Glittering gift: The new diamond crown for the Thathayagunta Gangamma temple.TIRUPATI: A diamond-studded golden crown is ready to adorn the deity of Thathayagunta Gangamma, the folk Goddess of Tirupati, who is revered as the younger sister of Lord Venkateswara.With the annual ‘Ganga Jatara’ just round the corner, the temple management hastened up the process...

The Taxi Ride Twenty years ago, I drove a cab for a living. It was a cowboy's life, a life for someone who wanted no boss. What I didn't realize was that it was also a ministry. Because I drove the night shift, my cab became a moving confessional. Passengers climbed in, sat behind me in total anonymity, and told me about their lives.I encountered people whose...