UNITED STATES, October 28, 2021 (RNS by Dheepa Sundaram): Religious rituals are sensory encounters. The smell of candles, incense, the taste of prasad, the blessed food at Hindu worship practices: Each is aimed at involving the whole body in the spiritual experience. A question for our pandemic times: Where do online rituals fit into this sensory realm? What would be…
ERNAKULAM, INDIA, October 25, 2021 (chinmayamission.com): A certificate program in Hindu Chaplaincy has been conceived by Chinmaya Vishwavidyapeeth (CVV), Deemed University, Ernakulam, to train Spiritual Care Providers, or chaplains, to address the spiritual and emotional needs of individuals of Hindu faith in various settings, such as hospitals and hospices, schools and universities, communities, the military, corporations or interfaith settings within…
UK, October 25, 2021 (BBC): Artificial intelligence is changing how we interact with everything, from food to healthcare, travel and, now, also religion. Experts say major global faiths are discussing their relationship with AI, and some are starting to incorporate this technology into their worship. Robot priests can recite prayers, deliver sermons, and even comfort those experiencing a spiritual crisis.…
COMILLA, BANGLADESH, October 22, 2021 (Dhaka Tribune): Iqbal Hossain, the man believed to be responsible for placing a copy of the Holy Quran at a Durga puja mandap in Nanuardighi area of Comilla, has reportedly confessed to his crimes. A high-ranking police official in Comilla, who wished to remain unnamed, confirmed the matter to Dhaka Tribune yesterday. The police official…
BANGLADESH, October 23, 2021 (The Business Standard): Iqbal Hossain, a reported drug addict believed to have placed the holy Quran at a puja mandap in Cumilla that instigated a spate of communal violence, was caught in at least four closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras – one of which was installed to guard fish farming pond. [He is seen with a mace…
INDIA, October, October 22, 2021 (Times of India): Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments minister P. K. Sekar Babu is devout, sports the tilak on his forehead and visits at least one temple a day – as part of his duty, of course. A crossover from the AIADMK, he had one request to late DMK patriarch M. Karunanidhi [an outspoken atheist]…
DHAKA, BANGLADESH, October 15, 2021 (NY Times): Paramilitary forces spread through much of Bangladesh on Friday to help curb the worst communal violence in years targeting members of the Hindu minority as they celebrated their largest annual religious festival. At least four people have been confirmed to have died and more than 100 others wounded since Wednesday as violence expanded…
INDIA, October 12, 2021 (BBC): An exquisitely carved maze of 3,500 steps, arranged in perfect symmetry, descends with geometrical precision to reach a well. Criss-crossed steps encircle the water on three sides, while the fourth side is adorned by a pavilion with embellished galleries and balconies. Built by Rajput ruler Raja Chanda during the 8th-9th Century, Chand Bawri in Abhaneri,…
INDIA, October 1, 2021 (BBC): Between 1961 and 1971, thousands of languages vanished from Indian census data. One man decided to track them down, before they were lost forever. It was 2010 and Ganesh N. Devy was concerned about the lack of comprehensive data on the languages of India. “The 1961 [Indian] census recognized 1,652 mother tongues,” says Devy, “but…
UNITED STATES, October 18, 2021 (Spotify): Ganesh or Ganesha – also known as Ganpati – is one of the best known Hindu Gods. Easily identified by His elephant head, pot belly and four arms, Ganesha has many fine attributes and is revered as the remover of obstacles and the God of beginnings. As Hindus prepare to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi (the…