At 33 feet, It Is the World’s Tallest Monolithic Sivalingam
In a monumental feat of artistry, engineering and devotion, an astounding 33 feet tall, 210-ton Sivalingam was carved from a single piece of granite in Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu. It was transported to East Champaran in Bihar State in November 2025 and placed on 17 January, 2026, according to The Indian Express.
As the sun rose over the sprawling grounds of the Virat Ramayan Mandir in Motihari, workers and engineers prepared for a long-awaited moment. Two cranes, each with a capacity of 750 tons, carefully lifted the colossal black-granite monolith and inched it towards a nearby pedestal. Guided by engineers, the monolithic structure was lowered inch by inch onto a base nearly twice its height.
The Sahasralingam, described as the world’s largest Sivalingam, was placed amid Vedic chants at the under-construction temple complex in Kathwalia village on the auspicious day of Magh Krishna Chaturdashi. The monolith was carved over nearly a decade in Pattikadu village near Mahabalipuram by artisans overseen by Vinayak Venkatraman and his mother, Hemlata Devi. The Sivalingam bearing 1,008 smaller lingams on its surface reportedly cost around us$330,000 to produce, and has been designed for structural stability over centuries.
At the base of the platform, a large billboard prominently displayed a photograph of the project’s visionary, the late Acharya Kishor Kunal—an IPS officer and former chairman of the Bihar State Religious Trust Board—alongside a detailed image of the vast temple complex still under construction, offering visitors a glimpse into the scale, purpose and spiritual vision of the ambitious project.
For many devotees, the moment was deeply personal, including Ramesh Verma, who travelled from Patna with his family. “I never thought I’d witness something like this in my lifetime. The Shivling being lifted, the chanting, it all feels spiritual beyond words,” he said.
Royal Couple Honors 30 Years of Neasden Temple
Displaying cultural harmony, Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla paid a royal visit to the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in London on October 29, 2025 according to Republic. The temple, commonly known as the Neasden Temple, was celebrating its 30th anniversary and the monarchs’ presence added luster to the festivities. The event was a historic moment in the history of Europe’s first traditional Hindu stone temple.
As the King and Queen arrived, they were warmly welcomed by members of the community, who were delighted by their presence. The visit was the King’s fourth visit to the temple, showing his enduring interest in the Hindu community and its traditions. His previous visits in 1996, 2001 and 2009, when he was the Prince of Wales, had already established a strong connection with the temple.
In his welcome address, Sadhu Yogvivekdas praised the temple as ‘the home of God’ and acknowledged its integral role in the UK’s religious and cultural scene. He outlined the values upheld by the temple’s spiritual leader, His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, and noted the alignment with the King’s own values of humility, sincerity and integrity.
During their visit, the King and Queen participated in the ceremonial pouring of water over a statue of the Deity, a moment that demonstrated the monarchs’ respect for the Hindu tradition. The temple management expressed their gratitude, taking to their X account to thank the royal couple. “A heartfelt thank you to Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla for their visit to Neasden Temple to commemorate its 30th anniversary. Your presence made this celebration joyous and memorable for the entire community.”
The Neasden Temple, established in August 1995, has been a beacon of devotion, learning and service, embodying the values of compassion, respect and harmony. The temple’s marble and limestone carvings, crafted by skilled Indian artisans, were shipped to the UK and meticulously assembled, standing as an example of dedication and craftsmanship.
Mass Devotion at Penang Temple Consecration
After 12 years, the arulmigu sree ganesha temple along Waterfall Road, Penang, came alive with colors and prayers as more than 5,000 devotees gathered to witness its long-awaited maha kumbhabhishekam (consecration ceremony) in December 2025, according to The Star.
The final day of the sacred ritual, which marked the purification and formal re-energizing of a temple and its Deities, came after five days of homas (fire rituals) and ceremonies on the temple grounds. Families with young children, youths and elderly devotees leaning on canes filled every corner of the temple compound to fulfill their vows after years of waiting. K. Kumarathiraviam, chairman of the Waterfall Shree Balathandayuthapani Devasthanam, said it was a defining moment for the temple’s identity.
Hindu devotees thronged the temple during the consecration ceremony following the completion of a major restoration. From early morning, thousands of devotees, young and old, streamed in carrying puja trays and garlands as they made their way to the sanctum. Inside the hall of the temple, priests performed fire rituals and chanted mantras. Outside, priests climbed scaffolding around the gopuram and sprinkled sacred water over the crowd during the ceremony.
Muktinath Springs Ban on Umbrellas and Plastics
The 108 springs at muktinath Temple are a series of stone water spouts set into a wall behind the temple, beneath which pilgrims slowly walk, allowing the icy water to cascade over the head and body as a ritual act of purification. Ice-cold water, fed by mountain springs and glacial sources, flows continuously from each spout.
