Ayodhya Ram Temple Foundation Complete, Premises Showcased for First Time

AYODHYA, INDIA, September 17, 2021 (TNN): With the rollout of the 48th layer of compact concrete, raising the 50-foot thick temple foundation to 351ft. above sea level, the fortified Ramjanmabhoomi premises was showcased for the first time on Thursday by the Temple Trust, which declared completion of the first phase of construction. Officials of the Trust confirmed that with a…

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Ayodhya Temple to Come Up on Concrete Foundation, not Pillars

AYODHYA, INDIA, March 12, 2021 (indianexpress.com, by Anananthakrishnan G): Initially, the plan was to erect the structure on hundreds of pillars, extending underground up to the height of a three-storey building. Engineering experts engaged in the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya have dropped the initial plan to erect the temple structure on pillars because of on-site challenges, and…

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Religious festival Rakher Upobash celebrated in Bangladesh

DHAKA, BANGLADESH, November 13, 2021 (Xinhua): Very nice set of photos of the Rakher Upobash festival held the day at a temple in Dhaka. The fasting devotees sit for prayer with burning incense and oil lamps. According to a 2020 report in the Dhakta Tribune, “Every year, thousands of followers of Loknath, gather at different branches of Shri Shri Lokenath…

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Nepal’s Day of the Dog Comes to Middle America

SHERIDAN, WYOMING, November 4, 2021 (The Sheridan Press): A line of dogs, leashed to their owners, formed in front of Little Kitchen restaurant Wednesday morning. The occasion: the Nepalese day of the dog, or Kukur Tihar. The dogs waited for humans to celebrate them. As each dog made its way to the front of the line, Little Kitchen Owner and…

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Varanasi’ is a Vegetarian’s Paradise

VARANASI, INDIA, November 2, 2021 (BBC by Amrita Sarkar): Inhabited since at least 1800 BC, Varanasi is well known for being among the oldest living cities on Earth, and one of the holiest for the world’s estimated 1.2 billion Hindus. Every day, as the sound of ringing temple bells echo overhead, tens of thousands of devotees descend the city’s 88…

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Chennai Agama Scholar Recognized

MADURAI, INDIA, October 31, 2021 (dinamalar.com, translated from original Tamil): During the convocation ceremony of Skanda Guru Vidhyalayam, Thirupparankundram, Dr.Sabharathinam Sivachariar was conferred the title of Sakalakama Pandit [Expert in all Agamas]. The award was presented on that occasion by the head pontiff of Dharmapura Aadheenam. The award includes a cash purse handed over to the value of US$1,350. This…

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Hinduism Today’s Hindi Edition Launched Online

KAUAI, HAWAII, November 7, 2021: Hinduism Today magazine is pleased to announce the release of the first of their Hindi-Language Digital Editions of Hinduism Today. The translations are being done and posted by the SweetCommunication’s team in India. They’ve just completed the July/August/September, 2021, issue and are now tackling the October/November/December, 2021, issue. See:https://www.hinduismtoday.com/category/articles-in-hindi/

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Diwali Fervor Returns In India as COVID Situation Eases

INDIA, November 2, 2021 (Aljazeera): Diwali, also known as the festival of lights, is the biggest festival celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists around the world. The festival’s date changes every year and commemorates different things depending on local tradition and culture. Hindus celebrate the triumph of good over evil – of light over darkness – to mark the…

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The Art and Ritual of Rangoli

NEW YORK, U.S., November 4, 2021 (NY Times, accessible only with subscription): Every year around this time, more than a billion people worldwide celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights, with warm family meals, bursting fireworks, glowing lamps and an ornate ancient Indian folk art known as rangoli. These geometric patterns, religious symbols and floral designs are drawn on the floor…

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Support HPI by Contributing to our Digital Dharma Drive

KAUAI, HAWAII, November 3, 2021 (Himalayan Academy): Hinduism’s most relied-upon sites—Himalayan Academy, Hinduism Today, Hindu Heritage Endowment and Saiva Siddhanta Church—are a profusion of unique resources. Your once-a-year donations will keep them going, including Hindu Press International. At the like below you can read the “How the Funds Are Used” page which goes into we detail about what we did…

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