in Iraq, a gambler’s lucky
chit, a tiny Madonna and child, and a tiny monkey god" though the god is not identified. The ‘tiny monkey God’ speaks of Obama’s
much talked about international upbringing, and a part of his childhood days spent in Indonesia, where Hinduism is one of the religions,
dominant especially in Bali.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Bhama_to_Obama_Hanuman_ready_for_flight/rssarticleshow/3161783.
cms

Obama to get Hanuman idol


24 Jun 2008, 1819 hrs IST,PTI

NEW DELHI: With Democrat senator Barack Obama busy in the run-up to the US presidential polls, a group of
well-wishers in the capital have decided to send him a symbol of his lucky charm, Lord Hanuman, to help him
emerge victorious.

Obama's representative Carolyn Sauvage-Mar on Tuesday received a gold-plated two-feet-high idol which she
will pass it on to the Obama after it is sanctified.

The idol is being presented to Obama as he is reported to be a Lord Hanuman devotee and carries with him a
locket of the monkey god along with other good luck charms.
An hour-long prayer meeting to sanctify the idol was earlier organised at Sankat Mochan Dham and by Congress
leader Brijmohan Bhama, Balmiki Samaj and the temple's priests.

"Obama has deep faith in Lord Hanuman and that is why we are presenting an idol of Hanuman to him," said
Bhama.

Accepting the souvenir, Sauvage-Mar, who is chairperson of Democrats Abroad-India, said, "Obama has
extended his thanks for the support."

However, questions on Obama's religious beliefs elicited just a smile from Sauvage-Mar, apparently to avoid
controversy back home where the Democrat senator is pitted against the Republican Party's John McCain in the
Presidential polls.

The idol will be kept at the temple for 11 more days and then sent to US.

"We will perform the prayers for 11 days and then hand the idol to Carolyn who will send it to Obama," said the
temple priest.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Hanuman_idol_for_Obama/articleshow/3160730.cms

Barack Obama seeks Hanuman’s blessings


It's unusual. But, it's a fact. Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic party's presidential nominee, is
seeking the blessings of Hindu god Hanuman in his battle for the White House. The 46-year-old senator
from Illinois, who defeated his rival Hillary Clinton in an epic 17-month long electoral battle for the
Democratic party nomination, carries a “tiny monkey god” apparently representing "Hanuman" with him for
good luck.

A recent photo posted on Time's White House Photo of the Day collection shows the first-ever black
American nominee of a major US party for the Presidential elections carries with him a bracelet belonging to
an American soldier deployed in Iraq, a gambler's lucky chit, a tiny monkey god and a tiny Madonna and
child.

That “tiny monkey god,” of course, appears to be a statue of the Hindu monkey god, Hanuman, says the
posting but editors and the photographer has not identified it as such. Obama, whose father was a Kenyan
and mother a white woman from Kansas, spent initial days of his life in Indonesia where Hinduism is a
popular religion.

In addition to a lucky penny, Republican candidate John McCain carries a lucky nickel, and a lucky rubber
band, which he wears around his wrist. He also has a lucky sweater and a lucky hotel room in New
Hampshire, says the caption on his photo.

“People give Clinton lucky items all the time on the campaign trail,” said a Clinton spokesman. “Recently, for
example, she's received a lucky coin, a lucky handkerchief that a woman in Texas gave to her that she
sometimes keeps in her pocket, and a lucky bracelet that a woman in Ohio gave her that she wears every
day. She keeps all of them.” — PTI

New York, June 9

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2008/20080610/world.htm#6

Monday, June 09, 2008


Obama seeks Hanuman's blessings for victory

New York: Barack Obama, the Democratic party's presidential nominee, is seeking the blessings of Hindu God
Hanuman in his battle for the White House.

The 46-year-old senator from Illinois, who defeated his rival Hillary Clinton in an epic 17-month long electoral
battle for Democratic party nomination, carries a 'tiny monkey God' apparently representing Hanuman with him
for good luck.

A recent photo posted on Time's White House Photo of the Day collection shows that the first ever Black-American
nominee of a major US party for the Presidential elections carries with him a bracelet belonging to an American
soldier deployed in Iraq, a gambler's lucky chit, a tiny monkey God and a tiny Madonna [Images] and child.

That 'tiny monkey God,' of course, appears to be a statue of the Hindu monkey God, Hanuman, says the posting
but editors and the photographer have not identified it as such.

Obama, whose father was a Kenyan and mother a white woman from Kansas, spent initial days of his life in
Indonesia where Hinduism is a popular religion.

In addition to a lucky penny, Republican candidate John McCain carries a lucky nickel, and a lucky rubber band,
which he wears around his wrist. He also has a lucky sweater and a lucky hotel room in New Hampshire, says the
caption on his photo.

"People give Clinton lucky items all the time on the campaign trail," said a Clinton spokesman.

"Recently, for example, she's received a lucky coin, a lucky handkerchief that a woman in Texas gave to her that
she sometimes keeps in her pocket, and a lucky bracelet that a woman in Ohio gave her that she wears every
day. She keeps all of them," he added.

© Copyright 2008 PTI. All rights reserved.

ALSO READ
Special Report: Race for the White House
06/10/2008 - Mumbai Mirror

Barack Obama seeks Hanuman's blessings in


race for White House!
New York: Its unusual. But, its a fact. Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic partys
presidential nominee, is seeking the blessings of Hindu God Hanuman in his battle for the White
House.
The 46-year-old senator from Illinois, who defeated his rival Hillary Clinton in an epic 17-month
long electoral battle for Democratic party nomination, carries a tiny monkey god apparently
representing Hanuman with him for good luck.
A recent photo posted on Times White House Photo of the Day collection...
READ FULL ARTICLE

What others report on the same story


Lord Hanuman blesses Obama
It's unusual. But, it's a fact. Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic party's presidential nominee, is seeking the blessings
of Hanuman in his battle for the ... - [06/10/2008 - Financial Express]
Obama seeks Hanuman's blessing for White House race
NEW YORK: It's unusual. But, it's a fact. Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic party's presidential nominee, is seeking
the blessings of Hanuman in his battle ... - [06/10/2008 - Economictimes]
Obama seeks Hanuman's blessing - Economictimes [06/09/2008]
Obama seeks Hanuman's blessing in his race for White House! - Press Trust of India [06/09/2008]
Obama seeks Hanuman's blessing for President's race - Economictimes [06/10/2008]
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