News21 A Journalism Initiative of the Carnegie and Knight Foundations

On Tour with the Hugging Saint

Mail this story to a friend

Want to send a link to this story to a friend? Enter your name and their email address in the fields below.

Thousands of followers the world over wait hours in line for a hug from Amma, an Indian spiritual leader who spreads the message of love through physical embrace.

Your name:

Send to (e-mail address):

• Origins
• • Interactive Map: Pilgrimage Through Iran
  • Touching Divinity
  • Defusing Religious Tensions on the Streets of Mumbai
  • Christianity in India
  • Under the Bodhi Tree
  • On Tour with the Hugging Saint
  • The Stars of India
  • Holy Man on a Mission
• Refuge
• • The Refugee City
  • An Ancient Religion Endangered by Iraq War
  • Sanctuary: Old Idea, New Movement
  • Sikh Case Extends Religious Sanctuary Beyond the Church
  • In Homage to Buddha, a Splash of Freedom
  • Touch of Freedom for Untouchables
• Transitions
• • One in a Million: Hispanic Clergy in the Catholic Church
  • Nigerian Catholics Take Root in America
  • Minorities Representing Majorities
  • Theocracy & Democracy: Persian Minority Religions in Iran and America
  • Muslim Youth Seek Organized Athletic Competition
  • New Guest At The Opry
  • Planting Churches in the Fields of New York
  • Indian Jews and Interfaith Marriage
• Glimpses of Faith
• • Interactive Map Guide to New York's Ritual Moments
  • Langar: Feeding the Masses
  • Learning About Indian Jews Through Art
  • Drums Draw Strangers to Bahai Celebration
  • The Kiss of Peace
  • A Cry for the Martyrs
  • Finding Communion in Hollis, Queens
  • The Art of Devotional Song
  • Breathing Corpses: A Hatha Yoga Ritual
  • In Praise of Sri Venkateswara
• Our Journeys
• • Day-by-Day in the Homeland
  • Faithbook
  • Building Religious Communities: America's New Religious Architecture
  • Reporting Resources
  • Credits
• About This Project

The Latest

Over six months, members of the Columbia News21 team traveled 525,000 miles across the United States, Canada, India and Iran in search of a better understanding of minority religions and the immigrants who practice them.

Links

Religion Newswriters Association Religion Newswriters Headines The Pluralism Project The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life The Association of Religious Data Archives The Center for Religion and Media at NYU Religion News Service Beliefnet Religion & Ethics Newsweekly Speaking Of Faith

Meta

• About News21
• Contact Us
• Projects
• Authors