KERALA, INDIA, February 28, 2023 (BBC): A temple in the southern Indian state of Kerala has introduced a mechanical elephant to participate in its rituals. The initiative by authorities at Irinjadappilly Sree Krishna Temple in Thrissur district is part of their pledge to stop using live animals for any festivities. The model was donated by People for Ethical Treatment of…
INDIA, February 23, 2023 (BBC by Sugato Mukherjee): Founded in 427 CE, Nalanda is considered the world’s first residential university, a sort of medieval Ivy League institution home to nine million books that attracted 10,000 students from across Eastern and Central Asia. They gathered here to learn medicine, logic, mathematics and – above all – Buddhist principles from some of…
INDIA, February 22, 2023 (Statista): India has become the biggest country in the world this year, but conversely, its fertility rates have been in a steep decline for years. In reality, the reversal of population growth that manifested itself in China this year has already begun in India as well. The number of children born per woman in India had…
JAMMU, February 18, 2023 (Daily Excelsior): Long and serpentine queues at temples right from wee hours to late in the evening, stalls offering eatables to devotees and others across the city, heavy public rush, traffic jams and presence of cops at almost every corner remained a common sight in the City of Temples on Saturday as it was Maha Shivratri…
KATHMANDU, NEPAL, February 18, 2023 (Ommcom News): Thousands of Hindu devotees including hundreds of sadhus from India have thronged the revered Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu on Saturday to celebrate Mahashivaratri. Around 1.6 million devotees are expected to visit the Pashupati today, officials said here. Nepal’s President Bidya Devi Bhandari and high-ranking officials are scheduled to visit Pashupatinath today to offer…
INDIA, February 18, 2023 (Financial Express): On Saturday, the Maha Shivratri festival was celebrated with traditional zeal and fervor in different parts of India. A large number of devotees thronged Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Shiva to take part in special rituals. Long queues were spotted since early morning. Unlike last year, there were no Covid restrictions this year. As…
MAURITIUS, February 17, 2023 (Le Matinal – Google translated from French): The whole of Mauritius is plunged into mourning this Thursday, February 16. A kanwar parade float, 26 feet high, carried by a group of pilgrims from Albion returning from the sacred lake of Grand-Bassin caught fire after hitting a high voltage line on the Mare-Longue road. This fire caused…
SINGAPORE, February 13, 2023 (The Meghalayan): After a year-long restoration, Singapore’s oldest Hindu temple in Chinatown with close to 200 years of history opened its doors to the public with its sixth consecration ceremony. Braving the early morning rain, about 20,000 devotees thronged Sri Mariamman Temple to witness the ceremony, also known as Maha Kumbabishegam, which occurs every 12 years.…
TIRUPATI, INDIA, February 13, 2023 (Deccan Chronicle): The Annual 14-day Maha Sivaratri Brahmotsavams at Srikalahastheeswara Swamy Shrine at the temple town of Srikalahasti in Tirupati district will start off with Ankurarpanam and Dhwajarohanam atop the Bhakta Kannappa hillock on Monday. This will be followed by important events like Nandi-Simha Vahana Seva, Rathotsavam, Teppotsavam, Adhikara Nandi-Kamadhenu Vahana Seva and Kalyanotsavam. The…
MAURITIUS, February 12, 2023 (Defi Media / Google translated from French): Many pilgrims are already on their way to the sacred lake of Grand-Bassin on February 12. We are a week away from the great night of Shiva at Grand-Bassin, this coming Sunday. The weather’s nice. The parking lots are almost full. Many devotees wanted to take advantage of this…
