UNITED STATES, January 19, 2024 (Religion News Service): The consecration of a temple to the Hindu God Ram, in the northern Indian city said to be his birthplace, will be marked with state-sponsored fanfare this weekend, completing a years-long transformation of a once sleepy village into a bustling destination for pilgrims and tourists. But in the United States, the events surrounding the triumphant inauguration of the temple are seen as a chance to put Hindu Americans on the map as well. From Tesla car rallies to Times Square watch parties, American Hindus are celebrating the statue’s installation with a fervent long-distance patriotism.

“This is our time,” said Dinesh Mojumder, founder of the Hindu Coalition USA, a group that is hosting a Times Square event with a guest list of more than 1,000 Hindus of Indian, Bangladeshi, Nepali and Guyanese descent. “We have to show that we are not weak, we are more strong, and we are united.” “On a global level, we’re in an age now that we’re trying to reclaim indigenous rights,” said Mihir Meghani, a Californian who co-founded the Hindu American Foundation. “When I look at Hindu civilization, it hasn’t had the opportunity to really control its destiny for a long time. What I see here is a civilization that’s rising.” The opening of the temple comes after a legal battle that lasted more than 70 years. But Meghani said that the temple’s consecration will allow Indians to move on from this history. “While there may have been conflict in the past, this is the end of that process,” said Meghani. “And the process now is more about everyone coming together, the Hindu community and all people of India.”

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https://religionnews.com/2024/01/19/american-hindus-gear-up-for-indias-ram-temple-opening/

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