Recently—after videos went viral showing devotees donning raincoats and using umbrellas while performing the ritual—temple authorities imposed a ban on such protective gear.
Restrictions were also imposed on the use of the two nearby sacred ponds, Jala Kund, and Agni Kund—where pilgrims traditionally dip or splash water on themselves for blessings. The ban here prohibits the use of swimming attire and diving in the ponds, according to The Rising Nepal.
Located in Mustang, Muktinath is an important pilgrimage site for Hindus and Buddhists. Annually, more than 800,000 pilgrims visit the temple.
Pramesh Gurung, Treasurer of the Muktinath Development Committee, said that devotees entering the temple area are being informed of the rules and encouraged to follow religious traditions. He added that infrastructure expansion and new facilities have been added to make visits easier for devotees and tourists.
Annapoorna Devi Temple Consecrated in Durban
In december, 2025, divine history was made in Durban, South Africa, as the Chinmaya Mission inaugurated the world’s first dedicated Annapoorna Devi Temple outside the Indian subcontinent. The event took place under the visionary leadership of Swami Abhedananda Saraswati, spiritual head of Chinmaya Mission South Africa, according to a press release by Chinmaya Mission South Africa.
The Shri Chinmaya Anna-poorna Devi Temple is a sacred space of grace aimed at invoking the cosmic power of nourishment held by Devi Annapoorna to help eradicate hunger and uplift the local communities of South Africa. The temple is linked to Chinmaya Mission South Africa’s “Nourish to Flourish” initiative, which has provided over 250,000 meals to underprivileged families and schoolchildren in Durban since October 2024. The project provides 2,000 free meals daily from a state-of-the-art industrial kitchen at the Chinmaya Annapoorna Ashram in Durban. It was to propel the sustenance and widespread benefit of this project that Swami Abhedananda envisioned the invocation of the Goddess Annapoorna in South Africa.
In November, the temple gained global attention when Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Swami Abhedananda during the G20 Leaders Summit in Johannesburg. There, he blessed and gifted a sacred Ashtalakshmi Kalasha containing Shree Anna (millets) from India and South Africa, to Swami Abhedananda for placing at the Devi Temple. The Prime Minister posted about this on his X account.
On the morning of December 1, the auspicious Mokshada Ekadashi, Swami Abhedananda led the prana pratishtha rituals, assisted by Vedic priests from southern India, inaugurating the temple in the presence of nearly 4,000 devotees. Abhishekam of the temple’s shikhara and of Devi Annapoorna’s endearing vigraha (image) was performed. In the presence of sannyasins from across South Africa, Swami Abhedananda unveiled the temple’s inaugural plaque honoring H.H. Swami Chinmayananda during Chinmaya Mission’s 75th year celebrations.
Briefly
Karnali River is one of the last major free-flowing Himalayan rivers, rising near Lake Mansarovar on the Tibetan Plateau and flowing through western Nepal into India, where it joins the Ganga. Unlike most large rivers in Asia, as noted in the Nepali Times, it has so far escaped major damming and continues to sustain fertile floodplains, recharge groundwater, support wildlife such as tigers and freshwater dolphins, and provide livelihoods for millions of people.
Bhajan clubbing is a growing trend among Gen Z in which traditional Hindu devotional singing is blended with modern music, ambient lighting and informal social spaces to create a contemporary spiritual experience in India, according to India West. These gatherings are held in cafés, rooftops and open-air venues, where participants sing ancient songs with live instruments in a relaxed, uplifting atmosphere. It reflects a new way young people are embracing spirituality through community, creativity and devotion.
A building under construction collapsed at a Hindu temple site in Verulam, north of Durban, South Africa, killing four people and injuring several others in December 2025. The multi-storey structure gave way without warning, sending concrete slabs and metal beams crashing onto the temple below, according to WRAL.NEWS. Officials said early findings suggest the construction may not have followed approved plans, and an investigation is underway.
The Indonesian Ministry of Culture recently inaugurated the Plaosan Temple Site in Central Java after its restoration in October 2025, according to Voice of Indonesia. Culture Minister Fadli Zon said the 9th-century temple symbolizes harmony and the cultural achievements of ancient Indonesia. The 11-month restoration preserved the temple’s authenticity and began landscape improvements to enhance access, visitor comfort and community involvement.
Second Lieutenant Harish Rao, a Hindu soldier of Indian origin, was threatened with deportation during basic training in the US Army after refusing to remove his sacred tilak, according to MSN. During his training at Fort Jackson, he was sidelined and told he might be sent back to India for wearing the religious mark, raising serious questions about religious freedom in the US military. Ultimately, permission was granted for his free use of the tilak, with precedent now set to allow others to do the same.