INDIA, May 30, 2024 (Outlook India): India’s holy Char Dham Yatra pilgrimage began on May 10, encompassing the revered sites of Gangotri, Kedarnath, Badrinath, and Yamunotri. But within days, a troubling scene emerged. Social media was flooded with images showing a narrow road crammed with thousands of devotees attempting to reach Yamunotri. More recent images show the cold weather in…
INDIA, May 28, 2024 (MSN): According to the working paper of EAC-PM (Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister), which was released on Tuesday, the share of the Hindu population in India decreased by 7.82 percent between 1950 and 2015. In the corresponding period, the share of the Muslim population saw a 43.15 percent increase. The share of other religious…
INDIA, May 29, 2024 (Uttra News, translated from Hindi): Due to the closure of offline registration for Char Dham Yatra on account of bad weather, pilgrims were stopped in Haridwar and Rishikesh. Thousands of pilgrims are now stranded there. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami went to Rishikesh on Monday to take stock of the arrangements for the Char Dham Yatra.…
KAUAI, HAWAII, May 30, 2024 (Hinduism Today, by Anne Petry): Monolithic rock religious constructions are found in only a few places in the world: the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela in Ethiopia, the Great Sphinx of Giza in Egypt and the Kailasanatha Temple of Ellora in India. When a building is carved or excavated from solid rock, to which it remains…
BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA , MAY 21, 2024 (Press Release, Motwani Jadeja Foundation): The Motwani-Jadeja Foundation proudly supports the Hindu Spiritual Care Institute (HSCI) and the Graduate Theological Union (GTU) in Berkeley, CA. This collaboration marks a significant milestone by introducing the first seven interreligious Hindu Chaplains, who will be ambassadors of spiritual wellness and community service. These chaplains bring the richness…
NEW DELHI, INDIA, May 26, 2024 (Indian Express): With a large number of pilgrims visiting the Kedarnath Temple in Uttarakhand, a video of chaos near the Sitapur area is doing rounds on the Internet. In view of the crowd, offline registration for the Char Dham Yatra has been paused till May 31. The now-viral video shows over a thousand pilgrims…
KAUAI, HAWAII, May 22, 2024 (Hinduism Today, translation from original Tamil scripture by Dr. S.P. Sabharathnam Sivacharyar): Sivashakti, who performs deeds for the betterment of souls, is ever present at a transcendental plane which extends from the nadanta—the soundless pinnacle of all sound. The most fruitful yoga known as Sivayoga is mainly concerned with elevating the soul to that pure…
AUSTRALIA, May 15, 2024 (Hindu Council of Australia): Australia’s rich cultural diversity owes much to the sacrifices and contributions of the Girmitiyas – indentured laborers who left their homes in search of better opportunities during the colonial era. Despite enduring immense hardship and exploitation, the Girmitiyas played a significant role in shaping the social, economic and cultural landscape of Australia.…
NEW DELHI, INDIA May 19, 2024 (New Indian Express): The situation in Myanmar continues to be grim with increased fighting between the military-led Junta army and the ethnic rebel groups across many parts, especially in Rakhine state. The tensions have taken a communal turn with reports of nearly 5,000 houses belonging to Buddhists and Hindus being gutted in Buthidaung, which…
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, May 13, 2024 (RNS): Kaya Hudgins was a 16-year-old sophomore at a southwest-side Chicago public high school when her teachers announced a new mandatory program called “Quiet Time,” a twice-daily Transcendental Meditation practice designed to “decrease stress and the effects of trauma” for students living in high-crime neighborhoods. “I didn’t think much of it,” said Hudgins, now 21…
