INDIA, January 31, 2024 (Hindustan Times): The Madras high court on Tuesday directed the Tamil Nadu government and the state Hindu religious and charitable endowments (HR&CE) department to not allow non-Hindus inside the Palani temple and its sub-temples in the state, saying that they are “not a picnic or tourist spot.” A bench led by Justice S. Srimathy asked the…
NEPAL , July 21, 2024 (Ask Me About Nepal): The members of the Barahi community come together to build gigantic wheels of Rato Macchendranath chariot from scratch every 12 years. The Barahis are a community of Newar carpenters, as a part of their tradition and responsibilities search for, scour, carve, and assemble the wooden elements/parts of the Rato Macchendranath chariot.…
KAUAI, HAWAII, July 22, 2024 (Hinduism Today April/May/June 2024 issue, Letters page): Kudos to Hinduism Today!A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of watching the World Hindu Congress 2023 event online, which took place in Bangkok. I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to hear Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswamiji’s speech. He provided valuable insights into the remarkable history and…
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA, July 18, 2024 (SBS Hindi): When Rajendra Pandey started volunteering for the Indian community through the non-profit community organization Vishva Hindu Parishad Australia (South Australia), his goal was to establish culturally sensitive services for Hindus, Jains, Buddhists and Sikhs. He noticed that South Asian communities in Australia lacked a culturally sensitive and safe way to scatter ashes, and…
KAUAI, HAWAII, July 18, 2024 (Hinduism Today, July 2024 issue, Global Dharma section): Texas Youth Get New Campsite:After nearly four decades of renting spaces, a summer camp for Hindu children has a permanent home. Religion News reports that in November, 2023, the long-running Hindu Heritage Youth Camp (HHYC), based in Houston, officially began construction of the Texas Hindu Campsite on…
July 18, 2024 (new18.com): Guru Purnima is a festival that is dedicated to spiritual and academic gurus, who are offered respect all across the world. It is celebrated in India, Nepal and Bhutan by Hindus, Jains and Buddhists. Traditionally, the day honors the chosen spiritual teachers or leaders. It is celebrated on the full moon day of Ashadh month. This…
PURI, INDIA, July 15, 2024 (The Hindu): Thousands of devotees pulled the chariots of sibling Deities — Lord Jagannath, Devi Subhadra and Lord Balabhadra — on the Bahuda Yatra or return car festival on July 15. Though the pulling of chariots was slated to start at 4 p.m., it began ahead of schedule amid chants of Jai Jagannath and the…
UNITED STATES, July 9, 2024 (Religion News Service): Every day since March, 63-year-old Ranjani Saigal has posted a 90-second Instagram reel. “I’m not a social media person,” said Saigal, who goes by “The Hindu Grandma” on Instagram. “I didn’t know what a reel was, I didn’t know what TikTok was, any of that. Like many other grandparents, I was like,…
BHOPAL, INDIA, July 15, 2024 (Indian Express): The Archeological Survey of India (ASI) Monday submitted its survey report on the disputed Bhojshala temple-cum-Kamal Maula mosque complex in Dhar district to the Madhya Pradesh High Court, stating that the scientific investigation reveals that the “existing structure was made from the parts of earlier temples.” The court had in March last year…
UNITED STATES, July 11, 2024 (The Atlantic): Anthony Bourdain was beloved for his openness to new experiences, for his willingness to eat anything—brains; shark; cobra heart, still beating—with anyone. But he did reserve one bias: The man hated vegetarians. “Serious cooks regard these members of the dining public—and their Hezbollah-like splinter faction, the vegans—as enemies of everything that’s good and…
